Ecologici, a tema letterario o di design, anche Berlino ha i suoi mercatini di Natale e sono i più originali d’Europa
Christmas Markets, Berlin, too, falls under the spell of the festive spirit. We’ve put together a list of Christmas markets particularly worth checking out, including some unusual variants that might be unique to Berlin.
Berlin’s Eco Christmas Market
If you’d like to do something good this Christmas, head on over to the eco Christmas market on Sophienstraße, one of the city’s oldest streets located adjacent to the Hackesche Höfe. Every weekend before Christmas, the market will be showcasing organic and fair trade goods. Even the tasty treats offered here are home-made from local ingredients. Environmental organisations also use this market to introduce the public to their many projects. The concept of a Christmas market with an ecological orientation is becoming increasingly popular and has received awards in past years.
Sophienstraße (Mitte), all four weekends in Advent, Sat noon-8pm, Sun 11am-7pm.
Charles Dickens Christmas Fair
Head off to Dickens’ vision of Victorian England and the world of Ebenezer Scrooge at the Charles Dickens Christmas Fair at St. George’s Anglican Church. The choir dresses up in period costume while others offer favourite English Christmas treats such as biscuits, Christmas pudding and mince pies.
St. George’s Church (Charlottenburg), 4 December 2.30pm-6pm.
Klunkerkranich
The Klunkerkranich is a roof top bar in Neukölln which turns every year in December into the highest Christmas market in Berlin and offers an amazing wintery panorama view of the city. At the very cosy Christmas market you can find amazing craftwork, unique design products and tasty goodies. Great musical performances and a variety of cocktails are part of the evening program which takes place in the warm heated weatherproof roofing.
Klunkerkranich (Neukölln), all four weekends in Advent, Sat and Sun noon-6pm.
Holy.Shit.Shopping
On the first weekend in December, Kraftwerk Berlin is where Berlin’s club scene meets a Christmas market to combine art, design, music and party. With a mulled wine in hand, wander through the halls to the beats put on by popular DJs and browse the mix of fashion, jewellery, designer products, photography, graphics, comics and literature. Visitors have the chance to pick up works by young, up-and-coming artists and other unique gifts to support the next generation of creative types.
Heizkraftwerk (Mitte), 3 December, noon-9pm, and 4 December, noon-8pm.
Lucia Christmas Market
This truly special Scandinavian-themed Christmas market is named after the Lucia festival celebrated on 13 December primarily in the Nordic countries. Surrounded by historic walls of Prenzlauer Berg’s Kulturbrauerei, some forty stalls will offer the most beautiful Christmas goods from Sweden, Finland and Denmark. Here’s an original idea for very cold days: enjoy a toasty-warm Swedish log fire and pre-heated fur jackets that you can slip on to warm up.
Kulturbrauerei (Prenzlauer Berg), 21 November-22 December, Mon-Fri 3pm-10pm, Sat/Sun 1pm-10pm.
Karlshorst Medieval Christmas Fair
The medieval Christmas market in Karlshorst is like travelling back in time: visitors of all ages can enjoy the sights and sounds of the Middle Ages with the hand-powered carousel, blacksmithing, candle making, ancient baking methods and much more.
Johannes-Fest-Platz Karlshorst (Lichtenberg), 3 December, 1pm-10pm, and 4 December, 1pm-7pm.
Nowkoelln Weihnachtsflowmarkt
Unusual gift ideas and hand-made products are offered at the Weihnachtsflowmarkt in Kreuzberg’s Umspannwerk. This Christmas flea market offers products ranging from home-made products to antiques, from new goods to second-hand. While enjoying coffee or mulled wine and some pastries and a stage programme, this mark is all about looking, shopping, chilling and simply having a good time.
Umspannwerk (Kreuzberg), 17 December, 11am-8pm, and 18 December, 10am-7pm.
The Green Market Berlin: Winter Edition 2016
There’s a special highlight for vegan-fans on the weekend before christmas – the winter edition of the The Green Market Berlin. No matter if cosmetics, clothes or delicious food, you can find any vegan lifestyle product over here.
Agora Rollberg, 17 and 18 December 12noon-10pm.
Schloss Britz Christmas Market
Children will be especially taken with this year’s Nordic fairy-tale theme that fits in perfectly with the wonderful setting of Britz Palace. Whilst enjoying apple fritters and Christmas music, they’ll encounter characters such as Mother Hulda and the Snow Queen, experience productions of fairy tales, watch horseback archery, and even go dog sledding.
Schloss Britz (Neukölln), 9-11 December + 16-18 December, Fri 2pm-9pm, Sat and Sun 11am-9pm.
Christmas Rodeo
The Christmas Rodeo brings a unique combination of art and lifestyle to the festive season in the old Postbahnhof at Ostbahnhof. More than seventy exhibitors from the fields of design, fashion and accessories will showcase their creations in the spacious halls of the former The chill-out zone will feature an electronic entertainment programme and mulled wine.
Postbahnhof am Ostbahnhof, Straße der Pariser Kommune 8 (Friedrichshain), 10–11 December and 17-18 December, noon-8pm.
WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt
Not far from Friedrichstadt Palast, the historic Gendarmenmarkt offers a particularly impressive backdrop for this “Christmas Magic” featuring traditional sweets, fine dining and exceptional art works. One of Berlin’s favourite markets, it is the only one where you can also celebrate New Year’s with the spectacular fireworks from the roof of the adjacent Konzerthaus.
Gendarmenmarkt (Mitte), 21 November-31 December, daily 11am-10pm, 24 and 31 December 11am-6pm.