Bargain Hunting at the Best Weekend Markets in Berlin
From vintage fashion and antiques to food markets offering local and international delicacies, Berlin’s weekend markets are a treasure trove for bargain hunters.
There are few cities that round off the week quite like the German capital. While perhaps not as iconic as its infamous nightclub scene, Berlin’s weekend markets are arguably just as exciting: peruse the market at Boxhagener Platz with mulled wine in hand, splurge on vinyl records at Mauerpark and socialise with the chefs at Berlin’s Thai Park.
1. A little bit of everything at Mauerpark flea market
Market, Park, Shop
2. A multi-market experience at Boxhagener Platz
Park
4. A gastronomic microcosm of Berlin at Markthalle Neun
Food Truck, Market, Food Stall, Food Stand, Street Food
When the weather turns, head indoors to Kreuzberg’s Markthalle Neun, a historic market hall that first opened its doors in 1891. Saved from the clutches of property developers by the tenacity of local residents, Markthalle Neun reopened in its current incarnation in 2011. Mirroring Berlin’s multicultural melting pot, here you’ll find fourth-generation baker Frau Zeller serving up seasonal cake slices to savour with a latte from artisan coffee spot Kaffee 9, a smorgasbord of cheese at Alte Milch, Portuguese delicacies from Marafado Berlin and Austrian specialties such as homemade sausages at Menze. Start your weekend a day early by visiting the wildly popular Thursday evening Street Food Market, or stop by for a morning treat at the Breakfast Market on the third Sunday of every month.
5. Books and antiques at the Bode Museum market
Museum
6. Street food at Thai Park
Market, Park
7. Family-friendly shopping at Arkonaplatz
Market
Occupying the same cobbled square where women gathered to sell their wares a century ago, the tree-lined Arkonaplatz flea market in the central Mitte district is Berlin trinket shopping at its most picturesque. Not as crowded as the nearby Mauerpark market, it’s the ideal spot for Berliners to sell their vintage clothes, GDR memorabilia, children’s toys, old records and second-hand furniture, making for a local but lively atmosphere filled with friendly chatter (not to mention the smell of sizzling Bratwurst). And when you’re finally shopped out, the square’s cafés and eateries are prime locations for that other legendary Berlin pastime: people watching. Pop into the cute Café Fräulein Dietrich to refuel with some caffeine, or enjoy some hearty German fare at Altberliner.
This article is an updated version of a story created by Lily Cichanowicz.
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