This installment of our Sunday flea markets covers the hip areas of Kreuzberg and Neukölln. Both districts are old West Berlin and today are a mecca for young cool people from around the globe.
Arena Indoor Flea-market
Where: Eichen Strasse, Treptow (S-Bahn Treptower Park)
When: Sat and Sun, 10am-4pm
A literal treasure trove. The Arena indoor market is an incredible mishmash of stalls and stands, most of which look like they have been there since the dawn of time. That is if they had VHS tapes in the dawn of time. Housed in a huge warehouse in the Arena complex, it is 4000 sqm filled with mink coats, antique radios and everything you probably don’t really need.
If you are looking for creepy children’s toys this is your place. Of all the markets we have reviewed this is probably the most daunting. Definitely not for the faint-hearted, but if you are in the right mood for a hunt then you’ll will probably find some treasure. This market is perfect for rainy weekends and is certainly a market where bartering is welcome.
It is located right next to the River Spree, so perfect for a little river-side stroll before or after. Grab a beer and wander through the cave like labyrinth of vintage nonsense. Their website states weapons, pornography and Nazi memorabilia are forbidden, so enjoy a controversy-free flea-market!
Nowkölln Flea-market
Where: Maybachufer, Neukölln (U Bahn – Schönleinstr)
When: Every second Sunday, starting March 2016
Website: Nowkoelln.de
This market is only on its fifth year, making it the baby of the Berlin flea-markets, thus its vintage wares still tend to be on the cheap side. Once I bought an incredible oak vintage chest of drawers for a meagre €100. The guy selling it to me, even popped it in his van, drove me to my apartment and helped me carry it upstairs. He was an absolute love heart. You may not be looking for furniture whilst on holiday, but fear not as the market offers everything from 1950’s hand-bags to organic locally produced orange and rosemary ice lollies.
Located alongside the Landwehrkanal, the canal which separates the two districts of Kreuzberg and Neukölln, it tends to attract local international creative types. So the stalls generally stock second-hand hipster wares, hand-made goodies or real vintage. This market is a sure sign of the gentrified times and just how much the area has transformed in the last ten years. Many cute coffee shops and ice creams parlors are open nearby if you fancy a little rest and a people-watch.
Make sure you check their website before you head down there, to make sure you have the right Sunday.
