Berlin — An Eclectic Christmas for Artists (3 days)
A 3-day winter itinerary for artists who want immersive studio visits, experimental galleries, plein-air sketching in crisp December light, and local Christmas markets that spark creative inspiration. Designed to balance focused creative time, hands-on workshops, festive markets and relaxed café breaks.
Highlights
- Studio visits and artist-run spaces at Künstlerhaus Bethanien and Uferstudios
- Contemporary program at KW Institute and independent galleries (KOW, ACUD)
- Plein-air sketching at Tempelhofer Feld and Körnerpark in winter light
- Neighborhood Christmas markets with local makers (Kollwitzplatz, RAW-Gelände, Kulturbrauerei)
- Hands-on screenprinting at betahaus and art-supply scouting at boesner
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival, neighborhood strolls, studio visits and a festive evening market in Prenzlauer Berg / Kreuzberg.
Check in — Michelberger Hotel (artist-friendly boutique)
Settle into an artist-oriented boutique hotel in Friedrichshain with communal lounges and quirky design — drop bags, warm up and scan the communal noticeboard for local studio openings.
Tips from local experts:
- Ask reception for local studio-openings or flyers — artists in residence often post last-minute invites on the board.
- Rooms have varied light — request a room with a large window if you plan morning sketching.
- There is limited elevator space; if you have heavy art materials, ask for a ground-floor room or help from staff on arrival.
Kollwitzplatz — Neighborhood Christmas market & plein-air sketching
Explore the local Kollwitzplatz Weihnachtsmarkt (neighborhood, artisanal stalls). Set up a quick plein-air sketch on the square: cobbles, cafés and bare-limbed plane trees create strong winter silhouettes.
Tips from local experts:
- Bring a small folding stool and a thermal flask — the square has limited sheltered benches in winter.
- Sketch the light between 10:15–11:00 when the low winter sun creates long, dramatic shadows — ideal for tonal studies.
- If you need specialty paper or handmade gift materials, vendors at the market often sell unique found-materials and offcuts for collage.
Transfer: Tram/Walk to Künstlerhaus Bethanien
Short tram/foot transfer into Kreuzberg where artist studios and residencies are concentrated.
Tips from local experts:
- Buy a day AB transit ticket if you plan several short hops — cheaper and keeps your hands free for sketchbooks.
- Keep gloves with touchscreen patches — check tram departure boards without removing gloves.
- Use the transfer to jot quick thumbnail ideas from the market that you’ll explore in the studios.
Künstlerhaus Bethanien — studios & residency visits
Visit artist studios, curated projects and rotating exhibitions. Bethanien is a live residency space — a great place to meet emerging Berlin-based artists and see new work in context.
Tips from local experts:
- Request a studio tour at the info desk or arrive early for artist talks — many residents are receptive to short, respectful studio visits.
- Bring a thin portfolio or business cards — if you’re an artist, residents often swap advice or material leads when approached politely.
- Photograph small details (with permission) for later studies; the residency has unique textures (old tiles, raw concrete) that translate well into prints.
Transfer: Walk to Markthalle Neun (Kreuzberg)
Short walk to a lively indoor market for a warming, locally-sourced lunch.
Tips from local experts:
- Walk the back streets — you'll often spot small studio doors and street-level workshops en route.
- If carrying wet sketchbooks, use a reusable plastic folder to keep pages dry between locations.
- Note vendors selling unusual paper or ribbons — jot their stalls for later shopping.
Lunch & people-watching — Markthalle Neun
Seasonal street-food and cozy indoor stalls — good for warm-up, quick studies of crowds and textures (sausages, steam, market stalls).
Tips from local experts:
- Choose a table by a window for natural light and easy observation drawing while you eat.
- Buy a small, inexpensive snack to free up both hands for sketching — the hall has standing counters ideal for quick gesture studies.
- Look for market days that feature local makers (check weekly themes) — these vendors often have short runs of handmade papers and small craft supplies.
ACUD — artist-run project space & experimental programs
Visit ACUD MACHT NEU for offbeat exhibitions, artist talks and performance pieces in a compact, experimental venue.
Tips from local experts:
- Speak to the front desk about current residents and whether any informal studio visits are possible after exhibitions.
- ACUD often hosts short artist talks — arrive early to catch discussion contexts that inform the exhibited works.
- Sketch compositional elements in the gallery with a non-intrusive pen; small gesture studies work best in dim spaces without flash.
Coffee break — Five Elephant (Kreuzberg)
A beloved micro-roastery and café — perfect to warm up, edit sketches, and scan ideas while enjoying cake or coffee.
Tips from local experts:
- Charge small devices here — outlets are limited, so top up quickly between activities.
- Ask staff for local artist-run zines or flyers; cafés frequented by creatives often have community boards.
- Use the café’s natural light near the window for small still-life studies (cups, cake crumbs, steam).
Kulturbrauerei — Lucia Weihnachtsmarkt (festive courtyard market)
A warmly lit winter market in the Kulturbrauerei courtyard with local makers, music and a more culturally minded festive atmosphere than the big tourist markets.
Tips from local experts:
- Visit indoor courtyards for sheltered sketching spots — the buildings create interesting framed compositions and warm lamps ideal for late-afternoon studies.
- Look for stalls selling recycled-material ornaments and handmade papers that make great collage materials.
- The market can be chilly — sketch standing with a windproof scarf and use a clipboard for stability.
Dinner at Sankt Oberholz — creative meeting spot
Finish the evening at a café-restaurant that doubles as a creative co-working hub in Mitte — lively atmosphere and easy conversation with locals.
Tips from local experts:
- Grab a table near the communal area if you want to overhear or join informal creative conversations.
- Reserve ahead for a group table if you plan to debrief sketches with peers; the place fills during late evenings.
- Bring printed images or small works — locals often display or trade zines and mini-prints informally here.
Day 2
Contemporary gallery circuit, large-scale plein air, and a hands-on experimental printing workshop in Kreuzberg.
Breakfast at the hotel / quick sketch session
Warm breakfast and ten-minute morning tonal study — use the hotel lounge as a quiet place to develop sketch ideas for the day.
Tips from local experts:
- Use morning light for thumbnail studies; tape a small sheet to your lap and sketch quick compositions.
- Ask staff for a quieter corner with a table and decent light; many artists use hotel lobbies as working spaces.
- Prepare a tiny material kit tonight (watercolor set, 2 brushes, A5 paper) to keep moving light and weather adaptable.
KW Institute for Contemporary Art — experimental exhibitions
KW presents challenging contemporary shows and programs — great for artists seeking conceptual prompts and connections with Berlin’s current discourse.
Tips from local experts:
- Check the daily program for artist talks or open curatorial hours — these often lead to meaningful studio contacts.
- Take notes on installation strategies (materials, lighting, sequencing) that might translate into your own site-specific pieces.
- If photographing works, ask staff for photography permissions — it’s often allowed for study purposes but varies by exhibition.
Transfer: Stroll to KOW gallery
Short walk through Auguststraße's gallery quarter — watch window displays and street-level studios.
Tips from local experts:
- Window-shop gallery displays for framing and hanging ideas — many will reveal conceptual approaches without needing entry.
- Note local printmakers' studio doors along the route — jot addresses for later visits.
- Keep an umbrella or hooded jacket handy; December weather can change quickly between courtyards.
KOW — contemporary gallery visit
A mid-sized contemporary gallery showing young and established artists — crisply curated exhibitions that often foreground material experimentation.
Tips from local experts:
- Ask the gallery staff about the artists' materials and processes — many are happy to describe techniques used in the works.
- Sketch compositional studies of the gallery’s display rhythms (negative space, sight-lines) to inspire installation mock-ups.
- Pick up gallery pamphlets or short essays — great for reading on the tram and collecting curatorial language for your practice.
Lunch at Holzmarkt25 — creative riverside community
A riverside creative hub with food stalls and indoor craft spaces — informal and full of small makers.
Tips from local experts:
- Scout the communal boards for pop-up studio sales or upcoming open-studio days while you eat.
- Ask vendors about discarded materials (wood, fabric ends) — often available cheaply for collage/assemblage.
- Sit near the big windows for diffuse light — great for reworking morning sketches.
Plein-air session — Tempelhofer Feld
Large open former airfield with expansive winter sky and industrial backdrops — ideal for big-format washes or tonal sketches.
Tips from local experts:
- Dress in insulation layers and bring a windbreak — the Feld is exposed and cold in December.
- Work small to medium formats (A3–A2) so you can produce multiple studies quickly before fingers get numb.
- Use the runway lines and hangars as graphic compositional guides — strong linear elements read well in monochrome studies.
Screen-printing workshop — betahaus (experimental print session)
Hands-on short workshop booking at Betahaus: screenprinting or simple risograph methods — an evening to experiment with immediate output.
Tips from local experts:
- Bring a few simple designs or photocopies to translate into screens quickly — contrast-heavy images work best for a two-color demo.
- Wear old clothes — ink can be messy; betahaus facilities are set up for creative residues but stains happen.
- Request a brief intro to squeegee techniques and ink mixing — these small tricks make prints feel professional immediately.
Dinner at Kopps — modern vegan cuisine
A quietly refined spot with seasonal, plant-based dishes — popular with creative locals; a relaxed finish to a full experimental day.
Tips from local experts:
- Reserve a table in advance — dinner service attracts locals and creative teams.
- Discuss plating and color palettes with the chef if interested; seasonal presentations are often inspiring for still-life arrangements.
- Use the calm ambiance to lay out printed proofs and take notes from the evening’s workshop.
Day 3
Studio tours in Wedding, art-supply gathering, intimate gallery visit and alternative Christmas markets — closing with a festive, historic dinner.
Transfer to Uferstudios (Wedding) — travel and warm-up
Longer transit to the north of the city where a cluster of photography and media studios are based — use transit time to prepare sketches for studio visits.
Tips from local experts:
- Carry a waterproof sketchbook cover — winter slush is common when moving between stations.
- Use transit time to annotate photos or thumbnail ideas for the studio visits so you make most of short conversations.
- If bringing larger works home, measure public-transport rules in advance to plan carriage.
Uferstudios — photography & media studio visits
A cluster of working studios and small fabrication spaces — good for seeing process-based work and connecting with photo/film-based artists.
Tips from local experts:
- Contact the Uferstudios reception in advance for a guided overview of current tenants and to request introductions.
- Bring memory cards and business cards — photographers and media artists may offer quick portfolio feedback.
- Note the studio lighting rigs and backgrounds — useful for planning any photo documentation of your own work.
Art-supply scouting — boesner Berlin
A large art-supply store with paints, papers and framing materials; excellent for replenishing winter palettes and buying unique paper stocks.
Tips from local experts:
- Ask staff for seconds or end-of-roll paper — boesner often has bargain sheets perfect for tests and collage.
- Bring a small measuring tape and a list of media weights — it makes choosing canvas/paper sizes faster and more precise.
- If shipping bulky items home, ask about local shippers or the store’s packing services in advance.
Lunch at Café Anna Blume — Prenzlauer Berg
A floral, artist-popular café — great for people-watching, sketching café scenes and informal portfolio exchange.
Tips from local experts:
- Order a layered cake piece — it’s iconic and makes a delightful still-life subject for a quick study.
- Sit near the windows for consistent indirect light to work on small watercolour studies.
- Check the bulletin boards for local studio sales or tacky recycled materials offered by community makers.
Galerie im Körnerpark & plein-air in Körnerpark
A charming small gallery housed within a park setting — combine the gallery visit with a short plein-air session in the formal compartments of the park.
Tips from local experts:
- Use the park’s geometry for compositional experiments — frame a study on the park’s steps and trimmed hedges.
- The gallery often features emerging local artists — ask about small, affordable works or zines for immediate inspiration.
- Bring a small portable heater flask and hand warmers; short plein-air sessions are much more productive when your hands remain usable.
RAW-Gelände — alternative Christmas market (crafts, music, makers)
An alternative, creative winter market on the RAW Gelände with craft stalls, local makers and an edgy, less-touristy festive atmosphere.
Tips from local experts:
- Bring small cash — many makers accept only cash for quick purchases of materials and zines.
- Scout the stalls for used frames and reclaimed wood offcuts — unexpected treasures for studio projects.
- Talk directly to makers about processes; many are happy to demonstrate small techniques on the spot.
Farewell dinner — Clärchens Ballhaus (historic, festive)
A historic Berlin ballhouse and restaurant with a lively, nostalgic atmosphere — perfect for a festive final dinner and impromptu creative conversations.
Tips from local experts:
- Request a table near the dance floor for atmospheric lighting and chance encounters with local performers.
- The interior has evocative historic textures — photograph (with permission) and later translate into palette and pattern studies.
- If you bring small finished works, Clärchens is a friendly place to share them with staff and sometimes leave a small flyer or card on the community board.