11 Things to Do in Berlin in November

Have you booked a flight in November? Well played! At the beginning of the month, the fall of the wall is celebrated, while the end of the month brings the typical Christmas dates. To all this we must add the classic winter attractions and events that take place at this time of the year. We have prepared a brief decalogue to help you choose what to see and do in Berlin, read on!

The wall came down on November 9 and every year events are organized to celebrate its tearing down and the subsequent reunification of Germany. For example, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary, a week-long festival enlivened Berlin's nights. To keep up to date with the most important events, I recommend you consult the city's official website.

On November 9, 1989, two million Berliners gathered near the wall to chant the slogan "Tor auf! A few hours earlier, East Germany's spokesman announced that its citizens were free to travel to the West, ending an isolation that had lasted since 1961. Soon the situation became unmanageable and the citizens themselves took it upon themselves to tear down the wall.

If you book your ticket for the Berlin Wall Museum you will understand all the history and events surrounding this emblematic place thanks to the magnificent multimedia exhibition, which reflects all the details from 1945 to 1990.

During the Cold War, the lives of Berlin's citizens were monitored by the Stasi, the dreaded secret police. It was assisted by thousands of civilian informers and its impact on everyday life was very strong. This terrible repressive apparatus functioned until January 15, 1990, when demonstrators climbed the walls, entered the building and destroyed the offices of this entity that for many years had created anger and division.

Berlin in winter starts to get a bit chilly - in November the average temperature ranges between 7º and 9º - and an indoor visit is always a good idea.

• The Stasi Museum is located in House 1 of the former headquarters of the Ministry of Security of the German Democratic Republic. From Monday to Friday it is open from 10:00 to 18:00 while on weekends and public holidays it opens one hour later. A ticket costs about 8 €.
• You can also take the opportunity to visit other museums such as the GDR Museum Berlin, the Neues Museum Berlin or the Pergamon Museum. All of them are a good way to get to know the culture of Berlin while sheltering from the cold of this time of the year.

November is an ideal month to get to know Berlin from a tourist bus, as you will be sheltered from the cold while you discover the history of the most emblematic places of the German capital thanks to the audio guide available.

Compare the different options available:

The Badeschiff is a covered barge on the river Spree. During the summer it is an open-air swimming pool while in winter it becomes an indoor sauna. At the end of the season, the structure covering the pool is dismantled again. The architects designed the Badeschiff with the intention of giving the impression of swimming in the river itself and I assure you that it is worth experiencing the sensation.

Another big attraction is the lounge bar with its wooden interior, which won an architectural award in 2007. Its cocktails will make you forget the sauna fumes. Badeschiff is located near the Kreuzberg district (Eichenstraße 4) within walking distance of the large river sculpture Molecule Man.

Another ideal option on the river Spree is to book a dinner cruise where you will get to know the most emblematic places on its banks while enjoying a delicious three-course dinner.

The East Side Gallery is the longest piece of wall that survived the 1989 demolition. It is an open-air gallery with over 100 graffiti and a symbol of longed-for freedom.

I know, you can do it any time of the year, yet there is something special about booking a tour of East Berlin and walking through the East Side Gallery at this time of year. These very walls represented a wound that took too many years to heal.

A good option to understand the era is an Ostalgie Tour, an urban tour that focuses on nostalgia for the former German Democratic Republic. Different companies organize them and most of them go through the East Side Gallery.

As in other cities, also in Berlin the Christmas markets open their doors at the end of November. It is the perfect occasion to buy something typical and warm the soul with a cup of Glühwein, the famous spiced mulled wine. The stalls are set up in different parts of the city and the list below lists the best ones:

• Gendarmenmarkt: A square with a lot of charm. In addition to its architectural cornice, it is worth coming to see the craftsmen at work and the games of fire-eaters, jugglers and other street performers. Open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church: Beneath this monument is a large market with more than 100 richly decorated stalls. In addition to the beautiful Christmas trees, there is a carousel and a children's Ferris wheel. Santa Claus delivers presents every day and is definitely the most recommended if you visit Berlin with your children.
• Spandau: It is located in the old town of Spandau, a neighborhood surrounded by water and nature. It is a bit far from the center, but it is worth a visit to enjoy the festive atmosphere. In addition, you can easily reach it by metro line 7.

And if you want to delve into Berlin's culinary culture and get to know other options, be sure to book a culinary tour of Berlin.

In November the ice rinks start to appear. The most important ones can be found at the most prominent Christmas markets such as those at Potsdamer Platz and Alexanderplatz. There is also a circuit in the Christmas Garden, the festive version of the Botanical Garden (Königin-Luise-Straße 6/8).

If you like sliding on large surfaces, I recommend the Horst-Dohm ice arena. It is located in the Charlottenburg district and has an area of more than 6,000 square meters. You can get there by train; the nearest station is S Hohenzollerndamm.

And if after skating, you want to recharge your batteries and continue enjoying the winter atmosphere, be sure to book tickets for the Berlin ice bar. A real experience!

"Unter den Linden" (under the linden trees) is the name of Berlin's main boulevard and one of the most famous in the old continent. With the construction of the wall, many residences found themselves on the "wrong" side and the area lost value. Fortunately, after the collapse of the concrete wall, this area of the city has regained importance.

If you book a guided tour of Berlin in November, you can see the last of the yellow, reddish and brown leaves, especially if you visit Germany's capital at the beginning of the month. The boulevard starts at the central Brandenburg Gate and touches Pariser Platz, Humboldt University and St. Hedwig's Cathedral. The path ends at the bridge that leads to the Museum Island.

Every November, Berlin welcomes the best musicians from Germany and the rest of the world. Jazzfest Berlin is a kermesse where tradition and avant-garde come together. It is also a historical event since the first edition dates back to 1951, only 10 years before the construction of the wall. Indeed, when the brick wall separated the city in two, the 1962 festival organized a "radio bridge" to transmit the concerts to the other side of the barrier.

As usual, the concerts are hosted at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele, a theater in the southwestern part of the city. Getting there is easy thanks to the proximity to the subway stop Spichernstraße and the numerous bus lines passing through the area.

Concerts can also be organized at other venues such as:

• A-Trane Jazz Club (Bleibtreustraße 1).
• Quasimodo (Kantstraße 12A).
• Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (Breitscheidplatz).

Every November the German capital hosts Bazaar Berlin, an international sales fair that attracts thousands of buyers interested in high-quality sustainable products. You'll find handicrafts, design and decorative items, fair trade products, natural cosmetics, wellness products, glassware, porcelain and much more. Typically, more than 500 exhibitors participate, divided into five sections: World Market, Natural Living, Art & Style, Winter at Home and Fair & Social.

It is the ideal place to get a head start on your Christmas shopping or go home with an original souvenir. The event is hosted at the Berlin Expo Center City, a fairground in the western part of the city. You will recognize it by its most iconic element: the Radio Tower (Funkturm).

You have several options to get there:

• Train: lines S41, S42, S46 stopping at Messe Nord.
• Metro: the nearest stations are Kaiserdamm and Theodor-Heuss-Platz.
• Bus: lines X34, X49, M49, 104, 349 to Theodor-Heuss-Platz or Masurenallee/ZOB.

Do you love cheese? Then you can't miss Cheese Berlin, the event dedicated to dairy products. It is the perfect choice to taste local specialties such as:

• Graukäse: a South Tyrolean specialty.
• Limburger: creamy, with a mild flavor and a strong aroma.
• Cambozola: a mix between camembert and gorgonzola.

The event takes place at the beginning of November in Markthalle Neun, the historic market in the Turkish quarter.

The penultimate month of the year corresponds to the low season. If you want to visit the sights without the hustle and bustle and crowds, November is an excellent choice. This month is "sandwiched" between two peak seasons: Oktoberfest and Christmas time. You will find fewer queues at museums and the price of a house or hotel room is significantly lower.

Since the days are shorter, you can focus on those attractions that are at their best at night, such as the Brandenburg Gate or the TV Tower (Fernsehturm). In addition, if you travel in November you will have the opportunity to do some typical Christmas activities (ice skating, flea markets, etc.) as these open at the end of the month.

In November it starts to get cold and rain can occur frequently. It is also possible that it snows, although this is not very common. Generally, temperatures range between 5º and 15º so it is unlikely to reach negative temperatures. If you travel during these dates, don't forget to pack a raincoat. It is more practical than an umbrella and weighs much less than half as much. In addition, it is more comfortable to enjoy all there is to see and do in Berlin.