5 of the best winter activities in Berlin

A few weeks ago, I went on a girls’ trip to Berlin to surprise a good friend for her 30th birthday. It was my first visit, and I was pleasantly surprised by everything the city had to offer – despite the cold weather! If you’re headed to Berlin in the winter, there are plenty of activities that are perfect for couples, families, and friends. Check out 5 of the best winter activities in Berlin below.

A note on where to stay

I really enjoyed staying in Mitte, which is Berlin’s central borough. Many of the great landmarks are located within walking distance, including most of the destinations I’ve listed below. I stayed at the Marriott, which is directly across from the Ritz Carlton. I recommend stopping by the Steel Vintage Bikes Cafe for breakfast, which had delicious avocado toast & incredible oat milk chai lattes.

Germany is famous for cozy Christmas markets, so this guide wouldn’t be complete without a mention! I arrived earlier than the rest of my group to Berlin, so I took the opportunity to spend a day at the market.

There are a few across the city, but my favorite was the traditional Christmas market at Gendarmenmarkt. It was really idyllic and romantic, with tons of food & craft stalls. Plus, it’s conveniently located in the center of the city. Some of my favorite things to do at a Christmas market are:

• Try warm raclette on a baguette, or fondue in one of the pop-up restaurants
• Shop for porcelain or wooden Christmas ornaments
• Listen to carols from the live Christmas band
• Eat traditional German Christmas cookies
• Enjoy a glass of Veuve at the après-ski inspired champagne stall
• Purchase a Weihnachtspyramide

The Tiergarten, or Großer Tiergarten, is Berlin’s most popular inner-city park and one of the largest urban gardens of Germany. It’s supposed to be stunning in the summer. But if you’ve got a hot drink, it can also be a gorgeous walk in the winter – especially after a snow. It’s also conveniently located close to many landmarks.

If you’re starting to feel frigid, pick up a hot beverage to enjoy (and keep your hands warm). Below are my favorite places to pick up a cup of tea, glühwein, hot chocolate, or coffee.

• Tea: I can’t stress enough how much I loved the oat milk chai lattes at the Steel Vintage Bikes Cafe (it’s very random but I’m still dreaming about them). However if you’re looking for more of an experience, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel has a lounge that offers high tea. You choose from 40 different teas from around the world, which are selected by a tea sommelier! (Potsdamer Platz 3, 10785 Berlin)
• Glühwein: Mulled wine – known as glühwein in Germany & the Netherlands – is popular across most of Europe. There have a few different varieties in Germany, including red, white, and even blueberry (heidelbeerglühwein). My favorite is the classic red. All of them can be quite sweet, so one cup is usually enough for me. I love to get glühwein at the Christmas markets (they usually give you a collectible mug!), but you can also get it at most restaurants and cafes.
• Hot chocolate: The best hot chocolate in Berlin is from Rausch Schokoladenhaus, right next to Gendarmenmarkt. Their chocolate truffles are also delicious if you have a chance to pick some out. (Charlottenstrasse 60, 10117 Berlin)
• Coffee: I’m not a coffee drinker, but I’ve heard good things about Refinery Coffee. Every month they have a special brew with a single region of origin – mostly from Africa or South America. They also have a special espresso machine that is handcrafted in Amsterdam. Just be aware that they open later in the mornings (like many European coffee spots), and they are closed on Sundays. (Albrechtstrasse 11b, 10117 Berlin)

My favorite cold-weather activity is visiting a museum. Luckily, Berlin is home to some fantastic exhibits at Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Museum Island is home to the Collection of Classical Antiquities – one of the most important collections of Greek and Roman art in the world – as well as the Museum of the Ancient Near East and the Museum of Islamic Art.

Since I am a huge archaeology and Egyptology fan, I visited the Neues Museum. I spent a good 3 hours exploring, and was stunned to find out that the original bust of Nerfertiti is housed there! I also really enjoyed walking around Museum Island itself to see the parks and restored and renovated buildings.

No trip to Berlin is complete without seeing remnants of the wall. I recommend taking a trip to see the East Side Gallery, which is a permanent open-air gallery on the longest surviving section of the Berlin wall. Immediately after the wall came down, 118 artists from 21 countries began painting the East Side Gallery. It’s 1.3 km long and features over 100 murals.

The cold in Berlin is miserable if you aren’t well-prepared, so be sure to pack appropriately. The most crucial items are a waterproof puffer coat, and warm accessories (hats, scarves, and gloves).

The streets can be snowy and icy, so I also highly recommend a pair of slip-resistant boots (ideally waterproof). And lastly, don’t forget to take care of your skin and your hair, which can be subjected to a lot of damage in cold weather.

Waterproof puffer coat

Warm accessories

snow boots

I hope you enjoy your trip to Berlin – check out my saved story highlights on Instagram for more inspiration!