Berlin and its Flohmarkts
Berlin is a city full of contrasts, a place that can’t stop surprising you. Everyday, as you wander around the streets, you easily find something new that catches your eye.
One of the things that really attracted our attention during our first days here was the amount of markets that the city has. From food to authentic vintage clothes or just some old stuff that Berliners want to get rid of, here you can find things you would never imagine.
As far as we know, the markets can be classified according these types. The most popular are the Flohmarkt and the Trödelmarkts (the flea markets). Nevertheless, there are famous food markets too, the Künts und Trödel Markts (antique markets), and the Weihnachtsmarkts (only in Christmas time). In this post, we are going to talk about some of our most-liked flea markets: Flohmarkt am Mauerpark, Trödelmarkt Arkonaplatz, Flohmarkt am Boxhagener Platz and Hallentrödelmarkt Treptow.
Flohmarkt am Mauerpark (Sundays from 8 to 18h)
Mauerpark could be considered the king of the Berlin flea markets. Its dimensions and number of stands makes it the most popular among the Berliners and the tourists too. Be warned so, that it is always very crowded.
It is located in the nice neighbourhood of Prenzlauer Berg. It is said to be one of the eastern districts with the fastest rejuvenation after the reunification. A lot of artists, creatives and intellectuals went to live there. Even thought Berliners claim that it has lost its edge, it is a good idea to check out the cute bars, cafes and shops of the area.
If you really want to have an insight of what is Mauerpark, you should devote the whole Sunday to it. You can find everything needed to spend the entire day. The amount of stands is amazing, it is almost impossible to take a look at all of them. What is more, each of them sell different things, from vintage clothes and little designers’ collections, to second-hand furniture, vinyls, old cameras, bikes, leather bags and many more non classifiable items.
Whenever you feel hungry, you can choose from a wide range of different food, such us Wursts (German sausages), Turkish specialities, Vegan food, Burgers, Waffles… And if it is sunny, we truly suggest you to chill in a deck chair of the fake beach and listen to some live music. Then, if you are tired of haggling and you want to have fun, you can go to the big open-air Karaoke. It is full of young people singing without any embarrassment.
Trödelmarkt Arkonaplatz (Sundays from 10 to 16h)
Situated also in Prenzlauer Berg, this flea market differs a lot from Mauerpark. It is installed in the small square of Arkonaplatz. So its little proportions makes it really homelike and warm. Moreover, the stallholders are most of them families selling their kids’ old clothes and toys. Even though, you can also find other second-hand items and antiques as well as home made food.
In this familiar atmosphere, you will rarely find tourists. The market it’s more popular amongst the Berliners of the neighbourhood. As its visit doesn’t require much time, we recommend you to combine it with Mauerpark.
Flohmarkt am Boxhagener Platz (Sundays from 10 to 18h)
The Flohmarkt am Boxhagener Platz is a truly familiar market with a very homely atmosphere. It is located in Friedrichshain area, a quite pleasant part of the city from old East Berlin. Nowadays this is a young and dynamic zone which seems to be full of life. There is plenty of restaurants and cafes, tiny charming shops and some second hand stores.
You can quickly get to the market from Warshauer Strasse station. Incredible may it seem, it is possible that if you go at 11 on the morning you will find some people that are still partying or something. That actually happened to us!
Just as the one in Mauerpark, the market takes place every Sunday, that is you will consequently find it less crowded. However there is an amount of people too, so it is better to go early to find the best bargains. Despite being a small flea market, here you can find many things, from second hand books to vintage clothes, antiques and furniture. And all of them come from proper Berliners that sell their own stuff. You can find hand-made objects such as t-shirts too. Normally there is no food, because a food market takes place there on Saturdays since 1905. Anyway, you can simply eat something in one of the restaurants located in the same square. Hamburgers are mouthwatering!
On the whole, we can say it is a perfect market for enjoying a sunny Sunday in a undisturbed market.
Hallentrödelmarkt Treptow (Saturdays and Sundays from 11 to 16h)
You will find this market in Treptow, East Berlin too. This area is located next to Neukölln and under Friedrichshain. At first sight, it seems to be a very nice and peaceful neighbourhood which is well-known because of its large park.
Apparently, this flea market is in doors, that is the stallholders do not need to pack their stuff every time. And maybe because of that the place is so full of stuff. We were under the impression that it is an old building that has been filled up with cheap goods and dust during the years. However, as you walk through the place, you realise that you can still find something valuable.
To everyone’s surprise, you can find hundreds of remote controls, cables, old VHS players and even vintage telephones. There are many different home accessories too. At the same time you can buy the typical flea markets’ stuff, like second-hand furniture and vintage clothes, specially boots, fur coats and leather jackets.
To sum up, we highly recommend this market to people who are in need of something particular or those who want to find unusual vintage stuff.
Personally speaking, these are just the ones that you shouldn’t miss. As might be expected, there are more Flohmarkts in Berlin. Some of them are temporary or take place just once in a while. We guess that there are still more which are unknown and waiting to be discovered.
And this is Berlin, a quite unknown city which is worth exploring.
We have written this post for El Blog de María León. There you can find it in the Spanish version.
Text by Sílvia Cabra and Silvia Conde and pictures by Silvia Conde.
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
- From Paris to Berlin « Marte Englefjes
- Berlin and its Flohmarkts | Infos Press
- Stöbern, bis der Arzt kommt « Alraunes Blog
- Flohmarkt | fremded
- Berlin and its Flohmarkts II: Nowkoelln Flowmarkt | She Thought Outside The Box
- Berlin and its Flohmarkts: Kreuzboerg Flowmarkt | She Thought Outside The Box
- Flea Markets in Barcelona: LostandFound | She Thought Outside The Box
- A Little Portrait of Treptow | She Thought Outside The Box
Are they really just selling those on the streets? It must be so nice to have a walk in that place, beautiful things everywhere. And I really love those satchels. :
You may want to visit the flea markets of Bangkal, Makati and the Sunday Markets at Legazpi Village, Salcedo Village, and Mercato at Taguig. (^_^)
Lots of markets? Now THAT sounds like a fun destination. And the pictures definitely make me want to visit…
Great post, thank-you for sharing some useful information about Berlin markets – my favorite & some great pics aswell
I love flea and junk markets. This one looks especially amazing though, I’m jealous!
Great post. I went to one of these when I was in Berlin with a young teen son a few years ago and we had a ball (can’t remember now which one it was). Really enjoyed your descriptions. Thanks.
Nice and interesting stuffs in here, I could not help myself but to admire your work. I`m going to Germany next month and this information will be much helpful to learn about German culture and places to go. Good post! Like!
Very nice photos. Thanks for sharing the sights. Connie
http://7thandvine.wordpress.com/
I would go home with a dozen books from these Flohmärkte.
Amazing stuff
I would not be able to leave!
Wow! Nice pics! I was in Berlin right before Christmas but obviously spent too little time as I missed all these cool flea markets. We did some vintage shopping though.
Should have gone in the fall or spring. Maybe next summer I’ll go again! 
Having a German grandmother, your pics stirred up some good memories. Thank you.
Neat post that really captures the spirit of the city…thanks for sharing all those images, too. Makes me want to visit!
A nice article, well researched too. I enjoyed reading it although I have already been there but the photos were great
This is stunning, and I love Berlin and its hidden gems. Thanks for sharing this
Great post! I myself have fond memories of afternoons spend perusing through the items offered at the Flohmarkt am Boxhagnerplatz and eating a delicious veggie burger from Burgeramt. I love Berlin!
Wow – looks like some great stuff. I love Berlin!
Great post! Thank you for sharing! I really miss Berlin and hope to travel there again in the near future. This brought so many memories..
namaste
EL
http://www.mslevontraveling.com
The Turkish markets in Kreuzberg are also very good!
I love Berlin, & I love old stuff, so I thoroughly enjoyed this mini-excursion via your post. Wish I could pick up those two armchairs…
Great post, been there before…love the city
I enjoyed your photos. I had my first visit to Berlin three weeks ago and I can’t wait to go back. One weekend is not enough!
I loved this post. Thanks for sharing your photos. Now to sit and my desk and wish I was in Berlin for a few hours.
moving there soon
this looks like a place where a lot of goodies are being sold – stuff aren’t even found on ebay-like sites
Hm… Very interesting. I’ve never been to Berlin but this will be a city I keep on my list.
The Christmas markets in Köln were magical and fun! Will have to visit the Berlin markets now. Thanks for the great market guide.
42 Shelton Street at Covent Garden had an awsome Vintage-store named Rokit, and I also liked UrbanOutfitters vnitage clothes.Your blog is awsome, keep on rocking!
I visited Berlin in May of last year and absolutely loved it! Thanks so much for posting and congrats on being Freshly pressed! Will be following you from here onward and hoping to see more of Berlin!
Love your photos. We lived in GE but never got to Berlin. I love the markets all over though…good post.
I’m ready to go right now!
Awesome post! Thank you for sharing your photography and experiences with the Berlin markets! My favorites are Weinachtsmärkte.
Definitely following your blog.
Have a wonderful day!
I’ve always loved flea markets. I usually spend my Sundays in one. I would like to buy some vintage furniture from those market some day.
great images.
loved berlin!
You know, this is a very interesting read – more so because I was just telling my girlfriend how we should check out the markets in Berlin – my friend Coob lives over there, and he was telling me that Americans are always talking about the markets in places like Cairo, but that Berlin is teeming with all kinds of merchandise ranging from toothbrushes to furniture. Last summer, I spent some time in Amsterdam, and following his advice checked out the local markets, and now thanks to your post, it looks like the girlfriend and I have some shopping to do when we travel in a few weeks to visit. From here in New York City, I thank you for the lovely read (and for helping me prove to my girlfriend that Coob was right!).
Sehr schoene Fotos! I always loved Berlin- one of my favourite cities, but I’ve never been to this particular flohmarkt; I will the next time I am in Germany.
More more more of this
Super great post. Ohhh how much i miss Berlin’s markets!!! I’m even thinking of launching a flea market for fashionistas in Beirut! 
Reblogged this on From Keyboard To The World ™.
It looks wonderful!
Tribe of Mannequins wordpress.
Gorgeous pics! Looks like a fabulous place to shop
Hopefully i’ll stumble across a few of these AND have backpack space this December!
I would have wanted everything. How can one resist? Great post and great pics.
val
http://valentinedefrancis.wordpress.com
As a fleamarket junkie thank you so much for this post! I collect info on fleamarkets around the world (does that make me a bit sad?) and am adding this to my Berlin file. You just can’t beat a morning mooching round a fleamarket. My best-ever find came from Los Encantes market in Barcelona – a full-length, genuine Pucci print dress for 200 pesetas (1 euro!). Can’t wait to check out Berlin now!
Thank you for posting such an interesting article in Arabia we the same but they extra things such as animals like camels and cats and dogs and birds and it a place people see each other to socialize and exchange looks thanks again.
Thanks for sharing! I plan to visit Berlin soon, so i will be sure to add these to my “to do” list!
Wonderful post!
Bravisssimo!
What a terrific article! You gave me some ideas for our neighborhood yard sale we are having next month. I’m going to market my section as “Flohmarkt.”
Greetings from our htysite
Those Berlin flea markets look like my kind of place! Time to grab some euros and go!
Fantastic pictures. I love photographing clusters of small items. A new context is created !
I love flea markets. Shoot, I love shopping period!
wow how cool my man is from Kempton Germany…I cant wait to go check out their culture…I love these sales here in the US…think of germany??? T
I would not be able to leave
Having been in Berlin almost a year now, these kinds of things never cease to amaze me about the place! The Flohmarkts especially…I wrote a post about it a while back, how there is so much random stuff everywhere!
http://anywherehome.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/get-your-stuff-here-extravaganza/
Cheers!
Oh wow.. It looks like a garage or something.
Very nice post indeed. Excellent images.
Great posts! Just another reason to visit Berlin. Looking forward to reading more of your blog!
How fabulous! Kinda reminds me of portobello market here in London (albeit smaller), full of wonderful wacky and beautiful antigue stuff…
This is a great article! Boxhagener Platz market is brilliant – especially in winter with hot Gluwine to carry round!
I love this post. I am a big fan of flea markets and have an ambition to travel the world in search of others.
Wow! Thank goodness the train from Australia doesn’t stop there or I’d be broke.
beautiful post! i would love to go there, i think i could spend lots of hours and wouldn’t tire looking around and shopping.. i love those vintage-y trinkets and those lovely teapots.. thanks for sharing..
Great post, and nice photos. I love Berlin. I don’t know it terribly well, but the times that I’ve been there it has really captured my imagination in unexpected ways. The flea markets, and your post about them, now remind me why. Cheers.
Oh my gosh these photos give me such Heimweh! I was just complaining about north american “flea markets” to a friend no more than two days ago. I so wish I could find some true Floh- or Troedelmaerkte to spend hours and hours searching for treasure. My best stuff comes from there and always manages to make it back to Canada unharmed. What passes for a flea market on this continent is quite sad.
thanks for the tip! we’ll have to go back to check these out – we were only able to do Arkonaplatz but got there so early that we would have waited another hour just for the antique vendors to set up. that and it was pouring rain!
You have a great eye; and those photos are superb!
Based on the photos you shared with us it seems like these flea markets have a lot to offer! I feel that they have far more interesting and historically appealing items than we do here at an American swap meet! What fascinates me is the fact that each item has a story to tell and if I were there walking past each table I would be attempting to decipher where each piece originated from as well as its background. Hope you had fun there! Thank you for sharing!
If it’s alright with you, I started a blog of my own not too long ago and I would like to invite you and your readers to please check out my posts, comment, and subscribe! I would really appreciate any feedback as well as your support by signing up! The link is http://www.logicmeetsreason.wordpress.com Thank you so much!
I really enjoyed this blog. I spent a few weekends in Berlin last year and really enjoyed pottering around the flea markets then having a fantasic brunch after. Sundays are my favourite days in Berlin. Thanks for bringing back some happy memories!
I love Berlin but I must admit I didn’t go to the Flea Markets. Feel like I’ve missed out
I love finding flea markets, so many hidden treasures!
This is great. I am off to Berlin in just over a month. I will put the markets on my list of things to check out.
I love flea markets, wherever they are. They’re so great you get some really unique things.
Now that’s a Dinsey land!
When I am in a flea market, I am trying very hard to keep myself on the leash and my wallet close to me and shut as I easily loose my mind seeing all of thsoe fantastic treasures – wonderful retro travel boxes, hats, dishes….I’d wish to be there!
http://dressupforme.wordpress.com/
Thank you this is really interesting. I am going to Berlin in mid March and wanted to know more about the markets so this is very useful.
Gemma
Beautiful and rich photography. Lovely.
This is a great post, I live in P Berg just down the road from Mauer Park and I can’t wait for Summer to come so I can really enjoy the park’s perks! I’m in the process of moving flats and so will scour some of these markets to get some cheap beauties!
Since shopping is an extreme sport for me I think I should definitely visit! Antiques and collectible are my favorite and your pictures captured the spirit of the hunt beautifully! Thanks for sharing and congrats on being Freshly Pressed…also thanks for the detail of address as I think I will be traveling soon and should be able to find these places thanks to you!
The plural of “Flohmarkt” is “Flohmärkte”.
Just adding an “s” would be far too simple and logical.
Oooooh thinking of going to Berlin for the weekend in March. I love Germany…….. spent Christmas in Baden-Baden and Freiburg! So beautiful!
I spent 4 years in Berlin. Nice blog. New here come visit.
Reblogged this on playground and commented:
/
Whoa! This is interesting! \
As with all flea markets I could do some serious damage there. Such wonderful things
J’adore ton blog, il est super!
Hello there! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I truly enjoy reading your posts. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that cover the same subjects? Thank you!