For more than a decade of its existence, the Berlin Light Festival has managed to acquire a mass of fans from all over the world. More than two million people attend the event annually, making the festival one of the most popular and attended lighting performances in the world.
What it is
The Berlin Festival of Lights features millions of multi-colored diodes and lamps, thousands of spotlights, colorful fireworks, laser shows and hundreds of specially trained actors that create an unforgettable fairytale atmosphere for residents and guests of the capital. During this period, more than fifty sights of Berlin try on the decoration of all kinds of light and laser illumination.
The first light festival in Berlin was held in 2005.
The main ideological inspirer of the holiday was the then burgomaster Klaus Wowereit, who in this way wanted to demonstrate that Berlin at night was no less beautiful. The idea turned out to be so successful that now the Festival of Lights has an international status and is also held in Moscow, Bucharest, Beijing, New York and other cities.
General information
The festival of light takes place annually in October and lasts for 10 days. In 2021, the city administration plans to hold it in the period from 5 to 14 October.
The festival is full of vibrant colors, created by local and international artists who use light projection and video art to project their temporary works of art on buildings. This allows you to take a fresh look at familiar places and reveals the charms of Berlin at night, making an indelible impression on the audience.
The festival of lights includes a variety of recreational and cultural events, charity evenings, photo exhibitions, music concerts and excursions titled “Light Seeing”.
As a rule, during this period, restaurants and bars are open until late at night, as well as some museums. Traditionally, the celebration of light ends with the 10 km City Light Run at night. Anyone can take part in this extraordinary artistic performance - you just have to wait for the night time.
Use of historic buildings
The grandiose light festival in the open air involves the most famous sights of Berlin and such historical monuments as the Brandenburg Gate, Alexander Square, Charlottenburg Castle, the TV tower, Unter den Linden street, the facades of the Berlin Cathedral, buildings on Museum Island, the Chancellor's residence and many others.
The main locations of the festival of lights are located in the city center. They are illuminated daily from 7 pm to midnight, although some projections are shorter in duration and can be displayed once. A complete list of participating buildings, a map and other useful information about the festival are available on its official website.
Transport during the festival
For the comfort of visitors during the holiday, the Light Liner bus runs around the city at night, the route of which is laid through the main attractions participating in the festival.
You can also take the Light Ship river tram or Light Bike Taxi. ”All these modes of transport are decorated with colorful festival-style lighting.
Where to stay during the festival
The Festival of Lights in Berlin is a real magnet for tourists, providing an additional 700,000 overnight stays each year. This creates a certain housing shortage, but Berliners are coping with it successfully.
Guests of the German capital can book a hotel room or bed in a hostel, as well as use the services of the Airbnb website to rent an apartment or a private room. For those who like to save money, the Couchsurfing service will be an excellent option.
Conclusion
Festival of Lights has become one of the most popular light festivals in the world in a short time. The festival traditionally takes place in October and lasts for 10 days. During this period, residents and guests of Berlin can see modern lighting effects and enjoy the city's nighttime landscapes in multi-colored illumination - a spectacle that everyone should see once.
