Munich Practical Notes
Munich Drugstore Shopping: What to Buy at dm, Rossmann & Supermarkets
Where to buy toiletries, skincare, groceries, food gifts, and medicine in Munich, and which type of shop to use.
Sunscreen shelves in a Munich drugstore. Summer visitors often come for skincare products, but sunscreen is one of the most practical purchases.
Munich drugstore shopping is useful for many everyday travel needs. You may need sunscreen, toothpaste, toiletries, baby items, or small gifts that are easy to pack.
Drugstores, supermarkets, and pharmacies have different roles in Germany. Knowing the difference makes everyday shopping much easier.
This guide explains where to buy common items and gives a few examples of products and gifts that are easy to carry home.
01Drugstore, supermarket, or pharmacy?
These three types of shop sell different things.
Drugstore (Drogerie): dm, Rossmann, Müller. Skincare, toiletries, supplements, cleaning products, nappies, and some snacks. Do not expect normal medicines here.
Supermarket (Supermarkt): REWE, Edeka, Aldi, Lidl, Penny, Norma. Groceries, chocolate, sweets, tea, beer, water, fruit, bread, yogurt, and basic food shopping.
Pharmacy (Apotheke): look for the red Apotheken-A sign. Prescription medicine and pharmacy-only over-the-counter medicines are sold here.
If you need painkillers, cold medicine, or another normal medicinal product, go to an Apotheke rather than dm or Rossmann.
02dm, Rossmann, and Müller
For most visitors, the closest branch is usually enough. The differences matter mainly when you want a particular house brand, coupon, perfume, stationery, or toy section.
A typical dm store in Munich. For many visitors, this is the easiest place to buy everyday essentials.
dm: strong house-brand ranges such as Balea, Alverde, and Mivolis, plus toiletries, baby items, household products, and travel basics.
Rossmann: a similar everyday range, with house brands such as Isana and Rival de Loop. The app regularly offers coupons and promotions.
Müller: broader than a typical drugstore, with larger perfume, stationery, toy, and media sections in many branches.
Is Rossmann cheaper than dm?
Not always. Rossmann often uses app coupons and promotions, while dm relies more on regular shelf prices. A coupon can make one basket cheaper, but there is little reason to cross Munich only to compare the two stores.
For a short trip, use the closer store. If price matters and you already use the Rossmann app, check the current coupons before paying.
Useful exception: dm at Ostbahnhof. The dm at Ostbahnhof, Orleansplatz 10-12, is currently listed by dm as open daily from 06:30 to 23:00, including Sunday. It is useful for last minute toiletries, sunscreen, baby items, or small drugstore shopping when normal branches are closed.
Opening hours can change, especially around public holidays, so check the branch page again if you are making a special trip.
For normal toiletries or skincare, use the branch already on your route. Choose Müller if you also want perfume, stationery, or toys. Check Rossmann coupons if saving a few euros matters to you.
03Useful drugstore products and small gifts
German drugstore house brands are popular because many products are inexpensive, easy to find, and small enough to pack as gifts.
These are examples visitors often buy. The prices are rough June 2026 references, so check the shelf for the current price.
Balea, Kamill, and other German drugstore brands are popular souvenirs because they are inexpensive and easy to pack.
| Product | Where | Rough price (June 2026) | Why it is worth it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balea ampoules (pack of 7) | dm | €0.85 to €1.50 | Small single-use skincare ampoules in several versions. Light and easy to pack. |
| Diaderma carrot oil (30ml) | dm / Rossmann | around €4 | Small face oil with carrot extract and beta carotene. |
| Kamill hand cream (100ml) | dm / Rossmann / Müller | around €1.20 | Small, inexpensive hand cream that is easy to pack as a simple gift. |
| Mivolis effervescent vitamins (20) | dm | around €0.70 | Effervescent supplement tablets in a light tube; easy to pack. |
| Ajona concentrated toothpaste (25ml) | dm / Rossmann / Müller | around €1.50 | A concentrated toothpaste in a very small tube; easy to pack. |
| Weleda shower gel (200ml) | dm / Rossmann / Müller | around €6 | A widely available body-care option in a compact bottle. |
| Schaebens face masks (pack of 7) | dm / Rossmann | around €1.50 | Small face-mask sachets that are easy to pack. |
Ajona toothpaste is a small German product that many repeat visitors end up buying again.
The same product may be cheaper with a Rossmann app coupon. Check the customs and import rules for your destination before buying large quantities.
Painkillers, cold medicine, and prescription drugs are not normal drugstore products. If you need medicine, go to an Apotheke, marked by the red Apotheken-A sign.
Eligible non-EU residents can use Germany’s tax-free-shopping system when the legal conditions are met. German Customs currently requires more than €50 including VAT, so the practical minimum is €50.01 on one qualifying receipt.
The retailer’s form and refund method matter, so ask the shop before paying if VAT refund is important to you. For the airport and customs process, see Shopping in Munich: VAT Refund.
04Supermarkets: REWE, Edeka, Aldi, and Lidl
Use supermarkets for groceries, drinks, breakfast supplies, and most food gifts. Large supermarkets and discount chains are useful for slightly different kinds of shopping.
Lidl is one of Germany’s major discount supermarket chains, focused on everyday groceries rather than souvenirs.
REWE and Edeka: wider selection, more branded products, and easier gift shopping. They are common in the city centre, around stations, and near tourist routes. If you want chocolate, tea, sweets, mustard, or a safer choice for mixed gifts, start here.
Aldi and Lidl: everyday discounters that work well for water, fruit, bread, yogurt, snacks, and apartment-stay groceries.
Penny and Norma: also useful for basic groceries when a branch is close to your accommodation.
Which supermarket is cheapest in Munich?
No single chain is cheapest for every basket. For basic groceries, Aldi and Lidl are usually good budget choices. REWE and Edeka offer a wider selection and can be easier for visitors who want groceries and gifts in one stop.
If you are in Munich for only a few days, location usually matters more than saving a small amount on one item. Use a supermarket on your route instead of crossing the city for a price comparison.
Food gifts: REWE or Edeka.
Normal local grocery shopping: Aldi or Lidl.
Water, fruit, breakfast items, and snacks for your room: whichever supermarket is closest to your hotel or apartment.
- Chocolate: Ritter Sport, Milka. Easy to find in many varieties, including seasonal ones.
- Sweets: Haribo, in many varieties and easy to pack as a small gift.
- Tea: organic herbal and fruit teas. Light and small, ideal for gifts.
- Mustard: Bavarian mustard, including the sweet Süßer Senf.
For easy packing, choose light and unbreakable items. In summer, buy chocolate close to your departure date because it can melt.
05Easy Munich souvenirs beyond drugstores
Drugstores and supermarkets cover most practical shopping. If you want something more clearly connected to Munich, a few local products are easy to add.
Dallmayr coffee or tea: Dallmayr is a well-known Munich delicatessen near Marienplatz and an easy place to buy coffee or tea that fits into a suitcase. If you are already around Marienplatz, it is easy to combine with the first time old town walk.
Bavarian mustard: especially sweet mustard, Süßer Senf. It is small, inexpensive, and actually connected to Bavarian food culture.
FC Bayern items: good if the person actually likes football. A scarf, key ring, or small fan item is safer than bulky clothing.
Postcards, magnets, and small Munich items: easy to find around the old town, light, and simple to pack.
Beer glasses and Maßkrüge: very Munich, but heavy and breakable. Buy them only if you are happy to carry the extra weight.
Hofbräuhaus glasses and beer souvenirs in Munich. They make sense as souvenirs only if you are willing to carry the weight.
Lederhosen and Dirndl are clothing purchases, not quick supermarket souvenirs. Quality, fit, and price vary widely, so leave time to try them on if you actually plan to wear them.
Easy Munich gifts include Dallmayr coffee or tea, Bavarian mustard, or a small FC Bayern item for someone who likes football.
Lederhosen, Dirndl, luxury goods, and tax-free shopping need more time and are covered better in the main shopping guide.
06Buying beer at the supermarket
You can buy Munich beer in any supermarket if you want to try it at your accommodation. A few terms are useful to know.
Helles is the pale lager most closely associated with everyday Munich beer. Weißbier / Weizen is wheat beer and tastes quite different.
Bottles and cans often carry a deposit called Pfand. Return eligible empties to the shop’s machine to get the deposit back.
For brewery names, beer styles, beer halls, and beer-garden rules, see Munich Beer Halls and Beer Gardens: Rules, Culture, and What to Order.
07Sunday shopping
Most regular retail shops are closed on Sundays and public holidays, so finish normal drugstore and supermarket shopping by Saturday when possible.
Most regular dm, Rossmann, REWE, Edeka, Aldi, and Lidl branches are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Finish normal shopping by Saturday when possible.
Most Sunday exceptions are around transport hubs and the airport. The dm at Ostbahnhof is currently listed by dm as open Sunday from 06:30 to 23:00. It is a useful backup for toiletries and essentials. The full Sunday shopping and food plan is in the Sunday in Munich note.
For a short trip, keep shopping simple: use dm or Rossmann for toiletries and skincare, a supermarket for groceries and food gifts, and an Apotheke for medicine.
Choose light items that survive the suitcase, and finish normal shopping before Sunday. If you need something on Sunday, use the dedicated Sunday guide and check the exact branch before making a special trip.
Continue planning
Product prices are rough June 2026 references. Shop hours, prices, brand ranges, Sunday exceptions, and retailer tax-refund procedures can change. Check the exact branch or retailer when the detail matters. Customs and import allowances also depend on your destination country.