Bazaars in Berlin, a Nomadic Life in Metropolis

Bazaars are gorgeous and vibrant places where urban citizens gather.

As one of the capitals with a lower cost of living in all of Europe, Berlin has attracted more and more European and American youths with its low prices, comfortable living environment and friendly people. Diverse and inclusive lifestyles allow everyone to find their most appropriate place here. Even if you have only 10 euros, you can get by fairly comfortably. And the best way to experience life in Berlin is to visit its bazaars.

As with many other European cities, Berlin is scattered with all kinds of bazaars. Almost every day from Monday to Sunday, different wonderful activities take place in different corners of Berlin. Bazaars in Berlin display fast city rhythms and harmonious co-existence of diverse culture. At the bazaars, you can also meet well-informed and tolerant locals. Whether your hobby and taste are different from ordinary people, you can always find treasures that belong to you at the farmers’ market filled with organic products and loved by housewives. The modern Flea Market at Mauerpark is valued by young people, and the grocery market absolutely visited by a variety of connoisseurs worldwide.

Kollwitzplatz Saturday Farmers’ Market

In the eyes of Berlin locals, Kollwitzplatz is the most beautiful plaza in the city. In some sense, Kollwitzplatz is also the heart of Prenzlauer Berg, a middle-class neighborhood.

Whenever you come here in the daylight, you can always see children who are play happily, senior citizens with kind faces, travelers on an in-depth tour that happens to be looking around, and some young and beautiful faces. What an intimate and natural scene! Numerous restaurants, cafes, bars, and small shops (art galleries, handicraft shops, toy shops, clothes shops, etc.) surround the plaza and spread out in all directions. At all times, the plaza is boisterous and lively, highlighted by the Saturday Farmers’ Market during daylight hours. Located on both sides of the street, at the easternmost end of the plaza, the market extends southward from the Danzienger Street for more than 200 meters. Usually, the bazaar begins to warm up after 10:00 am, but industrious peddlers often drive their own vehicles to fixed stands. At the market, you can see newly harvested organic vegetables, bees from urban green spaces, hand-made glass products from artists, French pastries, Turkey pies, Mediterranean -style sauces, interesting knickknacks, groceries, etc. At the other end of the plaza is a creative scenic spot named Kulturbrauerei (formerly a beer brewery with a history of more than 100 years) and blancs. At these two places, you can hang out and relax during the weekend. The locals like to meet with a couple of friends in cafes which surround the bazaar, enjoy breakfast and lunch and then stroll around in the market afterwards. The German-style breakfast combines fruit, bread, sausage, jam, cheese, and pork knuckle with preserved vegetables.

Kollwitzplatz in the autumn

The popular Anna Blume café is the best place for substantial and delicious breakfast, although you have to line up as early as possible. Its interior decoration reminds people of the golden age during the early 21st century; interestingly enough, the decoration matches the wooden furniture. Outdoor seats, which are fitted with gas heating lamps and fleece blankets in the wintertime, are suitable for smokers. The brunch tower is very popular and provide small round fresh bread, cold cuts, soft and hard cheeses, fruit jam, yogurt cereals, fresh fruits, traditional liver paste, smoked salmon, etc.

Colorful fresh vegetables

You may easily miss the amusement park for children, which is located on one side of the bazaar. In the park is a sculpture of Kollwitz, a historically important female sculptor and printmaker. Naughty children can often be seen climbing on the sculpture which is dangerous.

Wine and coffee start a beautiful day

You had better not go to the bazaar too early. On the one hand, few people come here so early. On the other hand, many shops are still closed. The best time for visiting the bazaar is between 11:00 and 14:00.

You are advised to bring reusable bags or food baskets, as only a few of the locals ask for bags, although ordinary shops offer plastic bags.

During summer and autumn, various kinds of berry fruits (such as blueberry and raspberry) are sold at the bazaar, and you can buy a box of fruit and enjoy it while walking around.

There are no portable toilets at the bazaar. If necessary, you can go to a surrounding cafe on the condition that you buy a drink or pay a fee of 0.5-1 euros in the café.

The market is opened between 9:00 and 16:00 on Saturdays.

Household items wrapped in paper

Anna Blume Café

Address: Kollwitzstraße 83, 10435 Berlin, Germany

Tel: +49 30 44048641

Business hours: 8:00-12:00

Website: www.cafe-anna-blume.de

Average spending: 10 euros to 15 euros

Delicate brunch tower

Flea Market at Mauerpark

The Flea Market at Mauerpark, which is opened on Sunday, is very popular among trendy youths. The flea market sells various goods, including second-hand items, antiques, creative works of local craftsmen and artists, clothing, fresh juice, Turkish food, and low-priced bikes. Under huge tents are stands selling second-hand household items. If you are lucky enough, you can pick up one or two antiques during World War II from numerous goods marked with “MADE IN CHINA.” Every Sunday afternoon, BEARPIT open-air karaoke begins after 15:00. This karaoke was launched by Joe Hatchiban in 2009. Nowadays, Joe Hatchiban brings loud speakers, music and a charger to the open-air theater of Mauerpark.

Well-known pop music, ranging from newest English songs to classical German songs, attracts bold travelers to the stage for singing. If you forget the lyrics, please point the microphone to the audience, who would be glad to sing the rest part for you. In the summertime, with plenty of sunlight, the karaoke activity often lasts untils 20:00, and the atmosphere will be as fanatical as that in a night club.

Opening hours: on Sundays, 10:00-16:30

You can head for the market before noon to enjoy a delicious Turkey meal on the street, have a sun bath, and listen to live musical performances.

If you go to the market too early or too late, you may miss many lively and interesting street performances.

If you take a photo of street artists, please donate at least 1 euro.

Order a glass of Mojito cocktail at Markthalle Neun Kreuzburg

Arkonaplatz Flea Market

Arkonaplatz Flea Market, which is surrounded by various small cozy and elegant cafes, is absolutely a hidden gem among numerous markets in Berlin. It takes nearly 10 minutes to walk around all the corners of the market casually. However, if you are an informed buyer with a unique vision, you may stay here for half a day. Many professional buyers from antique shops will not miss the market when coming to Berlin. The market sells Danish teak furniture of the Middle Ages (from the 1950s to the 1960s), lamps and cutlery produced in the period of East Germany, ancient and incomplete bisque dolls, laboratory glass bottles, prints with signatures, used kitchenware, extra clothing and children's toys of nearby residents, etc. Usually, the offers here are transaction prices. If you really want to buy a certain expensive item, your counter offers should exceed 15%.

It is recommended to go to the market as early as possible for shopping. When peddlers stop their freight cars and prepare to set up stands, you can have a quick look at their stockpiles. If you find items that you really like, you can buy them at an exceptional low price from peddlers who want to sell the first goods on that day.

A native Berliner usually strolls around here on a sunny Sunday morning, buys a cup of coffee and small round bread (traditionally covered with mustard sauce) with a Vienna sausage from a food van, and walks around in the flea market. Alcohol lovers buy frozen beer and sparkling wine. Credit cards cannot be used here, so you have to pay in cash. If you want to make a big purchase, it would be a good idea to withdraw enough euros (with the face value of less than 500 euros) from the ATM. After all, small notes are well received.

Since most stands provide no plastic bags, it would be a good idea to bring a suitcase or backpack when coming to Arkonaplatz Flea Market for shopping.

Furniture is worth buying.

Many prints of the 19th century on sale are inside pages of old books. Although they are not valuable, they can be used as home decorations.

Opening hours: on Sundays, 10:00-16:00

Markthalle Neun Kreuzburg-Snacks worldwide

Markthalle Neun Kreuzburg, which is located in the core area of Kreuzberg, is absolutely the most fashionable one among the bazaars in Berlin. It is one of the fewest well-preserved indoor markets of the 19th century and with historical significance within the city proper of Berlin. Since 2011, when old markets were renovated, the market has become a new place that displays the lifestyles of the people in Berlin and holds various activities. It provides a fair selling environment for peddlers to sell local organic fruits and vegetables. Here, you can find fresh food, such as fruits, vegetables, cooked food, sausages, fish from the North Sea, cheese, spaghetti and onsite freshly baked bread. Additionally, you can also purchase tea, beer, wine and daily living products produced in other places of Continental Europe.

Opening hours: on Thursdays, 18:00-21:00; on Fridays and Saturdays, 12:00-18:00

All organic fruits and vegatables on sale are produced in Berlin, and some of them are cultivated from ancient seeds.

Food in Germany come in big proportions. If you have the option, the small proportion is usually enough.

(Source: February version of Lonely Planet in 2016, written by Gu xiaoyi, and photoed by Gu Xiaoyi, Dadazen and VCG.)