Here you can find background information which will help you to spend a pleasant shopping day in Munich. Please note that tax refund and duty free shopping are only for non-EU citizens going back to a non-EU country. If you are coming to Munich from another EU country or are going to another EU country after your stay in Germany, you will not have to declare anything.
Mehrwertsteuer - VAT
Depending on what you buy, Mehrwertsteuer (abbreviation: MwSt.), meaning Value Added Tax, can be either 7% or 19%. This tax is always included in the price you pay and appears on the bill and receipt, respecitively. If you are a non-EU citizen and buy something that you're going to take outside the European Union, you can claim a tax refund once you're back home. Below you'll find a link to a detailed description of how to do this.
Opening hours
Opening hours vary according to where the store is located and the type of shop. In general, shops are open from Monday to Saturday. Smaller shops, such as bakeries, open very early in the morning and may close a bit earlier, especially on Saturdays. All shops except petrol stations and bakeries are closed on Sundays. In general, the following opening times apply, although it is up to every individual shopkeeper how long they want to keep their shop open.
Department stores: Mon - Sat 10am - 8pm
Supermarkets: Mon - Sat 8am - 8pm
Bakeries: Mon - Sat 7am - 6pm, Sun 7am - 12pm
Grocery stores, butchers, small shops, etc. have individual opening hours which, by and large, correspond to the following scheme. Please note that this is only an estimation and that you should check with the individual shop. Mon - Fri 8am - 12:30pm and 3pm - 6pm Sat 8am - 12:30pm. Petrol stations are allowed to be open 24/7.
Duty Free
Duty-free sale of alcohol and tobacco products to people travelling within the European Union was abolished in 1999. A few alcoholic beverages are still offered in airport shops at lower prices, but not duty-free. Tax-free purchases are still possible; see above at "VAT" for more detail.
If you are coming from a non-EU country, you are allowed to take the following items to Germany with you: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillios or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1 litre of a beverage with more than 22% of alcohol or 2 litres of an alcoholic beverage with up to 22% of alcohol or 2 litres of sparkling wine; 2 litres of table wine; 500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extracts; 50g of perfume or 250ml of Eau de Toilette; Gifts with a value of up to €178.95.
N.B.: Tobacco products and alcohol may only be imported by persons of 17 years or over; coffee only by persons of 15 years or over. Wine exceeding the limit of alcohol percentage will be taxed by 16%
