An Iconic Flea Market Experience in Berlin,Germany

On a slow, solo weekend in the vibrant and individualistic city of Berlin I spent an afternoon exploring a little known and culturally iconic flea market located in the former East German area. Berlin is famous for their amazing flea markets and one of the best known is at the Tiergarten. This is a wonderful one to also stroll around and I particularly like looking at their silver ware and old linens.

However this market is not the one I am going to write about in this post ! If you want to experience a small flea market, in a real neighborhood and which is focused on selling items from the former East Germany ( as well as other items from the 1960's and 1970's ) then go directly to the Arkonaplatz on Sundays between 10 and 5 p.m

In a small leafy square and surrounded by neighborhood coffee shops this is an iconic Berlin experience. As you wander up and down you will see record players with vintage albums, German movie posters from the 1940's and 50's, vintage dresses and shoes, sunglasses, coffee cup sets and silver ware from the East German era, and cool, futuristic ( even for today's standards ) furniture and lamps from the early 1960's "sputnik " era from the time of the Russian and American race for space !

The vendors are relaxed ,specialize in their wares and nothing is very expensive. You can bargain a little, usually offering 10 to 20 percent off the asking price. Fantastic people watching too as you peruse the treasures ! I love the juxtaposition of items which often have a surreal air to them. Last time I was there I bought six silver plated spoons from an elderly couple who I am sure spent most of their life growing up in the former East Germany. This is the area of Berlin that has the most remnants of this era in history as well as the longest length of the remaining infamous " Wall " known as the Mauerpark.

If you have enough time and energy left over you can walk to the huge, sprawling and lively flea market in the Mauerpark ( which has the graffiti laden and artistic paintings on what is left of the real Wall )

 But that experience is another story...........

How to get to Arkonaplatz with the Berlin metro -      Take the U8 to the Bernauerstrasse stop

"Always keep your eyes open. Keep watching. Whatever you see can inspire you " - Grace Coddington