You’ve made it through the first half of the semester! Yay!

Now it’s time to rest and enjoy 10 days in Berlin with no (or very few) responsibilities. Berlin is a city that never sleeps, and there are always plenty of interesting things to do, even if you stay here.

Exhibitions

In Berlin art teems in all corners, and it’s hard to be aware of all the things there are to do, and all the art performances and exhibitions you can see.

Here’s a list of exhibitions I would see if I were in Berlin these days.

• A World In Common: Contemporary African Photography / CO Berlin

The exhibition showcases works by over twenty African artists, aiming to redefine Africa’s representation in the global narrative. Inspired by Achille Mbembe’s philosophy of imagining a „world in common,“ it challenges stereotypes and highlights the continent’s diverse realities. Structured around themes of Identity and Tradition, Counterhistories, and Imagined Futures, it explores Africa’s past, present, and potential futures.

You can find more information about the exhibition here: A WORLD IN COMMON | C/O Berlin

• Käthe Kruse: It’s All Good Now / Berlinische Galerie

Käthe Kruse’s exhibition at the Berlinische Galerie is the first institutional showcase in Berlin honoring her work from the 1980s to the present. TIt highlights her multidisciplinary approach, blending performance, music, text, painting, and film, with a deliberate amateurism that challenges conventions. Her works, often tied to personal experiences, address social issues such as domestic violence, abortion, and war, using everyday objects transformed to new meanings.

Käthe Kruse. Jetzt ist alles gut – Ausstellungen in Berlin – Berlinische Galerie

• Helmut Newton: Polaroids / Museum für Fotografie – Helmut Newton Stiftung

Helmut Newton’s Polaroids will be on display at the Museum für Fotografie. This exhibition will feature his iconic Polaroid works alongside pieces by other renowned photographers like Robert Mapplethorpe, Mary Ellen Mark, David Hockney, and more.

Polaroids were often used by Newton as instant sketches or tests for his fashion shoots, experimenting with light and composition. Here you can observe the versatility of the Polaroid technique, showcasing its creative use across various genres, including landscape, still life, portrait, fashion, and nude photography.

Museumsportal Berlin – Museum – Museum für Fotografie

• Alfredo Jaar: The End of the World / Kindl – Zentrum für zeitgenössische Kunst

Alfredo Jaar’s new site-specific installation has been developed over five years of research, and it delves into the ecological and political crises that threaten the future of our planet. Jaar focuses on ten strategic metals—such as cobalt, lithium, and copper—that are essential for the digital and electric industries, drawing attention to the environmental destruction and human rights abuses tied to their extraction. Jaar highlights the global struggles over these resources and the disturbing possibility of future wars fought over their control.

Jaar — KINDL – Zentrum für zeitgenössische Kunst

Go to a festival!

• MaerzMusik – from 21.03. to 31.03.2025

MaerzMusik is an annual contemporary music festival held in Berlin, renowned for its approach to explore new and innovative musical ideas. It is a celebration of a diverse range of experimental works that merge classical traditions with modern and postmodern elements. It often emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaborations, bringing together composers, performers, and artists from all over the world. MaerzMusik is not just about music—it engages with pressing sociopolitical, cultural, and ecological themes, offering a platform for exploring how art can respond to contemporary challenges. With performances ranging from cutting-edge compositions to immersive sound installations, the festival invites to experience the future of music in dynamic and thought-provoking ways.

MaerzMusik

• European Month of Photography – from 1.03. to 31.03.2025

The European Month of Photography (EMOP) is Germany’s largest photography festival, taking place every two years in Berlin. In 2025, the festival marks its 11th edition with the theme „What Stands Between Us,“ focusing on political tensions and the fragility of democratic values.

EMOP Berlin

Enjoying the Outdoors

Go to a Flea Market!

Berlin’s flea markets are world renowned, and I’m sure many of you have visited a few already, but there are always new flea market finds to be made. Personally, I will be spending my next free days scouring the flea markets for the perfect fall appropriate leather jacket. It can be hard to pick which flea market you want to visit, but I’ve written down a few that I think are worth checking out.

You can find a selection of nice flea markets and vintage places in our previous article: A vintage lover’s guide to Berlin – FU-BEST BLOG (fu-berlin.de)

Regardless of wether you stay in Berlin or travel somewhere new, I know you will have an amazing week, full of new sights and experiences. Don’t forget to take sometime to relax and wind down – you deserve it!

Nowadays, the need to reduce compulsive clothing purchases from fast fashion stores is becoming more and more urgent. And let´s be honest: is it really worth it? In most cases, we end up wearing those clothes for a season – if we´re lucky, and then throwing them away. However, I truly believe that expressing the personality through style is a fun, creative way to show off who you are, to experiment with different side of yourself, and it can also be an original tool used to build self-esteem.

Whether you´re using your style to communicate who you are to the world, explore your inner self, or simply because you want to show off your vanity, it´s super important to know where to spend your money wisely. Indeed, why not find unique pieces that are both stylish and sustainable?

Thrifting in Berlin is a unique experience. The city is bursting with vintage shops, weekly markets, and street corners practically overflowing with second-hand clothes and all kind of items – often in excellent condition! You´ll discover vintage clothing that´s not only high-quality, but also unique. Whether you´re into retro, chic, or quirky, there´s something for everyone. Plus, a lot of these places are often packed with wonderful objects, jewelry, accessories, and home décor items.

Below, you´ll find a very small selection of vintage stores and markets I´ve discovered here in Berlin, that are definitely worth checking out.

• HFOC – Home Full of Clothes

In the Prenzlauer Berg area, you can’t miss HFOC, a unique store with an incredible selection of bags, sunglasses, and original shoes. Moreover, they often organise events with dj sets and live music.

Bonus tip: HFOC is currently teaming up with a Laundromat at Stargarderstr. 74, where you can snag some awesome vintage Adidas pieces!

Homefullofclothes – Google Maps

• UTI EXI

Founded in 2021, UTI EXI is a Berlin-based fashion brand that focuses on upcycling, creating one-of-a-kind fashion items by exclusively using existing materials. The name, derived from the Latin uti existentium meaning „use the existing,“ perfectly captures their philosophy of sustainability.

UTI EXI is dedicated to transforming the fashion industry by repurposing discarded textiles into fresh, modern clothing and accessories.

UTI EXI (@utiexi_official) • Instagram-Fotos und -Videos

• SCHÖNEBERG FLEA MARKET

Usually, it takes place every two Sundays, and it´s classified as an „art and second-hand market“. Here you can find a lot of cool stuffs, like second-hand clothes – in particular, vintage Levi´s denim! -, every kind of vintage items, collectibles, arts and crafts, and everyday used goods.

Flohmarkt Schöneberg – Google Maps

• ARKONAPLATZ FLEA MARKET

In Berlin-Mitte you can find every Sunday, all year round, the historical Arkonaplatz flea market. It offers a mix of antiques, books, art, vintage, furniture.

You´ll also find many unique items from the former East Germany (DDR), making it a treasure trove for collectors.

Arkonapl. – Google Maps

• RAW MARKET

Located not too far from Warschauer Straße station, the RAW Market is located in a underground venue, between bars and clubs.

The offer usually includes bags, clothes, jewelry, decorative objects, antiques. Moreover, it is plenty of food stands of snacks and street food from all over the world.

RAW-Gelände – Google Maps

• KARLSHORST MARKET

It is one of the most original flea market I found in Berlin. It is the place for anyone who loves high-quality antiques, and cultural treasures from every decade.

Here you´ll find rare books, artwork, antique mirrors, pocket watches, porcelain, silverware. Moreovere, there is a wide range of old postcards, stamps, coins, vinyl records, movie posters, beer steins, toys. There´s plenty of secondhand finds and retro goods from the 50s, 70s, and beyond.

Antikflohmarkt Trabrennbahn Berlin Karlshorst – Google Maps

• TUNTENHAUS

Tuntenhaus is one of the oldest – and sadly, one of the last – queer and gay housing project in Berlin. While it doesn´t have a regular flea market, it often hosts pop-up vintage markets where you can find just about anything. Plus, it´s a fantastic opportunity to support an historical space that stands as a symbol of Berlin´s queer resistance.

Tuntenhaus Bleibt – Google Maps