The 20th Festival of Lights – back again at the Nikolai Quarter

We are excited that the Festival of Lights will once again enchant the Nikolai Quarter with its staged light shows this year. In 2024, the festival’s motto is “Celebrating Freedom” and it will be presenting its light and video art at a total of around 50 locations across Berlin.

On this occasion, we took an evening stroll through the Nikolai Quarter on the very first night of the festival. Coming from Alexanderplatz, the first light installation is located on the northern corner of the Nikolai Quarter opposite the Rotes Rathaus. A video installation at the site of the former Israel department store takes visitors into a magical world somewhat reminiscent of Harry Potter. A few steps to the left, the street Am Nussbaum takes you into the Nikolai Quarter and now, during the festival days, the trees are illuminated in a wonderful blaze of color.

At the “Zum Nussbaum” restaurant, the street merges into Nikolaikirchplatz, where the light installation “Kristall Blumen” (Crystal Flowers) with illuminated objects by Austrian artist Markus Anders is located on the green space across the street. The route continues along the church, past cafés and stores, to Nikolaikirchplatz. Here, the Gründungsbrunnen – also known as the Wappenbrunnen – and the surrounding trees are illuminated. Here, a five-metre-long glowing green caterpillar attempts to climb up a tree.

On the way to St. George, the dragon slayer monument, we walk through Propststraße, whose illuminated trees now bathe the street in a color-changing play of lights. From the banks of the Spree, you can already see some of the next highlights to your right: the Humboldt Forum and Berlin Cathedral.

But first we walk back through Propststraße towards Nikolaikirchplatz. By the way, there are some food stalls here where you can enjoy a bratwurst or mulled wine. Then turn left down Poststraße towards Rathausstraße and the Marx-Engels-Forum. But before you leave the Nikolai Quarter, a huge, glowing red heart greets you in front of the Fischer & Lustig restaurant. It is titled “With Love From Berlin” and is a great location for selfies and love greetings from the Nikolai Quarter.

The Festival of Lights enchants Berlin until October 13, 2024, daily from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.