Shopping final sprint in Munich: Huge rush in the city center

Created: 2022-12-24 08:33

By: Julian Limmer

Munich: Christmas crowds in the pedestrian zone.

© Sven Hoppe/dpa

Things really got going in Munich before Christmas: the dealers in downtown Munich also felt it.

There was a huge crowd there.

Munich – Stade time?

That has yet to come.

Because right before Christmas there was a lot of activity in the pedestrian zone in Munich.

"Things really got going in the past few days - it was harvest time for the retailers," says Bernd Ohlmann from the Bavarian Trade Association.

It was noticeable that the stationary trade in the final shopping sprint increased again compared to the online competition.

Because: Shortly before the festival, things often have to be done quickly with the gifts, says Ohlmann.

You can read here which shops are open on Christmas Eve (Saturday) for last-minute purchases.

Munich: Visitor numbers in the pedestrian zone increased continuously

This is also observed by Wolfgang Fischer from City-Partner, the association of inner-city dealers.

"Since Monday, the number of visitors in the pedestrian zone has been higher than in the previous weeks," he says.

The fact that there was a whole trading week between the fourth Sunday in Advent and Christmas Eve would have played into the hands of the sellers this year – so there was plenty of time for last-minute purchases.

In the first three weeks of Advent alone, around 1.7 million shoppers came to the shops in the city center this year - exact figures from this week are not yet available.

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Christmas business in Munich - that is the first balance sheet

Overall, however, it was not enough for a record Christmas business in 2022, says Bernd Ohlmann: "Compared to the time before the pandemic, business was around ten to 15 percent lower." Against the background of inflation and uncertainty, it is still a good balance sheet.

And: Almost three million visitors came to the Munich Christmas market this year - almost as many as before the pandemic.

Despite the wind and rain, “a striking number of tourists from home and abroad” were on the market for the final sprint, says market manager Janine Wagle.

Candle seller Anuschka Harmann (44) also felt the rush: “This week was really hectic.

Many who quickly bought gifts.”

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