Sustainable shopping in Freiburg

If you love going out shopping, you’ll be excited to discover what the shops of Freiburg have to offer. The streets and pedestrianised areas of the old town of Freiburg are bustling with little boutiques and shops, specialist outlets and department stores for an excellent shopping experience. As a ‘Green City’, Freiburg was an early adopter of sustainable urban development strategies. One of its sustainability targets is also fair procurement and fair trade of organic produce. Freiburg has been a ‘Fairtrade Town’ since 2013 in recognition of its sustained commitment to fair trade.

Fair trade and sustainable fashion
Many of Freiburg’s shops are all about fair trade, organic production and sustainability. Visitors can enjoy an extensive range of quality shoes and clothing from leading fair-trade brands and European labels.

Freiburg’s flea markets
The flea markets in Freiburg are relaxed and inspiring. You can tell from their locations that they are primarily the result of local and community initiatives. Below are a few tips for those who love hunting down a good bargain.

One of the biggest flea markets in town takes place on 24 June 2023 in the district of Herdern. Market stalls, live music and food and drinks stands add up to a summer festival vibe on Habsburgerstrasse and some of the adjoining streets.

The lovely forecourt of the Alte Wiehrebahnhof is the venue for the Bährle flea market on the third Sunday of the month from March/April to October/November.

The BZ-Frollein flea market is all about vintage fashion, with pre-loved pieces changing hands once or twice a year. Dates and locations are published in the Badische Zeitung.

Konviktstrasse – the prettiest shopping street in Freiburg
The tightly-packed medieval houses on Konviktstrasse boast a really special selection of quality wares, including elegant fashion, antiques, lovely bits and bobs for the home and exquisite jewellery in small, mostly owner-managed shops.

A feast of flavours in Little Venice
The people of Freiburg lovingly describe the idyllic little streets between Martin’s Gate and the Swabian Gate as ‘Little Venice’. In times gone by, all sorts of different tradesmen lived and worked in these parts. Water from the Dreisam river was diverted directly to the premises of millers, tanners and fishermen through a network of canals. This pretty part of the old town is a real treasure trove of quirky treats, with little shops and galleries boasting creative business ideas and unusual finds in fashion, homewares and decoration. There are also lots of cafés, restaurants and beer gardens if you fancy a break and some refreshments.

Traditional crafts in Schusterstrasse
Schusterstrasse is a real treat for visitors, with its brightly coloured façades and balconies adorned with flowers. The little street is still home to lots of arts and crafts. You can discover leather goods, artwork, gold work and antique books in the charming little shops.

Shopping on and around KAJO
Kaiser-Joseph-Strasse, also known as KAJO, Bertholdstrasse and Salzstrasse form the main axes of the Freiburg pedestrian district, which is home to a range of fashion and sports shops, plus leading department stores. The range also includes famous brands and a good selection of specialist shops. Salzstrasse, one of the oldest and most important trade routes in Freiburg, also boasts some well-known, long-established stores. It leads past leather, jewellery and fashion shops to the Atrium shopping arcade on Augustinerplatz.

With some 230,000 inhabitants, Freiburg offers really relaxed city life and a natural balance for ambitious people. The city has all the variety you could ever want: outdoor activities, a rich cultural heritage and lots of popular pubs and restaurants. Freiburg is all about freedom and individuality, whether on the Schlossberg, at the weekly market or on a stroll around the city.

For more information on Freiburg, please visit https://visit.freiburg.de/en.

How to get to Freiburg
Freiburg is the capital of the Black Forest in the south of Germany. Freiburg is 7.5 hours from London via Paris on the Eurostar, TGV and ICE.