12 Things to do in Berlin in Winter

Are you planning a visit to Berlin? and wondering about the things to do in Berlin in winter? The answer is – A lot!

The city is the perfect winter wonderland, especially when the snow blankets the streets and roofs. During this time of year, you can join the locals skating on one of the city’s most popular squares or on the lakes surrounding the city, visit the impressive Christmas markets, or escape the cold by visiting some of Europe’s best museums.

Also, December brings with it the holiday spirit as well that will give you an unforgettable experience.

In this post, we’re going to share with you the top things to do, what to expect from the weather, what to pack, because there’s plenty to do in Berlin winter!

Weather in Berlin Winter

Winter in Berlin can be quite harsh with cold and dark days. The days are short, with the shortest day of the year being between 7 to 8 hours of daylight. You may get 1 or 2 sunny days every two weeks, and by the time December arrives, the sun sets at around 4:30 pm. This means you need to rise early to enjoy the light and make most of your day.

Here’s the average Berlin winter temperatures, divided by the month:

Berlin in December: high 4°C (39°F), low 0°C (32°F)

In December you may not see any snow in Berlin, although sometimes you may get lucky and see snow while the Christmas markets are running. Otherwise, the city experiences winter rain for about 10 days in December. So, bring an umbrella and wear winter boots that are waterproof.

Berlin in January: high 3°C (37°F), low -3°C (26°F)

In January you will experience snowfall, but this can be an odd time to visit Berlin as most of the Christmas markets have closed and the city is slowly beginning to open up after the holiday season.

Berlin in February: high 4°C (39°F), low -2°C (28°F)

February is the coldest month in Berlin. The extreme cold wave lasts for about 2 weeks, until the weather goes back to ‘normal cold’ that lasts through April. This month can also be windy, so make sure you wear something wind proof for the extended cold stretch.

Visiting Berlin in December is the best time as the festive season is in full swing and there are loads of holiday activities. However, there are a lot of things to do in Berlin in winter besides Christmas markets and there’s always something pretty special about Berlin covered in snow.

Things to Do in Berlin in Winter

Visit the Reichstag in Winter

Reichstag – the German Parliament was completely destroyed during WW2. However, after the war the Germans rebuilt the building with a glass dome that you can visit today.

From the dome, you can get a marvelous 360-degree view of the whole city, but make sure you wear warm clothes as it’s cold in there as the top of the dome is not fully covered.

The Reichstag is a popular tourist attraction hence we recommend booking your visit in advance, the slots go quickly and you should plan your visit at least two weeks in advance.

Visit the Christmas Markets

Visiting a Christmas market is one of the first things to do in Berlin in winter. Berlin is home to over 60 Christmas markets both large and small – scattered through the city. And if you’re visiting the city in December, you’ll surely bump into a few even without trying. However, some of the best markets are only open for a very specific period of time, so be sure to book your walking tour in advance.

For those who are not familiar with the custom of Christmas markets, it’s a European tradition where cities all over Europe set up small markets during the Christmas season. These markets usually sell local variations of mulled wine, traditional foods, and gifts and trinkets that you can buy for your friends and family. The stalls are typically decorated like they did in medieval times.

You can explore the vast areas of the market, enjoy mulled wine and relish the food on offer. Finally, if there is one place in Europe where you should spend the Christmas period it’s Berlin.

Spend a Day Exploring Museums

Berlin is home to several museums and if you’re experiencing bad weather during your visit, taking refuge in museums is a great way to pass your time. The most popular spot to visit museums in Berlin is the Museum Island.

It’s in the middle of the Spree River which houses five museums – Pergamon Museum, the Old National Gallery, the Bode Museum, the Old Museum and the New Museum. You can easily spend an entire day hopping between them.

But if you have to pick just one museum, we recommend visiting the DDR Museum. This is an interactive museum that will transport you back into the era of the Soviet-controlled German Democratic Republic.

Discover Berlin’s Parks

Winter is the perfect time for a walk in Berlin’s parks. Go to Tiergarten park – it’s perfect for a fascinating stroll in the woods in winter, as the entire area falls into a quiet and snowy slumber. There’s a cosy cafe within its confines, ideal for those who are looking to enjoy a warm cup of coffee or a hot mug of mulled wine before heading out to nearby attractions.

And if you want to avoid the cold, then it is a wonderful idea to visit the Botanical Garden. From December through January, the gardens transform into the Christmas Gardens, offering mulled wine, local delicacies and magical walks through a maze of greenhouses and light shows. This tropical greenhouse is comfortably warm and gives you the chance to see exotic plants and trees while taking a break from the cold outside.

Visit Berlin’s Craft Beer Bars

So, what’s a beer fan to do in the middle of Berlin Winter when they want to taste some of that famous German brew? Simple – head to a craft beer bar!

In winter, you can celebrate drinking beer and chatting with friends in a warm cafe, safe from the cold and wind outside. And if you want to know more about German craft beer, then you can tour a local brewery. You will surely find the history and beer making process interesting. At the end you will also get to taste a few glasses of beer.

Visit the Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery

Today, there are a number of places where you can see the remains of the Berlin Wall. Once upon a time this wall ran across the entire city.

However, if you’re looking for a more rewarding visit to the Berlin Wall, be sure to check out the kilometre-long East Side Gallery. This is the best place to see the wall, as it’s covered with famous art you’ve probably seen in movies or on social media posts.

You can visit the East Side Gallery for free, but if you want to learn more about the history of Germany, the Berlin Wall, and the art it covers today, you can book a private guided tour.

TV Tower in Berlin

The Berlin TV Tower – Fernsehturm is one of the most famous landmarks in the city. It’s the tallest building in Berlin and is home to an incredible restaurant on the top, and offers gorgeous 360-degree views over the city.

You can enjoy the views from the TV tower in two ways – book skip-the-line tickets for the TV Tower so you can avoid a long wait in the cold. The second option is to book a table, with a window seat to enjoy the panorama and have dinner.

Whatever you choose – from the top of the TV Tower, you will surely enjoy the sparkling lights of Berlin and its Christmas Markets.

Day Trips from Berlin in Winter

You can take some great day trips from Berlin in the winter. There are many places and activities worth experiencing near Berlin and some of them include wine tasting around the valleys, Castle excursions, or even day trips to the beautiful Christmas Markets.

Dresden – If you want to explore some more beautiful Christmas markets then Dresden is famous for them. Dresden is a beautiful city with striking architecture.

Potsdam – Another wonderful day trip from Berlin in winter will be to visit the beautiful palace of Potsdam. This beautiful royal palace is known as the “Versailles of Berlin” and is often covered with snow in winter.

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial – Located at a short distance from Berlin, this is one of the most notorious concentration camps built by the Nazis. Although a place like this is very difficult to visit during a vacation, it’s still worth it to fully understand everything that happened here.

Go Ice Skating at Potsdamer Platz

You must try this most popular winter activity during your visit to Berlin. Visit the Potsdamer Platz, one of the most famous squares in Berlin.

It hosts one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in the world. During the festive season this is a fun place to be – there’s an incredible ice-skating rink, games and pops up bars. You can skate here for free and if you’re visiting with your children, you can go for an ice-skating lesson for free on Saturday and Sunday.

On weekends, the ice-skating rink is decorated with lights and colours, and looks even more beautiful. The atmosphere becomes incredible with live music and sets the mood for a perfect winter party.

Explore the Street Art Scene

This is something you must experience in Winter. As you wander around the city centre you will see many spots with incredible street artwork. And if you’re lucky you may see an artist performing in front of you.

Although there are many places to see street art in Berlin, some of the best places are – East Side Gallery, Anne Frank Courtyard and Urban Nation, a recently-opened street art museum.

And if you want to experience something different from the usual walking tours, you can enrol for a workshop and learn the basics of street art and even make your own piece.

Tour the Berlin Cathedral

Even if you’re not a religious person, we recommend visiting the Berlin Cathedral. Built in Baroque style, the present building was completed in 1905. Inside the cathedral you will see the largest pipe organ in all of Germany, the Hohenzollern crypt beneath the church, a small exhibit on the first floor and finally enjoy 360-degree views of the city’s skyline from the top of the church.

Attend the Berlin International Film Festival

If you love watching films then Berlin is the place to be in February during the annual Berlin International Film Festival.

This film festival is one of the biggest along with the Cannes Film Festival and Venice Film Festival, making it one of the most prestigious festivals in the world.

For over 10 days several hundred films across all cinematic genres are screened, so make sure you book your tickets in advance.

What to Pack for Berlin Winter

There’s a popular saying in Berlin – “There’s no bad weather, only bad clothes”. This is true for all those who are not used to cold temperatures and will need a little help.

Winters in Berlin are cold, so you need to pack accordingly.

Sweaters – If you can’t handle cold, windy weather, sweaters will be of great use. But you must avoid bulky ones as they may take too much space in your bag.

Winter coat – A good winter coat will protect you from the cold Berlin air. It’s also perfect if you pack a raincoat as well.

Hat, gloves, scarf – As you will spend a good amount of time outdoors, walking from one attraction to another, so it’s best to cover up with a good set of hat, gloves and scarf.

Thermals – As you will be spending several hours outside it’s best to wear layering thermals or leggings under your jeans to keep you warm.

Shoes – Pack a pair of comfortable walking shoes. Boots could be a good choice for winter weather, just make sure they’re comfortable for walking and are waterproof.

Finally, is it worth visiting the German capital during the Winter? Yes! There are still so many things to do in Berlin in winter.

Berlin is a winter wonderland and even though a few may think it’s too cold and dark during the winter months.

It’s joyous during Christmas and welcomes its visitors all throughout the winter months.

So, plan your Berlin Winter trip right away!