We’ve only just entered fall, are still getting used to pumpkin season, and already people are talking about Christmas ? In September, that does indeed seem pretty early. Still, we need to get you ready now, because the first Christmas market of the new season kicks off in Berlin in just one month. Lichtenberger Winterzeit opens on Saturday, October 31, 2026, making it one of the earliest Christmas or winter markets of the season.
Lichtenberger Winterzeit is more than just a traditional Christmas market with stalls and handicrafts. At the venue located at Landsberger Allee 300 in Lichtenberg, you’ll find a mix of a Christmas market and a large carnival. Amid mulled wine stands, Christmas treats, and festive decorations, numerous rides provide entertainment. This makes the Winterzeit perfect for families as well as for anyone who likes to combine their Christmas market visit with a ride on a roller coaster or the Ferris wheel.
Lichtenberger Winterzeit is also the successor to the former Wintertraum at Alexa, which hasn’t taken place since 2017. The tradition of the Christmas fair with amusement rides dates back as far as the 1920s. What’s particularly unusual is this year’s early start. The regular Berlin Christmas market season, by contrast, doesn’t begin until much later. The season begins on November 23, 2026. Lichtenberger Winterzeit will remain open until December 27, 2026.
From Monday through Thursday, you can visit the market from 2:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, Lichtenberger Winterzeit is open from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and on Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Due to Sunday closing regulations, certain large rides may not start operating until 2:00 p.m. on Sundays. Additionally, for noise protection reasons, ride operations end 30 minutes before closing time each day.
The highlight of Lichtenberger Winterzeit is the numerous rides. There are reportedly a total of twelve large-scale attractions. Particularly spectacular is “The Sky’s No Limit,” an 85-meter-high chain-driven swing ride. Those who prefer a more leisurely ride can take a spin on the 55-meter-tall panoramic Ferris wheel . It features 42 wheelchair-accessible, enclosed gondolas, ensuring a dry view of the grounds even in bad weather.
Adrenaline-pumping rides include the High Explosive roller coaster, Super Mouse, Krake XXL, the Break Dancer, Chaos Pendel, Hawaii Swing, Playball, Best XXL, Mama Caramba, and the Jaguar roller coaster. Bumper cars and a chain swing are also part of the lineup. Those who prefer something a little spookier can visit the Geisterpalast, which is the world’s largest portable haunted house.
