Of course, you've already got all your presents together and therefore have plenty of time at the weekend for the Christmas circus, selfie museums, zoo visits and more. Find out where to spend the last few days before the festive season in our weekend tips. And if buying presents is still on your to-do list, we have an idea for that too: homemade and guaranteed unique, of course!
Tip 1: Take breathtaking selfies in the new Balloon Museum
Sometimes art is inflated, but that doesn't make it any less impressive. An immersive exhibition with monumental and impressive installations awaits you at the new Balloon Museum in Berlin. Touching, experiencing and sharing are expressly encouraged here - the exhibits offer you countless opportunities for exciting selfies that you can share with your followers on social media. A museum visit that everyone can really take part in!
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: Arena Berlin, Eichenstraße 4, Alt-Treptow
Tip 2: Enjoy the Roncalli Christmas Circus at the Tempodrom
No pre-Christmas season without the Roncalli Christmas Circus - that's been true for 20 years. The Roncalli Christmas Circus around founder and director Bernhard Paul offers everything you need for a good circus ring show: breathtaking artistry, funny clowns and a humorous presentation that will get you into the Christmas spirit in no time at all. Experience has shown that tickets for the popular shows at the Tempodrom sell out quickly. So don't wait too long and get your tickets sooner rather than later.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: Tempodrom, Möckernstraße 10, Kreuzberg
Tip 3: Experience magical hours with the WunderAkademie's children's magic courses
Learning magic is fun! Even more so when the experienced magicians at the WunderAkademie give you the best tips for amazing magic tricks. Of course, you will be provided with the necessary magic equipment on site, so nothing stands in the way of magical fun. And the best thing? After the course, you can take your magic wand and co. home with you and continue performing magic to your heart's content, perhaps even under the Christmas tree. The courses are suitable for children aged 8 to 12.
When: Saturday from 4 to 6 pm
Where: WunderAkademie, Roennebergstraße 16, Friedenau
Discover 100 Years of S-Bahn!
A must-see this holiday season: The S-Bahn Museum celebrates 100 years of Berlin’s S-Bahn with a fascinating special exhibition. With extended opening hours, it’s the perfect spot for those seeking an in-depth look at Berlin’s railway past.
Tip 4: Roast delicious marshmallows in the Wen Cheng 4 Winter Garden
When it's cold outside and the days are getting shorter, there's a very special place in Berlin where warming up and meeting up with friends tastes particularly sweet: the Wen Cheng 4 Winter Garden. On Saturday, the Winter Garden on Spreewaldplatz opens its doors for the last time before Christmas and, as usual, offers delicious marshmallow creations to roast yourself. Of course, there will also be drinks to match, so those of you with a sweet tooth can relax and look forward to Christmas.
When: Friday and Saturday from 5 to 8 pm
Where: Wen Cheng 4 Winter Garden, Spreewaldplatz 5, Kreuzberg
Tip 5: Be inspired by the ideas of the Enlightenment
Have the courage to use your own mind! - We all somehow remember the motto of the Enlightenment from school. But what exactly was the Enlightenment in the 18th century all about and who were the most important representatives of this movement? These and other questions are answered in the exhibition What Is Enlightenment? Questions To The 18th Century at the Deutsches Historisches Museum. You can also find out what we can still learn from the Enlightenment today - from discourse free from domination to the protection of human rights!
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Where: German Historical Museum - Pei-Bau (basement), Hinter dem Gießhaus 3, Mitte
Tip 6: Marvel at Bouli, the new star of Berlin Zoo
Berlin Zoo has a new arrival - and he weighs quite a bit! The impressive hippopotamus bull Bouli weighs 4.5 tonnes and can now be admired at Berlin Zoo. Perhaps during your visit you will witness a budding romance between Bouli and the female hippopotamus Nala. Genetically, the two are a perfect match - but it remains to be seen whether there will be a spark in the end. After all, Bouli first has to show off his charm to warm the heart of the Berlin woman.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Where: Berlin Zoo, Hardenbergplatz 8, Charlottenburg
Tip 7: Explore the really big questions at the Rinko Kawauchi exhibition
Pausing, lingering in the moment and feeling the power of everyday moments - Rinko Kawauchi's photography seeks the big in the small and combines everyday experiences with the grandeur of natural forces. Her exhibition Rinko Kawauchi: a faraway shining star, twinkling in hand at Fotografiska Berlin focuses on the transience of life and the question of the future of our planet. Immerse yourself in Kawauchi's wonderful world of images and explore the big questions once again at the end of the year.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 11 pm
Where: Fotografiska Berlin, Oranienburger Straße 60, Mitte
Tip 8: Make your own gifts in creative ceramics courses
Christmas is just around the corner and you don't have any presents yet? Then you should take your chance and register quickly for the do-it-yourself ceramics courses at Studio Ceramics. The two ceramics experts Peter and Christine will show you how to make magical clay gifts for your loved ones. All the necessary materials will be provided and you can fire your treasures on site. And your homemade ceramics are guaranteed to be a real eye-catcher under the Christmas tree.
When: Friday from 5:30 to 9 pm
Where: P. & C. | Studio Ceramics, Wiebestraße 40, Moabit
Tip 9: Get a bird's eye view of Berlin from the TV tower
If you want to end the year on a high note and want a real panoramic view before looking back on the year, we have the perfect tip for you: the viewing floor of the TV tower. From here, you have a wonderful view over the city lights and can let your eyes wander over Christmassy Berlin. And with the Fast View Ticket, you can even skip the queue and take the lift directly to a height of 203 metres!
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 11 pm
Where: TV Tower, Panoramastraße 1a, Mitte
Tip 10: Go on an archaeological journey through time at Planet Africa
A hot tip (not only) for cold days: In the James-Simon-Galerie on Museum Island, you can travel back in time to warmer climes. Because it's off to Africa, the cradle of mankind. In this intercontinental exhibition project, which can be seen in various cities in Germany and in several museums on the African continent, you will learn exciting facts about the history of mankind, early cultural techniques and the nutritional strategies of our ancestors.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Where: James-Simon-Galerie, Bodestraße, Mitte
Tip 11: Become VISIBLE TOGETHER at the Pankow Health Centre
A very special art exhibition awaits you on Friday at the Gesundheitshaus Pankow. And for the last time! At GEMEINSAM SICHTBAR, people affected by psychosis and their relatives present their works of art. The exhibition is organised by the Art Therapy Collective, which is committed to artistic self-care and aims to increase the visibility of people with mental illness in society. So it's a good cause and an interesting insight into the complexity of the human psyche.
When: Friday from 8 am to 6 pm
Where: Gesundheitshaus Pankow, Grunowstraße 8-11, Pankow
