Shopping

Düsseldorf is a city of high fashion and high prices. Many chic Europeans visit the city just to shop for what's new and hot. The best and trendiest fashions are sold on the opulent east side of the Königsallee. The two largest concentrations of designer shops are found at the Kö Galerie, Königsallee 60, and the Kö Center, Königsallee 30. Each gallery has some 100 shops. Those not interested in dishing out lots of euros for designer duds should head for the more recently opened Schadow Arcade, off Schadowplatz, at the end of the Kö. Fashion here isn't so haute, but neither are the prices. Shoppers spend some 500 million euros in the shops on Schadowstrasse annually -- more than is spent on any other street in the country.

Antiques -- Düsseldorf's historic core contains a fine selection of antiques stores. Lothar Heubel, Bastionstrasse 27 (tel. 0211/134103; U-Bahn: Heinrich-Heine-Allee), specializes in Asian and African antiques, including jewelry, ceramics, and Chinese items from the Han, Ming, and Tang dynasties, mixed in with a handful of antiques from Provence and the south of France.

Department Stores -- Carsch Haus, Heinrich-Heine-Platz (tel. 0211/83970; U-Bahn: Heinrich-Heine-Allee), carries a good selection of fashions, as well as quality home furnishings, jewelry, and other items.

Designer Clothing & Accessories -- Bogner Shop, Königsallee 6-8 (tel. 0211/134222), carries functional sportswear that's meant for action on the golf course, tennis court, and ski slopes. The designers have their workshop on the second floor.

Chanel, Kö Center (tel. 0211/325935), offers the company's complete line of products, from clothing to cosmetics and fragrances.

Shoes and more shoes fill the racks at Walter Steiger Schuhe, Kö Galerie (tel. 0211/134104), the German designer of high-quality, high-fashion footwear. Choose from luggage, handbags, shoes, and other accessories at Etienne Aigner, Kö Galerie (tel. 0211/3230955). In the boutique of Louis Vuitton, Kö Center (tel. 0211/323230), leather accessories, luggage, and handbags are sold.

Dinnerware & Kitchen Accessories -- A diversity of items and styles can be found at Georg Jensen, Kö Galerie (tel. 0211/324281), the shop of the Danish designer who redefines silver flatware, bowls, candle sticks, coffee pots, and much more.

Furniture & Decorative Accessories -- One of Düsseldorf's largest purveyors of Art Deco furniture and art objects is Arts Decoratifs, Hohestrasse 20 (tel. 0211/324553; U-Bahn: Heinrich-Heine-Allee). Look for lamps, vases, paperweights, and high-quality prewar costume jewelry, some of which could make good souvenirs.

Jewelry & Watches -- Located in the heart of the designer shopping district, Wempe Juwelier, Königsallee 14 (tel. 0211/324077), is one of a chain of 23 shops scattered throughout Düsseldorf that carries Swiss watches and jewelry designs in gold, silver, and precious stones.