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Weihnachtliche Viktoriastadt
© visitBerlin, Foto: Mo Wüstenhagen

5 winter tips for Berlin

We recommend: Christmas markets, events, & culture

Yes, winter in Berlin can often be grey and cold. But it's also the time of the year when so much is going on. So here are our top Berlin tips for when temperatures go south. We find that Berlin is worthwhile year-round, and perhaps even more so in winter. Find our tips for the best events in Berlin at Christmas time here.

1)    Berlin Christmas markets

WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt

Berlin is home to almost countless Christmas markets, ranging from the romantic to urban and even Scandinavian. 
You just have to decide what you're in the mood for. Our favourites include:


These Christmas markets open as winter markets before the season: These Christmas markets in Berlin open first.

Do you want even more choices. Visit our overview:

All Christmas Markets in Berlin

2)    Shopping in Berlin 

Christmas shopping on Kurfürstendamm in Berlin

It's hunting season in Berlin. Hunting for presents, that is. The city is full of shopping centres, markets, and individual design shops and boutiques. 

  • Berlin's shopping district and shopping streets with individual shops
  • Shopping centres with a large selection
  • Traditional German Christmas decorations, items from the Erzgebirge in central Germany, and hand-painted products from their own design studios at Käthe Wohlfahrt on Kurfürstendamm
  • Merry Markthalle: culinary delicacies
  • Holy Shit Shopping: The design Christmas market at Arena Berlin


Don't forget: Advent Sundays 3 and 17 December 2023 are - presumably - open Sundays in Berlin.

Shopping in Berlin

3) Christmas events in Berlin

Berlin State Ballet the Nutcracker

When it's cold outside, there's still so much going on inside. In Berlin, this means enjoying the massive cultural offerings, whether it's opera, a Broadway or Vegas-style show, concert, or something else. Top events for Winter 2023/24 include:

Find more events for the christmas season in our Events Calendar.

To the Berliner Events Calendar

4)    Exhibition Highlights in Berlin

Neue Nationalgalerie (New National Gallery) in Berlin

Berlin's museums are also gearing up for winter. Next to the Humboldt Forum and the Neue Nationalgalerie you can expect many more Highlights in Berlin this christmas season. We recommend these exciting exhibitions:

All museums in Berlin

5) Cosy restaurants for Christmas dining

Festive roast goose

Spoil yourself and your family at Christmas time. Go out for a cosy meal together. There are many restaurants in Berlin that prepare special Christmas and holiay menus for you - from vegan festive dishes to fondue and roast goose. Here are our tips:

You want even more choices:

All restaurants for the holiday season

 

Christmas & Holiday season in Berlin