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These Christmas markets open first

A chronological countdown to the official Advent season

Heissa Wintermarkt
© enrico-verworner.de

In Berlin, the Christmas market season starts in November. From 1 November . While the true Christmas market season is not officially allowed to start before the Sunday of the Dead (24 November this year) numerous winter markets are already welcoming visitors for a cozy gathering. Enjoy sweet waffles and warm up with a hot cup of punch during the chilly autumn evenings. We have put together a list where you an get in the mood for the winter and Christmas season with a cosy get-together. These Christmas markets open first - a chronological countdown to the official Christmas season.
 

Christmas market launch: 1 November marks the start of ...

The winter world & Christmas market at Potsdamer Platz

Winter World and Christmas market at Potsdamer Platz
Winter World and Christmas market at Potsdamer Platz © PPMG Potsdamer Platz Management GmbH

The toboggan run at Potsdamer Platz is set up every year in October. Have some wintery fun and slide down from a height of twelve metres in the middle of Berlin, even without snow. In addition to the toboggan run, numerous stalls, sausage roasters and mulled wine stands invite you to get together and enjoy a cozy evening.

When: 1 November 2024 to 1 January 2025
Where: Potsdamer Platz, Mitte

Winterwelt am Potsdamer Platz

The Lichtenberg Wintertime (Lichtenberger Winterzeit)

Der große Berliner Weihnachtsmarkt - Wintertraum am Alexa
© visitBerlin, Foto: Wolfgang Scholvien

To make sure the wait for Christmas doesn't get too long, the Lichtenberg Wintertime invites you to join in the colourful hustle and bustle at the fairground on Landsberger Alle. From the Ferris wheel to the Wild Mouse, numerous rides await you here with colourful lights for pre-Christmas fun at nightfall. Look forward to bratwurst, roasted almonds and all kinds of other treats. Wednesday is family day!

When: 1 November to 28 December 2024. December 2024
Where: Landsberger Allee 300, Lichtenberg

Lichtenberger Winterzeit

Christmas market launch: On 8. November begins... 

The LGBTQIA* Winterdays and Christmas Avenue

Gay Pärchen auf dem Weihnachtsmarkt
© GettyImages, Bild: gilaxia

Traditionally the queer community in Berlin invites you to come together at the LGBTQIA* Winterdays from 10 November. November for an open get-together on Nollendorfplatz. Until 25 November, the party hut will also be reserved for initiatives from the queer scene. Drop by, exchange ideas and support the community.

When: 8 November to 31 December 2024
Where: Nollendorfplatz, Schöneberg

LGBTQIA* Winterdays & Christmas Avenue

Winter lights at Dark Matter

Winterlights
© Foto: Dark Matter

A very special world of lights awaits you again this Christmas season at Dark Matter. Every year, Berlin light artist Christopher Bauder transforms the inner courtyard of the exhibition complex in Lichtenberg into a spectacular world of Christmas lights. This time, you can stroll through 300 creatively arranged fir trees, which are festively illuminated by more than 100,000 lights. Look forward to an unusual Advent evening with mulled wine and punch in the fir forest. The installation will be accompanied by a soundtrack specially composed by Dutch musician Chris Kuijten. The duration of the repeating loop is around 40 minutes.

When: 8 November to 5 January. January
Where: Köpenicker Chaussee 46, Lichtenberg

The glow forest at the Uber Arena

Glühwein from the clay cup
© GettyImages, Bild: Fabian Krause / EyeEm

The spacious area in front of the Uber Arena now enjoys a very special magic in the run-up to Christmas. A wide variety of hot drinks and, of course, culinary pre-Christmas dishes await you in the Glühwald. The cosy atmosphere created by the covered and heated huts is rounded off by a Christmas decoration and lighting concept and appropriate music.

When: 8 November to 31 December 2024 (TBD)
Where: Uber Platz, Friedrichshain

Christmas market launch:  On 14. November opens ...

The Historic Christmas Market on the RAW site

Weihnachtsmarkt RAW Gelände
© visitberlin, Foto: Chris Martin Scholl

Fire bowls and fantastic light and art installations make the historic Christmas market on the RAW site a wonderful pre-Christmas spectacle for the whole family. Look forward to food and drink, fire shows and other spectacles inspired by medieval customs.

When: 14 November to 22 December 2024
Where: Revaler Straße 99, Friedrichshain

Historical Christmas market on the RAW site

Christmas market launch: On 18. November opens ...

The Christmas market on the Spree

Weihnachten an der Spree
© FARO Gruppe

The Christmas market on the Spree also opens on 20 November. For a flat rate (from 29.90 euros), you can enjoy all inclusive mulled wine, punch and hot chocolate and savour bratwurst, spaetzle and other delicacies. There are also fire barrels, seating areas and action with curling or tree nailing.

When: 18 November to 30 December 2024
Where: Stralauer Allee 2b, Friedrichshain

Christmas on the Spree

Christmas market starts: From 20. November begins ...

The Christmas Garden in the Botanical Garden

Christmas Garden 2021
Christmas Garden Berlin © Christmas Garden-Michael Clemens

Every year, the Botanical Garden is transformed into a magical winter wonderland. And has been since 2016. Based on the London model "Christmas at Kew" in the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Berlin Christmas Garden invites you to take a contemplative stroll, which offers many wonderful opportunities for a Christmas family photo with its fairy-tale light installations.

When: 20 November 2024 to 12 January 2025
Where: Königin-Luise-Straße 68, Steglitz

Christmas Garden

Christmas market launch: On 22. November opens ...

Christmas at the zoo

Weihnachten im Tierpark, Friedrichsfelde
© visitberlin, Foto: Dagmar Schwelle

Glittering lights cover the zoo in the run-up to Christmas. The illuminated path does not take you past the enclosures - to protect the animals - but a few animal light installations do await you. The trail is around two kilometres long. In between, there are stalls with cocoa, punch and treats.

When: 22 November 2024 to 12 January 2025
Where: Am Tierpark 125, Lichtenberg

Christmas at the Tierpark

Christmas market launch: On 25. November open ...

The Gendarmenmarkt Christmas magic on Bebelplatz

WeihnachtsZauber at Gendarmenmarkt
WeihnachtsZauber at Gendarmenmarkt © visitberlin, Foto: Wolfgang Scholvien

Once again, the Gendarmenmarkt Christmas magic (see picture) will take place on Bebelplatz due to the sarnishing work at Gendarmenmarkt. Enjoy the Christmas atmosphere in front of this historic backdrop surrounded by the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, St Hedwig's Cathedral and the Altes Palais. Arts and crafts and gastronomy are presented in cosy tents that invite you to stroll around even in bad weather.

When: 25 November to 31 December 2024
Where: Bebelplatz, Mitte

Weihnachtszauber

Christmas market at Charlottenburg Palace

Weihnachtsmarkt vor dem Schloss Charlottenburg
© Werbeteam Berlin

The most romantic Christmas market in Berlin takes place where Queen Sophie Charlotte once resided. Illuminated with colourful lights, Charlottenburg Palace rises above the festively decorated wooden huts and pagoda tents. The Christmas market at Charlottenburg Palace is a real crowd-puller every year.

When: 25 November to 29 December 2024
Where: Spandauer Damm 22, Charlottenburg

Christmas market at Charlottenburg Palace

Spandau Christmas market in the old town

Spandauer Weihnachtsmarkt
© visitberlin, Foto: Philip Koschel

Stroll through the cosy alleyways of the old town and discover Berlin's traditional Christmas market. During Advent, the entire historic centre of Spandau is festively decorated and provides an atmospheric backdrop for arts and crafts and Christmas concerts. Of course, there will also be plenty to eat and drink.  

When: 25 November to 22 December. December 2024
Where: Kammerstraße 6, Spandau

Spandauer Weihnachtsmarkt

Winter market on Schlossplatz

Historischer Weihnachtsmarkt, Schlossplatz in Mitte am Abend.
Historischer Weihnachtsmarkt, Schlossplatz in Mitte am Abend. © visitBerlin, Foto: WollenschlaegerGmbH

For the second time, the winter market in front of the historic backdrop on Schlossplatz invites you to get in the mood for the Christmas season. Look forward to lots of arts and crafts and Christmas delicacies. Watch the glassblowers and wood carvers at work and enjoy the festively decorated centre of Berlin around the Humboldt Forum and Museum Island.

When: 25 November 2024 to 1 January 2025
Where: 25 November 2024 to 1 January 2025 January 2025
Where: Schlossplatz, Mitte

Winter market Schlossplatz

Christmas market on Alexanderplatz

Der große Berliner Weihnachtsmarkt - Wintertraum am Alexa
© visitBerlin, Foto: Wolfgang Scholvien

Visit the Nikolaus in his party house on Alexanderplatz. In the evenings, DJs create a pre-Christmas party atmosphere here. It's quieter under the large Christmas pyramid. Here you can enjoy mulled wine, bratwurst and sweet waffles. There are also plenty of attractions for children and the young at heart, such as the roller skating rink or festive, glittering carousels and rides.

When: 25 November to 26 December
Where: Alexanderplatz, Mitte

Christmas market on Alex

Lucia Christmas market in the Kulturbrauerei

Christmas market in the Kulturbrauerei in Berlin
Lucia Christmas market in dthe Kulturbrauerei © KeteringGmbH, Foto: Jochen Loch

The Scandinavian-inspired Christmas market at the Kulturbrauerei gets you in the Christmas spirit with Nordic traditions. Here you can enjoy glögg and many other Scandinavian specialities. The little ones can practise their balance on the star ladder. And on 13 December, of course, the festival of lights of Saint Lucia is celebrated.

When: 25 November to 22 December 2024
Where: Schönhauser Allee 36, Prenzlauer Berg

Lucia Christmas Market

Tip 13: Christmas time at the Rotes Rathaus

Berliner Weihnachtszeit at the Rotes Rathaus
Berliner Weihnachtszeit at the Rotes Rathaus © visitBerlin, Foto: Dagmar Schwelle

The 50-metre-high panoramic Ferris wheel can be seen from afar, spinning brightly above the nostalgic backdrop around the Rotes Rathaus. From the gondolas, you have a wonderful view of the Christmas hustle and bustle of the city. You can ice skate around the Neptune Fountain and find arts and crafts and delicacies at the stalls

When: 25 November to 30 December 2024. December 2024
Where: Spandauer Straße, Mitte

Christmas at Rotes Rathaus

Christmas market starts: on 26 November opens ...

Medieval Christmas market Schloss Britz

Nordische Märchenweihnacht
Nordische Märchenweihnacht at Schloss Britz © visitBerlin, Foto: Wolfgang Scholvien

Warm yourself by the flickering fireplaces and watch the jugglers perform their tricks. The historic Christmas market on the 300-year-old estate of Schloss Britz is a very special experience. The stalls with arts and crafts and traditional handicrafts seem to have come from another time. Other stalls are sizzling and the aroma of mead and sweet pastries sets the mood for the cosy Christmas season.

When: On all Advent weekends in 2024 (29 November to 1 December 2024, 6 to 8, 13 to 15 and 20 to 22 December 2024)
Where: Alt-Britz 73, Britz

Nordic Fairytale Christmas

From 1. December the Advent & official Christmas market season begins

Christmas market in front of Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin
Christmas market at Charlottenburg Palace © visitBerlin, Foto: Wolfgang Scholvien

And from December, the Advent and Christmas market season in Berlin is officially open. Find our large overview of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Berlin here.

All Christmas markets in Berlin

Josefine Köhn-Haskins

Josefine

is originally from Munich and started out her career at one of Germanys largest daily news papers. Before finding her home in Berlin, she also reported as a correspondent and trend scout from the US. Today she is cruising Berlin's neighbourhoods, always on the lookout for good stories - with a focus on culture, music and ideas for the future of an innovative Berlin. All posts