The tradition of Christmas Markets in Berlin
Berlin loves to celebrate Christmas. Starting from the end of November, many of the city squares are transformed into Christmas markets. There are many to choose from, but the biggest and most famous are the markets at Alexanderplatz, Potsdamer Platz, and the one near the Gedächtniskirche. I would definitely recommend visiting all of them, as each has its own charm and the things they offer may vary a bit. The markets are a temporary wonderland of lights, decorations made of wood and glass. They are a great place to buy Christmas presents, decorations, and to try some traditional German food and drinks. Opening hours, and even dates, may vary on each market.
Food and drinks
The markets serve traditional German cuisine to grab a bite, warm up and enjoy the festive atmosphere between the market stalls. Some of them allow to sit down inside a small wooden hut, while others offer standing tables. The most popular food available at the markets are sausages, pretzels, german pastries, and of course Glühwein - a hot mulled wine with spices, mainly cinnamon, cloves, and star aniseed. It is served in a glass mug and you can keep it as a souvenir, or return it to get your deposit back. The prices are generally similar on all markets, but the quality may vary - a typical sausage with a bread roll and a mug of Glühwein should cost you under 10€.
Shopping
The main reason, apart from the atmosphere, to visit the Christmas markets is to buy some presents. The markets offer a wide range of products: decorations, lights, candles, fragrances, handmade crafts, such as scarves, hats, gloves, nutcrackers, wooden toys, jewelry, and many more. The prices are generally high compared to the regular shops, but for a unique handmade product it seems to be worth it.
Entertainment
The markets offer a tiny bit of entertainment. You can listen to music at a restaurant stall or a musical box stall, watch a performance, or even take a ride on a carousel. Some markets, such as the one on Alexanderplatz offers a small circular ice rink, where you can rent skates and have some fun.
My experience
I have spent a whole day visiting the Christmas markets in Berlin. I started at Alexanderplatz, seen some near the Museuminsel. Then I went to Potsdamer Platz, and finished at the Gedächtniskirche in the evening. The last of them was the most crowded, but also had the best illuminations and the most festive atmosphere, which you can see in the photo below.
I have tried Glühwein at the Humboldt Forum market, and it was delicious. I have also bought a few presents. Germany is a rather cash-based society, so I recommend having some cash with you, as not all stalls accept cards. I was very surprised to see that some of the sellers did not in fact speak German, but English, which was helpful for tourists, but a bit disappointing for a German market. Most of them are available to visit free of charge, but there was one that required a small fee of 2€ to enter - somewhere at Unter den Linden street. Many of the markets are open until Christmas Eve, but some may close earlier, so make sure to check the opening hours before you go. They can close right after the Christmas Eve, or stay open up until the New Year’s Eve.