Berlin has more than 50 Christmas markets, including the Winterworld at Potsdamer Platz. Potsdamer Platz is one of the most famous places for tourists to visit in Berlin because it is close to the Brandenburger Gate and therefore to the former Berlin Wall. It also offers one of the first traffic lights in Europe (1924), two huge malls, and the Sony Centre nearby. In the Christmas season, there is a huge market – or actually, two because they are separated. You can reach the markets really easily by trains and the subway (the station name is also called Potsdamer Platz).
💡 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’).
About Winterworld Market
The Christmas market has a large toboggan run out of ice. You can also try ice stock sports and ice skating in a small rink. An Austrian cabin (“Salzburger Schmankerl’ Hüttn”) offers a variety of typical food from our neighbouring country. Besides “Obazda” (savoury cheese spread – also typical for Bavaria), “Brettljause” (a wood plate with different meat and sausages), goulash, “Kasnocken” (as the German version of “Käsespätzle” – spaetzles with cheese so basically German Pasta), also sweet dishes as “Kaiserschmarrn” (sugared and cut-up pancake, typical with raisins), Sacher cake and apple tarde.
My favourite Christmas sweets – Schneeballen (Snownballs)
One of my favourite candies at the market at Potsdamer Platz was “Schneeballen” (means snowballs). I didn’t know the dish before. It is like a really large and round cake with chocolate glazing and filled with different topics. I had one with white chocolate and filled with nougat. I don’t want to make too many covered advertising, though it was really tasty.
Besides all the food Potsdamer Platz is also a good opportunity to go shopping. The large shopping mall was full of golden lights and decorations, in my opinion, it’s a little kitschy (but hey, it’s Christmas). Also really kitschy is a big colourful Christmas tree with tonnes of lights in front of the Theatre of Potsdamer Platz.
Last but not least, the stallholders also sell different things as clothes, Christmas decorations, lights or handmade woollen hats.
Click here to find more blog post about different Christmas markets in Berlin
First written on Thursday, December 10th, 2015, you have read the blog post Winterworld Market at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin on My Travel Journal-Blog.