Berlin: Christmas market at the Rotes Rathaus

The Christmas market at the Rotes Rathaus (Weihnachtsmarkt am Roten Rathaus) is impressive mainly because of the surrounding backdrop, set between three of the most popular landmarks, the TV tower, the Red City Hall and St. Mary’s Church (Marienkirche), with the Dom’s cupola in the background.

As a bonus, it also features two popular fair ground attractions, a giant Ferris wheel (50m tall) and an ice skating ring around the Neptune fountain.

Oh, and Santa Claus, making rounds in his reindeer-pulled sleigh, high up in the sky.

For reals:

Besides a fun ride in the Ferris wheel (be prepared for quite a queue, though) and a spin on the ice, you can shop for some nice x-mas gifts from the traditional arts and crafts huts:

Erzgebirge wooden toys and ornaments, always a hit in any winter fair, knit mufflers and mittens, lace and embroidered ornaments, ceramic candle houses, foldable (Moravian) paper stars, dream catchers, leather work, local souvenirs and other more or less seasonal artifacts.

Of course, let’s not forget the main purpose of your visit there: to stuff your face with Christmas goodies. Hope you are a fan of ‘green cabbage’ aka kale (Grünkohl) which is ubiquitous in the northern part of Germany, while good old Sauerkraut seems surprisingly scarce (much to my regret). Not a fan of sautéed kale? Me neither, to be honest. There are so many other options:

Baked potatoes with or without onion and bacon, fried potatoes, sausages of all sorts, Boulettes (meatballs, another acquired taste, imho), mushrooms, (flat)breads (Flammkuchen) with all sorts of stuffings or toppings (generally called ‘German pizza’), langos with all sorts of toppings (generally called delicious, also known as a ‘kick in the gallbladder’), liver with or without cheese (Leberwurst or Leberkäse).