When it comes to Christmas markets in Europe, Berlin is one of the most honorable mentions. The beautiful city becomes a winter wonderland of sorts, with glittering lights, enticing aroma of foods and an atmosphere of merriment throughout. Incidentally most Christmas markets are located in the Mitte region.
Here are some of the best Christmas markets in Berlin
Potsdamer Platz Christmas Market (with map)
Not only is it located in a great location (11 minute walk from Brandenburg Gate and 15 minute walk from the Reichstag Building, and just a 7 minute walk from the Holocaust Memorial, Potsdamer Platz, also called as ‘Winterwelt’ is a fascinating Christmas market. One of the best things you can do at this place is come down the ‘Rodelbahn’ – a huge snowy slope, where you can slide down a rubber tire (two people at one time), for about 1.50 euros.
One can also play a game known as Eisstockschießen. It is a blend of curling and bowling. Since it is a unique game, many people are ready to give it a try. It costs between 20 and 30 euros per hour.
You can also enjoy delicious food at various stalls, gluhwein and hot chocolate in souvenir-like mugs. Expect live music, aroma of gluhwein, food and resplendent lights across the entire area. The entry is free and the Christmas Market is open generally till 10 PM
Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market
If you should visit just one Christmas market in Berlin, then Gendarmenmarkt is the one. Unlike most Christmas markets which are free, an entry to Gendarmenmarkt costs 1 Euro. It is free till 2 PM during the weekdays. The area is close to the Hilton Hotel and nestled between two beautiful cathedrals, the French Cathedral and the Berlin Cathedral, and is in front of Konzerthaus, the popular opera center. Gendarmenmarkt looks absolutely beautiful with shining lights, mild music in the backdrop and an engagingly, wonderful atmosphere.
You can expect good quality food throughout, right from reasonably priced stalls to the more expensive indoor restaurants. You will find a lot of people thronging the place for gluhwein and hot chocolate. You are also offered samples of gluhwein to taste before you pick your favorite. The air is filled with aroma of German delicacies, cinnamon, hot chocolate and of course, gluhwein. The drinks are served in ceramic mugs, so as to prevent wastage. You can also enjoy the sight of a spirited jazz band or a male choir singing Christmas carols on the large stage filled with podium lights. Do not forget to pick up a few handmade souvenirs from Gendarmenmarkt.\
Charlottenburg Palace Christmas Market
This Christmas market is right in front of the 17th century Charlottenburg Palace, the largest palace in Berlin. The Charlottenburg invites you with a dazzling display of lights; in fact, this is the most colourful Christmas market in Berlin. Expect lots of good food at stalls, handmade souvenirs and gluhwein, with alcohol-free options. You will find Christmas carol singers dressed up at Christmas fairies moving and mingling around with the crowd, and greeting them. The entry to the Charlottenburg Palace Christmas Market, is free. With a castle and festivity around, a visit definitely makes for a fairy-tale Christmas night.
Spandau Christmas Market
This is the largest Christmas market in Berlin. Since the place is located in a village outside the city center, you may come here if you intend to spend a few more days in Berlin. You have to catch a U-Bahn to Rahtaus Spandau or U-bahn to Berlin- Spandau.
The Spandau Christmas market is spread out extensively across the old town. In fact, when you come out of the metro, you will see the town-hall well-lit with Christmas lights. You can find more than 250 stalls offering good choices in food, drinks and handicrafts. The St. Nicolai Church located in the center of the old town, has its very own Christmas market.
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church – Christmas Market
Located right next to the regal Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, this Christmas market is also a memorial to the victims of the terror attack in 2016. On the fateful night of December 19, a truck wheeled into the Christmas market, injuring 48 people and killing 12.
You can sample through delicious food including waffles, crepes and drinks like mulled wine (gluhwein). here is also a beautiful memorial to the people who died in the terror attack, with wreathes and candles.
Alexanderplatz Christmas Market – Berlin
The Alexanderplatz has a couple of Christmas markets, each with their own appeal. The Rothen Rathus (Berliner Weihnachtszeit) is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Berlin. A unique thing is that the place retains the classic style of Christmas spirit with stalls decorated the way they were in the early 20th century. Other highlights of the place include the huge Ferris wheel and a massive ice-skating rink, sprawling across 616 square meters. Though skating is free, you may have to pay a few Euros to rent the skates.
The Rotes Rathaus is a favorite with children, because of the entertainment options and also because of a little farm, with cute, friendly animals which they can feed and also enjoy a ride, with. Santaclaus is known to visit the market three times a day (4.30, 6.30 and 8.30 pm). So, if you want to take some really cute pictures of your kid with Santa, then Rothen Rathus is the place to be.
On the other side, is another Christmas market called Wintertraum am Alexa. This is a huge contrast to the Rothen Rathus, in the sense, that it is a modern Christmas market. It is located between the station Jannowitzbruck and shopping center Alexa. You will find the market when you step out of the Jannowitzbrücke station, due to imposing Ferris wheel and a huge display of lights right before you, especially in the evenings. With its appropriate mix of food and drinks, you can find a lot of entertainment options catering to teenagers and the young-at-heart like rollercoaster ride, a free-fall, spinners, cash-dashing and more. Another highlight is the not-to-be-missed Coca Cola Truck, a massive looking one that grabs a lot of eyeballs and clicks.
Berlin Christmas Market – Dates
Most Christmas markets in Berlin commence in the last week of November going right till December 26th or December 31st. Potsdamer Platz Christmas market, however, begins from November 2nd and continues right till January 6th of the New Year. You may however check with the official websites of these Christmas markets (for example, weihnachtsmarkt-berlin.de for Gendarmenmarkt) to find out the exact dates.
What to buy from Berlin Christmas markets?
Some of the things that you can buy from Berlin Christmas markets include
Hand-made ornaments, ivory, origami and different artistic showpieces.
Miniature Santas
Christmas lanterns
Nutcrackers
German wooden toys
Christmas candles
Tea-light candle holders
Figurines made of wood
Edible treats
Rubber duckies
Collectible Market mug – These are pretty mugs on which you order gluhwein or even hot chocolate. To begin with, you pay both for the wine and the mug (as deposit). If you return the mug, you get the deposit back. But if you do not, you can take the mug home as a souvenir. These mugs are just under 4 Euros, so they make for pretty cheap and good souvenirs.
Berlin Christmas Markets – What to eat?
While gluhwein and its varieties top the list of the drinks that are usually loved by adults, a close second is hot chocolate, favoured by non-drinkers and children. Gluhwein is hot mulled wine, with condiments like cloves, cinnamon, star anise and fruit. Red gluwhein is a hot seller, followed by white gluhwein. As mentioned, there is a non-alcoholic version, which tastes like apple-cider vinegar.
You can eat Lebkuchen, these are heart-shaped cookies or gingerbread covered with frosting, and includes an assortment of cloves, coriander, nuts, honey and cardamom. Other treats include the traditional German sausages called ‘thuringian’, potato pancakes (Kartoffelpuffer/Reibekuchen), egg noodles (Spätzle), fruit cake (Stollen), chimney-cake (kürtőskalács), German chocolate bon-bons (Schamkuss), pretzels, and the ever-popular currywurst (steamed or fried sausages that are smeared with curry ketchup), waffles , and mazipans (dessert made of honey or sugar and grounded almonds)
Do not forget to check out Christmas markets in Prague.
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