Last updated on 10/28/2026
The moment mulled wine, roasted almonds and fresh fir fill the air, the 2026 Christmas season begins in Berlin. More than 170 Christmas markets in Berlin open their stalls every year, and the range is huge: baroque palace courtyards, medieval fire pits, Scandinavian glögg and modern street food containers often sit only a few S-Bahn stops apart. Some markets run from late November until just after Christmas, others open on single Advent weekends only. Most charge no entrance fee. So which one is actually worth the trip?
We have walked the stalls for years, compared mulled wine, looked closely at the crafts and checked where you can still enjoy yourself below freezing. In front of the baroque facade of Schloss Charlottenburg, wooden huts line up under strings of lights, at the Kulturbrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg the Lucia market pours Scandinavian glögg around open fire pits, and at Alexanderplatz in Mitte the market splits into a traditional hut village around the fountain and an urban part with an ice stock rink by the Weltzeituhr. Which one will put you in the festive mood?
Ellen Mehrhoff-Roddewig
I love the Berlin Christmas season, and with more than 170 markets the choice is really hard. That is why I ate and drank my way through the stalls, from the baroque splendour at Schloss Charlottenburg to the Nordic Lucia market. What I looked for: honest mulled wine instead of sticky syrup, stalls with real craftsmanship and enough covered seating for when it starts to snow. Here are my ten favourites for long evenings under glittering lights.
From November 23rd to December 31st, 2026, the WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt transforms the Gendarmenmarkt into a festive Christmas world of handicrafts, gastronomy, and stage programs. Between the German Cathedral, the French Cathedral, and the Konzerthaus, guests can expect heated tents, handmade unique items, and a daily changing stage program.
The Schloßplatz Winter Market is located directly at the Humboldt Forum opposite the Berlin Cathedral from November 18, 2026, to January 3, 2027. In the evenings, video projections illuminate the Baroque facades, making Schloßplatz one of the city's most spectacular backdrops. Additionally, there will be Feuerzangenbowle in the Schlüterhof, historical rides, and a free supporting program.
The Lucia Christmas Market at Kulturbrauerei opens from November 23rd to December 22nd, 2026, transforming the historic courtyards in Prenzlauer Berg into a Nordic light market. Visitors will find Scandinavian handicrafts, more than twenty varieties of mulled wine and Gløgg, and a program that appeals to families and adults alike. Admission is free.
From November 23rd to December 27th, 2026, the Christmas market at Charlottenburg Palace transforms the square in front of the baroque palace facade into a sea of lights with over 200 fir trees and illuminated decorations. Over 100 exhibitors offer handicrafts, gift ideas, and festive culinary delights against one of the most beautiful backdrops in the city.
Between the Fountain of Friendship and the World Clock, Alexanderplatz divides into two worlds from November 23rd to December 26th, 2026: Wooden huts, fir garlands, and an evening light show glow by the fountain, while by the World Clock, converted containers offer street food from all over the world and there's an ice stock sport rink. Admission is free.
On the RAW grounds in Friedrichshain, a place usually known for clubs and cultural events transforms into a medieval Christmas market. The Historic Christmas Friedrichshain celebrates its tenth anniversary from November 12 to December 22, 2026, focusing on torches, open fire pits, and genuine craftsmanship instead of plastic decorations.
From November 23 to December 22, 2026, the Traditional Spandau Christmas Market transforms Spandau's historic old town, between the Town Hall and St. Nikolai Church, into one of Berlin's largest Christmas markets. Free entry, easy access via U7, and a pedestrian zone with almost 150 shops make it an atmospheric combination of Advent cheer and city stroll.
The Christmas market at Späth'sche Baumschulen will take place in 2026 on the first three Advent weekends: November 28th and 29th, December 5th and 6th, December 12th and 13th. On the grounds of Germany's oldest tree nursery in Baumschulenweg, around 100 stalls are set up between the fir forest and the historic packing house. Admission costs 8 Euros, children up to 16 years old pay nothing.
From November 23rd to December 26th, 2026, the Winter World Christmas Market will be held at Potsdamer Platz, between the Sony Center and Alte Potsdamer Straße. Europe's largest mobile toboggan run, 12 meters high and 70 meters long, is located there, alongside inviting Austrian chalets and a craft market. Admission is free, but the toboggan run costs extra.
On December 5th and 6th, 2026, the Fairytale Christmas Market at Grunewald Hunting Lodge opens its castle courtyard by Lake Grunewald for two days. The Renaissance castle from 1542 is Berlin's oldest preserved castle building, and living fairytale characters wander among the stalls. Admission costs 3.50 Euros and includes a visit to the castle.
