It's Christmas Markets time again in Berlin. This is our third time around in Berlin for this festive season and it brings mixed feelings. On one hand there's the excitement, It's Weihnachts Markt time!, and on the hand there's the cynical view that its the same old crap with over inflated prices.
This weekend we went to check out the Rixdorfer Weihnachtsmarkt. Rixdorf was in old old times a former town of its own, but with various reforms it became subsumed into the greater Berlin and swallowed up by the Neukölln disrtrict.
We have been down near this area before in previous trips (south of Rathaus Neukölln) and didn't find much of interest. We were surprised to find that in this Alt Rixdorf area a very different experience, a place with its own distinctive architecture (think stables and blacksmith shops).
And then on top of that, the Christmas Markets around Richardplatz :)
We were meeting some friends there and didn't realise that the markets were so large. We found one of them and then rallied around a meeting point...the Rixdorfer Getränke Markt (a Späti!).
Just on the edge of Richardplatz, and the Christmas Markets, this Späti offered super discounted Glühwein (hot wine, with or without a shot of spirits) and of course the normal beer offerings inside, without forgoing any of the Christmas Market atmosphere.
Normally a Glühwein at a Market like this would cost 3 euros plus. Down at the Rixdorfer you only have to fork out 1 euro (or an extra 50 cents for your spirit shot). A bargain for the Berliner on a budget.
The markets themselves are much less gimmicky and tacky as the more central ones (Like the Alexanderplatz ones....errg). For some reason there was quite a bit of Korean food there, and also a whole section of religious stalls....what has religion got to do with Christmas?
We really enjoyed these markets, the aimless wondering around the Richardplatz, the lovely setting, the lack of tourists and of course the pfennig friendly Späti. Recommended :)
Unlike other well known markets that run for a month or more, this one is only on for one weekend.
Open:
05. Dezember - 07. Dezember 2014
Opening Times:
Friday 5 - 9pm
Saturday 2 - 9pm
Sunday 2 - 8pm
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