The ice cream parlors are open again! But high operating costs have been causing ball prices to rise for years. What amounts should we expect this summer?
When the temperatures slowly rise in spring, city strollers look forward to sweet refreshment at the ice cream parlor. The increased cost of ice cream has been causing dismay among some customers for years. 2025 the ball price cracked in many places Two euro stamp. Prices in indoor catering have also recently climbed, which is putting pressure on fans of the classic spaghetti ice cream. We asked: How expensive will it be this summer?
The main driver for expensive ball prices: rent
The Union of Italian Ice Cream Manufacturers (UNITEIS) cites ever-increasing operating costs as the main driver behind more expensive ball prices. Ice cream parlors in major German cities in particular are struggling with high rents and growing personnel costs. However, not everyone has increased their prices.
We asked ice cream parlors all over Germany how much a scoop of ice cream will cost this year. Spoiler: The prices are between 1.60 and 3.50 euros per ball.
Ice cream prices 2026 in Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne, Berlin and Co.
Munich: Ice cream parlor and pastry shop Sarcletti
The Sarcletti family knows how it works: they have been offering ice cream in their ice cream parlor on Munich’s Rotkreuzplatz for 145 years. Of the 100 types of gelato, more than half are prepared fresh every day. For 2.00 euros per ball Customers can try out a wide range of products. The ice cream parlor has not increased its scoop price compared to last year.
- Ball price in street sales: 2.00 euros (=previous year)
- Spaghetti ice cream: from 9.90 euros (gastro)
- Children’s spaghetti ice cream for adults? Yes.
Stuttgart: Mica ice cream parlor
Things look different in the Mica ice cream parlor on Kronprinzplatz in Stuttgart-Mitte. Horrible rents drive up the price here 2.50 per ball and is Not the only ice cream parlor in Stuttgart with such prices! The café is within walking distance of Stuttgart train station.
- Ball price in street sales: 2.50 euros (+20 cents compared to last year)
- Spaghetti ice cream: Variants from 10.00 euros (street & gastronomy)
- Children’s spaghetti ice cream for adults? No children’s size available.
Cologne: Ice cream parlor Stella D’oro
In the heart of Cologne, the Heumarkt attracts many tourists and passers-by to stroll and linger. The exuberant atmosphere of Cologne city center is the ideal place for an ice cream break. In the ice cream parlor Stella D’oro, the price remains stable despite the central location. As in the last two years, city strollers pay here 2.00 euros per gelato ball.
- Ball price in street sales: 2.00 euros (=previous year)
- Spaghetti ice cream: 9.00 euros (gastro), 7.30 (to go)
- Children’s spaghetti ice cream for adults? No children’s size available.
Berlin: Summertime ice cream & KiezEis
In the warmer seasons, Berlin neighborhood life flourishes. On the other hand, the teams from Summertime ice cream and KiezEis bring cooling to the hot asphalt. But as in the previous year, when Berlin was the most expensive ice patch on average, the temptation remains costly: A ball costs 2.50 euros, According to Gunnar Brückner from KiezEis, the high costs of purchasing goods are also responsible for this. However: Both teams basically stick to their price from the previous year, with KiezEis equalizing the ball price of normal and premium varieties.
- Ball price in street sales: 2.50 euros (=previous year)
- Spaghetti ice cream: 6.80 (only to go), 1.80 euros (children’s size)
- Children’s spaghetti ice cream for adults? Rather not.
KiezEis
- Ball price in street sales: 2.50 euros (=previous year)
- Spaghetti ice cream: 7.90 euros (only to go)
- Children’s spaghetti ice cream for adults? No children’s sizes.
Smaller cities are often cheaper
Where cafés and ice cream parlors don’t charge monstrous rents, prices remain moderate. Just a short train ride out of the big city can do wonders for the price of ice cream…
Uckermark region: InnFernow
Exactly an hour’s drive from Berlin, the Uckermark beckons with refreshingly low prices. In Fürstenberg (Havel) and neighboring Lychen, the ice cream parlor InnFernow sells its gelato between idyllic swimming lakes. With a Ball price of 1.60 euros InnFernow’s ice cream sales are among them Price busters among the providers surveyed.
- Ball price in street sales: 1.60 euros (=previous year)
- Spaghetti ice cream: 7.00 euros (street), 7.50 euros (gastro)
- Children’s spaghetti ice cream for adults? Small portion on offer for 5.50 euros.
Halle (Saale): Ice Cream Café San Marco
Already in the 2025 ice season, Halle offered the cheapest ball prices in Germany at around 1.40 euros. This year too, the San Marco ice cream parlor at the Neustadt shopping center remains a price breaker. Here a scoop of ice cream costs 1.60 euros.
- Ball price in street sales: 1.60 euros (=previous year)
- Spaghetti ice cream: 7.60 euros, children: 5.10 euros (both catering only)
- Children’s spaghetti ice cream for adults? No.
Expensive, more expensive, Sylt: holiday island with top prices
Small place means cheap. Popular holiday regions have their own standards; after all, ice cream tastes best on the beach. One place keeps pushing the price to new heights: Sylt. At the iismeer beach bar, your eye pays attention to the spectacular view. A scoop of organic ice cream costs here A proud 3.50 euros per ball. The restaurant does not offer the classic spaghetti ice cream.
Will there be a big price jump?
In the German metropolises, there seems to be no big price jump among the ice cream parlors surveyed. But: The trend continues towards 2.50 euros per gelato scoop. There is also a big price gap between city and country this year, with prices at 90 cents almost a whole euro per ball between Berlin and its rural neighbors. If you want to save on ice cream sundaes, you don’t have to miss out on the enjoyment of gelato, because in many restaurants adults can also order a child-sized spaghetti ice cream.
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