Berlin is shining with over 80 unique Christmas markets

27.11.2023 - 09:44 / traveldailynews.com / Vicky Karantzavelou

The Christmas season starts on 27th November and the first winter markets are already open

BERLIN – From nostalgic to sustainable, from Scandinavian to Japanese: Berlin is the capital of Christmas markets. That’s because it has more than different 80 Christmas markets and they attract up to one million visitors to Berlin every year. The traditional opening day is the day after the Totensonntag (the Sunday in commemoration of the Dead), which falls on 26th November this year. Right from the end of October, the pre-Christmas atmosphere has been created by the Winter World and Christmas market at Potsdamer Platz, the Weihnachtsrummel on Landsberger Allee or the Tierpark. Until the official season starts, these markets are called Winter Markets and ring in the special time of year in the capital.

There’s always something to discover in Berlin – including new Christmas markets. So the new Winter Market Schlossplatz in the centre. In keeping with the setting, there will be historical arts and crafts, a roundabout, illuminated façades and a family programme around the Humboldt Forum and in the Schlüterhof. Another new and special feature is the Queer Winter Wonderland: Berlin’s queer community comes together at “Gestrandet” on Jannowitzbrücke to celebrate in a creative and humorous way. The first two weekends in Advent will also be colourful. Queer artists sell their work at the Pride Wintermarkt im ehemaligen Frauengefängnis in Lichterfelde. Caribbean flair in a grey Berlin winter? Go to the YAAM on Ice Christmas Market directly on the Spree, not far from the Schillingbrücke. This extraordinary Christmas market heats up with a mixture of fire and light shows, DJ skating parties and Jamaican street food. The wine lobbyists in Schöneberg have organised what is probably Berlin’s smallest, but finest, Christmas market in an inner courtyard and in proper style, called WEINachtsmarkt.

classics among Berlin’s Christmas markets are always beautiful. One of the most beautiful and luxurious is the WeihnachtsZauber. It will take place on Bebelplatz this year as well, due to a building site at Gendarmenmarkt. The heated tents will showcase arts and crafts and traditional top-class cuisine – all against an impressive setting. The attraction of the Berliner Weihnachtszeit at the Rotes Rathaus is the 50 metre high panorama big wheel. The medieval market around St. Marienkirche takes you on a journey through time. And on the Altberliner Marktgasse, visitors can immerse themselves in the Berlin of around 1900. The romantic Christmas market at Charlottenburg Palace is one of the crowd pullers. Over 100 international exhibitors have been selling jewellery, nativity figures and sweets here since 2007. Anyone wishing to immerse