Two other famous Christmas markets are the one at Alexanderplatz and just a few metres from there at Rotes Rathaus. I will tell you where you find a rink for ice skating, real snow, which doesn’t depend on the weather and meet Santa Claus.
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💡 WHAT IS A CHRISTMAS MARKET?
| Christmas markets are street markets held during the weeks of Advent and originate from Germany. Therefore, Christmas markets are very typical for Germany, as well as Austria, South Tyrol (Northern Italy), and some eastern regions in France. The history dates back to the Late Middle Ages in German-speaking parts of Europe. Christmas markets feature a variety of different stalls selling all kinds of items, including typical Christmas dishes such as German gingerbread (‚Lebkuchen‘), candied almonds, various sausages (‚Bratwurst‘) and hot mulled wine (‚Glühwein‘). |
Three Christmas markets at Alex
Alexanderplatz is the most famous square in Berlin with its TV tower and named after the Russian Tsar Alexander I. No wonder it also hosts three different Christmas markets around the area. The one directly on the actual square is full of different booths (more than 100) – and the favourite food of Germans (which you can find at basically every Christmas market) are German sausages, French crêpes and sugared almonds.
Let it snow
Right next to the World Time Clock is a Christmas pyramid designed with over 5,000 lights. Not only is it Europe’s biggest one but actually is also accessible to enjoy your hot mulled wine (“Glühwein”) inside. But also the small fireplaces around the pyramid offer a bit of warmth in Germany’s cold winters. But the highlight is the snow which falls down from the pyramid every full hour. And this snow will fall no matter if it’s cold enough or not (the snow is foam).
Besides the pyramid is traditionally a big children’s carousel. In the stalls around are even more Christmas-themed articles – a lot of them handcrafted.
Christmas Market at Rotes Rathaus
If you follow the square in the direction of the TV tower (Western part of the Alexanderplatz) you will reach the next Christmas market at the Rotes Rathaus. The famous red building is the town hall of Berlin, the home of the mayor and partially even open to the public.
This Christmas market offers a 50m high Ferris wheel (it is actually the same you can find at the Octoberfest in Munich) and a skating rink around the fountain (Neptunbrunnen) for ice skating. Three times a day Santa Clause flies over this fountain in his slide and of course with his reindeers. Furthermore, here you can taste a special menu of Berlin – warm green cabbage (usually served with sausages). Another particular dish they sell is Lángos from Hungary, as well as roasted apples, homemade baked bread from the medieval bakery and hot mead (honey wine).
The third Christmas market is more like an amusement park right behind the shopping mall Alexa.
Click here to find more blog posts about different Christmas markets in Berlin
First written on Sunday, December 13th, 2015, you have read the blog post Christmas Markets at Alexanderplatz in Berlin on My Travel Journal-Blog.