A Capital Celebrating Berlin Christmas Markets Its Own Way
Berlin never approaches Christmas in just one way. With more than 90 Berlin Christmas markets taking shape across the capital in 2025, the season unfolds as a mosaic of traditions, design events, community gatherings and contemporary winter worlds. From long-loved classics to surprising new openings, the German capital remains one of Europe’s most compelling places to experience the festive period.
Early Starters: Winter Fun Before December Arrives
Several festive favourites launch well before the formal 24 November start date. Winterwelt Potsdamer Platz opens the season with its popular toboggan run, while LGBTQIA Winterdays* and Christmas Avenue turn Nollendorfplatz into an inclusive, colourful winter hub. Other early openers include the Glühwald at Uber Platz in Friedrichshain, Lichtenberger Winterzeit, Berliner Wintertraum in Treptow-Köpenick and the Spandauer Winterland.
With efficient U-Bahn and S-Bahn connections between districts, visitors can effortlessly hop from one market to the next, sampling mulled wine variations as they cross the city.
The Return of Classics and the Arrival of New Markets
One of the major highlights this year is the return of the iconic WeihnachtsZauber at Gendarmenmarkt. Back at its historic square, this refined market shines under thousands of lights and remains an essential stop for both newcomers and seasoned Berlin travellers.
New additions freshen up the festive map. KaDeWe unveils its first Christmas market on Wittenbergplatz, offering elegant miniature huts and premium craft stalls. The former Tegel Airport briefly reawakens for the weekend-long winter market at the Alte Frachtkantine, while the Winter Quarters Christmas Market — a collaboration between Wendenschloss lido and the Napoleon complex — brings skating and live cultural events to the riverside.
A standout newcomer, Forest – Winterlights at Dark Matter, fills a former transformer hall with 600 illuminated fir trees and a beautifully atmospheric ice rink. Meanwhile, Potsdamer Platz adds a second new rink: a covered 600-square-metre arena open right into the new year.
Alternative, Nordic and Indie Corners of Berlin’s Festive Scene
One of the joys of exploring the Berlin Christmas markets is the city’s flair for the offbeat. Heissa Holzmarkt Winter Festival blends street food, art and club culture in a lively riverside village, while the long-running Holy Shit Shopping weekend remains a favourite for Berlin-made lifestyle gifts and indie design.
Design continues at Weihnachtsrodeo, where artisans, illustrators and small makers fill the Colosseum with inventive, often one-of-a-kind pieces.
For visitors craving a Nordic touch, the Lucia Christmas Market in the Kulturbrauerei offers Swedish, Finnish and Icelandic styles of mulled wine in a snug courtyard setting. And for something entirely different, the St George’s Church Christmas Market delivers a warm British atmosphere with carols, mince pies and familiar festive treats.
Nature, Neighbourhoods and Family-Friendly Events
Berlin’s outskirts also play a proud role in the festive season. The Domäne Dahlem Advent Market runs across all four Advent weekends, highlighting regional produce, traditional crafts and children’s activities. Out in the Grunewald, the Forest Christmas Market at the local forestry office features demonstrations of woodland work, impressive draft horses and a more nature-led take on winter celebration.
Where Berlin Shines: Light Trails and Illuminated Gardens
Beyond the markets themselves, Berlin becomes a city of winter light. Kurfürstendamm and Tauentzienstraße glow once more with classic illuminations, while the Christmas Garden at the Botanic Garden is transformed into a series of serene installations and projection trails. Over in the east, Christmas at the Tierpark offers more than two kilometres of illuminated animal figures and sculptural light displays.
At the Humboldt Forum Winter Market, weekly laser shows brighten the Schlüterhof and the Spree Terraces, creating another atmospheric stop for evening wanderers.
For more Berlin Christmas markets inspiration, click here.
Welcoming 2026: New Year’s Eve at the Brandenburg Gate
As December draws to a close, Berlin shifts smoothly from mulled wine to midnight celebrations. Under the banner “Yeah 2026”, the city hosts a free New Year’s Eve party at the Brandenburg Gate, where Berlin-based DJs turn Straße des 17. Juni into an open-air dance floor before fireworks frame the iconic landmark at midnight. Tickets remain free but must be reserved in advance.
With countless bars, clubs and riverside venues hosting their own celebrations, the city offers endless ways to welcome the new year long after the last market stall closes. Further inspiration for Berlin New Year’s Eve is on the visitBerlin website.
Main image: Alexanderplatz Weihnachtsmarkt. Copyright: visitberlin, Photo: Wolfgang Scholvien