Every major metropolis has at least one well-known shopping street. The most popular boulevard in Berlin is probably the Kurfürstendamm, also commonly referred to by Berliners as Ku'Damm.

Kurfürstendamm: Where history and luxury create Berlin’s ultimate shopping experience.

It is the beating heart of City West and the counterpart to Friedrichstraße in the east. If you're looking to shop for the latest fashion, this is the place to be, offering a wide range of options for different tastes and audiences. This "street" is never dull. A visit to Kurfürstendamm is a must on your trip to Berlin. Shopping here can be pricey, but even just exploring the area is worth it.

Kurfürstendamm in Berlin

Location & Sights nearby

Kurfürstendamm is located in the Charlottenburg district, stretching from the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church at Breitscheidplatz to Rathenauplatz, where the Grunewald forest begins.

On Ku’damm, you’ll find not only shopping opportunities and hotels but also unique landmarks and attractions, such as the Berlin Schaubühne, the Memorial Church, the Europa Center, KaDeWe, Berlin Zoo, and the luxurious Astor Lounge, Berlin’s most comfortable cinema.

The side streets of Kurfürstendamm also offer plenty of interesting shops and restaurants to explore.

A Brief History of Kurfürstendamm

Kurfürstendamm was originally established around 1542 as a dam path connecting the Berlin City Palace to the Grunewald hunting lodge, serving as a bridle path for Elector Joachim I. Otto von Bismarck first envisioned transforming Kurfürstendamm into a grand boulevard. This idea was taken up in 1882, laying the foundation for what Ku’damm represents today: a 3.5-kilometer luxury boulevard with high-end stores like Gucci, Prada, and Armani.

During the "Golden Twenties," Kurfürstendamm was the center of leisure and nightlife in Berlin's "New West," a period that ended in 1933 with the Great Depression and the Nazi rise to power. Jewish-owned shops and businesses were targeted during numerous pogroms, culminating in the "Kristallnacht" on November 9, 1938.

The boulevard suffered heavy damage during World War II due to air raids and the Battle of Berlin. However, after the war and the division of Berlin into East and West, Kurfürstendamm regained prominence during West Berlin’s economic miracle era, becoming the leading commercial street of the western city.

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Kurfürstendamm: Where history and luxury create Berlin’s ultimate shopping experience.