Most of those who go shopping abroad know that only there you can buy branded items that cannot be found in domestic boutiques. At the same time, prices for goods in Europe are often lower due to the absence of costs for transportation, customs clearance, rent and other costs, the cost of which is included in the goods by Russian sellers. Recently, shopping in Berlin has attracted great interest among tourists. And although the range of prices in outlet centers, shopping malls, antiques and branded goods stores and flea markets is quite significant, anyone will find a product to their taste and finances.
When going shopping in Berlin, especially if the trip is short, you need to plan everything in advance. It is important to consider the following nuances:
- the opening hours of most Berlin stores are from 10:00 to 20:00;
- on Sunday, all shops in the German capital are closed, with the exception of antique, flea and book markets, as well as some shopping centers near the station (for example, Penny at Ostbahnhof, Rewe at the main station, Ullrich at Zoological Garden station, Edeka at Lichtenberg stations and "Southern Cross" and others);
- until ten Sundays a year, Berlin stores are open for sales - these days are called “open for sales Sunday” or verkaufsoffener Sonntag. In 2021, after April 15, the dates for such Sundays have not yet been determined - they are planned by the senator, taking into account the forecast of the influx of tourists into the city.
Each day of your voyage should be planned in detail so as not to waste precious time. To do this, carefully study the main shopping routes in Berlin, sales and discount times, and do not forget to make a list of the goods you need to purchase.
The main shopping routes in Berlin: streets, shops, shopping centers
There are several trade routes in Berlin. The main shopping streets are Kurfürstendamm or Ku’damm in the west and Friedrichstraße in the east of the city.
At the very beginning of the Kurfürstendamm boulevard and on the adjacent streets Fasanenstraße and Bleibtreustraße, boutiques of the most prestigious and expensive brands are located:
- Chanel
- Louis vuitton
- Tommy hilfiger
- Escada
- Versace
- Sonia Rykiel
- Jil sander
- Prada
- Max mara
- Cerruti.
Further, on the Tauentzienstraße street adjacent to the Kudamm boulevard, there are shops of a more affordable price category:
- H&M
- Benetton
- Zara
and giant shopping malls:
- KaDeWe
- Peek & Cloppenburg
- Europa Center
- Wertheim.
The main shopping street in the eastern part of Berlin - Friedrichstrasse - is a place of concentration of cafes, restaurants, banks, supermarkets and small shops. Of the brand boutiques located here, one can single out:
- Escada
- Hugo boss
- Lacoste
- Max & Co
- Calvin klein
- Genny
- Gucci
- Hermes.
More budget options:
- H&M
- Morgan
- United colors of benetton
- COS
- Gina Tricot.
Large shopping centers:
- Quartier 205
- Quartier 206
- Galeries Lafayette.
Usually, foreign buyers are not limited to buying clothes, because from Berlin you can bring a lot of interesting and valuable things: art objects, jewelry, dishes, handmade souvenirs, books. Therefore, a tourist should plan and select places for shopping depending on what kind of product he needs.
Berlin shopping malls you should visit
Shopping centers (malls) are good in that they save the buyer from having to wander around the city for a long time in search of the right product.
The largest malls in Berlin are able to satisfy any consumer requirement, not only in terms of updating the wardrobe, but also in terms of the purchase of household goods, food, perfumery, electronics, jewelry and accessories.
In addition, if you wish, you can visit entertainment venues here: a cinema, a restaurant, a bowling alley, a fitness club, and sometimes even rent accommodation for a while.
The following shopping centers are considered the best for shopping in Berlin:
- Kaufhaus des Westens or KaDeWe is the oldest and largest department store offering products from the world's leading brands and the highest level of service. The retail space is about 60 thousand m2, the number of items of goods exceeds 250 thousand, including clothing, footwear, appliances, products for children, for home, for creativity. Among the staff there are Russian-speaking employees.
- Europa Center - It can be recognized by the Mercedes Benz logo that constantly rotates on the roof of the building. The total area is 80 thousand m2, daily attendance is over 25 thousand people. Shopping for every taste is possible in the center - more than 70 stores offer goods of various brands: Adidas, Esprit, Bonita, Orsay, ShuShu, Shooters, Glamor and others. In addition to shops, you can visit the cinema, restaurants, pubs, cabarets and casinos, as well as admire the luxurious fountains located in the courtyard of the center.
- Peek & Cloppenburg (P&C) is an original six-story building with luminous windows that beckons high-end shopping lovers. Here you can find the latest collections of chic women's evening dresses and elegant men's suits, children's fashion clothes and famous brands: Tommy Hilfiger, s. Oliver, Hugo Boss, McNeal, Montego, Wellensteyn.
- Galeries Lafayette is a branch of the Parisian mall in Berlin, a place for high-end shopping. The center presents the products of fashion brands: Azzaro, Amouage, Chanel, Claudie Pierlot, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Valentino, Swarovski, Tissot and others. Children will find all kinds of entertainment in the playroom, while adults can choose from a dozen restaurants and cafes to their liking.
The most interesting shops in Berlin
Berlin shops are able to satisfy any requests and needs of residents and visitors of the city. Depending on what kind of product you need, you can visit the following stores:
- Karstadt Sport - here you can buy sneakers, sportswear, inventory, paraphernalia;
- Steiff Galerie - baby products: from toys to clothing and accessories for children of all ages;
- Hard Wax - a shop for musicians and music lovers;
- Dussmann (full name Dussmann-Das-Kulturkaufhaus) - a bookstore with a rich assortment and thoughtful service for the comfort and convenience of visitors;
- Bonbon macherei - a confectionery shop where you can not only buy exquisite handmade sweets, but also watch how they are made using antique equipment;
- Ararat is a souvenir shop where you can buy various gifts: cups, plates, candlesticks, key rings, notepads, pens and other nice little things.
Flea markets in Berlin
Walking through the flea markets in Berlin is a real pleasure for shoppers. Each flea market specializes in something different: somewhere you can look for antiques or paintings, and somewhere - jewelry and even fashionable designer items. Flea markets can be scheduled for Sunday afternoon when the city's shops will be closed.
Berlin's 5 most popular flea markets:
- Mauerpark is the number one most visited place, especially by bohemians and young people. The market itself is combined with a place for entertainment, recreation, concerts. Products that can be purchased here: clothes from novice designers, houseplants, furniture, antique cameras, lamps, china. Open on Sunday, working hours - from 08:00 to 18:00.
- Boxhagener Platz is considered one of the best flea markets in the city, both among the population and among tourists. It sells paintings and frames, lamps, lamps, clothing, hats, dishes, vinyl, parts and components for bicycles. Open on Sundays from 10:00 to 18:00.
- Arkonaplatz is a small but cozy flea market near Mauerpark. His specialization is retro goods of the 50-70s, in particular, vintage glasses, frames, jewelry, furniture, mirrors, lamps, and other items for the home. Open on Sundays from 10:00 to 17:00.
- The flea market in the Tiergarten park (Berliner Trödelmarkt) - appeared 80 years ago and since then has served as the standard of Berlin flea markets.Each tent sells real treasures for lovers of antiquity, oriental and African accessories, artists and bohemians. Opening hours - from 10:00 to 17:00 on weekends.
- RAW is an original flea market for creative youth located in an abandoned railway depot. On weekdays it is a venue for musicians' performances and cultural events, and on weekends it is a market where clothes, shoes, and accessories are sold mostly. Open from 9:00 to 17:00.
Another interesting place is the so-called night flea market. Its area is impressive - 10 thousand m2. The opening hours of this market are from 15:00 to 23:00. The entrance is paid - 2.5 euros, and here you can also sell your unnecessary things.
Outlet shopping in Berlin and alternative solutions
Outlet centers in Berlin allow you to buy branded items on the shelves of shops and boutiques at great discounts. Most of the outlet malls are located in small towns near Berlin. The largest of them are:
- Designer Outlet in Zweibrücken is the largest outlet mall in Germany in terms of area.
- A large outlet - Berlin Designer Outlet - is located 30 km from Berlin in the town of Wustermark. There are 40 stores in which you can purchase goods of famous brands at a reduced price: Tommy Hilfiger, Marc O'Polo, Tom Taylor, Bench, Michael Kors, Swarovski and others.
- Görtz Outlet Store - located on the outskirts of Berlin in the Mahlsdorf district. There are clothes and footwear for men and women, winter clothes for children from previous collections with big discounts. For socks, belts, hats, bags and other accessories also come here.
- The Marc Cain Factory Outlet is a city-wide outlet located at the factory of the famous brand Marc Cain. Focus - modern high quality women's clothing in a strict style.
- Zalando is a new large mall that opened in 2021. You can buy shoes and clothes for the whole family with discounts up to 70%. The center specializes in online sales, so you first need to issue a personalized card on the store's website.
By the way, online shopping is a profitable alternative to a real trip to an outlet. Plus, many stores in Berlin offer great online delivery options, as well as additional discounts and gift certificates.
Features of the sales in Berlin
Berlin store sales are a tradition. The Summer Sale or Sommerschlussverkauf kicks off in the city on the last Monday in July. By the way, the dates of the summer sale in 2021 have already been officially determined: it will begin on July 30 and will last until August 6. Some brands (Mango, Zara, New Yorker) keep their prices down until the end of summer, others may start the discount period a little earlier, in mid-July.
In the first days of the sales season, discounts are only about 20-30%, but over time, prices fall and fashion designers' products can be purchased at a price of 40-50%, and later discounts are all 80% of the original cost.
During this year's Summer Sale, it is recommended to visit:
- shops on Kudamm street - here you can buy both outerwear and underwear at a really affordable, low price;
- Hackescher Markt - here with discounts up to 60% you can buy jewelry, perfumes, jewelry, clothes from the Bakley and American Apparel collections;
- Shopping center Alexa (Alexa);
- TC Europe Center;
- TC KaDeWe;
- Schönhauser Allee Avenue (Schönhauser Allee Arcaden);
- Kastanienallee avenue;
- the central square of the city of Alexanderplatz (Alexanderplatz).
Discounts are expected on goods of such brands as Brax, Esprit, Primark, Muji, Schiesser - up to 50%, Sisley, Sarenza - up to 60%.
After the end of the Christmas celebrations in Berlin, the Christmas sales begin. In time, this is usually mid-January - late February or mid-March. It is most profitable to buy summer clothes on them - discounts on old collections reach 90%.
Pre-holiday discounts on New Year's goods can be "caught" already in November, and the lack of an influx of tourists will make purchases especially pleasant and calm.
Popular souvenirs and gifts from Berlin
Of course, having visited Berlin, one cannot but bring souvenirs from there for loved ones. When shopping around the shops, pay attention to the following original gizmos that will be a great gift:
- Buddy bear - figurines, mugs, porcelain, ceramic or plush bear figurines that are the symbol of the capital of Germany. Souvenirs price - from 3 euros;
- pieces of the Berlin Wall - in the form of magnets or simple stones, costing from 3 euros;
- pedestrian men or ampelmann are sold in the form of key rings, magnets, applied to T-shirts, baseball caps and other items of clothing. They are wildly popular in Berlin, so buying them as a souvenir is a must. Price - from 4 euros;
- Christmas decorations. Germans are very fond of wooden toys and at Christmas they actively decorate their homes with them. An excellent selection of such items is available, for example, at Käthe Wohlfahrt's shop on Ku'damm Street, opposite the French Cathedral. Prices start at 10 euros. If you want to buy cheaper New Year's tinsel, look in shopping centers and supermarkets. Remember that discounts for such products begin to operate in December;
- The Trabant car model is a typical souvenir from the German capital. In the 50s of the twentieth century, under this brand in the GDR, small cars were produced, which were in great demand among the inhabitants of the country. The simplest items cost from 5 euros, collectible - from 20 euros;
- dishes. As a gift, tourists often take products from German porcelain, beer mugs or cups with the symbols of the city;
- edible souvenirs. Real German good chocolate Ritter, beer of the brands Pilsner, Altbier, Zwickelbier, glazed gingerbread Lebkuchen, Jägermeister balsam-liqueur will undoubtedly delight those to whom they are intended.
Those who go shopping in Berlin in order to save money can be advised to get a real Swiss watch or an iPhone. Their price will definitely be lower than in Russia, moreover, there is no need to doubt the originality of the products. However, when buying an iPhone, do not forget to clarify whether it will support Russian operators.
Tax-free service - tax savings
Russian citizens have another opportunity to save money on shopping in Berlin - to use the tax-free service, that is, the return of value added tax (VAT) on the purchased goods. In this case, the purchase price must be at least 25 euros in one check. The refund amount is calculated based on the value of the item.
Tax-free from services is not refundable: for example, upon presentation of a receipt for hotel accommodation, an invoice from a restaurant, a receipt from a taxi, travel passes, as well as the cost of fuel and spare parts for a personal car. You can find out if this service is available in the store where you intend to purchase the goods from the seller or by the inscription "Tax Free Global refund system" on the door or in the shop window of the outlet. After reviewing our material, you can understand in detail how the tax-free registration procedure is carried out.
There are two options for how to go shopping in the German capital:
- go on your own. To do this, you need to apply for a visa, choose a hotel and book a place in it, purchase a plane ticket and plan where to shop.
- purchase a shopping tour, which includes travel and accommodation. The company will invite you to visit the largest shopping centers in Berlin and organize interesting excursions around the city. The duration of such trips is usually 3-4 days. The average cost is from 125 euros.
On the website of the German Representative Office in Russia, you can find instructions and a list of papers for applying for a Schengen visa to Germany. The package of required documents must include:
- completed application form;
- confirmation of the purpose of the stay;
- international passport and a copy of the internal Russian passport;
- Photo;
- a receipt for payment of the service fee;
- medical insurance;
- confirmation of the availability of a sufficient amount of finance;
- confirmation that you are going to return home.
Let's summarize
A trip to Germany for the purpose of shopping is a real chance for Russian citizens to purchase high-quality European goods at prices cheaper than anywhere else. You can plan the trip yourself or entrust its organization to specialized companies.
In any case, a shopping tour to Berlin will allow you not only to make bargains and bring original souvenirs to your loved ones, but also to admire the capital of Germany, get acquainted with its sights and enjoy the famous German cuisine.
