Best Flea Markets in Berlin (BERLIN)
Many consider Berlin as the capital city of flea markets in Germany. And it’s no wonder why this is the second time we write about Berlin’s flea markets on this blog. Flea markets are such a trend there, that each district of Germany’s capital city has its own running on the weekend!
Items on sale range from vintage clothing & treasures from the 70s, to more expensive antiques. Here is the list of our top 5 flea markets in Berlin.
Berlin Mauerpark Flea Market: A flea market with an atmosphere
Every Sunday of the year, rain or shine, up to 30,000 visitors flock at the Mauerpark Flea Market. This flea market, which covers a total of 8 hectares (with up to 500 stalls split over 7000 square meters), is located near the former Todesstreifen (death stripe) at the border area between Wedding and Prenzlauer Berg. This is where its appropriate name “Mauerpark” comes from.
The Mauerpark flea market is dominated by the colorful stalls of traders who bring the trash and junk they have been collecting over the week from dusty attics and dark basements. However, this does not mean that you can not discover one or more hidden gems, among the items offered by professional dealers.
A large selection of items
Because the Berlin Mauerpark Flea Market is open to both private Flea markets dealers (who want to get rid-off their old stuff) and professional trader with their elegant designer items, it has a pretty wide range of different goods, for all tastes.
But this is not the only reason why this flea market is such a hit in Berlin: the festive atmosphere of this venue also made it a must see, in the daily press and tourist guides.
Adjacent to the flea market, numerous musicians and performing artists can be seen on the grassy open space. And around 3:00 p.m., there is a popular karaoke Bearpit in the amphitheater located in the park. With over a million visitors annually, the Mauerpark Flea Market ranks among the most popular destinations in Berlin.
It’s even an all-time favorite of Annette Humpe, a famous German songwriter, pop singer and record producer, who used to perform & chill out there more than 25 years ago. This place is definitely an experience by itself.
Berlin Mauerpark Flea Market
Opening times: Sundays 08:00 am – 6:00 pm (except some public holidays)
Address: Bernauer Strasse 63-64, 13355 Berlin
Read: Berlin Mauerpark Flea Market
Berlin Arkonaplatz Flea Market (Berlin Mitte)
The flea market on Arkonaplatz in Berlin has established itself as one of the best flea markets in Berlin. No wonder why it has been around for over a century. Even the artist Heinrich Zille, featured in 1912 the hustle and bustle of this flea market in one of his paintings. Since 1990, the flea market is open on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. (except on Sundays excluded by law), all year round.
Easy access by public transport
The Arkonaplatz is easily accessible by public transport: with the U8 to Bernauer Straße, by tramway (line M10) or by bus 247 to Wolin Straße. It is also possible to take the tramway line M1 and M12 to Zionskirchplatz. All three stops are only a few minutes walk to the Arkonaplatz flea market.
The place still belongs to the district of Berlin, just a few minutes away from the main attractions of Germany’s capital city. Access by car is not recommended as parking is very limited and therefore quickly full.
Relaxed strolling on the Arkonaplatz
The flea market on Arkonaplatz is an outdoor market. The place is pleasantly shaded by numerous Linden trees and is surrounded by green spaces, which somehow creates an oasis away from the stress of everyday life. The atmosphere at the flea market can be described as comfortable and relaxed.
The Arkonaplatz flea market is a hot tip and is mentioned in several travel guides for its beautiful atmosphere and its historical age. During the summer months, the flea market is especially well attended, but not crowded, thus making it particularly attractive for visitors to stroll in peace and stop at various booths to browse calmly the items on display.
The Arkonaplatz flea market offers a variety of secondhand goods and products: Starting with iconic clothing and jewelery, to footwear and accessories, the range of products sold extends to modern artworks and photographs of Berlin.
Retro fans and DDR nostalgic, will especially find their happiness there. However, records and books can also be found. And if you want to take a break from shopping, you can make a stop at a bratwurst stands or visit one of the cafes and restaurants around the square.
Arkonaplatz: A must-do for any flea market enthusiast
The Arkonaplatz flea market is one of the most beautiful and one of the oldest flea markets of Germany. Its special charm comes from its convenient location, in the shade of the trees of the adjacent park. This makes it particularly popular for strolling and chilling out. Since the flea market is always well attended, it is also popular among sellers.
A small drawback is the relatively high space rent (for those planning to sell). However, due to the relatively high prices at which the products are sold on the market, sellers can still quickly make a good profit, especially in the summer. Overall, the flea market is very popular among both buyers and sellers, and is definitely worth a visit.
Flea market: Trödelmarkt Arkonaplatz
Opening times: Sundays, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Address: Arkona Platz, Berlin
Read: Full review of flea market Arkonaplatz
Fehrbelliner Platz Flea Market: A mecca for art lovers
Located on the outskirts of Berlin city ring, in the Wilmersdorf district, the traditional flea market am Fehrbelliner Platz, is the place where art lovers and flea market fans alike, meet. It is open every weekend from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM (depending on the season), right on the esplanade of the metro station “Fehrbellinerplatz“, which make it pretty easy to reach by public transport.
The Art & flea market on Fehrbellinerplatz mostly showcases art and antiques, but clothing, furniture and other junk items are also sold. The market exclusively offers used products: the sale of new items is expressly prohibited by the market management, thereby guaranteeing a certain level of genuineness.
However, various booth sell self-produced goods, often made from recycled materials. Incidentally, several artists, gallery owners and art dealers show up at the flea market am Fehrbelliner Platz to sell their paintings. From fine art and portraits to crafts and smaller installations, its is possible to find pretty much everything.
Last but not least, the Fehrbelliner Platz flea market also has a few food stalls to satisfy all kinds of appetites.
Don’t be shy at haggling
The very location of the flea market, ideally situated near cafes and boulevards leading to the Fehrbelliner Platz, make it an attraction to many passersby. Also, the Fehrbelliner Platz station features a shopping arcade with 20 retail spaces that daily attract a large audience to the Fehrbelliner Platz.
The Park Café, which is located directly on the Fehrbelliner Platz, attracts numerous visitors alike and also offers flea market visitors a comfortable place to relax and indulge after a morning spent strolling the many flea markets’ booths.
Due to its long tradition, the Art and Flea Market on Fehrbelliner Platz is not only popular among long-established Ur-Berliners, but also among tourists.
During the Kunstmeilen-Saison, the Fehrbelliner Platz flea market takes place every Saturday and Sunday and is almost always populated by numerous visitors rummaging between the booths.
Experienced buyers who have regularly been strolling this flea market for years, know that haggling at the Fehrbelliner Platz flea market requires a bit of negotiating skills.
When negotiating with sellers, it is therefore generally advised to go below their personal “pain threshold” (the Schmerzgrenze in German). “Just be brave,” is the motto here for a successful purchase. Start by asking for instance “Wo liegt ihre Schmerzgrenze für das Objekt?”, and wait for the merchant to get back to you with a proper offer. From here, offer a slightly lower bid (15 to 20% below the price the seller gave you), and go on with the negotiation.
The merchant should know how to act. And as we always say, don’t be afraid to walk away if (or pretend to), to see how the merchant will react. With enough negotiating skills, it is really possible to find great deals at the Fehrbelliner Platz flea market. Overall, the Fehrbelliner Platz Market offers a truly authentic and original flea market experience, like in few other places in Berlin.
Art and flea market on Fehrbellinerplatz
Opening times: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Address: Fehrbellinerplatz, 10713 Berlin
Read: Full review of Kunst- Und Trödelmarkt am Fehrbelliner Platz
Straße des 17. Juni Flea Market: An international atmosphere in the heart of Berlin
The Straße des 17. Juni flea market (also known as Der Original Berliner Trödelmarkt) in Berlin, looks back on a long tradition and is held every Saturday and Sunday of the year, at the famous Straße des 17. Juni (located near the S-Bahn Tiergarten). This flea market is particularly central and nestled in the heart of Berlin’s history.
The Straße des 17. Juni flea market is very popular among locals and tourists (and among famous personalities too!), and many travel guides recommend this venue as a great tip for a stay in Berlin. This is mainly because this flea market is surrounded by historic landmarks.
This is the reason why you will not only see regular visitors, but also tourists and locals who spontaneously stroll the flea market, after a quick walk from the neighboring zoo or the Brandenburg Gate.
The Straße des 17. Juni flea market has all sorts of junks on retail (only “vintage” stuff, as new items are prohibited), including for instance, furniture, records, old movies, computer games, vintage clothing, accessories, porcelain, jewelry and old paintings.
Tips for Flea Market Visitors
Anyone looking for bargains, should show up at the flea market as early as possible. This applies to any flea market around the world. No exception here, except that this flea market only “opens its gates” at 9:45 a.m., which is a pretty decent time compared to most flea markets.
At around 10:00 a.m. the flea market has not yet been (generally speaking) strolled by hordes of visitors. It is the best time of the day to browse the stalls one by one, in a relaxed ambiance. As the day goes by, however, more and more people flock at the flea market; various guides and their groups of tourists, fill the alleys, and the best antiques and unique gems are already gone by then.
This explains the very international atmosphere of the flea market, and the reason why many merchants are able to speak several languages (native English speakers, fear not!). So don’t refrain yourself from haggling, so you don’t end up paying the extra “tourist fee”…
Since tourists visit the flea market in large numbers, merchants are pretty straight forward and open to intercultural exchange. As a matter of facts, any seller who masters English, certainly has a greater advantage when touting his wares, vs a non-English speaker.
The price level of most items sold at the flea market is not too high, as no luxury goods per se are retailed. Art items are of a pretty high quality, but still remain affordable. The communication between dealers and buyers is rather loose and after a hard bargaining/haggling, everyone meets around a cup of tea or coffee (beer works too) to celebrate the deal.
Stroll, haggle, eat and chill
Flea markets with good stuff to buy, are great. But flea markets with good stuff to buy and great food, are even better. The Straße des 17. Juni flea market makes sure that the physiological well-being of its visitors is ensured at all times.
That explains why the Berlin Currywurst “rubs shoulder” with other international specialties (not only Kebab). The presence of musicians and other artists showing their skills, add to the unique charm of the flea market.
Overlooking the Tiergarten, the Victory Column and the Brandenburg Gate, the Straße des 17. Juni flea market is by itself a small retreat that offers a break from the bustling activity of the city.
Flea Market with a heart and soul
The original Straße des 17. Juni flea market was founded in 1973 and remains one of the most famous flea market to date in Berlin.
The location alone makes it so special: there’s hardly any other flea market in the city, which takes place in such a historic site. However sometimes, celebrities make it more crowded and noisy than it’s normally is. But anyone looking for a beautiful, colorful and especially international flea market in Berlin, will find exactly this at the Straße des 17. Juni flea market.
Besides flea market and vintage junkies, art lovers should also visit this flea market, since the focus of the organizers is also to offer young and ambitious artists, a space to expose their creations.
Straße des 17. Juni flea market / Der Original Berliner Trödelmarkt
Opening times: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Address: Straße des 17. Juni, 10623 Berlin
http://www.berlinertroedelmarkt.com/start.html
Spandau Flea market
The Spandau flea market is held every Saturday & Sunday from 08:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. in the antique flea market hall of Spandau (in the outskirts of Berlin), near the Juliusturm.
The hall is easily accessible by public transportation (Subway U7 or bus number X33 to the bus stop Zitadelle). The bus stop is located directly across the antique and flea market hall.
Large selection of antiques and flea market junk
The Spandau flea market takes place every weekend in five covered halls and in an uncovered external area. It attracts every week many visitors from Berlin and surrounding areas, eager to stroll the flea market stalls, in search for a hidden gem.
Private sellers showcase used items such as board games, books, furniture and household appliances. There are also professional traders who complement the range of items on sale, with well-preserved antiques like vintage furniture, vases, crockery and paintings.
Of course, there are also a few stalls selling collectors items such as stamps and coins, and if you’re lucky enough, you could end up finding a true rarity.
The external structure of the antique and flea market hall, provides a nice industrial look to the overall area. The presence of this building creates a positive atmosphere within the outdoor market, which takes place partly in the parking area across the hall.
In the covered halls, many stalls are rented on a monthly basis, which explains why they are particularly nicely decorated and well presented. The atmosphere in the halls is thereby particularly comfortable (some stalls are even organized as real living rooms, filled with quality furniture and details).
After a long stroll between the covered halls and the outside flea market area, it’s time to take a small break; the Spandau flea market has its own bistro, where customers can indulge themselves with a delicious café crème or a tea, as well as a variety of cakes, sandwiches or (as in any flea market in Germany and Austria), sausages.
Open rain or shine!
Because the Spandau flea market has five largely sheltered areas, in addition to its outside flea market space, it is not affected by the weather and remains a popular shopping destination throughout the year.
And since the rent is particularly affordable, especially for the outdoors stalls, most merchants don’t get crazy with their price tags.
Last but not least, sellers looking for a place to sell their merchandises for several months or throughout the year, can manage to get an affordable monthly rent, as well as a lockable space (and thereby get rid of the hassle to assemble and disassemble their stalls on a weekly basis, like on most flea markets).
Spandau Flea market
Opening times: 08:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Address: Am Juliusturm 55, 13599 Berlin
http://www.troedelmarkt-spandau.de/
