After a year full of ups and downs, December in Berlin brings us a little slowdown! As temperatures drop and the days get darker, our lives slow down again and become a lot more cozy. But there are still plenty of exciting things to experience in Berlin before the turn of the year! We have selected a few experiences for you that will (hopefully) entice you out of your front door despite the darkness and cold.
December in Berlin means time for Christmas markets
Sure, this option is probably not a big surprise, but we couldn’t help but include it! There are plenty of winter markets in Berlin in the run-up to Christmas, and we counted just over 90 in total. In addition to the well-known big ones, such as the one at the Rotes Rathaus, there are also smaller markets that open their stalls in all corners of the city. You’ll soon find out here where you can snoop for presents while enjoying mulled wine and roasted almonds!
As things stand at the moment, only two larger markets have opened: One is the Berliner Winterzauber on Landberger Allee, a continuation of the previous Winterzauber at Alexa. This is more of a funfair, which is also reflected in the selection of rides that will centrifuge the mulled wine in your stomach.
The historical market on the RAW grounds is also open. It’s medieval here, so you can expect jugglers, acrobatic feats, archery, fire juggling and much more. All in all, a nice change from the usual Christmas market program.
Experience a Christmas concert by candlelight
Candlelight concerts are a good idea at any time of year, but the musical highlights offer an extra dose of magic during the darker months! December in Berlin brings you several contemplative concerts by candlelight, such as Tchaikovsky’s famous Nutcracker or Christmas film music performed by a string quartet.
Still no gift idea? Cinema vouchers always work!
December always comes with a good dose of stress: the last presents have to be bought quickly in crowded and warm stores. Your winter jacket quickly turns into a torrential trap in the subtropical climate of the stores. Overstimulation is inevitable! Alternatively, how about a simple movie voucher? Almost everyone can do something with one and it can be easily ordered online! Here you’ll find an offer for tickets from UCI Kinowelt Berlin, which you can use to save a little more.
Plan your New Year’s Eve
From our own experience, New Year’s Eve planning is often put off until the last minute. If, like us, you still have no plans, now is definitely the time to prepare for an exciting end to the year. If you like to throw yourself into the hustle and bustle, we can also warmly recommend the party at the Brandenburg Gate. In addition to a party mile, a whole 20 live acts await you on the big stage under the Quadriga. At the turn of the year, you can once again watch the fireworks over Berlin’s most famous landmark!
The Art of the Brick
“The Art of the Brick” is the world’s most famous LEGO® art exhibition and has already been celebrated in numerous cities. Named one of CNN’s “must-see exhibitions”, it is finally coming to Berlin! In this impressive collection, artist Nathan Sawaya shows his works created from millions of LEGO® bricks.
Location: CANK, Karl-Marx-Straße 95, Neukölln | More info
Documentary film festival at Babylon
You can watch around 30 short and feature-length films at Doc.Berlin from December 9 – 12. These films address current social issues and draw the audience’s attention to previously unnoticed topics.
Experience the mysteries of Pharaoh Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun – The immersive exhibition experience is an impressive adventure that takes you deep into the fascinating world of Ancient Egypt thanks to state-of-the-art technology. Immerse yourself in the impressive treasures and wonders of this era and experience the life of the legendary pharaoh Tutankhamun in all its facets up close! Take your last chance this month, the exhibition ends on December 29!
Location: New Media Art Center, Revaler Straße 99, Friedrichshain | More info
Taste interesting organic wines at Raw Berlin
Raw Berlin is a trade fair for organically produced wines, which you can find on December 1 in Markthalle Neun. Over one hundred winemakers from all over the world will be presenting their creations and you can sample your way through the range! Afterwards, it’s worth staying for dinner in the Markthalle, which is known for its diverse range of food from all corners of the world.
Studio of Wonders
A special kind of photo playground is currently waiting for you at the Mall of Berlin – perfect for escaping the gray Berlin winter! In an open labyrinth, you can explore more than 30 unique photo sets and experience a day full of fun and creative motifs with your loved ones. The colorful offer on site is just the right thing to brighten up the dark winter months! You’ll also find everything you need for your shoot: from outfits to photo accessories such as ring lights and tripods. Come by and be inspired – a good mood is guaranteed!
Mall of Berlin, Leipziger Platz 12 | More info
Make your own Advent wreaths!
Unfortunately, many apartments in Berlin no longer have enough space for a traditional Christmas tree. That’s why an Advent wreath is the perfect replacement, standing in for its big brother and conjuring up at least a little Christmas spirit in your home. A self-tied and decorated wreath can spread a lot of atmosphere and is also a pleasant challenge for the creative mind!
Visit Stadtbad RELOADED: AMBILIGHT
Experience Stadtbad RELOADED: AMBILIGHT in Berlin – an experience that fuses the charm of a 96-year-old, disused swimming pool with modern art! This historic municipal swimming pool has been transformed into a unique art center where over 150 animated works of art by international artists are on display. Every corner, from the changing rooms to the old swimming hall and stairwells, is immersed in works of art that make the pool shine in a completely new light.
The highlight: during the day, the sunlight shines through the rooms and highlights the impressive architecture. In the evening, the bathroom is transformed into a fascinating world of digital art, in which the new AMBILIGHT installation comes to life and the artworks shine in atmospheric light. The perfect way to counter the grey Berlin winter with a bit of color and be enchanted by the extraordinary play of light!
Stadtbad Lichtenberg, Hubertusstraße 47, Lichtenberg | More info
In December, Dark Matter transforms into a winter wonderland
It’s December in Berlin and with it comes the return of Dark Matter’s winter highlights. The popular exhibition in Berlin impresses visitors all year round with its unusual and highly aesthetic light installations, but during the winter months, they take it to the next level! Then you can marvel at a light and sound installation by artist Cristopher Bauder. Immerse yourself in a winter wonderland where everything is upside down! The forest of 200 illuminated fir trees hangs from the ceiling. You can get tickets here.
📍 Dark Matter | Köpenicker Chaussee 46, Rummelsburg
We call it Ballet: The Nutcracker in a magical light show
Accompany Clara on her fascinating journey through a magical world in which her Nutcracker puppet comes to life on Christmas Eve. Meet the mysterious Uncle Drosselmeyer, the radiant Sugar Plum Fairy, the evil Mouse King and the heroic Nutcracker Prince, as well as many other beloved characters from Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece. This ballet performance is full of festive cheer and Christmas magic.
Passion Church, Marheinekeplatz 1, Kreuzberg | More info
In the snow and cold, Berlin’s most beautiful walking routes are a whole new challenge
According to the latest forecasts, we can look forward to a compensatory frosty winter after a rather hot summer. Even snow cannot be ruled out in Berlin this year! It offers the opportunity to get to know Berlin from a completely new perspective, which – as experience shows – doesn’t last too long. So get into your winter clothes as soon as the first snow flurries appear and experience Berlin’s most beautiful walking routes in a new light – literally! When it’s icy and cold, they become a good deal more difficult, making them an exciting challenge in the elements.
Imperial Christmas at the Neues Palais
The grotto hall of the New Palace offered a unique sight during the Advent season. The already impressive walls with embedded crystals were illuminated with unimaginable brilliance in the light of the chandeliers. This year, a guided tour focuses on the Garden Hall designed by Frederick the Great. Here you can find out what functions the rooms had during Advent, what delicacies were served at Christmas dinner and what gifts the imperial couple and their seven children received. You can find more information here.
Find out all about exciting travel destinations, wellness and exciting vacations!
From December 1-3, the halls of the trade fair will be all about travel! The Berlin Travel Festival will introduce you to the places to be in 2024 and inform you about tour operators, accommodation, transportation and much more! Also new this year is an exhibition area dedicated to photography. Visitors can let off steam here with the latest models from the most renowned brands or buy them straight away! Afterwards, you can visit one of the filming locations from the Tribute to Panem series, which is right next door.
With punch and cookies across the Spree
Speaking of interesting means of transportation: how about a catamaran tour across the Spree? In summer, the boat tours are an absolute highlight among tourists, but they’re also great in winter! With cookies and mulled wine, you can cruise comfortably through the cold of Berlin on a heated catamaran. It is also solar-powered and therefore travels Berlin’s waterways emission-free. The tour starts at the Oberbaumbrücke and continues to the Haus der Kulturen der Welt – where you then turn around.