Alternative Shopping in Berlin

The more you travel, the more aware you that the world is a market. A market in which you can even buy a part of history in the form of pieces of the Berlin Wall. So we grabbed our coats to go shopping in Berlin.

 

Buy a piece of the Berlin Wall: It seems incredible that one can buy a piece of history. But it’s possible. Twenty-five years after the fall of the wall that once separated the East and West sides of this German city, fragments are still being sold. Where? They’re sold on the Internet, with certificates of authenticity and also in some art galleries Berlin. I recommend you to buy it in situ. To give you an idea, a piece the size of your hand can cost between 100 and 150 euros. There is still an area of the Berlin Wall that has been preserved really well. Fortunately, lest we forget history, there’s a mile of the wall still standing with murals offering messages of peace and freedom.

 

The most chic shopping street in Berlin: The Kurfürstendamm is similar to Fifth Avenue in New York, Oxford Street in London and I dare say it might be comparable to the Serrano Street in Madrid. It is the longest shopping street of the city and traversing the entire route is challenging: it has about 4 km of infinite windows. You’ll find the highest concentration of shops per square meter here, in the district of Charlottenburg. On your walk, you’ll encounter hundreds of international and local shops of the best brands. Of course, it is the quintessential money artery, with luxury boutiques, upscale hotels and chic cafes that have become a tourist attraction. And if you still want more, on the Kurfürstendamm you can also find the largest shopping center in Berlin (KaDeWe). The Harrods of Berlin.

Markets and Berlin markets: The city takes to the streets on weekends with markets of all kinds, although I must say that Berliners favor antiques. Not only can you find furniture (like elsewhere) but also books from years ago, vinyl records, used clothing, old weapons, and magazines from another era. These markets, which I highly recommended for collectors, are known as Flohmarkt and Trödelmarkt.

On the other hand, the Kunstmarkt is a traditional arts and crafts market. It’s an ideal place to buy a special gift. The artists are on hand and can explain their works. And as an exception, in this type of market haggling is a standard practice.

Here’s a list of antiques and art markets in Berlin that I would suggest visiting: Kunst und Trödelmarkt, Strasse des 17 Juni, near Tiergarten. Another is the Antik- und Buchmarkt am Bodemuseum, specializing in antiquarian books on Museum Island. Or the Kunstmarkt in Zeughaus, also at the entrance to the Museum Island. For parts and tools, Hallentrödelmarkt in Treptow-Art-Center, for food and crafts the Flohmarkt at Hackescher Markt. And my favorite: the Flea Market in Mauerpark, which is huge and outdoors.

@DianaRPretel