Tips for Visiting the Berlin Historical Christmas Market at RAW Gelände

The Berlin Historical Christmas Market at RAW Gelände is a medieval themed market in Friedrichshain that’s a little off the beaten path for most tourists. But it’s a nice one to visit, with a cozy vibe that will make you think you’ve stepped back in time. It’s great for everyone, but this market is especially good if you’re traveling with kids.

It’s not as flashy as some of the other Christmas markets in Berlin, but I always enjoy going to this one. We live in Friedrichshain, so we go at least once every year. In this article I’ll tell you all the details about the Historischer Weihnachtsmarkt in Berlin, including what to expect, how to get there, and more.

About the Berlin Historical Christmas Market at RAW Gelände

The RAW Gelände is an area in Friedrichshain where you’ll find clubs, a Sunday flea market, and lots of street art. This area is known for its alternative scene and is a hub of culture and arts for the district. It’s also not too far from the East Side Gallery. The Christmas market is a bit of a hidden gem in Berlin, and it has a cozy atmosphere.

Activities at the Friedrichshain Historical Christmas Market

You won’t find any bright neon lights here, but look for the torches and bonfires to keep you warm. Adults can easily enjoy the laid back vibe of this Christmas market. But if you’re in Berlin with kids, you’ll be happy to know there are plenty of things for them to do here.

Rides: Your kids can enjoy a hand-operated wooden carousel, wooden Ferris wheel, and pony rides at the Historical Christmas Market.

Games: In keeping with the medieval theme, there’s archery, axe throwing, and crossbow shooting here.

Entertainment: A variety of performances take place at this Christmas market, including music, jugglers, acrobats, and fire shows.

Christmas Market Food at the Medieval Christmas market at RAW

The Medieval Christmas Market at Berlin’s RAW Gelände won’t leave you hungry. There are plenty of food options here including flatbread, grilled meats and sausages, and other hearty dishes, some trying to stick with the medieval theme. And you’ll also find lots of choices for sweet treats too.

Join our Facebook group!

Have questions about planning your trip to Berlin?

Join the Facebook group here to chat with Ali (she runs this site) and other people who have been to Berlin for tips.

Join our Facebook group!

Have questions about planning your trip to Berlin?

Join the Facebook group here to chat with Ali (she runs this site) and other people who have been to Berlin for tips.

Drinks at the Berlin Historischer Weihnachtsmarkt at RAW

It wouldn’t be a Christmas market without Glühwein, and this one is no exception. Enjoy a hot mug of mulled wine, or embrace the medieval atmosphere and have some hot mead instead. And if you want something non-alcoholic, there’s always Kinderpunsch, or you can order hot chocolate.

In case you’re unfamiliar, Glühwein is hot mulled wine that’s flavored with spices such as cinnamon, anise, orange, and many other things depending on the exact recipe. You can also get a shot (“mit Schuss”) of liquor, usually rum or whiskey, added to your mug for an extra kick.

Deposit on mugs

No matter what drink you order, you will be charged the drink price plus Pfand. Pfand is a deposit, usually a few euros, and you will get your deposit back when you return your mug. Or if you keep ordering, they’ll keep swapping out your dirty mug for a clean one, and you’ll get your deposit back at the end when you’re done drinking. These mugs can be a nice souvenir, so if you want to keep it, you’re only forfeiting the deposit.

What to buy at the Berlin Historical Christmas Market

This Christmas market has lots of stalls where you can buy gifts and Berlin souvenirs. You’ll find Christmas decorations, wooden toys and other items, winter hats, bags, local honey, and many other interesting things.

An interesting aspect of this Christmas market is that there are a number of stalls selling knights’ armor, swords, shields, and other items. Potters, blacksmiths, wood carvers and other local artisans sell their hand crafted items here too, so you won’t see much, if any, mass produced things for sale.

What to wear at the Historical Christmas Market in Berlin

Winter in Berlin is cold, and if you’re visiting for the Christmas markets, you should definitely come prepared. Wear warm clothing and dress in layers. It’s also more likely to rain in December than it is to snow, so make sure your shoes and coats are water resistant. And since this Christmas market is not on a paved area, it could be a little muddy. Check out my winter packing list for Berlin for more details.

Where is the Historical Christmas Market located?

The Historical Christmas market is located in the Friedrichshain district and is easy to reach using public transport.

Address: Officially listed as Revaler Straße 99, but this won’t get you to the exact right location since the entire complex has the same street number. Instead aim for this spot to find the entrance to the Christmas market.

How to get to the Historical Christmas market in Berlin Friedrichshain

The closest sbahn and ubahn station to the RAW Gelände is Warschauer Strasse. You can use the U1 or U3 ubahn lines, or the S3, S5, S7, S9, or S75 sbahn lines.

You can also use the M10 or M13 trams to get here. There are two separate stops for Warschauer Str, one labeled as S Warschauer Str and one labeled as S&U Warschauer Str. When using either tram, you want the S Warschauer stop to get to the Historical Christmas market. Download the BVG Fahrinfo app or the VBB Bus & Bahn app for transport routes and tickets.

The RAW Gelände starts at the intersection of Warschauer Strasse and Revaler Strasse. You can either walk through RAW or walk along Revaler Str until you reach Dirschauer Str, where you will turn right into RAW. It should take you about 10 minutes to walk from the Ubahn or Sbahn, or about 5 minutes from the tram stop.

Do you need tickets for the Christmas market?

The Historical Christmas Market in Friedrichshain is free on Mondays. But there is an entrance fee of €3 on Tuesday – Sunday.

Berlin Travel Resources

I want you to have the best trip to Berlin, and hopefully this guide to the Berlin Historical Christmas Market at RAW Gelände is helpful. But there are lots more tips on the site!