You don’t know shopping until you’ve been to Berlin. The German capital has turned the conventions of retail on its head, providing tourists with a unique and wildly diverse shopping experience.
- Berlin nightRobert Debowski / Foter.com / CC BY
The German capital’s comparatively low shop rental rates have attracted designers and entrepreneurs from around the globe, helping to create a shaken-up cocktail of stores. International names are sandwiched between quirky boutiques, with tourists never quite knowing what they will find around the next corner.
Anyone staying in Berlin really can find whatever they want to in the German capital – read on to find out about just a few of its shopping highlights.
Mitte
This central district spans both Western and Eastern parts of Berlin and is home to some of the hottest designer stores the capital has to offer. The area oozes urban cool, with organic cafes and surreal artistic spaces adding to the outsider allure of Mitte.
Andreas Murkudis’ three boutiques sum up the trendy shopping experience of the area, with its minimalist design and outstanding service the benchmark for all. Selling both German and international designer pieces, his AM1, AM2 and AM3 outlets also stock attractive jewellery and furniture.
Visitors should also take a trip to the relaxed Galerie Goff + Rosenthal, which showcase the area’s artistic pedigree and champion’s emerging and innovative art.
KaDeWe
A ‘must see’ for any self-respecting shopper, the KaDeWe is the second largest department store in Europe. Located on the Tauentzienstraße shopping district, this iconic eight-floored store first threw its doors open to customers in 1907. Selling everything from beauty products to electronics and suits, KaDeWe attracts over 40,000 locals and tourists each day.
Kreuzberg
Independence is key in Kreuzberg. Formerly the beating heart of Berlin’s punk rock movement, the area’s shops are now revolutionizing the city’s retail scene. Hardwax is the kind of music shop tourists dream about, with the record store the epicentre of the German capital’s renowned electronic scene for over 20 years.
Dialogue is one of the coolest book shops in the city, catering to Berlin’s large English-speaking population and even having a book doctor on hand to cure your paperback problems. Visitors to Kreuzberg should also stop off at Voo clothing store and enjoy its inviting rails of high quality outfits.
Pop ups
Taking advantage of the most exciting shopping opportunities in Berlin also requires luck however. The city is famous for its wondrous pop-up stores, which can spring up in old factories as easily as disused galleries or retail spaces. Visitors should search online prior to travelling to the city to find out what’s happening during their trip, with the weeks around Christmas always a buoyant time in Berlin’s pop-up world.
What is your favourite shop in Berlin?
