Christmas Market Trip to Berlin

Transit Loft

This 19^th century factory has been modernised and converted into a youth hotel. It is situated within a courtyard just ten minutes walk from Alexanderplatz.

Hotel Transit

This building was originally an enamel factory that was converted into a youth hotel in the 1980s. It is located in a quiet courtyard in the Kreuzberg area.

Steps Apartments

This traditional building has been converted into a family-run youth hotel. It is located in the Wedding district of Berlin – ideal if you want to be away from the city centre.

Singer 109

Situated close to Alexanderplatz – this building recently was restored and converted into a youth hotel. Singer 109 is located within a courtyard with an atrium.

Acama Group

The Acama Group has three hotels in central Berlin – two in Kreuzberg and one on the Ku’Damm. The Acama hotels have excellent facilities for youth groups and the central location of Acama Ku’Damm makes this hotel the most popular choice.

Alexanderplatz Christmas Market

The whole of Alexanderplatz turns into a massive Christmas market with many small wooden huts during the festive season. Under the shadow of the TV Tower, potters, blacksmiths and glassblowers display their work and Christmas treats, crafts and many more gift ideas are on offer.

The centrepiece of the market is Europe's largest Christmas pyramid with more than 5,000 lights that add a festive glow to the seasonal bustle. The classic top of the pyramid is decorated with carved figures, tirelessly making their rounds.

Berliner Weihnachtszeit Christmas Market

Behind Alexanderplatz is home to the romantic Berliner Weihnachtzeit. Against the backdrop of old Berlin market streets and festively lit wooden pavilions bring back the old Berlin from a century ago.

A festive atmosphere is provided by barrel organ music, mulled wine, a wide range of arts and crafts and a life-size nativity at the Marienkirche. Bread is baked in medieval-style bakery bread and hot mead is served in a tavern from clay jars. The centre of the Christmas market is the 600m2 ice rink and there are also historic carousels, a train that runs through a snow-covered fairy tale forest and a nostalgic whirligig.

Charlottenburg Castle Christmas Market

The baroque palace provides the perfect back drop for this market showcasing approximately 150 vendors from all over Germany as well as abroad. The market is elaborately lit up and attracts huge crowds admiring the arts and crafts, ancient handicrafts, and wide range of culinary choices inside festively decorated cabins and exclusive glass pagodas.

Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market 

In one of the most beautiful squares in the city The Gendarmenmarkt provides an insight into old handicrafts such as flax embroidery, wood carvers and stonemasons work. Jugglers, acrobats, fire artists, dance groups, choirs, Berlin classical, jazz and Gospel ensembles, as well as internationally famous artists, also ensure a varied show programme.

Potsdamer Platz Christmas Market

In early November, Potsdamer Platz in the heart of the city is transformed into a gigantic winter wonderland. A toboggan run with views of the Brandenburg Gate, an outdoor skating rink, curling and huts offering seasonal treats get the festive season going even before Advent gets started.

Lots of lights, handicrafts, music and delicacies in countless huts ensure a reflective atmosphere alongside the handicrafts.

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church Christmas Markets

Every year during Advent it smells of roasted almonds, hot cocoa and mulled wine around the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. Because that’s when around 170 craft and Christmas market stands are set up around the historical church in the centre of City West.

You’ll find everything here, from Christmas decorations and ornaments to toys and delicate accessories. And refreshments are also taken care of: the range extends from cocoa, mulled wine, plus glazed fruit up to grilled sausages. More than two million visitors enjoy the Christmas atmosphere around the 20 metre high Christmas tree every year.

Spandau Old Town Christmas Market

Berlin’s largest Christmas market takes place in the Spandau Old Town with 250 stands during the week and 400 at weekends with entertainment. Highlights are a Christmas crib with living animals on Reformationsplatz, the St. Nikolai Christmas Garden and crafts and design at the historic crafts market on Reformationsplatz – where a medieval plague procession also takes place every Wednesday. 

No matter what subject your students are studying, it’s difficult to ignore the history of this city. WST can provide tours that include key sites from the Nazi period or the Cold War – allowing students to gain an understanding of Berlin and it’s past.

Brandenburg Gate Area

Here students can visit the iconic monuments of the 20^th Century including the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, The Victory Column and the Soviet War Memorial. All these monuments are usually included in an introductory guided tour.

The Reichstag

A guided tour of the Reichstag building is one of the most popular visits in Berlin. It will explain the functions, working methods and composition of parliament whilst also covering the history and architecture of the building. The highlight at the end is the opportunity to visit the famous dome, which has become an iconic image in Berlin and gives a great view of the city. 

Olympic Stadium

The Olympic Stadium was purpose built for the 1936 Olympics and gives students the opportunity to study Nazi architecture that survived virtually untouched in the battle to capture Berlin. 

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

One of the earliest concentration camps, Sachsenhausen tells the story of life in camp through a series of exhibitions through the buildings.

The Berlin Wall

It is essential to see the remains of the Berlin Wall when studying the Cold War and the Fall of Communism. Remains of the Wall can be seen at the Eastside Gallery or Bernauer Strasse.

Asisi Panorama – The Wall

Right across from Checkpoint Charlie is a large cylindrical building made of steel. Inside is a fascinating display of life in the vicinity of the wall in divided Berlin during the 1980’s. The display shows the contrast of daily life on both sides of the wall according to the memories of Yadegar Asisi's, who actually lived in Kreuzberg in the 1980s. It’s great visit for helping students to understand life on both sides of the wall.

Alexanderplatz

This square was once at the centre of East Berlin. However, since the city’s re-unification there has been a complete redevelopment and Alexanderplatz is now a major sightseeing and shopping area.

Potsdamer Platz

Similar to Alexanderplatz this area has been redeveloped and is now an ideal central location that is home to many shops, cafes and restaurants.

Sony Centre

Located in Potsdamer Platz, the Sony Centre has an IMAX Cinema where you can see films in both English and German as well as visit a whole range of cafes and shops. The Sony Centre is the ideal location for a night out – especially if you are seeing a film on the giant screen.

Kurfürstendamm

This is the main shopping street in Berlin and is home to KaDeWe – one of Europe’s largest department stores.

Bowling

Berlin has a number of bowling centres located throughout the city. WST can book a session at any of these centres – just ask us for more details.

Ritter Sport Bunte Schokowelt

Located at the Gendarmenmarkt Square, the Ritter Sport Bunte Schokowelt offers a unique and varied assortment of items based on Ritter Sport chocolate. All chocolate lovers can explore the store's three floors – and the SchokoKreation area allows visitors to create their own chocolate bar.

Restaurants

WST can book a number of restaurants in the Berlin area, including German, American and Italian cuisine.