KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens), Berlin

This huge, not very pretty, grey building on my picture housed very elegant and the biggest department store in Germany and in Europe founded in 1907 and called KaDeWe.

It was pretty crowded on Saturday early afternoon, so we had to wait a minute to get into an elevator/lift. It was really huge store and after searching woman's clothes store we coudn't find lifts for a while.

On the ground floor we found a lot of parfumeries, ReiseCenter (travel center) and departmens with Samsonite and other bags for travelers. Hmm... Samsonite suitcases were 10-20% more expensive than the same ones in Poland.

On the last 6h fllor in huge deli there were packages of Berlin gifts (food and drinks: sweets, champagns, wine + Berlin bear - mascot) at a price above 100.00 ? each. The most expensive wine costed 298.00 ? for a bottle of French Bordeaux from 1944: Chateau Latour, Pauillac.

HOURS:
Mon - Fri: 10.00 am - 8.00 pm
Sat: 9.30 am - 8.00 pm
Sunday: closed.

What to buy: Everything was sold there.

What to pay: Rather expensive department store but good quality always costs a lot.

There was men's world on the second floor (1 etage). The third (2 etage) was a paradise for women and we almost got lost there. There were more elegant than casual clothes there.

What to buy: Urszula (matcrazy0) liked a lot these clothes on my picture. The dress with a blouse and trousers costed... almost 400 ?.

What to pay: Rather expensive stuff but good quality always costs a lot.

Look at just one example of huge choice of stuff to buy on my picture. There were a few hundreds various models of brassiere - real paradise for women and... fetishists :-). Great place to choose what you like.

What to buy: Underwear.

What to pay: Rather expensive stuff but good quality always costs a lot.

Kaufhaus des Westens (KaDeWe) was built in 1906 and is one of the top five department stores in the world!

Prices are high, so for me it was kind of a nuseum, where I couldn't afford much, but it never hurts to look!

On the sixth floor there is a huge "grocery store" where you can buy virtually any delicacy.

There are a lot of small cafes on the 6th floor too.

KaDeWe is open:

Mon-Fri - from 9:30 to 20:00
Sat - from 9:00 to 16:00

Closed on Sunday.

The KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens) is one of the largest department stores in Europe although in my opinion it is not quite Harrods!

If there is something you want you will most probably find it here!

What to buy: I always head for the upper floors which house the food and drink. There is a restaurant with views along the Ku'dam. There are also numbers of smaller eateries which cater for an upmarket taste! The seafood is top class and nothing quite like a plate of oysters and a nice chablis after a bit of shopping with the missus! Or perhaps lobster and a refreshing glass of Mumm?

What to pay: You are probably looking at about 50euro for two.

Established in 1907, is now the largest department store on the European mainland, with around 60.000 square meters of shop floor. With a grandiose abundance of goods on eight floors and excellent service, the store is synonymous with up-market shopping. A particular attraction for both Berliners and visitors from all over the world is the legendary delicatessen floor. It is a mecca for gourmets and the largest delicatessen department in Euope. Exhibitions, fashion shows and signings help KaDeWe to combine shopping and culture in a unique way.

What to pay: An awful lot!!!

This is the second largest shop inEurope (after Harrods), and sells practically everything you want but barely anything I could afford.

What to buy: The food hall alone is spectacular. It's an entire floor full of luxurious types of food and you#ll just be so tempted to try it. Wandering around it, I felt like Oliver Twist must have felt when thinking of food, glorious food. You can try many of the products but it will cost you!

What to pay: Lots & lots of Euros

The largest and most magnificent department store on continental Europe invites you to shop and window shop.
Its six floors are home to the famous food department, a conservatory restaurant under the roof, the well-known glass panorama lift and countless departments selling everything anyone could possibly want to buy. The store, built in 1906 to plans by Emil Schaudt, drew the shopping crowds in from the very start. During the Second World War, the building was almost completely destroyed, but it was opened again in 1950 and completely rebuilt six years later. In the 1950s, the Department Store of the West became the symbol of the market economy. Having undergone repeated redesigning and expansion, its appearance is as brilliant as ever.

What to buy: You can get everything there. Me, for example, I like the book store most. Time is flying when I'm in there. Just enjoy!

What to pay: It's not very cheap, of course. Go there not only to buy things, but also to watch them.

A huge department store where you can buy everything you like - there is not a lotyou woudn't get here. Their fancy top (6th) floor delikatessen department is huge and so are the fish in the tanks there ;) The food department even has its own website at www.feinschmeckeretage.de

What to buy: Everything from A as Apples over L as Lobster to Z as Zebras (in the toy department - my favourite ;)

What to pay: Oh well, that depends on what you want to buy eh?

Founded in 1907, the 'Department Store of the West' (Kaufhaus des Westens) is the largest of its kind in continental Europe.
It has a huge range of name brand clothing and other merchandise from around the world and the 6th floor food hall is reason enough to visit - the gourmet foodstuffs and exotic produce will be sure to tempt the tastebuds in between dressing room forays.

Opening hours:
Monday - Friday:
9.30 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Saturday:
9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

By bus: Take the number 119, 129, 146, 185 or 219 bus and get off at the Wittenbergplatz bus-stop.

By underground: Take the U 1, U 2, or U 15 underground line and get off at the Wittenbergplatz underground station.

By foot: The Bahnhof Zoo station is about 7 minutes away by foot. And it only takes 5 minutes to get to the Kurfürstendamm.