Berlin Christmas Market 2026: dates, opening hours, tips

Berlin's main Christmas market season starts on Monday 23 November 2026, the day after Totensonntag. Almost all the big markets open that day: the WeihnachtsZauber at Gendarmenmarkt, the Berliner Weihnachtszeit at the Red Town Hall, the market in front of Charlottenburg Palace, Spandau Old Town, the Kulturbrauerei and Alexanderplatz – and some stay open until New Year's Eve or into January. Below you'll find each market's official dates, hours and entry fees, plus a map.

Berlin Christmas markets 2026 at a glance

Season start	Most big markets open on 23 November 2026. According to visitBerlin, the official season doesn't begin before Totensonntag (22 November).
Longest season	Berliner Weihnachtszeit at the Red Town Hall until 3 January 2027; WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt until 31 December
Entry	Gendarmenmarkt €2 (under-12s free; free for everyone Mon–Fri 11am–2pm except 24/25/26/31 Dec); the other markets listed here are free
Getting there	All markets are on S-Bahn or U-Bahn lines – no car needed

Berlin's big Christmas markets 2026

Market	Location	Dates 2026	Opening hours
WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt	Mitte	23 Nov–31 Dec	Sun–Thu 11am–10pm, Fri–Sat 11am–11pm, 24 Dec 12–6pm
Berliner Weihnachtszeit	Red Town Hall / Neptune Fountain	23 Nov 2026–3 Jan 2027	Mon–Fri 12–10pm, Sat–Sun 11am–10pm; closed 24 and 31 Dec; 3 Jan 11am–8pm
Charlottenburg Palace market	Spandauer Damm	23 Nov–27 Dec	Mon–Thu 1–10pm, Fri–Sun 12–10pm; 25/26 Dec 12–10pm; closed 24 Dec
Spandau Christmas market	Spandau Old Town	23 Nov–22 Dec	Sun–Thu 11am–8pm, Fri–Sat 11am–10pm
Lucia Christmas market	Kulturbrauerei, Prenzlauer Berg	23 Nov–22 Dec	Mon–Fri 3–10pm, Sat–Sun 1–10pm
Alexanderplatz market	Alexanderplatz	23 Nov–26 Dec	daily 11am–10pm

According to visitBerlin, the Historic Christmas Market on the RAW site opens earlier (12 November–22 December 2026), and the Winter World at Potsdamer Platz is expected to open at the end of October and run until 31 December.

Map: Christmas markets in Berlin

Gendarmenmarkt, the Red Town Hall and Alexanderplatz are close together in Mitte – you can walk to all three in one evening. Charlottenburg and Spandau are in the west, the Kulturbrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg to the north; plan a separate afternoon or evening for these.

The markets one by one

WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt

Set between the Konzerthaus and the German and French cathedrals, this is a particularly elegant market, with crafts, a stage programme and upmarket food. It's one of the few that stay open between Christmas and New Year. Entry costs €2 according to visitBerlin; under-12s go free, and Monday to Friday from 11am to 2pm it's free for everyone (except 24, 25, 26 and 31 December). Note: dogs are not allowed anywhere on the market, except guide dogs.

Berliner Weihnachtszeit at the Red Town Hall

Between the Rotes Rathaus and St Mary's Church, around the Neptune Fountain and below the TV Tower, this big market has fairground rides, an ice rink and an "Old Berlin" market lane. It runs from 23 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and is closed on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Charlottenburg Palace Christmas market

In front of the floodlit Charlottenburg Palace, with a Christmas market orchestra and heated food tents. Free entry. On weekdays it only opens at 1pm; on 25 and 26 December it's open 12–10pm, and closed on Christmas Eve.

Spandau Christmas market

Spandau's Old Town fills with wooden huts and lights. It's popular with locals and less touristy than the markets in Mitte. Free entry; a curling lane can be booked.

Lucia Christmas market at the Kulturbrauerei

In the red-brick courtyards of a 19th-century brewery in Prenzlauer Berg, the Lucia market celebrates a Scandinavian-style Christmas, with a children's carousel and a vintage chain carousel; entry is free. On weekdays it opens at 3pm – perfect after work.

Alexanderplatz market

Grouped around the Fountain of International Friendship, the market at "Alex" is open daily 11am–10pm until 26 December – handy if you're changing trains at Alexanderplatz anyway.

What to eat and drink

• Glühwein and Feuerzangenbowle in deposit mugs.
• Currywurst – Berlin's signature snack, at Christmas markets too.
• Kale (Grünkohl), Flammkuchen and Lángos – Berlin market classics.
• Glögg and cinnamon buns at the Scandinavian Lucia market.

2026 prices haven't been published yet.

Two evenings, six markets: our suggestion

1. Evening 1 – Mitte: Gendarmenmarkt at 5pm (it's free on weekdays until 2pm, but the atmosphere is better after dark), then walk along Unter den Linden past the Berlin Cathedral to the Red Town Hall, finishing at Alexanderplatz.
2. Evening 2 – west or north: Charlottenburg Palace (U2 Sophie-Charlotte-Platz), then Spandau (S-Bahn/U7) – or a relaxed evening at the Lucia market (U2 Eberswalder Straße).

Practical tips for international visitors

Cash, cards and Pfand

Card payment is common in Berlin, but keep some cash for small stalls and the Gendarmenmarkt entry. You pay a deposit (Pfand) for mugs – return them for a refund or keep them.

When to go

• Weekday afternoons: much quieter in Mitte; at Gendarmenmarkt you even save the entry fee until 2pm.
• Friday and Saturday evenings: very crowded, especially at the Red Town Hall and Gendarmenmarkt.
• Between Christmas and New Year: Gendarmenmarkt (to 31 Dec) and the Red Town Hall (to 3 Jan, closed on NYE) are still open; Charlottenburg until 27 December.

Getting around

Berlin's public transport is excellent – a day ticket for zones AB covers all markets in this guide. For Gendarmenmarkt take U6 to Stadtmitte (step-free with lift) or U2 to Hausvogteiplatz (not step-free), or the S-Bahn to Friedrichstraße. For the Red Town Hall and Alexanderplatz take any S- or U-Bahn to Alexanderplatz. Charlottenburg: U2 Sophie-Charlotte-Platz, S-Bahn Westend or buses 109 and M45. From BER airport, the FEX and S-Bahn run into the centre.

With kids

The ice rink and rides at the Red Town Hall are the big hit; under-12s get into Gendarmenmarkt free.

Where to stay

Mitte is central for most markets; for Charlottenburg and Spandau, the area around Kurfürstendamm works well. Weekday rates are usually good value.

Gift idea: frame your Berlin memories with a personalised poster.

Nearby: our tips

• Gendarmenmarkt: visit the Konzerthaus and cathedrals by day.
• Berlin Cathedral: on the way to the Red Town Hall, with a dome walk.
• Museum Island: five museums for a winter day.
• Berlin TV Tower: right above the Red Town Hall market.
• Brandenburg Gate: ten minutes from Gendarmenmarkt.
• Charlottenburg Palace: tour the state rooms before the market.

Our audio guide “Berlin: What Vanished – and Came Back” runs from the Reichstag to the Nikolai Quarter, close to the Red Town Hall market – 14 stops over 4.2 km in English or German, the first two free.

More: Berlin.

FAQ

When do the Berlin Christmas markets open in 2026?

The big ones – Gendarmenmarkt, Red Town Hall, Charlottenburg, Spandau, Kulturbrauerei and Alexanderplatz – open on Monday 23 November 2026. Some smaller ones start earlier.

Which markets are open after Christmas?

Gendarmenmarkt until 31 December, the Red Town Hall until 3 January 2027 (closed on NYE), Charlottenburg until 27 December and Alexanderplatz until 26 December.

Does Gendarmenmarkt charge entry?

Yes, €2 according to visitBerlin. Under-12s are free, and it's free for everyone Monday–Friday 11am–2pm (except 24/25/26/31 December).

How late are the markets open?

Usually until 10pm; Gendarmenmarkt until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Spandau closes at 8pm Sunday to Thursday.

How much is a mulled wine?

2026 prices haven't been announced. Add a mug deposit.

Which Berlin market suits me best?

For setting and crafts: Gendarmenmarkt. For families, with ice rink and rides: the Red Town Hall. For palace romance: Charlottenburg. For a local feel with fewer tourists: Spandau or the Kulturbrauerei. And if you're just changing trains, pop into Alexanderplatz.

Do I need cash for Gendarmenmarkt?

It's wise to carry some: the €2 entry and small stalls are quickest paid in cash, although cards are widely accepted in Berlin.

Can I bring my dog?

Not to Gendarmenmarkt – dogs are banned there (guide dogs excepted). We didn't find explicit bans for the other markets.

Read more

Dresden and Leipzig are under two hours from Berlin by ICE: see our guides to the Dresden Striezelmarkt and the Leipzig Christmas market. To compare Berlin with Nuremberg or Dresden, see Christmas markets in Germany 2026.

Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig? Turn the trip into a route poster.

Last checked: 13 October 2026. Dates and entry fees will be re-checked before the season starts on 23 November.

Sources

• https://www.visitberlin.de/de/weihnachtsmarkt-weihnachtszauber-gendarmenmarkt-berlin
• https://www.berlinerweihnachtszeit.de/oeffnungszeiten/
• https://www.visitberlin.de/de/weihnachtsmarkt-am-schloss-charlottenburg-berlin
• https://partner-fuer-spandau.de/veranstaltungen/spandauer-weihnachtsmarkt/271
• https://www.lucia-weihnachtsmarkt.de/
• https://www.visitberlin.de/de/weihnachtsmarkt-alexanderplatz-berlin
• https://www.visitberlin.de/de/weihnachtsmaerkte-berlin

Image credits

• Photo: Anil Öztas, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cover)
• Photo: Michael.F.H.Barth, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0