The Christmas market in Gendarmenmarkt offers its visitors, both locals and tourists, a wide range of exciting events and activities. Like any other Christmas market, it features several dozen stalls and booths with Christmas treats, high-quality handmade products and fascinating local souvenirs. Of course, there’s also a rich and diverse entertainment program, exciting fairground rides, and an incredibly warm festive atmosphere that scares the cold away.
Weihnachtszauber in Gendarmenmarkt impresses with its bright colors, thousands of shining Christmas lights, and the beauty of the square’s architectural ensemble that includes the Konzerthaus Berlin (a large concert hall), the German and French Cathedrals, and a statue of Friedrich Schiller. During the market, the square is dominated by a beautifully bedecked Christmas tree. The market is open all week. Entrance is free on working days before 14 pm.
Merchants which participate in the market present handicrafts made of glass, bone, stone and wood, handmade candles and soaps, Christmas decorations, jewelry, clothes and accessories, souvenirs, carved figures for nativity scenes, and more. Food stalls offer a variety of traditional German dishes and Christmas treats including different kind of sausage with potato salad, Stollen (Christmas fruit bread), Lebkuchen (a Christmas treat similar to gingerbread), Christmas cookies, and Glühwein (German mulled wine). The market is animated by performers including jazz singers, gospel choirs, acrobats, jugglers, and fire-eaters.
On December 31 (New Year’s Eve) the stalls close earlier, but there’s a special program for those who want to celebrate New Year’s Eve on the square. It includes performances by famous artists, the countdown to the New Year, and a breathtaking firework launched from the roof of the Konzerthaus Berlin. Note that admission requires a ticket.
The Christmas market in Gendarmenmarkt has gained its popularity due to a prime location and a wide range of high-quality products offered by vendors. But there are other Christmas markets in Berlin which are worthy of your attention. They are held in Altstadt Spandau (the historic center of the borough of Spandau), in Alexanderplatz, in front of the Rotes Rathaus (Red City Hall), in Potsdamer Platz. Each of these markets has something special to offer, be it pony rides, a Ferris wheel, a petting zoo, or a skating rink.
