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Offered languages
- German
- English
Trace 750 years of Berlin’s Christmas traditions — from pagan solstice fires to modern festivities — and discover how religion, industry, and ideology reshaped the season. Led by an expert guide, this walk through the Nikolaiviertel reveals how a 1980s reconstruction became Berlin’s most atmospheric “old town”. Along cobbled streets and festive lights, meet figures like Frederick the Great, Lessing, and Zille, and hear tales of artists, folk heroes, and ghosts. To finish, you’ll have the option to enjoy a warming cup of mulled wine at the traditional Feuerzangenbowle stand by the Nikolaikirche — the perfect toast to Berlin’s Christmas spirit.
- Discover 750 years of Berlin’s Christmas traditions, from pagan rituals to modern celebrations
- Explore Nikolaiviertel, Berlin’s reconstructed “old town”
- Hear stories of Frederick the Great, Lessing, Zille, and Claire Waldoff, plus Berlin’s own “White Lady” ghost
- End with an optional cup of mulled wine by the Nikolaikirche
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
The tour starts by the main entrance of the Red Town Hall (Rotes Rathaus). Look for our guide with the orange umbrella!
Itinerary
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Rotes Rathaus (Pass by)
Begin your walk at the Rotes Rathaus, Berlin’s striking red-brick Town Hall. During the festive season, the square outside transforms into one of the city’s most charming Christmas markets.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Stop at Zum Paddenwirt, a cozy Nikolaiviertel tavern famed for its legend of the ‘Frog Innkeeper’.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Visit the Lessinghaus, a reconstruction of the home of playwright Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, celebrating Berlin’s Enlightenment heritage in the heart of Nikolaiviertel.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
At Ephraim-Palais, discover the legacy of Veitel Heine Ephraim, a Jewish banker of Frederick the Great’s court, and admire one of Berlin’s finest baroque façades.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
See Zur Gerichtslaube, a replica of Berlin’s medieval court building, reconstructed in Nikolaiviertel in the 1980s.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Pause at the monument to Heinrich Zille, the beloved Berlin artist who captured everyday life in the city’s working-class neighborhoods.
Admission ticket free -
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At Am Nussbaum, experience the spirit of old Berlin taverns — a favorite haunt of artists like Zille and singer Claire Waldoff.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Next to Mutter Hoppe, a traditional Berlin restaurant, explore a timeline that presents the city’s history through a socialist lens.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
From Rathausbrücke, see where festive Berlin hides memories of the Blood Christmas of 1918 — when revolution reached the heart of the city.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
End the tour at Kurfürstenhaus, one of Nikolaiviertel’s few original buildings, and hear the ghost story of Anna Sydow — the ‘White Lady’ said to haunt Berlin Palace.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Guests are welcome to end the tour with an optional mulled wine at the traditional Feuerzangenbowle mulled wine stand by the Nikolaikirche.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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