Most Salzgitter residents head to Braunschweig or Wolfenbüttel for serious shopping, but the city centre in Salzgitter-Lebenstedt covers the everyday basics. Walking from the train station, you'll pass the Citytorcenter on the right, then the Créteil-Passage and the Stadtpassage facing each other along the main pedestrian stretch, plus a C&A near the town hall. Standard high-street fare: shoes, clothing, accessories.
Worth a detour is Bellsdorf Schreib- und Spielwaren (In den Blumentriften 6), a toy and stationery shop that has occupied the same spot for over 30 years. The windows are crammed with toys floor to ceiling, with an old-fashioned charm that chain stores rarely manage. Kids love it; adults feel unexpectedly nostalgic.