Türkenmarkt Market / Outdoor Activity

Kreuzberg / Neukölln, Berlin –

Running roughly a half mile along Berlin’s scenic River Spree, the Türkenmarkt (Turkish Market) has been attracting thrifty shoppers and curious sightseers for as long as most Kreuzberg residents can remember.

Depending on the weather, the day, and sometimes just the vigor of the vendors, the hastily thrown-together stalls can cover one or both sides of Maybachufer Street and offer the largest selection of Turkish goods in the city.

Exotic fruits and seasonal vegetables, flowers, desserts, cheeses, fabric, and fresh fish and meat purveyors are most plentiful on Tuesdays and Fridays, when it’s normal to see old Turks haggling over the price of ginger, artsy craft hounds buying a bolt of silk, and the average Berlin family sharing a mountainous kebab.

On Saturdays, the vibe turns toward the bohemian as more booths appear catering to the local artist crowd, including second-hand books, cheap canvas, handmade tools, and original visual art. A dazzling array of locally made jewelry, clothing, and imported curios attract the youthful hippies and alternatives that are always in attendance.

Regardless of the day, patrons can have their taste buds tickled with the international selection of delectable goodies from Turkish kofta or a Ghanaian buffet to barbequed German bratwurst.

Whether it’s for tasty fresh mango, ten yards of cotton, or a delicious meal and a stroll, the Türkenmarkt is as friendly to the palate as it is to the bank account.