I visited the Berlin Turkish Market for the first time when you bumped into the graffiti-covered Berlin Wall after walking its length, and the Kreuzberg area of town was one of the few where Turkish guest workers were allowed to live.

Turkish Market in Berlin Ladies Shopping

That was a few decades when it was at the border of then-divided city. The wall is now gone, Turks are a vibrant and (mostly) accepted part of the German culture, and the Turkish Market in Berlin remains – and is even livelier and most bustling than ever.

The Berlin Turkish Market on the Maybachufer is a combination of farmer’s market, street food festival, Oriental bazaar and flea market – all with a Mediterranean flair. German locals, Turkish families and tourists of all nationalities go shoulder to shoulder down the narrow market avenue between two rows of booths seeking out cultural character, great food finds, cheap seasonal produce, and all kinds of household and personal goods.

HITT Tip: The market takes place along the banks of the Maybach canal. Take Underground Line 8 (the blue line). You can get off at either Schönleinstrasse and walk northwest and up along Kottbusser Damm, or you can get off at Kottbusser Tor and walk southeast or down along Kottbusser Strasse. Just follow the people with shopping bags!

Go ready to eat to the Berlin Turkish Market

Go hungry, but be sure to check out the offerings at the market before dipping into your wallet – falafel sandwiches, marinated olives, grilled Halloumi cheese, fresh squeezed pomegranate juice, baskets of berries busting with flavor … YUM! Interestingly, prices vary from booth to booth, sometimes substantially. So consider walking the approximately quarter-mile length before deciding what to get or eat.

Turkish Market Berlin with Olives and Meat

Fresh-made grocery items? Local honey and jams, jerky, fresh-baked breads, and other goodies. More YUM!

Need household goods? You can find bolts of fabrics of all colors and types, zippers, bands, tapes, scissors, pocket knives, buttons and bows. Shopping? Bracelets, wallets, purses, shoes, flip-flops, socks….

Berlin Turkish Market, a multicultural photogenic destination

The Berlin Turkish Market is candy for photographers and gives a new meaning to multicultural tourist destination. As of this writing, the market takes place Tuesdays and Fridays from about 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the banks of the Maybach canal bordering the neighborhoods of Kreuzberg and Neukölln. I say “about” because if a vendor is setup, the person will sell to you earlier too. Be forewarned that the market day may shift if it lands on a holiday, like Good Friday, so check online before you head over.

Berlin Turkish Market bread dealer

The Berlin Turkish Market’s website  is meager at best but it gives the basics – also in English, albeit a pretty funny version of English! The Turkish Market, although a tourist attraction, is sadly only listed on the German pages of the official Berlin tourist’s website!

Don’t let a language barrier stop you, though. Jump the underground or bus and get there, camera in hand, and tummy grumbling with plenty of shopping bags to fill.

HITT Tip: Be prepared to haggle a bit – and to joke around a bit too. These guys are pros and know how to work – and entertain – the passers-by.

The Berlin Travel Map

Map of Berlin by HI Travel TalesThere is so much to see and do in Berlin! Use our travel map of Berlin, in tandem with our many articles like this one, to help you decide where to go, what to do next, and even find your way from one fantastic sight, restaurant or place to stay to the next.

Heads up! This information on the Berlin Turkish Market was accurate when we published it on HI Travel Tales, but, as we know, traveling is all about changes (and inflation, sadly). It is your sole responsibility to confirm prices, transportation schedules, hours of operation, safety and health considerations, and any other important details before your adventure.

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