Coburg Shopping

For convenience, quantity and quality, the e-center probably comes out on top of the others. It's food section is almost as big as Real's, but it's not all the way out of town. It's nearer to the town centre than Tegut, and bigger than the Kaufhof Galeria. The only downside is finding it for the first time, as it is a little out of the way. You can either take a short-cut through the football park, if the gates aren't locked, and across the big wooden bridge to the river. Or, if you are feeling less adventurous, walk as if you were going to Tegut, but take a left after the river down Vorderer Flossanger.

This place describes itself as the first British shop in Coburg, and it probably is. Upstairs you can buy "international food", which is basically a pick your own sandwich selection, with names like "Athen", "London" and "Paris". These sandwiches are pretty tasty, and acceptable for the price. The British "shop" consists of a small rack of items that you will have difficulty buying anywhere else in Germany, including Hobnobs, Crunchies, and Walker'ss Crisps. It's pricey, though, and a packet of Walker's Crisps will set you back a euro, which is twice what you'd pay back in the UK. Still, it's fine for the occasional treat if you are feeling homesick. Buy your Heinz Baked Beans at the Galeria-Kaufhof, though, as they are only 70 cents, and the only difference is that they have "Gebacken Bohen" written on them as well as "Baked Beans".

There are two local breweries, and a couple of excellent nearby beers. The Coburger is the obvious one, and is brewed at the Coberger Brauerie up at the end of Rosenauer Strasse. It's right next door to the run-down looking Scheidmantel brewery. Being as you can still buy this beer, and yes it is pronounced ***e-mantel, I imagine that this isn't being used any more. Nearby to Coburg is the excellent Kulmbach beer. Kulmbach is quiet famous for its beer, and even has its own nine-day beer festival every year, at the end of July. One other commonly seen beer about the town is the Franken Brau, which I believe is made in nearby Bamberg.

Basic pharmaceutical products like aspirin and stomach settlers, don't appear to be legally saleable in Germany in ordinary shops. This means you have to buy them from an phamarcy (apotheke), which can prove difficult, if you have to ask for something in German. At Stadt Apotheke, on Spittalgasse, near the McDonald's in the centre of town, has staff who all seem to speak very good English.

Stadt-Apotheke is open from 08:00 to 18:30 weekdays, and until 19:00 on Thursdays. Saturdays it is only open until two in the afternoon, and on Sundays it is (surprise!) closed.

The Galeria-Kaufhof is a large department store in town, packed out with everything you might expect from a Myers or Marks and Spencers. It also has a convenient little food section that includes some little niceties that you will have difficulty finding anywhere else in Coburg, like Heinz Baked Beans (Gebakene Bohnen). It's a little more expensive than other places, but very useful if you are too lazy to walk to the out of town supermarkets, or wander around the town looking for clothes, gadgets, stationary, etc.

The opening hours are 09:00 until 20:00 every day except Saturday, when it closes at 18:00. It's closed all day Sunday, of course.

Even further out of town that the Tegut, is the Real hypermarket, which sells pretty much everything you could need to live on for an eternity. Apart from an expansive grocery section, they also sell clothes, books, electrical goods, and plenty more besides. Outside the main store itself are a number of small restaurants and take-aways, including the Turkish Umut. The only down side to the place is the distance you have to travel to get there. It's fine if you have a car, but if you are walking, it is a good 20 minutes from town, even if you are a fast walker. It's is, however, en route to Schloss Rosenau, so worth dropping in if you are going out to see Prince Albert's palace.

Opening hours are 08:00 until 20:00 every day, except Sunday when it is completely closed. Don't forget your one euro coin for the shopping trolley, like I do every time.

There are a few supermarkets selling groceries around the main town, but they are small and often difficult to find, tucked in back streets and never advertised particularly well. One of the best places to shop, especially if you have a car, is at Tegut on the outskirts of town. It has everything you might need, grocery wise, and a lot of good local produce too. It even caters quite well to vegetarians. Don't forget to bring a one euro coin for a deposit on the trolleys, as annoyingly they don't have any hand baskets.

Opening hours are 08:00 until 20:00, and until 18:00 on a Saturday. Like almost everywhere in Germany it is completely closed on a Sunday.