When it comes to Berlin Christmas markets, the sheer variety and local atmosphere make them a must-see for travellers seeking an authentic German holiday experience.
From historic backdrops like the Charlottenburg Palace to busy hubs like Alexanderplatz, each market in this capital city brings unique highlights and traditions.
But with over 80 markets spread across the city, it makes it impossible to visit them all. In this guide, I’ll share not only the best markets to visit as a local having lived in Berlin but key information like dates, times and what you can expect to find at each one.
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Top 7 Picks for the Best Berlin Christmas Markets to Visit
While living in Berlin, I not only got to experience almost all of the Christmas markets and winter festivals this great city offers, but I also experienced the traditional German Christmas Markets in Frankfurt.
As well as, a short train ride from Berlin, I highly recommend visiting Dresden’s Christmas Markets too.
1. Christmas Market on Gendarmenmarkt (Bebelplatz)
Let’s start with my favourite. If you were only to visit one Christmas market in Berlin this is my pick!
This is a local’s favourite too. Berliners shop for their holiday gifts here, meet up with friends over glühwein, and sing along with live music being played.
This market is best experienced at nighttime, not only is it more festive but it’s the prettiest under the glow of twinkle lights. But, I do have to warn you, it is one of the most popular markets to visit.
While most markets in Berlin will offer food, this one offers restaurants. Large heated tents with full kitchens can be found here, and there are several to choose from, each offering traditional German food with varying degrees of charm.
We choose to dine at the fanciest. It was alpine chic with long communal tables with cozy sheepskins, and candlelit, large wreaths hung from ribbons from the ceiling. Spätzle and schnitzel for us and we enjoyed every bite.
Christmas Market on Gendarmenmarkt (Bebelplatz)
📍 Berlin Bebelplatz on Unter den Linden Boulevard (relocated from Gendarmenmarkt due to construction)
📆 November 25, 2024 to December 31, 2024
🕒 Sunday to Thursday from 12 pm to 10 pm and Friday and Saturday from 12 pm to 11 pm, with two exceptions: Dec 24 from 12 pm to 6 pm and Dec 31 from 12 pm to 1 am
⚠️ €2 entrance fee with a few exceptions (children up to 12 years free, Mon to Fri from 12 to 2 pm)
✨ Gets my vote for the best nighttime market with the best offerings for food, shopping and entertainment
2. Christmas Market at Charlottenburg Palace
What I loved most about this German Christmas market was the beautiful backdrop of Charlottenburg Palace. It is incredibly majestic, and romantic!
Enter the palace gates and walk along the historic cobblestones with your mulled wine. This market looks very regal under the elegant white tents.
There’s a large mobile shop with vendors inside selling glass ornaments, a chocolatier and honey products that I couldn’t resist buying.
Christmas Market at Charlottenburg Palace
📍 Spandauer Damm, 20 in the Charlottenburg District
📆 November 25, 2024 to December 29, 2024 (closed on Dec 24)
🕒 Monday to Sunday from 12 pm to 10 pm
✨ Gets my vote for the most romantic Christmas market ideal for couples and those wanting a smaller and more intimate market experience
3. Christmas Market on Breitscheidplatz
This Christmas Market is located at one of Berlin’s most incredible landmarks, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. A grand Christmas tree in front of this ruined church makes it a beautiful sight!
This is one of Berlin’s largest Christmas markets and the most decorated too! Large pre-lit trees, bears and reindeer can be found scattered around making for fun winter wonderland photo ops! Lights lined down Kurfürstendamm Street make this a market to come and see at nighttime.
There are delicious market stalls full of food vendors, selling everything from my favourite Kartoffelpuffer (potato cakes) to Thüringer Bratwurst to glühwein. Don’t miss the market stalls as you walk towards Berlin’s favourite department store, KaWeDam!
Christmas Market at Breitscheidplatz
📍 Kurfürstendamm, 237 in the Charlottenburg District
📆 November 25, 2024 to January 5, 2025
🕒 Sunday to Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm and Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm (exceptions Dec 24 11 am to 2 pm, Dec 25, 26 1 pm to 9 pm, Dec 31 11 am to 8 pm, Jan 1st 1 pm to 9 pm)
✨ Gets my vote for the most Christmassy market drawing shoppers and families
4. Lucia Christmas Market at Kulturbrauerei
I fell in love with this Scandi-inspired Christmas Market! Set amongst the historic redbrick buildings that were once a large Berlin brewery, now turned cultural hub.
This Christmas market stands out as one of the most unique in Berlin. With its Nordic vibes. Vendors from Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden offer a bit of a twist on the food, drink and gifts being offered.
It’s super quaint and cozy and has a great neighbourhood feel. It’s the hidden gem of all the Christmas markets in Berlin.
Families bring their kids here and it’s reflective of the boho vibes of this neighbourhood. We had a spiked apple cider with an edible cup (kinda tasted like a waffle cone), whereas at every other market, you have to put a deposit down on a mug.
Christmas Market at Kulturbrauerei
📍 Schönhauser Allee, 36 in the Prenzlauer Berg District
📆 November 27, 2024 to December 22, 2024
🕒 Monday to Friday from 3 pm to 10 pm, Saturday – Sunday 1 pm – 10 pm
✨ This gets my vote for the best neighbourhood Christmas market. It’s a real hidden gem full of locals and families
5. Christmas Market in Spandau
Visit one of Berlin’s oldest neighbourhoods- Spandau! Spandau is older than Berlin. This historic city, known for its impressive Citadel, was once a city in Germany. But with the expansion of Berlin’s borders, it now falls within the city limits.
Spandau is full of small-town charm, feeling more like a village than the city centre of Berlin.
This is a traditional Christmas market where lining the Altstadt are all the usual vendors- food, drink, sweets and gifts. This is where I bought one of the whimsical villages from a crafter from Lithuania. Although you will find similar houses in other markets, they are handmade by him and his wife.
Christmas Market in Spandau
📍 Marktstraße in the Spandau District
📆 November 25, 2024 to December 22, 2024
🕒 Open daily from 11 am to 9 pm
✨ This gets my vote for the most charming Christmas market and offers a more local experience
6. Christmas Market at City Hall (Rotes Rathaus)
This fun Christmas market has it all. As Berlin’s largest, it offers a wide variety of vendors, an ice skating rink around the Neptunbrunnen fountain, a Ferris wheel, and you can even see Santa zip through the air on his sleigh.
As one of the most popular markets in Berlin, it won’t be the most quaint. But it does offer a little something for everyone. Families and young Berliners will love this market for its central location and all-in-one convenience of vendors and festivities.
Christmas Market at Berlin City Hall
📍 Rathausstraße,15 in the Mitte District
📆 November 25, 2024 to December 30, 2024
🕒 Monday to Friday 12 pm – 10 pm, Saturday – Sunday 11 am – 10 pm (except December 25 to 26 11 am – 10 pm
✨ This Christmas Market is the largest and is perfect for families and fun to visit
7. Christmas Market on Alexanderplatz
This will be the most touristy Christmas market you will visit.
Located on the famous Alexanderplatz, not far from Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus_, this is where you will hear the music pumping through the air, and people grabbing a drink before hopping on or off the U or S-bahn, and there’s even a pop-up disco tech for the young clubbing crowd. Instead of ice skating, there is a rollerskating rink.
I quickly walked through this one to get a feel for it, as I made my way to the nearby Roten Rathaus. It’s not my favourite, but that doesn’t mean you need to avoid it altogether.
Christmas Market on Alexanderplatz
📍 Alexanderplatz in Mitte District
📆 November 25, 2024 to December 26, 2024
🕒 Monday to Sunday 10 am – 10 pm
✨ This market gets my vote for the most touristy and suits a younger crowd for its festive carnival vibes
Celebrating Christmas in Berlin at Winter Festivals
The opening of most of the Berlin Christmas markets follows the Advent Calendar. This means counting back four Sundays before Christmas Eve and they start on the Monday.
But, if you find yourself in Berlin as I did before the official launch of the Christmas Markets on November 25, you can still find some holiday fun at these Winter Festivals.
| Winter World on Potsdamer Platz 📍 Potsdamer Platz in the Mitte District | November 1, 2024 to January 1, 2025 Daily 11 am – 10 pm ✨ Giant toboggan run (€2.50 per slide) and Christmas lights at Leipziger Platz |
| Medieval Christmas Market at the RAW Compound 📍Revaler Straße 99 in the Friedrichshain District | November 14, 2024 to December 22, 2024 Monday to Friday 3 pm – 10 pm, Weekends 12 pm to 10 pm (Free Monday to Wednesday, Thursday to Sunday, or in historical costume) €2 ✨ Authentic Medieval setting and atmosphere |
| Christmas Garden Berlin 📍Königin-Luise-Straße 6-8 at Botanical Garden | November 20, 2024 to January 12, 2025 Daily 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (Closed Nov 25, 26, Dec 2, 9, 16, 24, 31, Jan 6, 7) €16.50 ✨ Largest Christmas light display in Berlin |
| Christmas at the Tierpark 📍Entrance at Am Bärenschaufenster Zoo | November 22, 2024 to January 12, 2025 Daily from 5 pm €15.50 ✨ 2km walking path of Christmas lights |
List of International Christmas Markets in Berlin
One of the reasons to visit Berlin is its openness to other cultures making it a great international city. This curiosity extends to its Christmas markets too! These small markets are fun to visit not only to learn about the traditions and food but they are held in small spaces (often churches) in the different neighbourhoods of the city.
- Swedish Christmas Bazaar: Nov 29 – Dec 1, 2024 (Fri 4 – 8 pm, Weekend 12 – 6 pm) for €2 📍Landhausstraße 26-28
- Danish Christmas Market: Nov 30 – Dec 1, 2024, from 12 – 6 pm 📍Brienner Straße 12
- Italian Christmas Market: Nov 30 – Dec 1, 2024, from 12 – 6 pm 📍Eichenstraße 4
- British Christmas Market: Dec 7, 2024, from 12 – 6 pm 📍Preußenallee 17
- Finnish Advent Bazaar: Dec 7, 2024, from 12 – 6 pm 📍Marheinekeplatz 1
Final Thoughts
German Christmas markets are in a league of their own. Every year I travel to a new European destination to experience the magic of their Christmas markets.
First, it was the elegant Christmas markets in Paris, then it was the authentic Christmas markets in Portugal.
Now you’re ready to unwrap the magic of Berlin’s Christmas markets, maybe you want to add a little sightseeing to your Berlin itinerary, may I suggest these popular activities:
- where to find the best free Berlin museums
- see the outdoor art at the East Side Gallery
- learn about the famous CheckPoint Charlie border crossing
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