Berlin in December

Berlin’s Christmas markets turn the city into a festive wonderland, as Laura discovered during her December visit.

Visiting Berlin is December was an extra special travel treat that I managed to squeeze in. And I’m so glad I did, as I really thought the city looked wonderful all decorated up for Christmas.

The Potsdamer Platz Christmas market

The Christmas Potsdamer Platz market is such a beautiful place: every street was lit up with lights and every inch taken up by stalls selling all sorts of knick-knacks. We bought some gluhwein and explored the market, which included a huge snowy slope that people were whizzing down on inflatable rings. How much fun!

We walked down to a beautifully lit and very colourful tree and found another area bathed in blue light from a huge cone of fairy lights with glitter balls underneath – not overly sure of the meaning of it, but it was very pretty!

In gluhwein and wurst heaven!

The next day we wandered to the city market just outside of Berlin zoo. Again it beautifully lit up and festive. It was full of people and smells of gluhwein and sausages. I was in heaven! The stalls are incredible, every inch taken up by the owner’s wares encased in a beautifully handcrafted wooden hut. It’s quite heart-warming to see.

Traditional German Christmas markets

We ended up at the Gendarmenmarkt, which I thought was the most traditional of all that we visited. The Gendarmenmarkt is a square in Berlin, the site of the Konzerthaus and the French and German Cathedrals. The whole place felt alive with the hustle and bustle and live music that was being played outside the Konzerthaus. The colours are all so vibrant too, light dances off baubles and tinsel and they don’t scrimp on the fairy lights!

A beautiful Christmas tree at the Gendamenmarkt.

We finished our exploration of Berlin’s markets at Charlottenburg Palace Christmas market in City West, which out of them all, was my favourite. It was so beautiful and authentic and the palace was a stunning backdrop for the market – it looked so incredible all lit up. We had apple and vanilla gluhwein and wandered around the stalls, which had the biggest selection of handmade crafts, including beeswax, felt and soap stalls.

As you can tell, I loved Berlin’s Christmas markets, they really got me in a festive mood! Have you visited them, and if so, which is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!