Allow yourself to discover the vendor booths’ magic, charm, and unique items along the large boulevards and squares as well as on the small side streets and even in several museums.

This year marks the second time a Christmas market will be held in front of Charlottenburg Castle. The Christmas Market will feature the Biedermeier period. Historic carriage rides, theme exhibits in the palace itself, and specialized lighting will feature the fascinating era between 1815 and 1848.

WeihnachtsZauber on Gendarmenmarkt is another classic Christmas Market that deserves a mention. The Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe and is the exquisite setting for one of Berlin's many Christmas markets - the historical Berlin Christmas market - which will whisk you away to a magical Christmas world full of scrumptious treats and fairy lights.

A new Christmas market, in which the nearby embassies of Great Britain, France, and the United States will be featuring their Christmas customs, will be opening again between the two Christmas markets at the Brandenburg Gate.

The heart of “WinterMagic” beats particularly strongly on the Potsdamer Platz and in the Sony Centre, where there is a Christmas Market on the Sony Centre’s 4,000 square metre event area. “Boccia on Ice,” in an area protected from inclement weather, is another new attraction for the adults, while the kids can enjoy themselves in the neighboring Legoland Discovery Centre. 

There is another small and subdued Christmas market along the Alte Potsdamer Strasse, but the main attraction in the middle of Potsdamer Platz is Winterwelt, featuring Europe’s largest mobile toboggan run.

Berlin has a vibe all of its own, and wherever you go, you can experience the pulsating life on the boulevards, in the art galleries and of course at over 25 odd Christmas Markets. If that isn't enough you can find 300 clubs and 7,000 bars and restaurants - many of which are open around the clock.

The city is without doubt bursting with attractions and interesting places to visit, the following are just a few of the main highlights in Berlin:

• The Reichstag, seat of the German Bundestag or federal government with its new striking glass dome designed by Sir Norman Foster.
• The Brandenburg Gate, the undisputed symbol of Berlin.
• Charlottenburg Castle - a summer palace built in the 18th century for Sophie Charlotte.
  Potsdamer Platz, berlin’s new city centre with countless shops, cinemas and musical theatres.
• Berlin's Museums Island a UNESCO World Heritage site with a unique ensemble of museums featuring collections of art and numerous subjects of interest.
• TV tower on Alexanderplatz - a 368-metre high observation tower with a rotating restaurant.
• Memorial Church on Kurfürstendamm.
• Gendarmenmarkt square – a beautiful and harmonious architectural synthesis with the Konzerthaus concert hall, the German Cathedral and the French Cathedral.
• Hackesche Höfe – Berlin's famous nightlife.
   

Beyond Berlin:

• Potsdam and the castle grounds including Sanssouci Castle, New Palais, Marble Palace, Cecilienhof and many other truly magnificent stately homes.
• Babelsberg Film Park, fascinating studios and theme park devoted to the world of film and television production.