Berlin – the city of Christmas markets and Shopping

Berlin, 14 November 2022 Sustainable, trendy or nostalgic - Berlin is home to the most diverse Christmas markets in Europe. The 70 Christmas markets boast a wide variety and lure numerous guests to the German capital every year. They open this year on November 21, traditionally the day after the Totensonntag (Sunday of the Dead). Some of these markets have already been launched as the first winter markets in Germany, including Winter World at Potsdamer Platz and Winterzauber on Frankfurter Allee.

All new, lovely as always, and here for the last time.

Where are you heading - to Kreuzberg, Mitte or Charlottenburg? Do you fancy admiring fine arts and crafts or sampling vegan delicacies? In Berlin, Christmas fans are simply spoilt for choice. Something brand new this year is the All-inclusive Christmas Market at the Spree, located at Berlin's Osthafen in Friedrichhain. Here, all drinks and food in the outdoor area of the Spreespeicher are included in the ticket price. One of the most beautiful and luxurious Christmas markets is the WeihnachtsZauber at Gendarmenmarkt. This year it has moved to Bebelplatz owing to a construction project. In the heated tents you can enjoy arts and crafts and culinary specialities - all against an imposing backdrop. The romantically themed Christmas market at Charlottenburg Palace will be held for the last time in 2022. Since 2007, over 250 international exhibitors have been staging their trinkets, nativity figures and sweet treats here. Anyone who wants to immerse themselves in a royal Christmas wonderland can do so until 26 December. After that, a visitor center will be built on the spot.

Sustainable and fair like Berlin

Of course, a sustainable city also has more sustainably run Christmas markets. For instance, how would you like to visit the Vegan Christmas Market at Fehrbelliner Platz? You can find all sorts of vegan natural cosmetics, clothing and delicacies: At the Wilmersdorf Christmas Village, everything revolves around an environmentally conscious lifestyle. Sustainability is also part of the programme at Schönhausen Palace Park. On the first weekend of Advent, the first sustainable Christmas market will take place in Pankow in Schönhausen Palace Park, featuring information booths on the topic of sustainability and a colourful stage programme. The Environment & Christmas Market on Sophienstrasse boasts a number of award-winning exhibitors. More than 80 fair-trade merchants and Berlin start-ups come to Berlin's oldest street to offer remarkable gifts, natural goods and fair-trade delicacies. The Christmas market in the Späth'schen Baumschulen in Treptow and the Dicke Linda Christmas Market at the Kranoldplatz in Neukölln are also all about sustainability.

Hip, cool and unconventional

If you are looking for special Christmas gifts, look no further than Berlin's hip and trendy Christmas design markets. For example, you can visit the Nowkoelln Xmas Flow on Maybachufer. On 4 December, over 50 local up-and-coming designers and smallscale labels will be presenting fashion accessories, leather and wooden goods, porcelain and jewellery. An unconventional feature here is the Weihnachtsrodeo Designweihnachtsmarkt in Berlin's Kühlhaus. This cool Kreuzberg location showcases design, fashion, jewellery and art from over 150 creative people and manufacturers. The LGBTQIA Winterdays and Christmas Avenue: are also special: On Nollendorfplatz, the gay and lesbian community creates a safe place and welcomes you to enjoy the spirit of being open with each other during the Christmas season.

Shopping in winter and during the Christmas season is just especially swell in Berlin - also throughout the year thanks to the many different shopping malls and shopping centres.

Twinkling Berlin - exceptionally energy efficient this year: Christmas Garden and Christmas market in the Tierpark start this week

Christmas time is not complete without twinkling lights. This can be done in an energy-saving and responsible way at the Christmas markets with LED lights and sustainable energy concepts. Sparkling light installations will once again transform the Christmas in the Tierpark into an idyllic fairyland from November 18. The Christmas Garden Berlin is pure magic: From November 16 until 15 January, visitors can explore the Botanical Garden in its illuminated glory.

What's going on in the capital city in the new year? Be it new openings, exhibitions and events: Berlin is once again bursting with many important events. The visit to the Cold War Museum in Mitte, which will enrich Berlin's museum landscape from November, is an interactive experience. In addition, the Swedish photography museum Fotografiska Berlin will open in the famous Kunsthaus Tacheles 2023. Berlin will have a new information and event venue, including a 360-degree panoramic view, in the form of the Tower THF on the grounds of Tempelhof Airport from the spring.

And in front of the Humboldt Forum, the Freedom and Unity Monument will be inaugurated in the form of a giant walk-on seesaw.

On to the world wide web

If you are interested, you can find an outline of Berlin's Christmas markets with information on locations in all districts and their opening hours at visitBerlin.de/en/christmas-markets-berlin. For more details on the prospects for 2023, go to visitBerlin.de/en/berlin-2023-most-important-events.