Shopping in Berlin

There are countless places in Berlin for shopping sprees: wickedly expensive temples of consumption, flea markets and antique markets, cheap bargain stores and the whole spectrum in between. The city offers clothing of all varieties, from up-market to cheap: luxury designers are based at the west end of Kurfürstendamm and in Friedrichstrasse.

At the new center of Berlin, the Potsdamer Platz, a new shopping mall has been built. The Potsdamer Platz Arcades offer more than 100 stores spread on three floors in which you can find everything from clothing and accessories to electronic devices and food.

The large variety of restaurants and cafes are ideal if you need a break from your shopping-spree. While relaxing you can enjoy the architecturally modern atmosphere and watch the happening around you. At the end of the day you can stroll to one of the many cinemas surrounding the Potsdamer Platz and the Sony Center and enjoy a movie and some pop-corn.

For an exclusive shopping experience you should not miss the Quartier 206 in Berlin Mitte. Here you are sure to find high quality products of international designers in a noble art deco atmosphere. Quartier 205 and Quartier 207 make the variety of stores even larger.

Quartier 207, in which you can find the Galeries Lafayette, is the most spectacular building of the three and definately worth a visit. Quartier 205 offers a wide range of stores and the big food court with noumerous international specialties is inviting for a lunch break. The three buildings can be found between the subway stations "Stadtmitte" and "Französische Strasse".

Tauentzienstraße which is the extension of Kurfuerstendamm is a shoppingmile for the whole family. You can find diversity in styles and fashion as well as in price categories. The famous KADEWE with international cuisine and exclusive designer labels invites you at the Wittenbergplatz.

If you stroll down a little you will find the Europa Center, a shopping center with almost a 100 shops including souvenir stores. Walking down Kurfuerstendamm from the Europa Center you will pass many stores that are mainly visited by younger people, such as United Colours of Bennetton, H&M and Zara.

On the corner Kurfuerstendamm and Joachimstaler Strasse you will find the new Kranzler Eck with its traditional Café Kranzler. Walking on from here the boulevard becomes a more exclusive and noble zone with stores from Tommy Hilfiger, Gucci, Luis Vuitton and Jil Sander.

While walking down the boulevard you should take some time for an excursion into the side streets like the Uhlandstraße. Fasanenstraße. Knesebeck- und Bleibtreustraße. Here you will find some beautiful small boutiques and stores of all kinds.

If you'd like to shop in a nice atmosphere surrounded by fantastic restaurants and a large variety of bars this is the place for you. The area is ideal for browsing shops selling shoes, accessories, jewellery, books, souvenirs and clothing. For fans of furniture, interiordesign and decoration the Stil Werk in the Kantstrasse is a must.

Hackescher Markt is an interesting shopping adress for anybody searching for anything that is not mainstream. The many small shops offer off-culture fashion ranging from extraordinary shoes to fashion from young designers. Apart from the many interesting stores, Hackescher Markt is worth a visit if you want to experience the unique flair of the former east of Berlin.