We surely made the most out of our first Christmas season living in Europe. We visited Christmas markets in six different countries, and hands down, the best ones are found in Germany. Christmas markets originated in Germany in the 1400s, so it comes as no surprise that they still are leading the way. We were shocked to find out that Berlin had 80 different markets scattered across the city, each with a different theme or highlight. From the giant Christmas pyramids to romantic castle backdrops and from the smells of grilled sausages to our favorite Feuerzangenbowle, we will walk you through the highlights of what we thought were the best Christmas markets in Berlin.
8) Alexanderplatz Christmas Market
Alexanderplatz is one of the most visited squares in Berlin with many sights and attractions. We weren’t blown away by the Christmas market here, but a quick visit is still a must to see the largest Christmas pyramid in Berlin.
Alexanderplatz also has a cool astronomical clock right next to the Christmas market carousel.
This market was lacking music and a beautiful backdrop compared to our favorites, but the firepit tables were cool to have a drink if you were hanging with friends.
7) Winter World at Potsdamer Platz
Winter World at Potsdamer Platz is a favorite for anyone with kids because it has a toboggan run set up in the middle of the square. Aside from that, the market wasn’t outstanding in any other way. Of course, it had a large Christmas pyramid, and we sampled a staple of German cuisine: a giant pretzel with ham and cheese.
We also had a unique alcoholic beverage here, our first Eirpunsch, although this can be found in almost every German market. Eirpunsch is a German take on eggnog and is made of cream, egg yolks, sugar, white wine, and vanilla.
6) Berliner Weihnachtszeit at Roten Rathaus
The Roten Rathaus (red city hall) Christmas market is iconic with an illuminated ice skating rink and a ferris wheel with great views over the town hall, the ice rink, and all the cute wooden stalls decorated with twinkling lights.
The Berlin TV tower eerily looming in the distance is an interesting contrast to the warmth and charm of the Christmas Pyramid.
Of course, the way to our hearts is through our stomachs, and our food choice here did not disappoint. Kartofelpuffer (potato pancakes) were perfectly fluffy with a crunchy exterior, and the sour cream and chive sauce complimented it perfectly.
There was so much more variety of hot alcoholic beverages to choose from in German Christmas markets, and at this market, we found another unique one, zahrenpunsch (hot wine with a shot of cherry-infused vodka with whipped topping).
5) Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church Christmas Market
The Kaiser Wilhelm Christmas market was another favorite because of the outstanding food and drink selection and the beautiful church ruins standing at the heart of the market.
Destroyed in WWII, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is now a remembrance and forgiveness memorial. Inside, a small but insightful exhibit includes a damaged Jesus statue from the original alter and a nail cross made from rubble.
After visiting the church, we wandered the market while enjoying a hot sour cherry beer (surprisingly delicious) and a white mulled wine. To eat, we had my favorite sausage, currywurst (a light hotdog-like sausage served with a curry-flavored sauce). We also discovered the germknödel (fluffy yeast dough dumpling filled with spiced plum sauce and topped with vanilla sauce and cherries).
The germknödel was definitely one of our favorite foodie finds at the German Christmas markets.
We didn’t have a lot of room in our luggage to bring back tons of gifts and souvenirs, but we did decide to buy an ornament from each city that we visited during our first European Christmas market season. We found the Berlin winner here. We drank a LOT of glühwein in Berlin and just couldn’t resist an ornament with a hand-painted glühwein stand.
4) Christmas Garden Berlin
Our next pick may not be considered a traditional Christmas market, but the Christmas light trail at the Berlin Botanical Gardens was a brilliant, not-to-be-missed illumination display. We did munch on a käsekrainer (cheese-filled sausage), and glüwein and amaretto-spiked hot punch were served at various points along the trail. So, in my mind, that makes a great market even if there aren’t traditional stalls selling homemade trinkets. My favorite displays were the field of lights set to music, the lasers in the fog forest, and the curtains of twinkling lights to walk through. The 2km stroll through the colorful illuminations was relaxing and enchanting.
3) Nikolaiviertel Film Festival
One of the quietest and smallest markets of the bunch, Nikolaiviertel Christmas market, rivaled for the top spot on our list. The market sits in a small square in front of the picturesque St. Nikolai church, the oldest in Berlin.
This cute, intimate market will hold a special place in our heart because it is where we discovered Feuerzangenbowle. This is a special recipe mulled wine that includes a rum-soaked sugarloaf set on fire often above a giant kettle (as seen in the picture below) or for each individual drink (as described in the upcoming Regensburg blog). More rum is often ladled on top until all the sugar has melted and mixed with the wine.
Not only do we think this was the best variety of mulled wine that we tried, Feuerzangenbowle also comes with a great story. The drink became widely popular after a movie released in 1947 had an opening scene featuring four men sitting around the Feuerzangenbowle discussing life. Every year in this Christmas market, a small screen and a few couches with blankets are set up for people to gather around to enjoy the movie and a cup of Feuerzangenbowle. Sehr Gemütlichkeit! (German word for a feeling of warmth, coziness, friendship, and good cheer)
We also discovered Jägertee here. Jägertee is a hot beverage normally made with tea, orange juice, spices, and an Austrian spiced rum called Stroh.
We already knew this but were reminded at this market how great Germans do comfort food. We were a bit hungry and didn’t see the usual suspects (sausages, pretzels) and decided to try an unknown pile of green stuff called grünkohl. Well, this concoction of stewed kale and little sausages was absolutely delicious and just what we needed on a cold night to pair with our Feuerzangenbowle.
2) WeihnachtsZauber at Gendarmenmarkt
Our second favorite market was the Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market with its stunning atmosphere surrounded by gorgeous buildings, including the French and German churches and the Berlin Concert hall.
This market was one of the busiest we visited and quite lively with a performance stage. Young girls were performing river dance when we were there. We found some delicious, unique food opportunities here too. There was a long line for the Neuburg specialty wood oven “pizza” with homemade bread topped with cheese, bacon, and green onions. We totally agreed with the crowd as we couldn’t resist going back for seconds.
For dessert, we found quark balls with powdered sugar (similar to donuts but made with quark).
The charming atmosphere at Gendarmenmarkt was just perfect with the aroma of glühwein and sweet roasted almonds wafting through the air amidst white tents decorated with garland and twinkling lights. Festive music was the finishing touch on this quintessential German Christmas market scene.
1) Charlottenburg Castle Christmas Market
One of the most beautiful and festive markets was at Charlottenburg Castle. The elegant castle behind all the cute wooden huts made the scene quite romantic. Every Christmas market in Germany has a Christmas pyramid, and at this market, we found one with a bar underneath with a great selection of glüwein (mulled wine).
The variety of hot alcoholic beverages is one aspect that sets Germany apart from other countries. Here, I tried a blueberry mulled wine and a pear mulled wine. Each market also had its own collector mug, which I wish we would have had luggage space to keep them all, but we settled for a picture instead.
This market also had roaming carolers and bands playing festive music that really added to the holiday cheer. In addition, beautiful women walked around with the bands dressed as the Christkind. Christkind is the traditional bringer of gifts and often depicted as a child with blond hair and wings.
Once the sun went down, the castle was lit up, creating an even more magical experience.
So, there you have our opinions on some of the best Christmas markets in Berlin. We had quite a magical start to our European Christmas market tour filled with lots of glühwein, German comfort food, sparkling lights, Christmas carols, and endless rows of festively decorated wooden stalls to shop and eat til your heart’s content.
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