Five Christmas Markets to visit while in Berlin
Christmas
time has officially started here in Berlin! It's Germany's favorite
time of the year and the Christmas fever is unavoidable and
intoxicating, so to any Scrooges or Grinches reading this right now –
sorry this article isn't for you.
The
Christmas market is one of Germany's favorite traditions and every
German city has at least one, Berlin alone boasts between 50 to
sometimes 100 markets!
We're all
aware that the holidays are supposed to be about giving, bringing
people together and spending quality time with your family, but I
think it's also about mulled wine, twinkly lights and those roasted
peanuts that come overpriced in a paper bag.
But where do
I find all those wonderful things? I hear you cry, well keep reading
to find out because I'm here to give you all the info you need on
Berlin's best Weihnachtsmärkte (that's
Christmas markets in German), the majority of which opened on
Monday 21st of November.
1- Weihnachtszauber at the Gendarmenmarkt
This is probably Berlin's most popular Christmas market, with more than 600,000 visitors every year situated in Berlin-Mitte in front of the Konzerthaus in the Gendarmenmarkt. This market is surrounded by beautiful buildings and is well known for its handmade products by manufactures from all over the globe. They also sell a variety of delicacies like caramelized apples, cheeses and my personal favorite – white hot chocolate. The market is located very central and can be reached from the stations Stadtmitte and Französische Straße, entry fee is 1€.
2- Berliner Weihnachtszeit at the Roten Rathaus
If you're looking for
something that's free, fun for the whole family and right in the
centre of Berlin then look no further than the Christmas market at
the Roten Rathaus – you can't miss it you can spot the 50m high
ferris wheel from miles away! It's one of the oldest and most famous
markets in Berlin situated right
in Alexanderplatz and all stalls are
decorated in an early 20th century style. Besides ferris
wheel rides visitors can also go ice skating on Berlin's largest
outdoor ice rink, the little ones can enjoy petting and riding the
animals at the animal farm and of course there are lots of stalls
selling a variety of different specialties and products for everyone
to enjoy.
3- Wintertraum am Alexa
If
you're already planning to visit the Berliner Weihnachtszeit then I
recommend you also stop by the Wintertraum am Alexa, right on the
other side of Alexanderplatz! It's the most modern Christmas market
in Berlin and perfect for those looking for a bit of an adrenaline
rush to fight of the winter chills. Here you'll find roller-coaster
rides, bumper cars and those spinning rides that are like a tea cup
ride but for grown-ups. But if like me, a mini-heart attack isn't the
way to go to forget the cold there's also plenty of mulled wine!
4- Winterwelt am Potsdamer Platz
What sets this Christmas market apart from the rest is the giant
Rodelbahn (tickets cost
1.50€), a giant mountain covered in snow that you can slide down on
a tire. There's also an ice skating rink and a game called
Eisstockschießen which
is basically a combination between bowling and curling. Winterwelt is
also the first Christmas market to open in Berlin at the beginning of
November so if you're already here make sure to check it out!
5- Weihnachtsmarkt am Gedächtniskirche
This Christmas market is a little
further away from the centre than others, however situated in
Kurfürstendamm it won't be hard for you to get to and you'll also be
able to combine the visit with a shopping trip to KaDeWe. The market
is propped up next to the Gedächtniskirche, an attraction with a
rich history as well as the Zoologischer Garten and is made up of
around 175 stalls all selling unique products and foods, definitely
worth the short trip!
Comments
Post a Comment