Berlin never runs out of surprises. From a closed flea market to a massive former airport turned public park, today was all about unexpected detours—and a bit of urban survival.
(If you missed the previous post, you can read it here → Day 13 – Berlin Landmarks & Sunday Survival)
The Turkish Flea Market (Almost)
Woke up around 11 a.m.—the cold and accumulated fatigue are catching up.
Planned to visit the Turkish Flea Market in Kreuzberg, so I left my Airbnb at noon.
Route: take the U1 to Kottbusser Tor, transfer to U8, and get off at Schönleinstraße.
Only after arriving did I realize: the market is closed on Mondays.
Well, that’s life when you travel slow—you roll with it. So I switched plans and headed to Tempelhof Airport Park instead.
Tempelhof Airport Park
Tempelhof is a decommissioned airport turned into one of Berlin’s largest public parks.
From Schönleinstraße, I took the U8 to Leinestraße.
The area looked rough—lots of graffiti, and even a shop selling syringes. Not dangerous per se, but not somewhere you’d want to linger.
If you plan to visit, enter from the Paradestraße side instead; it feels safer and more open.
Once inside, the park felt endless. The old runways remain intact, stretching out under the sky.
The wind was fierce and icy, with no buildings to block it.
Locals jogged, cycled, walked dogs, and trained at the outdoor gym. There’s even a massive dog park, football fields, and a beer garden on Fridays.
It’s strange but beautiful—a place where Berlin’s history and everyday life collide.
Across the Runway
I crossed the park, snapping photos of the runway, and exited near Paradestraße Station to catch the U6.
That side of the district felt cleaner, calmer, more organized. Definitely the better entry point.
Berlin’s transport network is excellent—frequent trains and buses, all easy to navigate.
For longer distances, I use Omio, an app that lets you book European train tickets in Japanese or English.
It’s what I used for my next trip on the Eurostar as well.
REWE Supermarket Stop
At Hallesches Tor, I transferred to the U3, then Kurfuerstenstraße.
Before heading home, I dropped by a REWE supermarket—open until 10 p.m., unlike most that close on Sundays.
It was packed, with line control at the entrance.
Dinner haul:
- pizza €2
- beer & soda
- protein mousse
- bread
Total: about €7. Not bad for Berlin.
If you rotate between chains like REWE and ALDI, you can live cheaply in Germany without eating out at all.
Wrap-Up
The flea market was a bust, but Tempelhof Airport Park was an unforgettable experience.
How often do you get to walk on a real runway turned public park?
With the right clothing, some stamina, and a little awareness of your surroundings, it’s an incredible slice of Berlin life.
Tomorrow (Oct 7): heading west to Charlottenburg Palace, for a deep dive into baroque architecture and royal culture.
Takeaway:
Berlin isn’t just history—it’s a living city where locals repurpose the past, from airfields to beer gardens. Visit Tempelhof once, and you’ll see how creativity and freedom shape this city.
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