Last updated on 01/20/2026
When the days grow short in the winter of 2026 and your breath hangs in the air, Berlin shows its cosy side. On the ice rink at the Winterquartier in Friedrichshain, skaters big and small do their laps, while at the Icebar in Mitte even the glasses are carved from ice. If you prefer things warmer, you will find stories by candlelight at the Maerchenhuette in Mitte or dive into an evening full of indulgence with melted chocolate at Fondette. Between museum visits, concerts and cooking classes, it becomes clear that the cold season is anything but monotonous. The city invites you to experience winter with all your senses, whether outside in the snow or inside in the warmth. Which activity would make your winter in Berlin the most beautiful?
Yulia Veksler
I love the Berlin winter because it surprises me again and again, somewhere between ice rink and ice bar. For this list, I let myself drift through snowy courtyards and warm parlours and discovered places that almost make you forget the cold. What touched me most was the Maerchenhuette in Mitte, where stories and candlelight turn an evening into something all its own. Come along on my winter journey through the city.
The ice rink at Winterquartier in Berlin offers weather-independent ice skating on a 1,000 m² indoor ice surface in the heart of Friedrichshain. Visitors can enjoy ice disco, curling, and winter events in a central location at Ostbahnhof.
The Winter Film Festival in the Nikolaiviertel invites visitors to enjoy a cozy film classic from November 14th to December 28th, 2025. Visitors can watch the cult film "Die Feuerzangenbowle" (The Fire-Tong Punch) while enjoying a traditional fire-tong punch on comfortable armchairs and sofas with cozy blankets.
In the Angiyok ice bar in Berlin-Mitte you can experience an unique ice world with ice sculptures and cool drinks from ice glasses at -10 degrees Celsius.
The Event Cooking Studio in Berlin invites you to communal cooking events in winter, creating a shared leisure experience. Here, culinary delight and social togetherness combine to offer a warm break during the cold season.
The Fairy Tale Cabin in Monbijoupark is Berlin's secret winter highlight: In two rustic, original Galician wooden huts, changing fairy tale performances are staged for children and adults*. During the day, children immerse themselves in a world of stories, while in the evening it gets cheeky, modern, and exciting – with classic fairy tales, a campfire, mulled wine, and small dishes right by the Spree.
In the pop-up restaurant Fondette in the Rosenhöfe, guests can enjoy cheese fondue and raclette in original Swiss gondolas at wintertime.
Especially during the colder months, the demand for sweets increases - the Berliner Kaffeerösterei sweetens gloomy Berlin weather with exquisite tastings. Whether it's an espresso machine course, milk foam cappuccino training, or coffee cupping with the master roaster: the aroma of roasted beans and the homemade cakes warm the senses in the cold.
The Dinner & Concert at Charlottenburg Palace is a winter highlight for music lovers and gourmets. Here, classical music meets historical ambiance and a festive menu. The event takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the Great Orangery and offers an atmospheric evening in royal style.
The Bröhan Museum in Berlin-Charlottenburg is a place where art and winter ambiance harmoniously come together. Here, visitors discover the beauty of Art Nouveau and Art Deco while finding inspiration in warm rooms on cold days.
The Jacob-und-Wilhelm-Grimm-Zentrum in Berlin-Mitte is a modern library building with impressive architecture and a large reading room. Here, the cold season can be enjoyed cozily and culturally, while reading or working in peace in the warmth.
