Here, we have rounded up some of the must visit Christmas Markets if your in Germany (Berlin) for the Holidays.

Charlottenburg Palace Christmas Market

A booth at the Charlottenburg Palace Christmas Market

The Charlottenburg Palace Christmas Market is one of the newest Christmas Markets only dating back to 2007.  The Palace is lit up with special romantic lighting and features 150 vendors that come from across Germany and from abroad to sell food, drinks and arts and crafts such as miniature Weihnachtspyramiden (Christmas Pyramids) from the Ore Mountains.  There are also rides and other entertainment for kids.  If you are looking to also visit the exhibits at the castle they are still open during the market.

Dates and opening hours of the market are:

Nov. 21, 2011 – December 26, 2011 (Closed Christmas Eve and Holidays)
Mon – Thurs: 2pm to 10pm
Fri – Sun: 12pm to 8pm

More info about Charlottenburg Palace

Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market

The Gendarmenmarkt is a square in Berlin best known for its three Cathedrals: Konzerthas, French and German Cathedrals.  At Christmas time the square plays host to a unique Christmas market with a stage with performances from jugglers, fire artists, musicians and dancers.  The market is also well known for its traditional hand crafted goods such as flax embroidery and other goods made by wood carvers, stonemasons and gold smiths.

Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market

Unlike most Christmas Markets the Gendarmenmarket Chrstimas Market charges a small 1 Euro Admission fee (kids under 12 are free).  This keeps the market open on Christmas Eve and also allows the market to continue until New Years Eve when a special event is held.

Dates and opening hours of the market are:

Nov. 21, 2011 – December 31, 2011 (Open New Years Eve)
Sun– Thurs: 11am to 10pm
Fri – Sat: 11am to 6pm
Christmas Eve: 11am – 1am

More info about Gendarmenmarkt

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church Christmas Market

Gingerbread cookies at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church Christmas Market

With over 2 Million visitors a year the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church Christmas Market is one of the most popular Christmas markets.   With an annual 20 meter tall Christmas tree and many of the booths made out of wood and lit up with Christmas lights the market has a true holiday atmosphere.  It features 170 booths with everything from food and drinks to decorations and toys. You will find nearly anything you are looking for while being absorbed in its unique atmosphere.

Dates and opening hours of the market are:

Nov. 21, 2011 – January 1, 2011
Sun – Thurs: 11am to 9pm
Fri – Sat: 11am to 10pm

More info about the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

Potsdamer Platz Christmas Market

Tobogganing at Potsdamer Platz

The Christmas market at Potsdamer Platz  combines with what is called “Winter World” is a celebration of wintery things.  There are the standard food an beverages but it also features a 500 square meter skating rink, Europe’s largest mobile toboggan run, which measures a generous 12m (~40 feet) as well as other rides and activities.

Dates and opening hours are:

Nov. 5, 2011 – January 1,2011
Sun – Fri: 10am to 10pm
Fri – Sat: 10am to 12pm

More info about Potsdamer Platz

There are dozens of other Christmas Markets in Berlin and hundreds across Germany but here are a few others to consider:  Alexanderplatz Christmas Market, Rotes Rathaus Christmas Market and the Lucia Christmas Market at Kulturbrauerei.

To help you navigate through Berlin and to make sure to try out the mTrip Berlin Travel Guide.  (Many of Berlin’s Christmas Market locations are already in the app)

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images by: d3us, dieter_titz, Jule_Berlin, Julizehn***, & harry_palmer

Authors and attendees come from the US, Germany, Italy, Greece, Zimbabwe, Chile, China, Iceland, Morocco, the UAE, and dozens more countries. They present on poetry, graphic novels, common themes in literature, geographic and cultural differences, and much more. There’s also a section for kids, called the International Children’s and Youth Literature (ICYL). Authors and illustrators of children’s books answer questions, lead workshops, and give readings of their books, poetry and novels, specifically for young readers.

Of course, even the most voracious reader might get bored after a few days of nonstop literary events. Luckily you can pick and choose what you want to attend and pay only for those sessions, starting at six euros each. And Berlin offers plenty to see and do outside of the festival, from exploring modern art galleries and the city’s lively nightlife, to immersing yourself in history at famous sights like the Brandenburg Gate or Checkpoint Charlie Museum.

The festival runs from September 9 to 17. Munich’s Oktoberfest kicks off September 17 and ends October 3, which means if you’d like to combine brews and books, you could attend both festivals. Look for airfare to Berlin (or Frankfurt) rather than to Munich, as it’s likely to be cheaper. The train between the two cities takes about six hours; some low-cost and regional airlines also make the trip in about an hour.

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Photo by: Friar’s Balsam

Want to commemorate for this historic anniversary? Here are a few suggestions.

• The Berlin Wall Memorial has the largest remaining sections of both sides of the wall, along with a documentation center, and memorials for the many that died trying to escape East Berlin.
• Documenting life in East Berlin both during and after the Berlin Wall, the German Historic Museum is hosting an exhibit with photography by Thomas Hoepker and Daniel Biskup, two West German photographers.
• Download the Mauer guide app, which allows you to walk the wall by offering GPS directions along its original path. It also offers interesting historical & political info, along with video clips and interviews

Learn about the history of the Berlin Wall:

 

 

iTunes Festival London 2011 - July 1-31, London

Featuring 31 consecutive nights of brilliant live music, iTunes Festival will showcase both established and emerging artists. Each performance will be recorded and made available for download on iTunes. Tickets for the iTunes Festival are free but you have to apply for tickets! There will be about 60 artists performing, including Paul Simon, ADELE, Foo Fighters and Duran Duran.

 

 

Berlin Festival 2011 – September 9-10, Berlin

Berlin is a city like no other; especially known for its underground music scene, its definitely a city worth visiting just for its musical influence alone. Berlin Festival takes place just days after Berlin Music Week (September 7-11), making this week one of the best times to visit this vibrant city. Berlin Festival 2011 will feature a Boy George DJ Set, The Drums, Suede, Beirut, Mogwai, Battles, Hercules and Love Affair, Deus, Santigold, A-Trak, Yelle, Diplo and many other unique acts.

 

 

Fête de la Musique – June 21, Paris

Allowing for the expression of all types of music, Fête de la Musique is completely different from most music festivals. It is open to both emerging and professional musicians, and all musicians are asked to perform for free as the event itself is free to the public.

 

 

Make Music New York (MMNY) – June 21, New York

Now in its fifth year, Make Music New York is a unique festival filled to the brim with free concerts, taking place in public spaces throughout the five boroughs of New York City. All taking place on the first day of summer, June 21, MMNY takes place simultaneously with similar festivities in over 460 cities across the world. The lineup hasn’t been announced yet but it should be any day now. In past years, the lineup has ranged from hip hop to opera, Latin jazz to punk rock, all performed on the streets, sidewalks, stoops, plazas, parks and gardens of New York.

 

 

Pitchfork Music Festival – July 15,16,17, Chicago

This three-day event showcases over 40 of independent music’s best bands and artists. It is one of the few music festivals that keeps ticket prices reasonably low. Among the many artists you will see Animal Collective, DJ Shadow, Toro Y Moi, TV on the Radio. Activities include a Record Fair, presented by the Chicago Independent Radio Project, Coterie handmade goods, FLATSTOCK poster show series and Rock for kids.

 

 

Lollapalooza – August 5-7, Chicago

Whereas the Pitchfork festival focuses on independent music, Lollapalooza is a destination for music lovers all over the world. It just so happens that this year is the 20th Anniversary of the Festival and festival-goers can look forward to a full and exciting lineup. Artists include: Eminem, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Muse, Deadmau5, Cee Lo Green, Girl Talk, Kid Cudi and so many more. As always, the festival will take place in historic Grant Park, between the iconic Chicago skyline and the shores of Lake Michigan. FYI – if you have kids 10 and under, they get in free to Lolla when accompanied by a ticket holding adult.

 

 

Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival – August 12-14, San Francisco

Taking place in San Francisco’s historic Golden Gate Park, Outside Lands invites guests to celebrate not only the best in music, but also food, wine and art. From singer-songwriters to DJs, jazz acts and cutting edge rock bands, all major music movements are celebrated alongside a host of local musicians, food vendors and visual artists representing SF’s vibrant cultural community. This green-conscious event will feature artists like Arcade Fire, Black Keys, The Shins, MGMT, Girl Talk, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Major Lazer, OK GO. Other attractions will include tastes of the Bay Area, many wine offerings, festival market place, and the eco lands area, powered entirely by solar energy.

 

 

Osheaga – July 29th to 31st, Montreal

There’s no better city to enjoy an outdoor music festival than Montreal. The summer is when Montreal shines the most and the energy of the city is always outstanding, especially during the outdoor festivals. There are no shortage of them in Montreal and Osheaga is one stellar festival not to be missed. Last years addition with Arcade Fire performing during the fireworks was spectacular. Osheaga acts this year include The Tragically Hip, Cypress hill, Eminem, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, The Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, Kid Cudie, City & Colour, Broken Social Scene, Lupe Fiasco, Bright Eyes, Ratatat, Bran Van 3000, Crystal Castles, MSYRKRFT, The Joy Formidable, Sam Roberts Band, Jamie xx, Manchester Ochestra, Malajube and a host of other amazing bands. And don’t miss out on Osheaga in the City, which features acts outside the days of the festival. The lineup will be announced in the coming month.

 

 

Glastonbury Festival – June 22 to 26th, Glastonbury

The lineup is endless and Glastonbury’s following is so large that they are already sold out of tickets. If you were planning to attend, we hope you already grabbed your tickets. The festival began the day after Jimi Hendrix died in 1970 and so marked one of the best festivals. In 2011, this festival is still going strong and with so many stages, we couldn’t possibly list all the bands. Some stellar acts include U2, Coldplay, Paul Simon, Queens of the Stone Age, The Naked & Famous, The Streets, Lykke Li, Wu Tang Clan, Beyonce and so many more that my eyes are watering looking at the lineup.

 

 

Sonar – June 16-18, Barcelona

Taking place in Barcelona, Sonar will be showcasing famous artists and DJ’s like M.I.A., Underworld, Janelle Monae, Steve Aoki and many more. To add to the already full lineup, there will be some interesting showcases by Ninja Tune, BBC Radio and others.

 

And one extra…Piknic Electronik – WEEKLY, Montreal and soon Barcelona!

This unique weekly event helps you get the most out Montreal’s summer weather, while enjoying an incomparable view of the city and quality electronic music. They highlight the many talents of both the local and international electronic scenes, featuring classic acts as well as audacious newcomers. The Barcelona version appears to be next on their list of cities!

What music festivals will you be attending this summer? Add yours to the comments.

Download a city guide to get you around during festival season!

Image sources: Anirudh Koul, stevenboegborn, tom-jenkins, tkaravou, toombsday, jaywei80, Jason Bryant for Glastonbury Festival, SPACEBAR.ca [Simon], scannerfm_flickr, zenra, bumpershine, tammylo

The industries evolution makes computer games such a unique experience for each generation. To younger generations, the appeal is to transport the player – a fictional world like a movie but with more interaction. To the older generations, gaming is a profound experience; with joysticks in hand, gamers moved spaceships through asteroid fields, or ran circles around mazes while being chased by ghosts.

The museum documents the development of computer games since 1951. It also incorporates future predictions, with experimental installation pieces that examine possibilities for the next generation of gaming. RaveSnake, an eight player game controlled by cell phones via Bluetooth is part of what they call the ‘party games for the sidewalk” genre.

Inside the museum you will find the Wall of Game Milestones, showcasing over 50 famous games that were integral to the evolution of gaming. On display you will see games like Pac-Man, Street Fighter and Sonic the Hedgehog. Another wall of the museum is devoted to computer hardware where more than 50 handheld games, video consoles and home computers are exhibited in chronological order from 1971 up to 2001.

Whether a trip down memory lane or a learning experience, The Computer Game Museum should prove to be interesting for tourists and locals alike.

Address: Computerspiele Museum, Karl-Marx-Allee 93a, 10243 Berlin

Phone (visitors’ service): +49-30-60988577

Download mTrip’s Berlin Travel Guide

Download mTrip’s Berlin Travel Guide

Sloerm

Goldberg

Schwarze Pumpe

Edelweiss

Zimt und Mehl

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Photo credit: lipár at http://www.flickr.com/photos/redroom/

Two or three bands perform per night with the hope that these young and talented artists will be put in the spotlight and exposed to a captive audience that appreciates what the underground scene has to offer.

The program was stablished by Corbett Santana, the Co-founder of Junction Bar, a live music venue.

Check out the REAL Berlin Bands Concert Series website for more info on dates & times

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Image source: Markus Rödder at http://www.flickr.com/photos/subcess/

After a drastic $270 re-build, Neues is elaborately restored, housing the Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collections as well as the Museum of Prehistory/Early History and the Collection of Classical Antiquities.

Some other points of interest at the museum include the silver treasures from third millennium, BC and barbed wire from the Berlin Wall.

If you are planning a visit here is what you need to know…

Opening hours: 10am-6pm daily (8pm Thursday-Saturday)

Admission: $13.50

Address: Genthiner Straße 38, 10785 Berlin

Phone: +49(0)30 266 42-4242

www.neues-museum.de

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SPINDLER & KLATT

[mappress]Address: Köpenicker Straße 16, 
10997 Berlin

Laidback restaurant by day, transformed dance party by night. If you are visiting for the restaurant experience, you can expect chilled out music and cocktails. By night however get ready to experience house, trance and techno DJ’s showing off their skills non-stop. The far away location in Friedrichshain ensures an in the know, cool crowd frequenting the venue.

For more information click here.

TRESOR

Address: Straße 70 Köpenicker, 10179 Berlin

Tresor only just returned to Berlin. In 2004 the establishment was forced to close its doors, putting an end to what felt like an era for electronic music lovers. For fourteen years Tresor was undeniably at the forefront of Berlin’s club scene, introducing the capital to techno music in 1991. Tresor reopened its doors in May, welcoming back the loving crowd it once housed.

For more information click here.

KING KONG KLUB

Address: Brunnenstrasse 173, 10115 Berlin

King Kong Klub is an exotic hangout in an intimate atmosphere. Experience Berlin nightlife in the comfort of its cozy environment. For more information click here.

KAFFEE BURGER

Address: Torstraße 60, 10119 Berlin

An eclectic calendar of arts events – poetry readings, film screenings and live music, including the infamous bi-monthly Russian Disco. The ambiance is comparable to a smoky den. Here you will find a lot of student types dancing to anything from German punk to ambient jazz.

For more information click here.

WEEKEND

Address: Alexanderstraße 5, 10178 Berlin

The Weekend is one of the top house and techno clubs in Berlin. Situated on the 13th floor of a Soviet block on Alexanderplatz, you can catch a perfect viewing of sunrise. The outside isn’t much for viewing but don’t be fooled – the inside is modern chic with lots of geometric lines. DJ’s from around the world will excite your ears on any regular night. Don’t miss out.

For more information click here.

MARIA AM OSTBAHNHOF aka ‘CLUB MARIA’

Address: Straße der Pariser Kommune 10, 10243 Berlin

Known to be one of the coolest nightspots in Berlin, Club Maria is funky with creative lighting, transforming an uninspiring building into an inspirational hot spot. Top music acts like Coldcut, Le Tigre, The Fall and The Knife have performed here so definitely add this one to your list of musts if you are a fan!

For more information click here.

BERGHAIN & PANORAMA BAR

Address: Am Wriezener Bahnhof, 10243 Berlin

Berghain is an industrial-style warehouse club with minimalist interior design, an 18m high dance floor and space for 1500 guests. Berghain is known for hedonism and decadence and is often described as the world capital of techno. If you want a little break or a more relaxed vibe though, head over to Panorama Bar.

For more information click here.

B FLAT

Address: Rosenthaler Strasse 13, 10119 Berlin

B Flat is a nice alternative if you are the jazz music type. Very often live, enjoy jazz melodies from all corners of the world every night of the week. Founded on the principle of always playing “real jazz,” B Flat brings an authentic experience to locals and travelers alike.

For more information click here.

REINGOLD

Address: Novalisstraße 11, 10115 Berlin Mitte

Seeking an off the beaten path experience? Want to experience Berlin the way a local would or with a local for that matter? Go a little out of your way and get yourself to Reingold. This is one of those “favorite places to hang for locals” kind of bars. Sit comfortably for hours with an excellent cocktail in a relaxed atmosphere.

For more information click here.

BAR AM LUTZOWPLATZ

Address: Lützowplatz 7, 10785 Berlin

Classic cocktail excellence! A vast collection of Champagne and rare malt whiskeys. A proud documentation of the bar’s awards is displayed and rightfully so. A modern, classy bar with beautiful architecture and carefully chosen music, everything about this bar seeks to please.

For more information click here.

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