Saxony-Anhalt sits at the historical heart of Germany, stretching along the Elbe and Saale rivers between the Harz mountains in the west and the Fläming heathland in the east. Its capital, Magdeburg, anchors the north, while Halle (Saale), the state's largest city, dominates the south. The state holds five UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the medieval half-timbered old town of Quedlinburg, the Luther Memorials in Wittenberg and Eisleben where the Protestant Reformation began, Naumburg Cathedral with its celebrated 13th-century sculpture, the Bauhaus buildings in Dessau, and the landscaped Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
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Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Halloren Schokoladenfabrik Shop and Museum
The factory shop and small museum of Halloren Schokoladenfabrik, founded in 1804 and recognised as Germany's oldest continuously operating chocolate factory, selling its full range of pralines and chocolate products.
Where: Halle (Saale)
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-18:00, Sat 9:00-16:00 (museum hours may vary)
Rotkäppchen Erlebniswelt Shop, Freyburg
The shop attached to the Rotkäppchen Erlebniswelt (experience world) in Freyburg, selling the full current range of Rotkäppchen sparkling wines alongside other Saale-Unstrut regional wines, at the site of Germany's oldest sparkling wine producer, founded in 1856.
Where: Freyburg (Unstrut), Saale-Unstrut wine region
Hours: Daily, seasonal hours; typically 10:00-17:00 with extended hours in summer
Quedlinburg Old Town Craft and Antique Shops
The narrow, winding lanes of Quedlinburg's UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town, one of Germany's best-preserved medieval town centres, are lined with small independent craft workshops, antique dealers, and galleries rather than chain retailers.
Where: Quedlinburg old town
Hours: Generally Mon-Sat 10:00-18:00; hours vary by individual shop
Wernigerode Woodcraft Workshops
Small craft workshops and shops in Wernigerode's colourful half-timbered old town continuing the Harz region's traditional wood turning and carving trade, producing nutcrackers, smoking figures, and other decorative wooden items.
Where: Wernigerode old town
Hours: Generally Mon-Sat 10:00-18:00; hours vary by individual workshop
Magdeburg Christmas Market
Magdeburg's annual Christmas market spreads across the Alter Markt and the square in front of Magdeburg Cathedral, with stalls selling handicrafts, ornaments, mulled wine, and traditional festive food.
Where: Magdeburg old town
Hours: Late November to shortly before Christmas, daily; hours vary by year
Halle Christmas Market
Halle's Christmas market fills the historic Marktplatz beneath the Marktkirche and the freestanding Roter Turm (Red Tower), one of the city's most recognisable landmarks, with stalls selling crafts, ornaments, and festive food and drink.
Where: Halle (Saale) old town
Hours: Late November to shortly before Christmas, daily; hours vary by year
Quedlinburg Christmas Market
Quedlinburg's Christmas market spreads through the Marktplatz and up toward the Schlossberg, set among the UNESCO World Heritage-listed half-timbered old town, widely regarded as one of the most atmospheric Christmas market settings in the region.
Where: Quedlinburg old town
Hours: Late November to shortly before Christmas, daily; hours vary by year
Wernigerode Christmas Market
Wernigerode's Christmas market fills the Marktplatz in front of its famously ornate, fairy-tale-style town hall, with stalls selling Harz woodcraft, ornaments, and festive food, set against the backdrop of Wernigerode Castle on the hill above.
Where: Wernigerode old town
Hours: Late November to shortly before Christmas, daily; hours vary by year
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Allee-Center, Magdeburg
Magdeburg's largest shopping mall, in the city centre near Hasselbachplatz, with over 130 shops spanning national and international clothing, electronics, and homeware chains across several floors, alongside a food court.
Magdeburg Old Town (Breiter Weg)
Magdeburg's historic main shopping street, Breiter Weg, rebuilt after wartime destruction and now lined with a mix of chain retailers, independent shops, and cafés running from the cathedral toward the Elbe.
Halle Marktplatz and Leipziger Straße
Halle's central Marktplatz and the adjoining pedestrianised Leipziger Straße form the city's main shopping district, mixing independent shops, bakeries, and national chains around the landmark Marktkirche and Red Tower (Roter Turm).
Quedlinburg Old Town
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed half-timbered old town of Quedlinburg, with narrow lanes lined by small, independent craft shops, antique dealers, and galleries rather than chain retailers, reflecting the town's status as one of Germany's best-preserved medieval centres.