Ladies and gentlemen, Christmas has arrived. Berlin is an incredible city even on its worst day, but there is something about the festive season that really brings out the best in the German capital. Traditional Christmas markets invade pretty much every bit of real estate in town, as the air fills with expectation and excitement ahead of the big day. Berlin becomes a walking talking advert for Christmas in December, but our Christmas feature takes extra care to single out some seriously splendid spots. Who can resist a market called ‘Holy Shit Shopping’, after all?
It isn’t all about Christmas of course, as the creative cogs of the great Berlin wheel continue to turn as 2018 comes to a close. Few cities come close to Berlin when it comes to excellent exhibitions, glorious galleries and magnificent live music, and the museums and concert halls offer plenty of solace from the dropping temperatures. Berlin will be cold over winter, but the creative scene remains red hot.
And when Christmas comes to a close, the small matter of New Year’s Eve rears its energetic head. Berlin is the party city to end all party cities, and spending the final night of the year in the German capital is an absolute must for hedonists worldwide. 2019 also kicks into gear early, with a variety of concerts across Berlin’s many venues, from intimate punk shows to chart-bothering Northern Irish pop stars singing about chasing cars.
There is no such thing as a bad time to visit Berlin, but there is something about winter that really grabs the soul and refuses to let go, until every drop of Glühwein has been drunk. We hope our guide enhances the experience, and that you have as much fun here as we do. As always we welcome any and all feedback, whether that is via email, social media, or drunkenly garbled after one glass of beer too many. Have a fantastic Christmas.
City Essentials