GermanyBerlinChristmas marketsChecked Oct 2026

London to Berlin Christmas Markets

Berlin has dozens of Christmas markets, from palace courtyards to the square under the TV Tower, and it's under two hours' flight from London. This guide covers flights, the train options, getting in from the airport, and when the markets open in 2026.

From 23 NovMost big markets open, 2026
Berlin (BER)Best airport from London
~1h 50mFlight time from London

The short answer

For most people the best option is a direct flight to Berlin Brandenburg (BER), which takes about 1h 50m. easyJet flies from Gatwick and Luton, and British Airways from Heathrow. From the airport, the FEX Airport Express reaches Berlin Hauptbahnhof in about 23 minutes on a standard ABC ticket, and the S9 S-Bahn goes straight to Alexanderplatz.

Market essentials

Most of Berlin's big markets open on Monday 23 November 2026, the day after the Sunday of remembrance (Totensonntag).

Dates

Gendarmenmarkt (WeihnachtsZauber) runs from 23 November to 31 December 2026. Charlottenburg Palace runs from 23 November to 27 December, and the markets at the Red Town Hall (Rotes Rathaus) and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church on Breitscheidplatz from 23 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Alexanderplatz hasn't confirmed 2026 dates yet but usually opens in late November. Check each market's own dates before you book.

Opening hours

Charlottenburg is open 13:00–22:00 Monday to Thursday and 12:00–22:00 Friday to Sunday. The Red Town Hall market is open from 12:00 on weekdays and 11:00 at weekends, until 22:00. Many markets close on 24 December, and some on 31 December too. Hours for Gendarmenmarkt and Alexanderplatz hadn't been published when we checked.

Where

Gendarmenmarkt, the Red Town Hall and Alexanderplatz are all in Mitte, within a 20-minute walk of each other. Breitscheidplatz is in the west by Zoologischer Garten station, and Charlottenburg Palace is a short bus ride further out.

Good to know

Most markets are free to enter, but Gendarmenmarkt has usually charged a small entry fee. Glühwein comes in a mug with a deposit (Pfand), which you get back when you return it. Weekday afternoons are much quieter than weekend evenings.

Every way to get there

From London to Berlin, best options first. Times are typical door to door; check live schedules for your dates.

1

Fly to Berlin BER, then the FEX Airport Express

Best for most
Door to door4–5h
£ Cost££
Best forMost trips, short breaks
  1. London Gatwick (LGW), Luton (LTN) or Heathrow (LHR) to Berlin (BER)About 1h 50m. easyJet flies from Gatwick (several flights a day) and Luton, and British Airways from Heathrow. Ryanair has flown from Stansted, but it is cutting its Berlin flights by around half from late October 2026, so check whether it's still running. Berlin is one hour ahead of the UK.
  2. FEX to Berlin HauptbahnhofAbout 23 minutes, every 15 minutes, with stops at Südkreuz and Potsdamer Platz. For Alexanderplatz, the S9 S-Bahn takes about 40 minutes. Both need a standard ABC single ticket, about €5.
Compare LGW–BER flightsCompare LHR–BER flightsTrain times: BER Airport → Berlin Hauptbahnhof

Return fares are typically £50–£200, and December weekends cost the most. Book early for the cheapest easyJet fares.

2

Eurostar to Brussels, then ICE via Cologne

Flight-free
Door to door10–11h
£ Cost££
Best forRail fans, avoiding airports
  1. Eurostar: London St Pancras to Brussels-MidiAbout 2 hours. Standard fares start at about £51 one way, and returns are cheaper than two singles.
  2. ICE: Brussels to Cologne, then Cologne to Berlin HauptbahnhofAbout 2 hours to Cologne, then about 5 hours to Berlin via Hanover. Leave London at about 07:00 and you can be in Berlin by about 17:15. Fares from Brussels start at about €40 if you book ahead.
Train times: London → BrusselsTrain times: Brussels → Berlin

If the Eurostar runs late, the Railteam 'Hop On The Next Available Train' policy lets you take a later ICE. Check for engineering works on German routes.

3

Eurostar, then the European Sleeper to Berlin

Most scenic
Door to door16–20h
£ Cost£££
Best forArriving fresh for a full day of markets
  1. Eurostar: London St Pancras to Brussels-MidiAbout 2 hours. Book a train that arrives by mid-afternoon to leave a buffer before the sleeper.
  2. European Sleeper: Brussels to BerlinTwo routes run between them six nights a week. The train via Amsterdam leaves Brussels in the early evening on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and reaches Berlin at about 06:00. The train from Paris calls at Brussels in the evening on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and reaches Berlin at about 10:00. It may arrive at Berlin Hauptbahnhof or Gesundbrunnen. Fares start at about €49 for a seat and €79 for a couchette.
Train times: London → BrusselsTrain times: Brussels → Berlin

Times change with the new timetable on 13 December 2026, so check the sleeper times for your dates before booking the Eurostar.

Where to stay in Berlin

Compare hotels and apartments, many with free cancellation. Book early for December weekends.

See hotels in Berlin

All options compared

Typical times and relative costs. £ is cheapest, £££ is priciest.

OptionDoor to doorCostBest for
Fly to Berlin BER, then the FEX Airport Express4–5h££Most trips, short breaks
Eurostar to Brussels, then ICE via Cologne10–11h££Rail fans, avoiding airports
Eurostar, then the European Sleeper to Berlin16–20h£££Arriving fresh for a full day of markets

Add more markets by train

Berlin is a good base for day trips to two of Germany's best-known Christmas towns.

Your base

Berlin

Stay in Mitte to walk to Gendarmenmarkt, the Red Town Hall and Alexanderplatz. Charlottenburg is good if you want to be near the palace market and Breitscheidplatz.

Hotels in Berlin
About 30 min by train

Potsdam

The Potsdamer Weihnachtszauber fills Brandenburger Straße from 23 November to 27 December 2026, and the Dutch Quarter holds a Sinterklaas festival on 12–13 December. Take the RE1 or the S7 on a Berlin ABC ticket.

Hotels in Potsdam
About 1h 40m by train

Dresden

The Striezelmarkt is one of Germany's oldest Christmas markets, and 2026 is its 592nd year. It runs from 25 November to 24 December 2026, 10:00–21:00 most days. Direct trains leave from Berlin Hauptbahnhof.

Hotels in Dresden

Local tip: BER is in fare zone C, so buy an ABC ticket for the airport. An AB ticket for the city alone will get you fined.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to what people ask most about this trip.

When do the Berlin Christmas markets open in 2026?

Most of the big markets open on 23 November 2026. Gendarmenmarkt runs until 31 December, Charlottenburg Palace until 27 December, and the Red Town Hall and Breitscheidplatz markets until 3 January 2027. Check each market's own website for exact dates and hours.

Which London airports have direct flights to Berlin?

easyJet flies from Gatwick and Luton, and British Airways from Heathrow. Ryanair has flown from Stansted but is halving its Berlin flights this winter, so check current schedules. All flights go to Berlin Brandenburg (BER).

How do I get from BER airport to central Berlin?

Take the FEX Airport Express to Berlin Hauptbahnhof (about 23 minutes, every 15 minutes) or the S9 to Alexanderplatz (about 40 minutes). You need an ABC ticket, which costs about €5.

Can I get the train from London to Berlin?

Yes. Take the Eurostar to Brussels, then ICE trains via Cologne, and you can be in Berlin in about 10 hours. Or take the European Sleeper from Brussels overnight, which runs six nights a week.

Is Gendarmenmarkt free to enter?

It has usually charged a small entry fee, while most other Berlin markets are free. The 2026 price hadn't been published when we checked.

Can I visit Dresden's Striezelmarkt from Berlin?

Yes. Direct trains from Berlin Hauptbahnhof take about 1h 40m, so it works as a day trip. The 2026 market runs from 25 November to 24 December.

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Times and prices are typical estimates, checked Oct 2026. Always confirm with the operator before booking. Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.