From late November until just after Christmas, Berlin turns into a city of Christmas markets: from Gendarmenmarkt and Charlottenburg Palace to the old town of Spandau, plus the Christmas Garden in the Botanical Garden. Many visitors from the UK, Scandinavia, Spain and the USA come to Berlin for a weekend for exactly this. The private transfer from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) takes you to your hotel without changes, with a fixed price before booking and a driver with a name sign in the arrivals hall, even on cold, dark December evenings.
01The main Christmas markets and where they are
WeihnachtsZauber at Gendarmenmarkt in Mitte, with an entrance fee, between the Konzerthaus and the two cathedrals. Christmas market at Charlottenburg Palace with the illuminated palace façade as a backdrop. Berliner Weihnachtszeit at the Red Town Hall with Ferris wheel and ice rink right at Alexanderplatz. Christmas market at the Memorial Church on Breitscheidplatz in City West. Spandau Christmas market in the old town, one of the largest in the city. Christmas Garden Berlin in the Botanical Garden in Dahlem, an illuminated trail usually open from mid-November to early January. Dates and opening hours change every year; current details are at visitBerlin.
02Travel times from BER
To hotels around Gendarmenmarkt and Alexanderplatz allow 35 to 50 minutes from BER, to City West at the Memorial Church 45 to 60 minutes, to Charlottenburg and Spandau 50 to 65 minutes. Traffic is heavier on Advent weekends in December; as the price is fixed before booking, a traffic jam costs nothing extra.
03From the hotel to the markets
Most markets are in the centre and easy to reach from your hotel on foot or by S-Bahn and U-Bahn. For the Christmas Garden in Dahlem, the Spandau market or an evening out with children and a pushchair, a door-to-door transfer with a fixed pick-up time is worthwhile. Christmas concerts at the Philharmonie, the Konzerthaus and the Memorial Church usually start at 8 pm; plan your ride back to the hotel or to BER accordingly.
04Departure around the holidays
Most markets close on 24 December, and the flight schedule at BER is busier than usual around the holidays. For the ride to the airport, book a fixed pick-up time at your hotel; for international flights with checked baggage, allow two to three hours before departure plus travel time. The transfer also runs on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the transfer from BER to hotels at Gendarmenmarkt or Alexanderplatz take?
35 to 50 minutes in normal traffic; a little longer on Advent weekends.
Does the transfer also go to the Christmas Garden or to Spandau?
Yes. Simply enter the destination address, for example the Botanical Garden in Dahlem or Spandau old town; the fixed price is based on the route.
Does the transfer run on Christmas Eve and public holidays?
Yes, the transfer can be booked all year round. In the Christmas season, book a few days in advance.
How much does the transfer from BER to the centre cost?
From €59 depending on address, vehicle class and time. The fixed price is shown before booking.
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