KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens)

Travelers have many options to explore KaDeWe, on their own or as part of half-day, full-day, group or private tours on foot or by hop on/hop off bus or limousine. Once inside, locals and tourists navigate seven floors, each one dedicated to a category: beauty accessories and luxury goods, men and women’s apparel, shoes, interior design, books and electronics, and two floors dedicated to gastronomic bliss.

• Suitable for lovers of shopping and gastronomy.
• Tours may include guide, round trip hotel transport, but not food or drink. Check specific tours for details.
• Stop for a bite at the Delicatessen (two top floors), which have reached near cult status, for gourmet food for purchase or to eat on-site; on the top-floor, have a meal with a view at the wintergarden restaurant.
• Concierge-style services include a wedding and gift service, a hotel and home delivery service, tailor, and hair salon.

KaDeWe is tucked in the northwest corner of Berlin’s west-side Schöneberg neighborhood, along the Tauentzienstraße, which is a major shopping street. Many public transport options are available: take the Underground lines 1, 2, or 3 or bus lines M19, M29, M46, N1, N2, N26, N3 to the Wittenbergplatz stop.

KaDeWe is open Monday - Thursday, 10:00am - 8:00pm; Friday, 10:00am - 9:00pm; and Saturday, 9:30am - 8:00pm. Closed Sunday. Go early to avoid the crowds. The best time to visit Berlin is the spring (though it’s quite rainy, especially in May and June) and the summer month, especially for the legendary Love parade in July. Rates are lower in the fall and winter when temperatures drop.

When Adolf Jandorf opened the doors to Kaufhaus des Westens (“Department Store of the West”) in 1907, Berlin was the cosmopolitan capital of the Prussian Empire. Under the Nazi regime, however, the Jewish owners were forced out, and in 1943, an American aeroplane crashed into the store, leaving in it near ruins. By the fall of the Berlin Wall, the expanded store was restored to its original owners, and now, it’s the third most visited place in Berlin.