Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NEED TO KNOW
Opening Hours
Shopkeepers may set their opening hours from Monday to Saturday. In practice, only
department stores, supermarkets, shops in major commercial districts (such as the
Kurfürstendamm) and those in malls take full advantage of this. These stores usually
open around 9.30am and close at 8pm or 9pm.
Boutiques and other smaller shops keep flexible hours, opening some time midmorning
and generally closing at 7pm, often earlier on Saturday.
Stores are closed on Sunday, except for some bakeries, flower shops, souvenir shops
and supermarkets in major train stations, including Hauptbahnhof, Friedrichstrasse and
Ostbahnhof. Shops may also open from 1pm to 8pm on two December Sundays before
Christmas and on a further six Sundays throughout the year, the latter being determined
by local government.
Some supermarkets are open 24 hours (though they're closed from midnight Saturday
to Monday morning).
Taxes & Refunds
If your permanent residence is outside the EU, you may be able to partially claim back
the 19% value-added tax (VAT, Mehrwertsteuer ) you have paid on purchased goods.
The rebate applies only to items purchased in stores displaying the 'Tax-Free for Tour-
ists' sign. Obtain a tax-free form from the sales clerk, then show this form, your unused
goods and the receipt to a customs official at the airport before checking your luggage.
The customs official will stamp the form, which you can then take straight to the cash-
refund office at the airport.
Flea Markets
Flea markets are like urban archaeology: you'll need plenty of patience and luck when sift-
ing through other people's cast-offs, but oh, the thrill, when finally unearthing a piece of
treasure! Berlin's numerous hunting grounds set up on weekends (usually Sundays) year-
round - rain or shine - and are also the purview of fledgling local fashion designers and
jewelry makers. The most famous market is the weekly Flohmarkt am Mauerpark in Pren-
zlauer Berg, which is easily combined with nearby Flohmarkt am Arkonaplatz .
Search WWH ::




Custom Search