Not everyone is eagerly awaiting Christmas. Be it for religious, personal or cultural reasons: There are many people who don't celebrate Christmas or simply don't enjoy the festivities. Luckily, we are in Berlin and there are a variety of alternatives to spend the festive season. Here are our top 11 tips for Christmas grumpies and all those who don't celebrate Christmas.
Tip 1: Get spooked at the Berlin Dungeon
You can get a very un-Christmasy scare at the Berlin Dungeon over the Christmas holidays. An exciting journey through Berlin's history awaits you - with a mixture of live shows, special effects and interactive experiences. Professional actors bring dark historical events back to life. Look forward to a gruesome atmosphere, rounded off by the creepy factor and humour.
When: Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Where: Spandauer Straße 2, Mitte
Tip 2: Take a soothing break from the holiday hustle and bustle
Reflectiveness and peace? You won't just find it under the Christmas tree, but also in one of Berlin's many spas and wellness centres. Do something good for yourself and forget the cold winter for a while. For example, treat yourself to a massage in the hammam at the Schokoladenfabrik women's centre, which is also Germany's first Turkish bath. The vabali Spa, near Berlin Central Station, is also always worth a visit. Let yourself be whisked away to the Indonesian island of Bali right in the heart of Berlin.
When: daily 8 am - midnight
Where: Vabali Spa, Seydlitzstraße 6, Mitte
Tip 3: Leave gravity behind with ALIZÉ
With ALIZÉ , the world-famous Cirque du Soleil has found its first permanent home in Europe. What awaits you is not a classic circus act, but a poetic, high-performance spectacle. Immerse yourself in a surreal world in which the laws of physics are seemingly suspended. When the artists whirl through the air and dreamlike choreographies merge with hypnotic music, the stress of Christmas is immediately forgotten. It is a visual intoxication full of energy and aesthetics - ideal for simply letting yourself dream away without leaving Berlin.
When: Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Where: Theatre at Potsdamer Platz, Marlene-Dietrich-Platz 1, Mitte
Tip 4: Visit Berlin's museums on Christmas Day and Boxing Day
All those of you interested in culture will be pleased to know that Berlin's museums are open for you on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The Staatliche Museen zu Berlin will be open as on a normal Sunday. So why not take a stroll through the Neue Nationalgalerie or Köpenick Palace.
When: Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Where: All Berlin State Museums
Tip 5: Explore the art and history of the Teufelsberg
The site of the former US listening station is open 365 days a year from 11 am to sunset. There is a lot to discover! Teufelsberg has a mixture of history and art in store for you. There are over 400 works by international artists on the site and more are being added all the time. If you want to find out more about the history of the Teufelsberg, you should definitely check out the new exhibition "Declassified - The Secret of the Teufelsberg". It offers fascinating insights into the history of the place.
You can also find out more about street art in our ABOUT BERLIN app
When: Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Where: Teufelsseechaussee 10, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
Tip 6: Get out of the city and into the surrounding area
Why stay in Berlin when the surrounding area has a lot to offer? From the city centre, you can get to many places worth seeing on the outskirts of the city or Brandenburg in no time at all. The Baumkronenpfad Beelitzer Heilstätten, for example, offers you a fantastic panoramic view of the landscape and the overgrown ruins of the sanatoriums over a length of more than 300 metres at a height of up to 23 metres. The Old Town of Bernau is also within easy reach. Here you can admire the medieval architecture and stroll around the market square. There you will also find the neoclassical-style town hall.
Tip: The Beelitz Heilstätten treetop path is open on Boxing Day. As darkness falls, the forest gnomes wake up here every evening until 4 January and winter light installations light up the path and the park.
When: in December every Thursday - Sunday, 12 - 6 pm
Where: Straße nach Fichtenwalde 13, Beelitz
Tip 7: Enjoy Berlin's indoor activities
It's cold outside, but Berlin has a plethora of fantastic indoor activities to offer. In trampoline halls you can really let off steam and indoor surfing at Wellenwerk will give you that holiday feeling. For the little ones, there are indoor playgrounds where there is plenty of space to climb and let off steam. If you want something for your brain, you should definitely immerse yourself in the worlds of Berlin's escape rooms.
Tip 8: Travel to Hogwarts and other worlds at the cinema
The cinemas in Berlin are also open for you on public holidays. You will be offered a wide selection of films and special highlights. Previews, blockbusters or a Harry Potter Special! Your chance to immerse yourself in the magical world of Hogwarts on the big screen. On Boxing Day, you can see "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" at 11am. Of course, there won't be any Christmas biscuits to go with it, but chocolate frogs, Bertie Botts or popcorn if you prefer.
Good to know: The Cinema in Hackesche Höfe offers special preview screenings for Christmas Eve on 24 December.
When: Boxing Day, 11 a.m
Where: Kantstraße 54, Charlottenburg
Tip 9: Swap Christmas harmony for great emotions
Berlin loves drama - and that's a good thing, especially if you want to escape the contemplative monotony. Instead of a forced family idyll, you can expect pure passion and a spectacular stage experience in the City West that will make you completely forget your everyday life.
The world's most famous tragedy will be retold in the magnificent Theatre of the West. The musical "Romeo & Juliet - Love is Everything" (by the creative team behind Rosenstolz) dusts off the Shakespeare classic with modern pop anthems, fast-paced choreography and fantastic costumes. It's about life, death and unconditional love - intense, loud and guaranteed to be free of "Jingle Bells". Let yourself be carried away by the energy and immerse yourself in a production that touches the heart without being cheesy. An evening full of goosebump moments that proves that Berlin also sets the pace on public holidays.
When: Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Where: Kantstraße 12, City West
Tip 10: Celebrate your way in Berlin's clubs
Ideal for night owls and dance enthusiasts, some Berlin clubs are also open for you on Christmas Eve and the following public holidays. Berlin's nightlife doesn't come to a standstill over the Christmas period. Unfortunately, there is currently no more detailed information on the programme in the various clubs. We therefore recommend that you keep an eye on the calendars of your favourite clubs.
Where: various venues
Tip 11: Break out of the holiday routine
Berlin is the capital of puzzles and hidden places. If you're in the mood for brain teasers instead of walnuts and are looking for real excitement, the city's numerous escape rooms are your perfect exile. Leave reality behind and slip into a role that is guaranteed to have nothing to do with Father Christmas.
Whether you're investigating as a detective in 1920s Berlin, escaping from a secret bunker or saving magical worlds - the choice in the capital is huge and is one of the best in Europe. As soon as the door slams shut behind you, all that matters is the here and now. As a team, you have to crack codes, open locks and think outside the box. The adrenaline when the clock is ticking is the best remedy for any holiday dullness. An intense experience in which you completely block out the outside world.
Our extra tip to spread joy:
Tip 12: Stand up for animals and people in need
Especially in the colder months, many people living on the streets in Berlin don't have it easy either. If you would like to support people in need, find out about the various opportunities to help out in soup kitchens or night cafés. Be it by serving hot meals or lending a sympathetic ear. Such small gestures can brighten up the everyday lives of those affected and give them some warmth and joy during this difficult time.
For many, doing something good for others is part of Christmas. Many of our fluffy friends live at the Berlin animal shelter, who are happy to receive regular donations, but also time or material donations. Bowls, toys and general accessories are always needed. If you would like to become active yourself, you can volunteer and support the animals and the home with your time and care.
