Creative, sustainable, traditional: Berlin is the capital of Christmas markets

Berlin, 24 November 2025 Christmas isn't just Christmas, as Berlin proves once again this year. Whether classic, alternative, Nordic, creative, sustainable or queer: the capital has more than 90 Christmas and winter markets to offer this year. An overview of all markets is available at visitBerlin.de.

Even before the official start on 24 November, several winter markets and fairs have already kicked off the Christmas season: The Winterwelt am Potsdamer Platz with toboggan run, the LGBTQIA* Winterdays und Christmas Avenue at Nollendorfplatz, the Glühwald am Uber Platz in Friedrichshain, the Lichtenberger Winterzeit, the Berliner Wintertraum in Treptow-Köpenick, and the Spandauer Winterland have started the December countdown.

New Christmas markets 
Not a premiere, but a special revival: with the Christmas Magic at Gendarmenmarkt, the capital's most famous Christmas market is back at its historic location. Over a thousand sparkling Christmas baubles and lights create a festive atmosphere. Berliners and visitors alike can also look forward to several new features. The Christmas market at KaDeWe is opening for the first time on Wittenbergplatz with stylishly decorated huts and exclusive handicrafts. Another new addition is the winter market at the Alte Frachtkantine: on 29 and 30 November, visitors can get into the Christmas spirit on the grounds of the former Tegel Airport. The Christmas market in the winter quarters is also a new Christmas hotspot. The joint project of the Wendenschloss lido and the Napoleon complex focuses on winter fun with its own ice rink and cultural programme.

There is another premiere at Forest – Winterlights at Dark Matter. The immersive light installation consisting of 600 fir trees in the transformer hall in Lichtenberg is complemented by an ice rink. Guests can now glide comfortably on their skates through the forest of light and sound. Ice skating fans of all ages will also get their money's worth at the new ice rink in the Centre at Potsdamer Platz. The 600 m² covered ice rink in the middle of the city offers winter skating fun until the end of January. The diverse range of restaurants and cafés around the rink invite you to linger, warm up and enjoy yourself. 

Special Christmas markets
From urban to nature-loving: Berlin's Christmas markets leave nothing out. The Heissa Holzmarkt Winter Festival combines alternative culture, art, street food and club spirit. Berlin also shows its lifestyle side at Holy Shit Shopping on 29 and 30 November, with over 250 designers and indie brands. The pop-up department store has been around for 20 years and has become an integral part of pre-Christmas Berlin. The Weihnachtsrodeo Design Christmas Market on 13 and 14 December at the Colosseum is also unconventional and design-oriented. Numerous designers, artisans and manufacturers offer creative and high-quality products for sale.

The Winter Festival at Silent Green will transform the cultural quarter in Wedding into a special place for art, cuisine and concerts on 6 and 7 December. The Lucia Christmas Market at the Kulturbrauerei will be dedicated to Nordic folklore. This cosy market will offer mulled wine in all variations: from Swedish glögg to Finnish glögi and Icelandic jolaglögg. Things will get very British on 6 December at the Christmas market at St. George's Church, when the Carol Singers strike up English Christmas carols and specialities such as mince pies and Christmas pudding are on offer.

There are several Christmas markets on the outskirts of the city: Domäne Dahlem invites visitors to its traditional Advent market every weekend during Advent, offering regional specialities, handicrafts and a child-friendly programme of events. The forest Christmas market at the Grunewald Forestry Office on 14 December is a nature-loving experience. There, Berlin's foresters present their work, including impressive logging horses and modern forestry machinery. 

Sparkling Christmas markets
Berlin is transforming itself into atmospheric worlds of light in several locations. The traditional Christmas lights on Kurfürstendamm and Tauentzienstraße will once again turn the shopping and entertainment district in City West into a glittering sea of lights this year. The Christmas Garden in the Botanical Garden transforms the garden landscape into a sparkling winter path of installations, projections and sound performances. At Christmas in the Zoo, a two-kilometre-long circular trail with more than 30 artistic light installations and illuminated animal figures awaits guests of all ages. 

At the winter market at the Humboldt Forum, a laser show transforms the Schlüterhof at 6 p.m. and the exterior façade of the Spreeterrassen at 8 p.m. into an enchanting world of lights every Tuesday and Thursday. 

More tips on Berlin's Christmas markets can be found at here. Suitable image material here.

New Year's Eve in Berlin
After Christmas, Berlin gets ready to ring in the new year: Under the motto "Yeah 2026," the city invites all Berliners and guests to a free New Year's Eve party at the Brandenburg Gate. DJs from Berlin will transform Straße des 17. Juni into a giant dance floor with pop, Afrobeats and electro music before a spectacular fireworks display illuminates the Brandenburg Gate for several minutes at midnight. The party starts at 10 p.m., admission only with a ticket from 9:30 p.m. Further information about the event and the start of sales for the 20,000 free tickets can be found on the website by Kulturprojekte Berlin.

In addition to the party at the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin offers numerous other ways to welcome in the New Year. Inspiration for New Year's Eve in Berlin can be found at visitBerlin webseite.