Everyone loves to rave about the Berlin summer when flea markets run daily, festivals take place in open air, and nightlife goes all night (or all weekend). But here’s a little secret: Berlin’s amazing city life is so good, it doesn’t stop. Yes, Berlin is just as cool in the winter as it is in the summer!

The Food is Just as Good

Maybe there aren’t as many street food festivals taking place in the winter as in the summer, but that’s okay because the most important one — Street Food Thursday — still goes on. Each Thursday evening at Markthalle Neun, you’ll find innovative and affordable street food vendors selling everything from Egyptian kushari (rice, pasta, and spices in a tomato sauce) to freshly baked bread and Spanish tapas.

Besides the street food, there are new restaurants opening up regularly thanks to a burgeoning trend of foodie hot spots in Berlin. The new Bitemojo food tour app offers self-guided walking food tours to some of Berlin’s best restaurants — a quick and easy way to discover the food in Berlin.

Holiday Magic

Once the weather starts to turn cold in Berlin, the city really starts to come alive with cool festivals and, of course, the holidays. It starts in October with the Festival of Lights; and then, once the Christmas markets show up in late November, things start to heat up. There’s no better way to kick off a cold and dark winter than with a mug of glühwein and some hearty sausage at an outdoor market. Berlin’s Christmas markets are pretty varied — from the picturesque Charlottenburg market to the kitschy ones near Alexanderplatz. There’s even one that supports local charities and non-profits!

But, the holiday magic in Berlin doesn’t stop at Christmas. New Year’s Eve (or Silvester, as it’s called here), is unique — and very, very loud! Fireworks go off in front of Brandenburger Tor with hundreds of thousands of people celebrating outside with their own fireworks and drunken debauchery. It’s something to see…

Nightlife that Never Ends

We’ve all heard the stories of Berghain on a weekend — with parties that last all weekend and club goers who don’t see daylight for days. Nightlife in Berlin is legendary, and though some of the more summery clubs might not be as popular in the winter weather, the night is as strong as ever with even more underground parties and clubs. An added bonus to visiting Berlin in the winter? The club queues are going to be much shorter if you’re waiting out in the cold at 6am!

Have you ever been to Berlin in winter? If so, what’d you think? If not, would you like to visit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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