11 Things to Do in Berlin in November

Have you booked a flight in November? Well played! The beginning of the month celebrates the fall of the Berlin Wall, while the end of the month brings the typical Christmas dates. On top of all this, there are the classic winter attractions and events that take place at this time of year. We've put together a short guide to help you choose what to see and do in Berlin - read on!

The wall came down on 9 November and every year events are organised to celebrate its fall 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 visit the city's official website.

On 9 November 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 iconic site 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 severe. This terrible repressive apparatus functioned until 15 January 1990 when demonstrators climbed over the walls, entered the building and destroyed the offices of this entity that for years had created anger and division.

Berlin in winter can get a little chilly - in November the average temperature is 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. It is open from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00, while on weekends and public holidays it opens an hour later. A ticket costs around €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 these are a great way to get a taste of Berlin's culture while staying out of the cold at the same time.

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 can assure you that it is well worth the experience.

Another big attraction is the lounge bar with its wooden interior, which won an architecture prize in 2007. Its cocktails will make you forget the steam from the sauna. Badeschiff is located near the Kreuzberg district (Eichenstraße 4) just a short walk from the large river sculpture Molecule Man.

Another ideal option on the river Spree is to book a dinner cruise where you can see the most iconic sights along the banks while enjoying a delicious three-course dinner.

The East Side Gallery is the longest piece of wall to survive 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, but 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 way to understand the era is an Ostalgie Tour, a city tour that focuses on nostalgia for the former German Democratic Republic. Different companies organise them and most of them pass through the East Side Gallery.

As in other cities, Berlin's Christmas markets open their doors at the end of November. It's the perfect opportunity to buy something typical and warm your soul with a cup of Glühwein, the famous spiced mulled wine. The stalls are set up at various locations around the city and the list below lists the best ones:

• Gendarmenmarkt: A charming square. In addition to its architectural cornice, it is worth a visit to see the craftsmen at work and the fire-eaters, jugglers and other street performers. Open daily from 11:00 to 20:00.
• 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. Father Christmas hands out 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 neighbourhood surrounded by water and nature. It is a bit far from the centre, but it is worth a visit to enjoy the festive atmosphere. You can also get there easily on metro line 7.

And if you want to delve deeper 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 Potsdamer Platz and Alexanderplatz. There is also an ice rink 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 a surface area of more than 6,000 square metres. 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 Berlin's ice bar. A real experience!

"Unter den Linden" (under the lime 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 its 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 the German 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 walk 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 historic event since the first edition dates back to 1951, only 10 years before the construction of the Berlin Wall. Indeed, when the brick wall separated the city in two, the 1962 festival organised 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 theatre in the southwest part of the city. It is easy to reach thanks to its proximity to the underground station Spichernstraße and the numerous bus lines that pass through the area.

Concerts can also be organised 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. There are usually more than 500 exhibitors 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, an exhibition centre in the west of the city. You will recognise it by its most iconic element: the Radio Tower (Funkturm).

You have several options for getting 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's the perfect choice for tasting local specialities such as:

• Graukäse: a South Tyrolean speciality.
• Limburger: creamy, with a mild taste 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 is 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'll find fewer queues at museums and the price of a house or hotel room is noticeably lower.

Since the days are shorter, you can focus on attractions that are at their best at night, such as the Brandenburg Gate or the Fernsehturm (TV Tower). Also, if you travel in November, you'll have the opportunity to take part in 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. Temperatures generally range between 5°C and 15°C, so it's unlikely to reach negative temperatures. If you're travelling at this time of year, pack a mackintosh. It's more practical than an umbrella and weighs much less than half as much. Plus, it's more comfortable to enjoy all there is to see and do in Berlin.