“As the twilight falls, the magic begins…”

In 2013, London’s famous Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew started lighting up the greenhouses and plants at night around Christmas, enchanting thousands of visitors. As an alternative to the crowded Christmas markets, Berlin’s grand Botanischer Garten will also be open every night from 15 November to 6 January (closed 24 & 31 Dec), treating visitors to a spectacular winters walk through wonderfully lit foliage and greenhouses. The 1,5km-long route winds its way inside and outside, past millions of lightpoints and hundreds of illuminations and 3D figures themed after Christmas and botany. There’s regional food available at several places along the route, where you can also warm yourself by an open fire, or you can try a few pirouettes on the ice rink – skates are for rent.