Nowkoelln Flowmarkt

This Flohmarkt only occurs once a month takes place on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month and is one of our favourites so far. There are far less professional market traders selling over-priced handbags and cameras that you find at Mauerpark and Boxhagener. The general fare tends to be people selling their own second hand stuff or crafts people selling hand-made things.

The location is lovely, stretching along the canal, and the atmosphere very cheerful. There are live music acts throughout the day and food stands (which are actually a bit pricey).

Our stall at Nowkoelln Flowmarkt

We have been twice and found some great bargains on both visits. People are willing to haggle and if you're prepared to rummage around then you can get some crazy things for just a few euros.

Nowkoelln is also a good spot to sell your own stuff. Having helped clear out an apartment in our block we had a fair amount of curious items to sell and had a great day standing next to the canal. We made some nice new friends: people were very friendly, despite our inability to count auf Deutsch.

Check the website for the date of the next market: Nowkoelln Flowmarkt. If you want a to have a stand at the market you can either sign up at the proceeding event for a large 3m covered stand, or just turn up on the day with your own table/rail/rug and they come around and collect money off you depending on how much space you have.

Directions: go to Schonleinstr. on the U8, take the exit for Burknerstr., go down Burknerstr. and then keep following the canal until you reach the market.

Flughafenstraße

Berlin is full of junk/antique stores that are as much museums as they are shops. Flughafenstraße has a fair few of these on it and some of the owners seem to put as much care into the display of their wares as curators in galleries.

Apparently the price you are told when you first ask about anything is twice that which you should pay, so don't be afraid to bargain. Having said that they're still pretty cheap so if you don't feel like your German is quite up to a Life of Brian-style stand-off then you'll still be able to find some bargains.

U-Bahn: it's got Boddinstr. (U8) at the top, and Rathaus Neukölln (U7) at the bottom.

Arkonaplatz Flohmarkt (Flea Market)

Berlin is quite famous, I think, for its flohmarkt. Every Sunday the city's crafts people, traders, house-movers and entrepreneurs set up their stalls across the city.

Since arriving the only market that has been mentioned to me is Mauerpark which, on a sunny September afternoon, is a heaving place, full of all sorts (old and new). There are plenty of food stalls to keep you going as you wander its apparently infinite passages, and lots of interesting things and people to entertain you for a whole day. From 3 o'clock (weather permitting) you can also venture across the adjoining field to witness the Bearpit Karaoke, which is certainly a sight to behold.

However, if you want to escape from the crowds and browse with more ease, venture a little south from Mauerpark, to the Arkonaplatz Flohmarkt. The market is much smaller than it's rowdy neighbour and is all antique/2nd hand goods.

As I am currently living 'between homes' I resisted the urge to buy any of the large, 3D plastic shop-front letters available and tried to avoid eye-contact with any of the lovely but reasonably priced 60s furniture. Also available were antique lithographs, vintage toys, retro glasses, furry hats and plenty more besides.

I hope to make a full investigation into all the city's flohmarkts and trödelmarktes over the coming weeks and will report back with my findings (both ethereal and material).

Closest U-Bahn stop for Arkonaplatz: Bernauer Straße (U8), or Eberswalder Straße (U2).