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Cologne’s Schildergasse was Europe’s most popular shopping street in 2021
Cologne’s pedestrian street Schildergasse was the most frequently visited shopping street in Europe last year, according to a research conducted by BNP Paribas Real Estate and Locatus. The study found that some 77,200 people per day took a stroll down Schildergasse in September last year, securing the top spot in the rankings.
Furthermore, the German city led by mayor Henriette Reker, appeared in the Top 10 once more. Cologne’s Hohe Straße came 8th with some 48,000 daily visitors, ranking just between Milan’s Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Barcelona’s Avenida Portal del Ángel.
“With the appeal of Schildergasse and Hohe Strasse, Cologne has placed itself at the top of the European league. Our city’s diverse offerings provide a shopping experience that continues to keep pace with other metropolises in Europe”, said Manfred Janssen, Managing Director of KölnBusiness Wirtschaftsförderung.
The second edition of Pan-European footfall analysis examined pedestrian traffic on significant streets in 34 European cities. Aside from the footfall analysis of popular shopping districts, the study also highlighted similar tendencies in the development of downtowns and city policies across the old continent.
“Mixed-use projects are becoming the norm throughout Europe. Local authorities support these urban developments as they strive to upgrade their inner cities and breathe life back into neglected districts. These schemes are popular as they attract different categories of people – shoppers, workers and inhabitants – which generate constant flows,” it was stated in the report.
London’s iconic Oxford street placed 2nd in the research, followed by another two German cities. Munich’s Kaufingerstraße was ranked third, while Frankfurt’s premier pedestrian promenade Zeil achieved the 4th place in the new rankings. Schildergasse, however, once again confirmed its top status among numerous competitors.
“Although the pandemic is affecting many sectors, we can look to the future with optimism. Together, we must now continue to expand the attractiveness of our shopping streets and add new formats. In this way, Cologne will remain a shopping metropolis with international appeal,” Janssen concluded. (photo credit: Wikimedia)
