Christmas Markets in Berlin 2023
Berlin's Christmas markets reflect its status as the nation's capital and as its largest city. It boasts a wide variety of locations dotted around the city as well as different styles of market.
There are more than 60 markets that open towards the end of November and, in some cases, don't close until the end of December.
There are small markets for the local communities in the city, trendy designer markets and 'alternative' markets.
Here we've just chosen to feature some of the better-known ones, especially those that have their own websites.
Christmas Magic at the Gendarmenmarkt
The Weihnachtszauber market is a little bit at the luxury end of the scale, concentrating on gourmet food and handmade goods. The location is usually in the square between the French and German cathedrals and the Berlin Concert Hall, but has changed for 2023 and 2024 to nearby Bebelplatz.
Dates: 27.11.23 – 31.12.23
Times: Sunday-Thursday: 12.00 to 22.00 (24.12 until 18.00)
Friday-Saturday: 12.00 to 23.00
Entry: Entrance fee for adults after 14.00 for music and performances
Location: Beblplatz (for 2023-24 instead of Gendarmenmarkt)
Website: www.weihnachtsmarkt-berlin.de
Weihnachtsmarkt am Roten Rathaus
This traditional city centre Christmas market also features a Ferris wheel and an ice rink around the Neptune fountain.
Dates: 27.11.23 - 07.01.24
Times: Monday-Friday:
12.00-22.00
Saturday-Sunday:
11.00-22.00
Location: Between the Berlin town hall and the Marienkirche
Website: www.berlinerweihnachtszeit.de
Christmas Market on the Breitscheidplatz
This is another market in the City West area of Berlin, this time near the Gedächtniskirche (a relatively modern memorial church for a German Emperor).
Dates: 22.11.22 - 02.01.22
Times: Sunday-Thursday: 11.00-21.00
Friday-Saturday: 11.00-22.00
(Opening times vary on public holidays!)
Location: On the Breitscheidplatz near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
Website: www.schaustellerverband-berlin.de
Lucia Christmas Market
This market is one of the smaller and less overtly commercial in the city and is held a little way out of the centre in Prenzlauer Berg.
Dates: 21.11.22 - 22.12.22
Times: Monday-Friday: 15.00-22.00
Saturday-Sunday: 13.00-22.00
Location: In the Kulturbrauerei in the Pankow part of Berlin
Website: www.lucia-weihnachtsmarkt.de
Other Things To Do in Berlin
Get a good helping of culture. Berlin is filled with museums and galleries. The photo to the right is of the Museuminsel, which is an island containing five major museums and which has been declared a World Heritage site. But you could gorge yourself on history and art for a week and still not cover everything...
Take a look at the city and its inhabitants. Berlin, as everyone knows, was a divided city in Iron Curtain times and much was destroyed at the end of the Second World War. That means that the city has a unique juxtaposition of old German and new German, poor and nouveau riche and always rich, right and left, and the different communities from all over the world that have gathered here since it has become a united city.
Visit the parks and lakes. Those who haven't visited before don't realise how much countryside there is in and around Berlin. The Tierpark is the famous green area at the heart of the city, but the Grunewald out to the west has lakes and pine forests that will make the visitor forget that they are in one of Europe's biggest metropolises.
Plan Your Own Christmas Market Break in Berlin
Berlin now (finally!) has the new Berlin Brandenberg Airport, which is on the site of one of the former Berlin Schönefeld airport. The airport is connected to the city centre by an extensive range of rail services, including a dedicated Airport Express line and some InterCity services.
Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the main railway station, is just to the north of the city centre. It obviously has links all over Europe and from the main railway station it is possible to link into the regional train system (the S-Bahn) and the underground rail network (the U-Bahn). All the local services, as well as buses, trams and ferries, are integrated into a common ticket service by the VBB (Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg).
Travel Information
Berlin Brandenburg Airport: www.berlin-airport.de
National Railways: www.bahn.de
Local Public Transport: www.vbb.de
Tourist Office: www.visitberlin.de
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors