Germany is famous for its Christmas Markets and Christmas traditions. The capital city Berlin is full of Christmas magic. Here’s my guide to Berlin at Christmas, and Berlin’s best Christmas Markets.
Last updated: January 2025
Berlin at Christmas is magical. Christmas markets fill the streets and squares all around the city. It’s a real fairytale Christmas, with all the sights and smells to get you in the Christmas spirit. The Christmas Markets are perfect for finishing off your Christmas shopping, with a wide range of hand-crafted products you can buy for your friends and family. But the real highlight of Berlin at Christmas is the food and drink available at Berlin’s Christmas markets. It’s a great chance to try traditional German bratwurst, and drink warming mulled wine.
Berlin at Christmas can get busy. The Christmas Markets in Berlin tend to get busier as it gets closer to Christmas. So I recommend visiting Berlin at Christmas in early December. In early December, all the Christmas Markets are open and the city is full of Christmas lights. But it’s not as busy as it gets nearer Christmas. So you can have a bit more space to walk around the Christmas Markets without the crowds.
What is the weather like in Berlin in December?
Berlin in December can get very cold. I was in Berlin in early December and it was freezing cold. It was mostly dry, and I only had one day of rain in 5 days in the city. But the dry days were very cold. And it was the damp kind of cold, that really gets into you.
Of course, the weather can vary in Berlin in December. You might get a lot of rain. Or you might get some sunny, clear days. There’s a chance of snow as well, although there often isn’t much snow in December.
You should definitely expect Berlin in December to be cold, with a high chance of rain on some days of your trip as well.
What should I wear to explore Berlin at Christmas?
The most important thing to pack for your trip to Berlin at Christmas is a thick, warm, waterproof winter coat. You’ll definitely need a good coat for your trip. And it definitely should be waterproof, or at least shower-proof, as there’s a good chance you’ll get some rain on your trip.
Make sure you’ve got lots of layers to wear underneath your winter coat as well. I recommend taking layers so you can choose how many layers to wear each day, depending on the weather. It can also be warm in some of the bars and restaurants, so you’ll want to be able to take off some of your layers when you go inside. Your layers of clothing don’t need to be anything special, just anything you can layer up. Think of things like a vest top, t-shirt, a thin cardigan, and then a thicker jumper or hoody. You can also consider wearing two pairs of socks. And you can wear leggings underneath jeans for extra warmth.
For footwear, sturdy trainers should be ok for most of December in Berlin. If heavy snow is forecast when you’re visiting, you should consider wearing waterproof hiking boots so you can comfortably walk around in the snow. But if there’s no snow, then trainers should be fine.
If the weather is really bad when you visit Berlin at Christmas, there are lots of indoor activities you can explore, such as the museums and churches. You can check out my guide to the top things to do in a weekend in Berlin here. But even in bad weather, Berlin’s Christmas Markets are really special. Keep reading for my guide to visiting Berlin for the Christmas Markets, and the best Christmas Market in Berlin.
Best Christmas Markets in Berlin
There are several areas in Berlin that have great Christmas Markets. I recommend dedicating an evening to each area, if you’ve got time. Each one has a unique and distinctive charm, and they’re big areas so take time to explore. If you’re visiting Berlin for Christmas Markets, here are some of my favourite Christmas Markets to visit in Berlin at Christmas.
Gendarmenmarkt – the best Christmas Markets in Berlin
My favourite area of Christmas Markets in Berlin is the spectacular Gendarmenmarkt. It’s a huge area and you can easily spend hours wandering through all the different stalls. There’s a small entrance fee for the market here, which is fairly unusual as most markets are free to enter, but I think it’s definitely worth paying the small price to experience the magic. Check out the website for the latest prices and opening times.
Situated between two impressive churches, Französischer Dom and Deutscher Dom, the Christmas trees and decorations make this a really special atmosphere. The food and drink here is amazing – warm up with mulled wine, eggnog or hot chocolate, and then feast on freshly cooked Bratwurst sausages.
Alexanderplatz Christmas Markets in Berlin
Another huge area of Christmas Markets in Berlin are on Alexanderplatz. Many of these Christmas Markets sell a range of food, drink and unique gifts. And the busy atmosphere really gets you in the Christmas spirit. Don’t forget to check out the famous World Clock on Alexanderplatz while you’re there.
Schloss Charlottenberg Christmas Markets
Schloss Charlottenberg, or Charlottenburg Palace, is only about 30 minutes outside of the centre of Berlin. The Berlin Christmas Markets at Charlottenburg are some of the best in the city. It’s definitely worth taking the short journey out of the centre of Berlin to explore the Christmas Markets at Charlottenburg in Berlin.
There are lots of food and drink stalls at the Charlottenburg Christmas Markets. You can find several places selling mulled wine, plus a variety of different foods. This Christmas Market at Charlottenburg is also a great place to shop for Christmas presents for you friends and family. The unique, hand-crafted wooden gifts sold here are really special.
The Schloss Charlottenburg palace itself is worth a visit as well. The palace dates back to the 17th century, and you can visit its stunning state rooms and beautiful gardens. Visit the website for opening times.
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial
The last of my top Christmas Markets to visit are in the area around Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. This whole area is also packed with Christmas Markets where you can browse for unique gifts to take home for your friends and family.
The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is a fascinating area for history as well. The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was heavily bombed during WW2, and in 1961 it was partially rebuilt and integrated into the new memorial Church building.
Enjoy exploring Berlin at Christmas with the best Christmas Markets in Berlin! Make sure you also check out my guide to the top things to do in Berlin in a weekend. If you’ve got longer to explore Germany, I recommend taking a day trip to Dresden from Berlin, and you can visit some more Christmas Markets in Dresden as well. Or, for some of the best Christmas Markets outside of Berlin, visit Cologne, Vienna and Prague.
