The travellers guide
Berliners like to moan about the coldest of months in their home city, but we think it might be because they want to keep it all to themselves. After all, when you have world class museums and restaurants, wonderful galleries, theatres and cinemas, and – yes – some beautiful spots to stroll when snow is on the ground or the winter sun shines, then there are few better places to be.
Added to this, this is the time of year when we get to enjoy the best Christmas Markets, world class festivals such as the Berlinale and top international sport at 1.FC Union in the Bundesliga or Alba Berlin in the Basketball Champions League. Here we’ve pulled together some of our highlights for winter in Berlin, including some taken from our very own DIY Berlin Guide, which you can find in all the Circus houses.
These insider tips for experiencing winter in Berlin have been curated by The Circus Team and illustrated by the wonderfully talented Nina Hüpen-Bestendonk – make sure you check out Nina’s website and instagram to see more of her work.
Hidden in one of Berlins back courtyard, it is a beautiful place to drink a proper Tajik tea and enjoy Russian cuisine. The best part – you have to take your shoes off and sit on the floor! Insider tip: order the Russian tea ceremony and you definitely won’t regret it.
Oranienburger Str. 27, 10117 Berlin, Google maps
Getting there from The Circus (Rosenthaler Platz): Walk (approx 15 mins).
An old crematorium turned into a cultural centre is always worth a visit, and you should definitely stop by its café. But if you really want to experience the wonders of silent greenery, try grabbing a ticket for one of the concerts held inside the dome or the underground hall!
Gerichtstraße 35, 13347 Berlin, Google maps
Getting there from The Circus (Rosenthaler Platz): U8 to Gesundbrunnen and then S42 to Wedding (approx 20 mins).
With around 20,000 square metres of Balinese luxury, including a variety of saunas, small pools both inside and outside, and relaxation areas that are the real highlight, Vabali is all about relaxation. However, the German sauna experience is not for those who are shy. There is a lot of nudity, be prepared!
Seydlitzstraße 6, 10557 Berlin, Google maps
Getting there from The Circus (Rosenthaler Platz): Tram M8 to Lesser-Ury-Weg (approx 25 mins).
Experience a place that is at the heart of Berlin’s Vietnamese community and tells yet another story of the city’s incredible history. Perfect spot for those who are looking for restaurant quality dishes or ingredients available in the supermarkets that keen cooks would struggle to find elsewhere in the city!
Herzbergstraße 128-139, 10365 Berlin, Google maps
Getting there from The Circus (Rosenthaler Platz): Tram M8 to Herzbergstr./Industriegebiet (approx 25 mins).
It’s also a new season for the musicians in what has to be one of the most stunning examples of 1960s architecture in Berlin. Take a tour of the Berliner Philharmonie and you’ll visit the performance halls, get an introduction and overview of the building’s history, architecture and acoustic design. You’re guaranteed to fall in love!
Herbert-von-Karajan-Straße 1, 10785 Berlin, Google maps
Getting there from The Circus (Rosenthaler Platz): U8 to Gesundbrunnen and then S-Bahn to Potsdamer Platz (approx 35 mins).
Of course, we love our personal choices but this wonderful city of ours is full of iconic landmarks and places to visit in the wintertime.
Just beyond the Brandenburg Gate (an icon in its own right), the Tiergarten is Berlin’s Central Park and perfect for strolling whatever the weather. You might think that this is the wrong time of the year to explore Berlin’s Great Outdoors, but with a dusting of snow on the ground or on a crisp, clear winter’s day, there can be nothing better than strolling the city’s green spaces. You could head to the forests and lakes on the city’s edge, but actually one of the best places for winter walking is the Tiergarten, beautiful during the coldest months of the year and yet never far from a cafe and or bar for a warming drink once you are done.
Str. des 17. Juni, 10785 Berlin, Google maps
How to get there from The Circus (Rosenthaler Platz): Tram M1 to Friedrichstraße (approx 15 mins) or walk via Museum Island (approx 20 mins)
A short walk from The Circus will bring you to a UNESCO World Heritage site and a cultural treasure trove beside the river: Museum Island. It is home to a number of world-class museums that bring together centuries of history and art, from their collection of antiquities to paintings and sculptures from artists such as Caspar David Friedrich, Schinkel, Menzel, Manet, Monet and Renoir, among many others. The architecture of the museums and galleries is worth a visit in its own right, and guided tours can get you into the history of the ensemble, as well as the collections found within.
Museum Island, 10178 Berlin, Google maps
How to get there from The Circus (Rosenthaler Platz): Tram M1 to Hackescher Markt and then walk (approx 15 mins).
Winter adds an atmospheric edge to the East Side Gallery, one of the best preserved sections of the Berlin Wall, adorned with vibrant street art. In fact, the vibrant colours of the murals are even more striking against the greyest of winter skies. Start your stroll at Ostbahnhof and you will finish close to the RAW Gelände, an old railway yard that now houses all manner of artistic and cultural venues, bars and restaurants. Check out the exhibitions, concerts and events at Urban Spree or put your bouldering shoes on for a workout at Der Kegel.
Revaler Str. 99, 10245 Berlin, Google maps
How to get there from The Circus (Rosenthaler Platz): U8 to Alexanderplatz and then S3, S5, S7 or S9 to Warschauer Straße (approx 30 mins).
Just down the street from The Circus is a labyrinth of interconnected courtyards known as the Hackesche Höfe. The building dates back to 1906, and since the 1990s it has become a shopping, culture and entertainment space with a difference. It is here you’ll find independent films at the Kino, amazing acrobatic performances at the Chameleon theater, boutiques and galleries, and all houses in a beautiful historic space. Take some time to explore, and download the guide when you are there to learn more about the story of the courtyards over the last 120 years.
Rosenthaler Str. 40, 10178 Berlin, Google maps
How to get there from The Circus (Rosenthaler Platz): Walk (approx 10 mins).
Our neighbourhood was once part of East Berlin, from the end of the Second World War to the Fall of the Berlin Wall and German reunification. To find out what life was like in our neighbourhood during the Communist era, check out the Everyday Life in the GDR exhibition at the Kulturbrauerei, a short walk up the hill from The Circus. The different sections explore different elements of life, from an average GDR apartment to social life, work, school, holidays, sport and more, to give you a sense of how the regime shaped life for people, and how those people created free spaces for themselves.
Knaackstraße 97, 10435 Berlin, Google maps
How to get there from The Circus (Rosenthaler Platz): Tram M1 to Eberswalder Straße (approx 10 mins).
If you want even more tips and ideas for your visit to Berlin, check out the rest of our Experience Berlin blog or follow us on Instagram.
The Circus App is your ideal travel companion you can take with you, with all the things you need to know about your stay with us and things to see and do in the city. Available for Apple and Android devices.
We also have special deals for those who book their trip to Berlin early or want to stay longer. Check out our special offers page for more details.