Shopping in Berlin: the best streets, shopping centres and boutiques

Rules to know before you go shopping

Department stores and shopping centres open Monday to Saturday, usually from 10:00 to 20:00, and close on Sundays and public holidays: in Berlin, as in almost all of Germany, a Sunday without a flea market is better spent in a museum or on a walk. Small shops often close earlier, around 18:00 or 19:00, and some stay closed on Mondays. A few supermarkets in train stations and the Spätis (late-night shops) open on Sundays for essentials.

For payment, cards are accepted in department stores and shopping centres, but small stalls and some cafés still ask for cash: our guide to paying in Berlin explains the cases. Sales do not follow a strict legal calendar: they mostly take place in January and February, then in July and August.

The City West: Kurfürstendamm, Tauentzienstraße and KaDeWe

This is the historic shopping district of former West Berlin. The Kurfürstendamm lines up luxury boutiques, international chains and cafés; to the east it continues as the more popular Tauentzienstraße, as far as the department store KaDeWe.

KaDeWe is worth a visit even without buying anything, for its food hall (the 6th floor) and the glass-roofed restaurant on the top level; it is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00. Visitors living outside the European Union can claim a tax refund there: the store's page explains the procedure and conditions.

Facing the zoo, Bikini Berlin has some sixty fashion and design boutiques without the big chains, designers' "pop-up boxes" and a roof terrace. It is the best address in the west for original gifts. Allow half a day to combine Bikini Berlin, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the Kurfürstendamm and KaDeWe: everything is within walking distance or two metro stops.

Mitte: designers, courtyards and neighbourhood shops

Around Hackescher Markt, the Hackesche Höfe string together eight linked courtyards with fashion, jewellery and design shops, galleries, cafés and a variety theatre. The surrounding streets, including Rosenthaler Straße, Mulackstraße and Alte Schönhauser Straße, are home to Berlin designers' boutiques, concept stores and bookshops. See our guide to the Mitte district to complete the itinerary.

At Alexanderplatz and Potsdamer Platz, classic shopping centres bring together the main fashion and leisure chains, handy in bad weather and open the same hours as other department stores.

Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain: independent shops

Away from the centre, shopping becomes more local. In Kreuzberg, the streets around Bergmannstraße and Oranienstraße mix record shops, vintage stores, bookshops and designer boutiques. In Prenzlauer Berg, Kastanienallee and its neighbouring streets have fashion, home decoration and children's clothing shops. In Friedrichshain, Boxhagener Platz and its surroundings are known for vintage shops and record stores.

Markets and flea markets

Berlin is a city of flea markets, especially at weekends.

• The Mauerpark flea market takes place on Sundays, with several hundred stalls, bric-a-brac, clothes and a party atmosphere.
• The Straße des 17. Juni flea market, on Saturdays and Sundays near Tiergarten station, focuses more on antiques, porcelain and jewellery.
• Markthalle Neun, in Kreuzberg, is a food hall: fresh produce, prepared dishes and producers' specialities.

Bring cash and negotiate politely: at flea markets, many stalls do not accept cards.

What to bring back from Berlin

• Ampelmännchen, the little figures from the pedestrian lights of former East Berlin, as magnets, T-shirts or lamps: several shops in the centre sell them.
• Sawade pralines, made in Berlin since 1880 and sold on the KaDeWe food floor.
• Berlin design objects: jewellery, stationery, designer fashion, to look for at Bikini Berlin, in the Hackesche Höfe and the streets of Mitte.
• Records and books: Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain have many record shops and second-hand bookshops.
• Flea-market finds: porcelain, old jewellery, postcards.

Tax refund

If you live outside the European Union, you can get the VAT back on purchases in shops that take part in the tax-free scheme. Ask for the form at the till, keep your passport on you, have the form stamped by customs before leaving the EU and keep the items in your hand luggage if customs need to see them. KaDeWe details its conditions on its page.

A one-day shopping itinerary

Going further

For flea markets and the food hall, also read Free Berlin; for the overall budget of your stay, the cost of a trip to Berlin; to get between districts, transport in Berlin.