Berlin Christmas Markets 2026-2027: Dates and Locations

Berlin runs more than 60 Christmas markets in 2026, according to visitBerlin’s own market finder, and six of them stand out for size, history or setting: Alexanderplatz, the Gendarmenmarkt WeihnachtsZauber, Charlottenburg Palace, the Rotes Rathaus, Spandau’s old town and the Lucia market at Kulturbrauerei. Most of these open the week before the first Sunday of Advent, which falls on 29 November 2026, and run through late December. Almost every market in Berlin is free to enter; the one exception on this list is the Gendarmenmarkt WeihnachtsZauber, which charges a small entry fee, unusual for a German Christmas market.

Tip: If you plan on visiting a few museums and attractions and using public transport, look into the Berlin Welcome Card. The card includes free public transport across the city plus a range of discounts. Find more details and buy your Berlin Welcome Card here.

How many Christmas markets are there in Berlin in 2026?

Berlin hosts six major Christmas markets in 2026, alongside dozens of smaller neighbourhood ones. The six main markets are listed below, in the order they appear on this page.

1. Alexanderplatz. A large, central market with around 100 stalls, a Christmas pyramid and fairground rides. 2026 dates were not yet published at the time of writing.
2. Gendarmenmarkt WeihnachtsZauber. Berlin’s most upmarket market, running 23 November to 31 December 2026, with a small entry fee.
3. Rotes Rathaus (Berliner Weihnachtszeit). A medieval-themed market by the Television Tower, free to enter. 2026 dates were not yet published at the time of writing.
4. Charlottenburg Palace. A market set in front of the illuminated palace, running 23 November to 27 December 2026, free to enter.
5. Spandau Old Town. Berlin’s largest market by stall count, running 23 November to 22 December 2026, free to enter.
6. Lucia Christmas Market at Kulturbrauerei. A Nordic-themed market in Prenzlauer Berg, running 23 November to 22 December 2026, free to enter.

The table below summarises the confirmed 2026 dates, hours and admission for each.

Berlin had not announced 2026 dates for Alexanderplatz or the Rotes Rathaus market at the time of writing, and berlin.de still listed both as “date not yet known”. Those two rows therefore show the last confirmed edition, from 2025, as a guide to the likely pattern rather than a booking date. Check berlin.de or visitberlin.de before you fix travel plans around either one.

1. Christmas Market at Alexanderplatz

The Christmas Market at Alexanderplatz is one of Berlin’s largest and busiest, built around more than 60 stalls in the middle of Alexanderplatz square, according to visitBerlin. Alexanderplatz also carries Europe’s largest Erzgebirge pyramid, standing over the market with more than 5,000 lights, plus a roller-skating rink, fairground rides and a Ferris wheel. Visitors can eat Thuringian bratwurst, drink mulled wine and buy gingerbread and chestnuts from the stalls.

Berlin’s official tourism board had not published exact 2026 dates for Alexanderplatz at the time of writing; the 2025 edition ran from 24 November to 26 December. The market usually opens on the Monday before the first Sunday of Advent and closes the day after Christmas, so a similar pattern is likely for 2026, but check berlin.de before you travel. Visitors can reach Alexanderplatz on the S3, S5, S7 or S9 city rail lines, the U5 or U8 underground lines, the M48 and 100 buses, or the M2, M4, M5 and M6 trams, all of which stop at or near S+U Alexanderplatz station. The Berlin Welcome Card covers public transport across the city, which helps if you plan to visit several of these markets in one trip.

2. Gendarmenmarkt WeihnachtsZauber

The Gendarmenmarkt WeihnachtsZauber is Berlin’s most upmarket Christmas market, set between the German and French Cathedrals on the Gendarmenmarkt square. It runs from 23 November to 31 December 2026, according to visitBerlin, with more than a thousand illuminated baubles, heated dining tents and craft stalls. Live music plays daily on the market’s main stage.

The WeihnachtsZauber charges admission, which sets it apart from most Berlin Christmas markets. Entry costs about €2 ($2.30, £1.70), though it is free for everyone from Monday to Friday between noon and 2pm, except on 24, 25, 26 and 31 December. Children under 12, seniors and visitors with disabilities enter free at any time. Opening hours run Sunday to Thursday from noon to 10pm and Friday and Saturday from noon to 11pm. The Gendarmenmarkt sits in Mitte, a short walk from Friedrichstraße station, which is served by regional, S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains.

3. Rotes Rathaus (Berliner Weihnachtszeit)

The Berliner Weihnachtszeit at the Rotes Rathaus is a medieval-themed market on the square between Berlin’s City Hall and St Marienkirche, right by the Television Tower. Visitors can drink hot mead from clay jugs, watch a working medieval bakery and walk through an old Berlin market lane, all free of charge. The market’s 50-metre (164 ft) Ferris wheel and its 600 m² ice rink around the Neptune Fountain are its two main attractions, alongside daily Santa Claus sleigh flights.

Berlin’s tourism board had not published 2026 dates for the Rotes Rathaus market at the time of writing; the 2025 edition ran from 24 November to 30 December, open Monday to Friday from noon to 10pm and Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 10pm. Admission is free, though ice skating costs extra (about €5 for a session and €3 for skate rental). Correcting the record from earlier versions of this page: it is the Gendarmenmarkt WeihnachtsZauber, not the Rotes Rathaus market, that charges general admission. The Rotes Rathaus market sits in the Mitte district, reachable by the same S3, S5, S7, S9, U5 and U8 lines that serve Alexanderplatz next door.

4. Charlottenburg Palace Christmas Market

The Christmas market at Charlottenburg Palace sets its stalls against the illuminated baroque facade of the palace itself, on Spandauer Damm in Charlottenburg. It runs from 23 November to 27 December 2026, according to the market’s own site, schloss-weihnachtsmarkt.de, with heated dining tents, a market orchestra and craft stalls. The palace’s illumination after dark is the market’s main draw; few other Berlin markets have a comparable backdrop.

Opening hours run Monday to Thursday from 1pm to 10pm and Friday to Sunday from noon to 10pm, with the market closed on Christmas Eve. Entry is free. Charlottenburg Palace sits west of the city centre, a short walk from the Sophie-Charlotte-Platz U-Bahn station or a ride on several bus routes that stop directly outside the palace grounds.

5. Spandau Old Town Christmas Market

The Spandau Christmas market is Berlin’s largest by stall count, filling the cobbled streets of Spandau’s old town with around 120 stalls. It runs from 23 November to 22 December 2026, according to the local district management site, altstadt-spandau.de. Craftspeople sell wares from four continents, including perfumes, Christmas decorations from Poland and alpaca-wool clothing from Peru, alongside a fire tree lit with thousands of bulbs and a historical artisan market around St Nikolai church.

Opening hours run Sunday to Thursday from 11am to 8pm and Friday and Saturday from 11am to 10pm, with free admission throughout. For the second year running, visitors can try ice stock shooting (a German curling variant) on two lanes set up on Reformationsplatz. Spandau’s old town is served by the U7 underground line to Altstadt Spandau station and the S3 or S9 city rail lines to Spandau station, both close to the market.

6. Lucia Christmas Market at Kulturbrauerei

The Lucia Christmas Market brings Nordic and Scandinavian traditions to the courtyard of the Kulturbrauerei, a 19th-century former brewery in Prenzlauer Berg. It runs from 23 November to 22 December 2026, according to the market’s own site, lucia-weihnachtsmarkt.de, with Scandinavian food and drink stalls, craft stands and free admission throughout.

Opening hours run Monday to Friday from 3pm to 10pm and Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 10pm. The Kulturbrauerei sits on Schönhauser Allee, a short walk from Eberswalder Straße U-Bahn station.

Other Christmas markets in Berlin

Berlin’s smaller markets are worth a detour if you have time beyond the six main ones above. The Weihnachtsmarkt Nikolaikirche, in the historic Nikolaiviertel, centres on Feuerzangenbowle, a hot spiced-wine punch served with a flaming, rum-soaked sugar cone, alongside screenings of the classic German film of the same name. The Medieval Christmas Market at the RAW Compound turns a former railway repair station in Friedrichshain into a medieval village, with jugglers, archery and hand-operated wooden rides. Neither market had published confirmed 2026 dates at the time of writing, so check their listings on berlin.de before planning a visit around them.

Is the Berlin Christmas market free to enter?

Entry is free at almost every Berlin Christmas market, including Alexanderplatz, the Rotes Rathaus, Charlottenburg Palace, Spandau and the Lucia market at Kulturbrauerei. The one exception among the main markets is the Gendarmenmarkt WeihnachtsZauber, which charges about €2 ($2.30, £1.70) for general admission, with free entry on weekday early afternoons and for children, seniors and visitors with disabilities. Individual rides, ice-skating sessions and museum-style attractions inside otherwise free markets can carry their own separate charge.

What food can visitors eat at the Berlin Christmas markets?

Listed below are the best German foods to try at Berlin’s Christmas markets.

• Currywurst. Currywurst is a Berlin speciality of sliced sausage topped with mild curry ketchup, usually eaten with a small fork. It is one of the most common street foods at any Berlin Christmas market stall.
• Handbrot. Handbrot is bread filled with cheese, mushroom or meat, baked in a wood-fired oven and topped with sour cream. It is a hearty snack sold near the Rotes Rathaus market.
• Spätzle. Spätzle is an egg noodle fried with cheese, butter or cream after boiling. It is sold as a filling meal at several Berlin markets, including the Nikolaikirche market.
• Stollen. Stollen is a fruit bread dusted with powdered sugar and filled with dried fruit, nuts and spices. It is sold as a dessert or breakfast item at stalls across every Berlin Christmas market.

What to drink at the Berlin Christmas markets?

Listed below are the drinks most Berlin Christmas market stalls serve.

• Glühwein. Glühwein is hot mulled red wine spiced with cinnamon and cloves, served in a souvenir mug you can keep or return for a deposit. It is the standard drink at every Berlin Christmas market.
• Feuerzangenbowle. Feuerzangenbowle is a variation on glühwein made by setting a rum-soaked sugar cone alight and letting it drip into the wine below. The Weihnachtsmarkt Nikolaikirche specialises in this drink and screens the classic film that shares its name.
• Eierpunsch. Eierpunsch is a creamy, egg-based drink similar to eggnog, made with milk, sugar and white wine or rum and usually topped with whipped cream and cinnamon.
• Kinderpunsch. Kinderpunsch is a non-alcoholic alternative to glühwein, made from fruit juice, tea and spices and served hot. It suits children and anyone avoiding alcohol.

What can people buy at the Berlin Christmas markets?

Listed below are the souvenirs most commonly sold at Berlin’s Christmas markets.

• Christmas ornaments. Christmas ornaments at Berlin markets include wooden stars, hand-blown glass baubles, nutcrackers and carved angels, sold by weight, size and craftsmanship.
• The Berlin Bear. The Berlin Bear, the city’s emblem, comes as a plush toy, keychain, mug or magnet and is one of the most common souvenirs at every market.
• Cuckoo clocks. Cuckoo clocks are wooden clocks from the Black Forest tradition, sold in a range of sizes and mechanisms at several Berlin markets, including Charlottenburg and Spandau.
• Schnapps. Schnapps is a distilled spirit flavoured with fruit, herbs or spices, sold by the bottle at market stalls specialising in German spirits.

Where to stay in Berlin during the Christmas markets

Listed below are areas worth basing yourself in during Berlin’s Christmas market season, with a wide range of hotels available through Booking.com.

• Charlottenburg. Charlottenburg puts you a short walk from the palace market and its own S-Bahn station, with budget-friendly hostels and mid-range hotels along the Kurfürstendamm shopping boulevard.
• Mitte. Mitte is the closest base to Alexanderplatz, the Rotes Rathaus market and the Gendarmenmarkt, with a concentration of mid-range and upscale hotels within walking distance of all three.
• Prenzlauer Berg. Prenzlauer Berg sits next to the Kulturbrauerei and the Lucia market, with boutique hotels in a quieter residential setting than Mitte.
• Spandau. Spandau’s old town has budget and mid-range hotels close to its own market, connected to the rest of Berlin by the U7 underground line.

What are the best restaurants to eat at in Berlin during Christmas?

Listed below are restaurants worth visiting near Berlin’s Christmas markets.

• Spagos Restaurant, Bar and Lounge. Spagos occupies the third floor of the Park Inn by Radisson Berlin Alexanderplatz, with a view over the Alexanderplatz market and an international menu with a Mediterranean influence.
• Zur Gerichtslaube. Zur Gerichtslaube is a historic restaurant dating to the 13th century, in the Nikolaiviertel, Berlin’s oldest residential quarter. It serves traditional German dishes such as schnitzel, sauerbraten and roast goose.
• A cafe in the Nikolaiviertel. Several small cafes sit in the Nikolaiviertel a few steps from the Nikolaikirche, Berlin’s oldest surviving church, built between 1230 and 1250. The church itself has operated as a city history museum since 1987, so a coffee stop sits near it rather than inside it.
• Altstadt Spandau. Altstadt Spandau specialises in fish and seafood, in Spandau’s old town near the Christmas market, with a maritime interior and a winter garden.
• Seaside Fish and Seafood Bar. Seaside sits in Mitte near Friedrichstraße station, with sushi, sashimi and a daily changing lunch menu alongside its main seafood dishes.

How do you get to Berlin for the Christmas markets?

Berlin is reachable by plane, train, coach or car. Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is the city’s only international gateway, connected to the city centre by regional trains and the U-Bahn, with flights bookable through Trip.com. High-speed ICE and IC trains connect Berlin to every major German city, arriving at Berlin Hauptbahnhof, a short ride by S-Bahn or U-Bahn from Alexanderplatz and the Gendarmenmarkt. Long-distance coaches are a cheaper option for a short trip from elsewhere in Germany, arriving at the central bus station (ZOB) in Charlottenburg, close to the palace market. Drivers reach Berlin via the A10 ring autobahn, though street parking is limited near Mitte’s markets and a hotel or park-and-ride with transit access is usually more practical than driving into the centre.

What to wear at Berlin’s Christmas markets

Dress in layers with a warm coat, hat and gloves, because Berlin’s Christmas market season runs through the coldest part of the year. Daytime highs in Berlin average around 3-5°C (37-41°F) through November and December, with nights regularly dropping below freezing, according to multiple climate data sources. Rain or light snow falls on roughly half the days in December, so waterproof footwear is worth packing alongside warm layers, since most markets are outdoors on cobblestones or gravel.

How many days do you need for Berlin’s Christmas markets?

Two to three days let you cover the six main Christmas markets without rushing between them. Alexanderplatz, the Rotes Rathaus and the Gendarmenmarkt sit within a 15-minute walk of each other in and around Mitte, so a single afternoon covers all three. Charlottenburg Palace, Spandau’s old town and the Lucia market at Kulturbrauerei each sit in a different district, connected to Mitte by a 20 to 30-minute ride on the S-Bahn or U-Bahn, so a separate half-day per market is more realistic than combining them.

Is Berlin’s Christmas market better than the Trier Christmas market?

It depends on what you want from the visit. Berlin offers scale and variety, with more than 60 markets spread across every district, from the upmarket Gendarmenmarkt to the neighbourhood Lucia market at Kulturbrauerei. The Trier Christmas Market offers a single, compact market inside one of Germany’s oldest cities, with Roman ruins as a backdrop instead of a modern capital’s skyline. Visitors who want choice and city-break amenities tend to prefer Berlin; visitors who want one atmospheric market without needing to plan a route between venues tend to prefer Trier.

Berlin’s Christmas markets fit into a wider trip around Christmas markets across Germany, many of which are a short train ride from the capital.

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About the author. This guide is written and maintained by the Wonderful Wanderings editorial team. Wonderful Wanderings was founded in 2012 by Sofie Couwenbergh, and the team covers Berlin and Germany’s wider Christmas market season for independent travellers, including the hotels, trains and flights worth booking around them, and updates this page each year once each market’s new dates are confirmed.