Christmas in Berlin

I think their Christmas market is still going on til the 31st. I would go on some walking tours, especially right when you get there as this will give you a good orientation for the city. This also gives you something to do on the 25th and 26th when all the stores are closed. We like Insider Tours and have done 3 of their tours. The "Famous Walk" which is 4 hours, the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp which is 6 hours, and Potsdam, which is also 6 hours. I think they have a 3rd Reich tour, and a Cold War tour too. Their prices run between 12-15 € per person. www.insidertours.com

My daughter and I used this company to find an apt. there and were very satisfied. We had the whole place for only 48€ per night. Spotless and fully equipped.

http://www.zimmervermittlung24.com/e_index.html

Restaurants were everywhere and very reasonably priced. Tons of museums to visit. Public transportation was very easy to use.

Thank you very much for the info! Do you know what the weather is like over there during that time?

Well, it keeps changing here in Frankfurt every day, so who knows for sure? Berlin is farther north, so you might get some snow. I would guess quite cold and windy, so bring some warm things to wear. Check some of the weather websites online to get some forecasts and averages.

Yea, that's what i was thinking. Do you think it is a good destination for holidays? We're looking for festive activities, holiday mood and fun things to do.

Yes, I do think Berlin is a fantastic place to go any time. Having the Christmas markets still going is a real plus. New Years in Berlin is supposed to be one of the best places in the world to be. I think it is exciting there, though it doesn't get a lot of press here on this forum. This city represents Germany to me as it is so vibrant, with a great multi-culti feel to it. The population is almost 4 million, so it is hugely cosmopolitan too. I'd go live there if I had to leave Frankfurt due to jobs, etc. My daughter wants to go to university there too.

My husband and I were in Berlin over the Easter holiday last March and we loved the city. Easy transportation system, lots to see and do--I think that Christmas would be a perfect time to visit. It was cold in March so I imagine that it would be also cold in December. We stayed at Pension Peters (www.pension-peters-berlin.de). The location near Savignyplatz and Bahnhof Zoo was excellent. We enjoyed the museums on Museum Island--especially the Pergamon Museum and Egyptian Museum, Checkpoint Charlie, Fassbender & Rausch chocolate shop, KaDeWe Department Store, and just exploring all areas of the city. You'll have a great trip and there is enough to do for the whole week!

Thanks!
What are the best areas of Berlin to stay in? I'd like to be close to the markets, restaurants, etc.

It might be helpful for you to look at Rick's Germany book (or other guidebook) to review descriptions of each area to see what best fits your interests. For us, the Savignyplatz and Bahnhof Zoo area in Western Berlin met our needs. It was close to public transportation with great restaurants in the neighborhood.

We visited Berlin for a week in October to visit our son who is a student there this semester. We also stayed at Pensione Peters and recommend it. The owners were very helpful with ideas and tours. The walking tour in English was excellent. It's a very central location. The weather according to our son is COLD and has been for quite awhile.