The 10 Best Markets in Berlin

The Neuköllner Market stretches far into the distance from the banks of the Maybach Shore of the River Spree on a good day; a long, vibrant dash of stalls and stages that gives the impression that the whole city has gathered for sun-gazing and singing. Vinyls, emerging art pieces, hand-made accessories and vintage clothes are just some of the things that adorn the tables, and if you decide to take a tour, make sure you’re prepared for some serious bazaar bargaining, as the Berliners here love a little haggle. Even if you can’t find something that draws your eye, why not just choose a drink, listen to some music and kick-back on the river banks? Address: Neukoelln Flohmarkt, Maybachufer 31, Berlin, Germany

The sprawling Bode-Museum Market boasts not only an incredible range of antiquities and books, but also some breath-taking views over the River Spree and Berlin’s Museum Island. Unlike other markets around the city center, this one throbs with life right throughout the year. It is packed with literary rarities, military objects, clothing, art, stamps, tableware, postcards, and vinyl, not to mention a drool-worthy array of old-school comic books. Don’t forget the haggling skills either! Antik- und Buchmarkt am Bodemuseum Berlin, Am Kupfergraben, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Consumed by desire to find original pieces, the collectors that gather in Ostbahnhof, Berlin’s east-side train station, often know precisely what they’re searching for and where to find it. That means this bazaar is usually an explosive mix of vendors and collectors, haggling and bartering, where the genuine antiquarian allure of a classic flea-market is to be found. Expect oodles of retro gadgetry, coins, maps, Russian Babushka dolls and small furniture pieces galore! Antikmarkt Ostbahnhof, Erich-Steinfurth-Straße 1, Berlin, Germany

Nestled right near the Nazareth Church, this flea market in Leopoldplatz is celebrated for the vast and kaleidoscopic range of paraphernalia it has on offer. The area between the church and the metro station fills up with colors on the weekend, manifesting in stands of evocative clothing pieces, chic decorations, small furnitures, kitsch paintings and jewellery. So, whether you’re a die-hard connoisseur of antiquities or simply a wandering rambler looking to haggle under the German sun, you can rest assured you will find the adventurous flea spirit alive and kicking at Leopoldplatz.

A well-kept secret of Berlin locals is the Thai food market in Wilmersdorf. It not only brings the dazzling sensations of Asian cuisine to bear on native Berliners, but also offers an introduction to the secrets of Southeast Asian arts and crafts, courtesy of the Thai ladies managing the various trinket stalls. The market is more of an ad-hoc gathering than a designated event, which has given it a somewhat self-sustaining and mysterious air that’s difficult not to like.