Berlin can be called a “Flea market capital” of Europe. Every Sunday there are several flea markets in each district of the city. It doesn’t matter whether you need a cheap bike or an old antique lamp, Berlin flea markets can offer you much more.

The origin of flea markets is almost impossible to trace. Similar concepts existed more than thousand years ago on the territory of modern India and China. But the modern flea market concept appeared in France in 18th century.

Flea markets can be also used as a platform for practicing your German skills. People are happy to talk to you, share their stories about this or that item on the table. Each flea market has its own atmosphere, its own vibe. They can be very touristic, such as “Trödelmarkt am Tiergarten” and “Antik- und Buchmarkt am Bode-Museum”, selling books and small stuff. They can also be very local, like “Flohmarkt auf dem Breitenbachplatz” for example. There you can find almost everything from jewelry and accessories to books, pictures and records. It takes place every third Sunday of the month from April to November and from my personal experience it is totally worth it.

Many people consider the flea market at Straße des 17. Juni the oldest market in Berlin. Here you can find basically everything. Prices are set in accordance with the demand and popularity, which means you can always bargain.

But I suppose the most famous and biggest market is “Mauerpark Flea market”. Here the concept of a flea market is slightly different, mostly because of the location. It is a part of big urban space – Mauerpark. After spending hours of strolling around and talking to local sellers, you can continue spending your day-off in the park. Moreover, if you have something to sell, you can easily rent a place for a day and become a part of this bustling community.

You can only guess how many markets Berlin hosts. If you ask google about flea markets in Berlin, it will give you hundreds of pages of lists. But what I recommend is to go local. As your neighbor, teacher, friend and make a list of your own. And remember to bargain.