10 Christmas markets in Berlin

Despite last year's terrorist attack claiming 12 lives, Berlin's Breitscheidplatz Christmas market is held as usual, with tightened security. Running through January 7, it will however be closed on December 19, 2017 — the anniversary of the attack. On this day, there will be commemoration ceremonies for the victims.

The Baroque palace in Charlottenburg will serve as a magical setting for a Christmas market that focuses more on quality than quantity. Around 250 international suppliers create an attractive combination of culinary delights and gift-buying opportunities, with the illuminated palace and its park as a backdrop.

During every weekend of December, arts and crafts workshops are held on this former knight's estate in southwestern Berlin. In addition to spinning and weaving courses, there is also barrel painting, a pottery and a gilding workshop. Carriage and tractor rides are also offered, depending on the weather.

The 44-year-old traditional Christmas market in the historic part of Spandau is the largest in Berlin. Its program includes daily on-stage events. Wednesdays are always family days: Santa listens to the children's wishes and sings with them.

The "Winter World" at Potsdamer Platz is always the first to get going. It opens in early November and runs through New Year's Day. One of the attractions here is Europe's largest mobile snow tubing run. Visitors can also go ice skating or curling there.

The historical center of the city is a bit more elegant. Between the German and the French cathedrals, well-known restaurants and chefs have set up stands to celebrate "Christmas magic." Here you can find almost everything, from champagne to Christmas burgers. A large heated tent is also there to warm everyone up.

Mulled wine, roasted almonds and handicrafts are also on sale outside the Rotes Rathaus, Berlin's town hall. In addition, the Christmas market at the Rotes Rathaus offers ice skating on a circular temporary ice rink around the Neptune Fountain, which dates back to 1891.

This former brewery complex in Berlin's district of Prenzlauer Berg is a popular venue for entertainment and the arts all year long, with its theater, cinemas and concert halls. In the winter, the Lucia Christmas market, inspired by Nordic traditions, adds a Scandinavian touch, with rides for the kids, handicrafts and tasty Swedish ginger snaps.

Christmas is celebrated with traditional charm on the site of a former train repair station known as the RAW in Friedrichshain. Between the 150-year-old factory buildings, jugglers and acrobats perform their tricks, accompanied by medieval music. In addition to sweet and hearty food and hot drinks, you can also enjoy archery and crossbow shooting.

On the third Advent weekend, on December 16 and 17, a somewhat different Christmas market will take place in Alt-Treptow. The focus here is art and design. This year's venue is the 6,500-square-meter arena directly on the Spree River. More than 300 young designers and artists present a mixture of fashion, jewelry, furniture, photography, literature and delicacies.