Kurfürstendamm, often called “Ku’damm” for short, and Tauentzienstraße are Berlin’s most famous shopping streets for tourists in the western part of the city. KaDeWe, the largest department store in continental Europe, is located on Wittenbergplatz in Schöneberg, Lovers of luxury will find much more here than the wide range of and men’s fashion from international designer labels. The store offers six storeys of shopping heaven and the food hall is the absolute highlight of KaDeWe and is a must, and not just for tourists.
Shopaholics will also find a variety of international chains with shops on Tauentzienstraße, including Zara, H&M, and Benetton, as well as several meccas for sports fans such as Nike Town, Adidas, and adidas NEO.
Luxury Shopping
The western end of Kurfürstendamm tends to be home to exclusive designers like Lagerfeld, Lacoste, and Tommy Hilfiger. Luxury brands such as Bulgari, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Valentino and Gucci line the boulevard between Uhlandstraße and Adenauerplatz, while the quieter side streets in either direction off Uhlandstraße also offer plenty of charm. High-end boutiques offer an exclusive range of fashion and design in grand houses from more than a century ago, with many chic cafés and restaurants in the neighbourhood offering perfect spots for a break.
After Kurfürstendamm, Friedrichstraße in Mitte is the second most important shopping destination in Berlin. It runs from Oranienburger Tor to Mehringplatz at Hallescher Tor in Kreuzberg.
Trendy Mitte
An interesting shopping destination is in trendy Mitte district in the area around Hackescher Markt. The small galleries and fashion boutiques in and around the Hackesche Höfe offer distinctive fashions, striking shoes, jewellery and accessories, colourful knick-knacks, and fun gift items from young designers from Berlin and around the world.
The trendy Berlin style and the latest trends can be found miles away from these major centres of luxury in such places as the district of Prenzlauer Berg around Schönhauser Allee and Kastanienallee or around Boxhagener Platz in Friedrichshain. Kreuzberg’s Bergmannstraße is a great place to shop for second-hand fashions, trendy accessories and urban sounds.
Meanwhile, the eastern districts of Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain have developed quite the reputation for being centres of fashion. Here, as in Mitte and Kreuzberg, there are many shops located in smaller side streets that are worth exploring.
The Flea Markets
Anyone lucky enough to be in Berlin on the weekend should definitely visit one of the flea and design markets. Recommended are those at the Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg or on Boxhagener Platz in Friedrichshain. Also popular are the new design markets Moderummel, Neuköllner Stoff, Nowkölln, and Katermarkt, the latter taking place at different locations.
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