Other Sights

Department Store of the West - Kaufhaus des Westens (KaDeWe)

At the easternmost tip of the Ku'Damm, directly at Wittenbergplatz, you will find Berlin's largest and most famous department store, the KaDeWe.

KaDeWe Berlin luxury shopping gourmet department store Wittenbergplatz

With 60,000 square meters of retail space, the Kaufhaus des Westens is the largest department store in continental Europe—a true shopping temple spread across seven floors.

The floors are enormous, and the upscale selection in this superlative store offers everything your heart could desire. From affordable to extravagant, from eels to top hats, you’ll find it all here.

A special highlight is the so-called "Gourmet Floor," the second-largest food department in the world. The restaurant area on the seventh floor also offers a stunning view of Berlin through its glass dome.

In short, if the Kaufhaus des Westens doesn’t have it, it probably doesn’t exist.

Here, needs and desires are awakened that you didn’t even know you had. The KaDeWe is a must-see.

Kaufhaus des Westens

Location & Sights nearby

The Kaufhaus des Westens is located directly on Wittenbergplatz. Many attractions are near. For example, visit the next famous shopping landmark, the Europa-Center, take a stroll to the Zoological Garden, or explore the magnificent Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church from the inside.

A Brief History of the Kaufhaus des Westens

The Kaufhaus des Westens was founded by Adolf Jandorf in a bold endeavor, at a time when West Berlin was still considered remote. On March 27, 1907, it finally opened, and with it, City-West was born.

During World War II, Allied bombing raids destroyed much of the store, including a 1943 incident where an American bomber crashed into the building. In 1950, the reopening of the first two floors was celebrated. The full reconstruction of all seven floors was completed by 1956.

The "KaDeWe" soon became a symbol of West Germany’s regained economic strength during the post-war economic miracle, as well as a representation of West Berlin’s material prosperity compared to the East.