Advent Season and Christmas Days in Berlin
A lot of Berliners and visitors celebrate Advent and Christmas, many more from a cultural or traditional background than based on a religious one. Some people of the over 180 nations living in Berlin do not celebrate Advent or Christmas.
Advent season: Lights, first Christmas Markets and Singings
- The Advent season begins four full calendar weeks including the Sundays before Dec. 25.
- The last Sunday in Advent (4. Advent) is the Sunday before Dec. 25, which means that the earliest possible date of it is December 18 and the latest possible date is Dec. 24.
- The first Sunday in Advent (1. Advent) is therefore Nov. 27 at the earliest and Dec. 3 at the latest.
- The Advent season begins on Monday before the first Advent Sunday.
- Before Advent season (often latest mid of November) the Botanical Garden offers Christmas Garden and at Potsdamer Platz a Winter World.
- From the weekend before Advent season starts the first Advent music and singing events happen. Music styles like classic, orchestral or choir but also gospel are offered in various ways and locations.
- In first Advent week the illuminations on Kurfürstendamm and on Unter den Linden are normally installed. Also a lot of Christmas markets in Berlin open for the first time.
- In the last years zwo of the four Advent Sundays were also shopping Sundays: shops in large malls opened from 1 pm to 6 or 8 pm.
Christmas Markets in Berlin and Brandenburg
Traditionally over 50 Christmas markets open their doors in Berlin and Brandenburg state within the four weeks before Christmas. Some tips:
- Not all markets are pemanently opened, some open only one weekend or for a day.
- Most markets will close finally on Dec. 23 or 24, some markets open also on Dec. 25 and / or 26; only one or two markets will have opened after Christmas, maximum until New Years' Eve.
- The markets are very differently, especially in their focus on entertainment and in their Chismas atmosphere. VisitBerlin published an overview of the different styles of the Christmas markets.
- Nealy all markets can be reached very well by public transport (BVG journey planner).
- Markets are well visited on the weekends and in the late aftenoon and early evening hours of all days.
- Some markets take an entry fee of 1 or 2 Euro.
- Have some cash (Euro) with you: Not all small shops, food places and market stalls on Christmas markets have equipment for card payment.
- Safety: Be aware of tricky pickpockets, see prevention brochure from Berlin police.
- Want to experience a less touristy market? Choose one in Berlin's outer districts or even in a town of Brandenburg state.
Map of selected Christmas Markets and Illuminations in Berlin
The following map aggregates official information from websites of Berlin and VisitBerlin which provide market overviews.
Link to map shown below in Google Maps.
- Red-colored markets are permanently open 4 weeks before Christmas.
- Orange-colored markets are open only for a day or a weekend or at some weekends.
- Yellow-colored are nice illuminations of streets and parks which underline Berlin's Christmas experience.
- Tip: Use public transport to get to and from the markets.
Link to map shown below in Google Maps.
Christmas Markets that were not opened in 2018
The following markets were not open in 2018 due to close construction works:
- Opernpalais
- Alexa (will likely not re-open ever, new building on ground)
The Christmas Days in Berlin
- Every evening of Dec. 23 Berlin public TV rbb sends live the Christmas Singing of the members of local soccer club Union Berlin in their stadium. Over 20,000 people sing Christmas songs - a real festive and emotional pleasure also for people just infront of a TV in a hotel room in Berlin. Cards for the event are sold to local club members only.
- Germans celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve (evening hours of Dec. 24) but not all people celebrate it.
- Shops are open on Dec. 24 until 1 or 2 pm (if not Sunday). On Dec. 25 and 26 nearly all shops are closed. They open up again on Dec. 27 in the morning (also if not a Sunday, see also tips around shopping). Tip: for food a few supermarkets at train stations will be open on CHristmas days.
- On Chistmas Eve you can visit midnight masses in most of Berlin churches. Christmas markets will be closed.
- On Dec. 25 and 26 most museums, sights and public transport operate in Sunday mode.
- Several restaurants offer Christmas menus and dishes at holidays but early reservation is needed.
- There is a 20% chance for white Christmas in Berlin, means in only two of ten years. Last years were 2009 and 2010.
VisitBerlin provides a page with further answers to all questions about Christmas in Berlin (scroll down).
Have a nice Advent & Christmas time in Berlin!
Last update: June 10, 2019