When is the best time to visit Belin? The answer is simple. This city is amazing when the Christmas markets are open in December. You will love the smell of mulled wine everywhere will enjoy the open-air activities in the markets. This time I prepared my backpack by following the instructions here.
We visited Berlin exactly at Christmas time and enjoyed a lot with our 3 days trip. Underground transportation is very well developed so it is easy to visit lots of touristic places even in 1 day.
Let’s hang around in Berlin together and note down the must seen places and the best Christmas markets. Enjoy! 🙂
PLACES YOU SHOULD VISIT
Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz is located in the middle of Mitte and hosts lots of iconic structures. The most famous ones are TV Tower where you can reach bird’s eye view on the top, and the original building, made with red bricks, theRathaus. There is also a nice Christmas market in Alexanderplatz but we will talk about it later on.
Berlıner Dom
In my opinion, Berliner Dom is the star of Berlin. The entrance fee of this amazing cathedral is 7 euros. You can go to the highest point of the building and en joy the wonderful panoromic view. Since Berlin has no hills, there just a few points like that where you can hava a nice city view.
Also inside of the Dom is very impressive with sculptures and the detailed art work. You can spend as much time as you want inside, and enjot the silince and serenity. Photography is allowed so you can capture nice memories.
Museum Island
This island locates on the Spree River and there is no construction except from Berliner Dom and 5 museums on it. These are Bode Museum with Byzantium artifacts, Alte Museum with 19th century, Neues Museum with Egypt history, Altes Museum with Hellenic artifacts and Pergamon Museum with the pieces transported from Turkey- Pergamon temple. Click here for detailed information about the Museum Island.
Checkpoınt Charlıe
Checkpoint Charlie is the well-known transition points between East Berlin and the West Berlin. Today, symbolic American soldiers still keep watching at this point and taking pictures with the tourists. You can also visit the Berlin Wall Museum in here to get detailed information.
The region around theCheckpoint Charlie is a very good choice for the hotel. Because this point is known by everybody and you will also be very close to the public transportation. We stayed at Select Hotel Checkpoint Charlie’ and we liked it since it was not so expensive but it has a quality service.
Parliament Building Reıchstag (Bundestag)
This building damaged a lot during the 2nd World War and it strated serving as a Parliement Building again in 1999. The huge glass dome of the building has a very original design and it also represents the transparency of the goverment. It is also possible to go the the top point of the building and see the dome from inside.
Entrance of the Bundestag is free but still you have to make reservation with an ID card. Since it is a working place, they allow certain amount of people to go in each hour. When you enter you can take one of the audio guides in your language and get information about both this building and the other important ones you will see around while you are climbing up the stairs of the dome. This activity will take only half an hour and it will give you a nice and brief summary about Berlin.
Brandenburg Tor
This amazing door is built in the German Empire times but damaged during the 2nd World War and repaired several times. Brandenburg Tor becomes the symbol of the unity after the wall is destroyed. This place is one of the famous attractions for tourists and it is also attracts photopgraphers with its architecture. Don’t leave Berlin without seeing Brandenburg Tor.
THE BEST CHRISTMAS MARKETS OF BERLIN
*General Rule: When you enter a christmas market first thing you need to do is buying a glass of mulled wine( glühwein). Glasses have deposit around 3 euros. Drink as much as you want with the same glass and if you want to keep it you can change it with a clean one and put it in your bag. 🙂 Otherwise you can give the glass and take back your 3 euros.
Gendarmenmarkt
This is one of the biggest christmas markets in Berlin. Surprisingly it has a 1 euro entrance fee but you will understand when you see the crowd inside.
Gendarmenmarkt is located in a very central position among the old structures.(Deutscher Dom and Opera Building) We preffered to eat turkey-burger and it was nice but you will see so many options from pizza to fish. It is better to come here hungry and have your meal in the market and try different tastes.
There is also a lovely stage in front of the Opera Building and there are some shows at certain times. However if it is not a show time don’t worry, always a nice music plays in the market:) You can visit souvenir shops and buy some interesting staff.
The market is also nice in the mornings but I prefer the ambiance with all the lights in the evening. 🙂
Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz Christmas Market is one of the most crowded ones in Berlin. It has an ice skating are which is very nice. Especially during the sunset it is a pleasure to do some skating with the accompany of classical music.
If you see a shop selling their own liqueur, you should try. You can discover an amazing taste. Moreover their prices will be low.
Alexanderplatz is very colorful and I’m sure you will enjoy and spend couple of hours in here.
Potsdamer Platz
Another big christmas market is located in Potsdamer Platz. There is also a skating area in here but it was not lovely as the one in Alexanderplatz. There are lots of restaurants in Potsdamer Platz so first you can have your dinner and then you can visit the market. There are more clothing shops in this market differently. If you are not prepared for the “Berlin Cold” you can buy some staff from here.
BONUS
Bear is the symbol of Berlin and you will see different bears everywehere. Don’t forget to take some pictures with those lovely bears! 🙂
- Alexanderplatz
- berlin
- berlin 2019
- berlin attractions
- berlin christmas markets
- berlin noel
- berliner dom
- bundestag
- checkpoint charlie
- christmas garden berlin
- gendermanmarkt
- museum island
- weichnachts market berlin