Germany: The Cologne (Köln) Christmas Market Guide

COLOGNE, GERMANY

The Fourth Largest City in Germany

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GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKETS

The Market Origins and Why German Christmas Markets are the Best

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ARE THE COLOGNE CHRISTMAS MARKETS WORTH VISITING

What to expect and what we loved about the Cologne Christmas Markets

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THE COLOGNE CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Over Seven Markets and the Top Four to Visit

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GERMANY CHRISTMAS MARKET TIPS

Cash, Gluhwein and Crowds

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CHRISTMAS MARKET DAY TRIPS FROM COLOGNE

Day Trips and Next Stops for a Europe Christmas Market Tour

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WHERE TO STAY IN COLOGNE

The Hotel We Booked and Loved in Cologne

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Bonjour

If this is your first time on The Weithouse - welcome! My name is Taylor and I’m the face behind the screen and camera bringing you resources to help you plan the trip of your dreams.

In January of 2022, my husband and I left our home in Atlanta, packed our bags and moved to Paris! Every day we wake up in disbelief that we get to call this incredible city our home, a city full of rich history, world-renowned food, and beauty hidden around every corner.

In this Christmas Market Guide, we’re sharing everything you need to know to visit the Christmas Markets in Cologne (Köln), including which markets were our favorite and where to stay in the city.

COLOGNE, GERMANY

Cologne is located in the Northwest portion of Germany, just south of Düsseldorf and near the borders of both Belgium and the Netherlands.

Cologne, written Köln in German, is the fourth largest city in Germany, and its crown jewel is the stunning twin-spired Cologne Cathedral.

Every December, Cologne turns itself into a Christmas wonderland as it welcomes over four million visitors to partake in its must-see Christmas Markets, that are everything you hope for a German Christmas market to be.

GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Europe Christmas markets are a sort of magic that doesn’t exist elsewhere in the world. Beginning in late November (normally the last weekend in November) and spanning through the end of December, you can find Christmas markets scattered across Europe, with beautiful markets found in almost every European country.

That being said, Germany still holds the top spot for the Best Christmas markets in Europe. Although I haven’t visited every Christmas Market in Europe, I do know that when I find myself at a German Christmas market, I feel the Christmas spirit on a level I can’t seem to find elsewhere.

The history of the origin of the German Christmas markets is a bit blurry, but essentially they started as a market held on Christmas Eve allowing butchers to sell meat. Over time, the markets expanded to sell other cakes and decorations and eventually became the Christmas markets we know and love today.

At German Christmas markets, you will find yourself amongst a line or square of stalls selling items across the board, from delicious sausages and tasty Glühwein to Christmas Pyramids (Weihnachtspyramide) and handmade ornaments. Many markets also normally have some small form of entertainment, such as a brass band or animatronic Christmas characters.

ARE THE COLOGNE CHRISTMAS MARKETS WORTH VISITING

Before visiting the Cologne Christmas Markets our only prior experience with German Christmas markets was in Munich. That first Christmas market experience in Munich is where our love of European Christmas Markets began and after spending a weekend exploring the Christmas Markets in the Alsace region of France, we were itching to remember the special magic that the Germans markets bring.

So are the Cologne Christmas Markets worth visiting?

1000% yes, the Cologne Christmas Markets are worth visiting! When we arrived in Cologne and started to explore the city’s markets, we immediately stepped back into an authentic and unique Christmas experience we had only previously felt at a German Christmas Market.

Although slightly different from the Christmas markets in Bavaria, Cologne’s Christmas markets are bursting with festive cheer and childlike fun. The markets are full of delicious food (we ate some of the best market food we’ve ever had in Cologne), soul-warming Glühwein in the most unique, collectible mugs (that don’t exist at the France Christmas markets), and a joy-filled community atmosphere.

THE COLOGNE CHRISTMAS MARKETS

As the fourth largest city in Germany, Cologne (Köln) has no shortage of Christmas Markets or festive cheer. In fact, Cologne has over 7 Christmas markets scattered throughout the city, meaning you could spend an entire day or weekend exploring the Christmas markets in Cologne.

Similar to Munich, this larger number of Christmas Markets makes Cologne a great destination if you’re looking to see Christmas Markets by visiting one destination in Europe (vs. road tripping throughout Germany to many smaller markets).

The 7 Christmas Markets in Cologne, Germany

For the most part, the Christmas markets in Cologne are centralized in the city, meaning you can easily walk from one market to the next, especially if you’re staying in a centralized location within Cologne.

• Heinzels Wintermärchen Köln (at Heumarkt and Alter Markt)

• Market of Angels

• Christmas Market at Cologne Cathedral (Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom)

• Nicholas’ Village Christmas Market (at Rudolphplatz)

• Harbour Christmas Market

• Stadtgarten Christmas Market

• Heavenue Market

The Cologne Christmas markets are roughly scheduled to take place November 24 to December 23, 2023, with a few markets opening slightly earlier in the season and a few markets remaining open slightly later into January. You can find the most up-to-date market information here.

During our two nights in Cologne, we were able to explore the first four markets on the above list, all within walking distance from our hotel (more on where to stay in Cologne at the end of this post) which was located off of Alter Markt.

The first four markets are the most popular in Cologne and the ones worth prioritizing if you only have a short stay in the city. Additionally, you could easily see all of the markets in one full day if you wanted to visit Cologne in a day trip, but I do recommend exploring them both during that day and lit up at night.

Heinzels Wintermärchen Köln (at Heumarkt and Alter Markt)

Heinzels Wintermärchen (or Heinzels Winter Market) in Cologne is one of my favorite Christmas markets we’ve ever experienced. It was our first market explored in Cologne, as it was literally steps from our hotel, and it was where we discovered the most playful Glühwein mug tradition we’ve experienced anywhere in Europe.

According to CologneTourism.com, Heinzelmännchen (the name from which the market is inspired) are a legend of “friendly household spirits” which are represented at the market by little gnomes. As you’re walking through the market, you’ll discover these little gnomes everywhere, and even the Glühwein mugs get in on the fun.

Usually, each individual Christmas Market in Germany will have a mug designed representing that specific market, often with the date and designs varying from year to year. Even within the same city, the mug from one market will be different from another market.

However, at the Heinzels Winter Market in Cologne, there isn’t just one mug to collect - there are twelve! And to add to the fun, each of the 12 mugs features a different gnome, meaning as you work your way through the market, you hope that your next drink purchase will be a little gnome you’ve yet to discover.

The Heinzels Winter Market is made up of over 100 stalls and starts at Alter Markt, with its various alleys and the colorful Ferris wheel, and then continues through antique alley towards Heumarkt. Heumarkt is where you will discover the Ice Skating Rink, Bridge Ice Rink and additional stalls for eating and shopping.

Christmas Market at Cologne Cathedral (Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom)

The Christmas Market at Cologne Cathedral can’t be missed with its twinkling lights set beneath the striking grandeur of the cathedral.

The Cathedral Market in Cologne is more of a traditional Christmas Market with less of a theme. You simply enjoy walking through the stalls, discovering the different artisans and foods and sipping on a hot drink.

The market sprawls out from the centralized Christmas Stage that hosts over 100 events throughout the holiday season underneath the towering Christmas tree.

If you’re at the entrance of the market, be sure to head to your right slightly to discover a small market surrounding one of my favorites: a Christmas pyramid.

The Cathedral Market and the Heinzels Market are very close to each other and can easily be explored in one day or evening.

Market of Angels

Take the short 14-minute walk from Heumarkt to Neumarkt and you’ll find yourself surrounded by stalls and walking under a sea of stars at the Market of Angels in Cologne.

The market is made up of slightly more modern looking Christmas stalls, covered in lights and selling everything from crafts to delicious market food. If you’re lucky enough, when walking around the Market of Angels you might run into real angels handing out gold dust.

Nicholas’ Village (Nikolausdorf) Christmas Market at Rudolphplatz

A seven-minute walk from the Market of Angels and you’ll arrive at Nicholas’ Village Christmas Market in Cologne, yes, at Rudolphplatz. You will know immediately once you’ve arrived at the market, as it surrounds the restored 13th-century gate, Hahnentor, that stands proudly like a castle with the Christmas Market pooling around it.

The Nicholas’ Village Christmas Market is relatively small compared to the previously described markets in Cologne, and is mostly a destination to grab a bite to eat and drink. However, even though it’s small in size, it is worth the trek as Nikolausdorf Market is where you can sip your Glühwein out of a boot mug!

CHRISTMAS MARKET TIPS

For the most part, the Christmas markets are straightforward and require little planning other than your best walking shoes and a quick check of the weather. However, there are a few things to note before visiting the markets:

• Bring Cash: Germany is still a very cash-heavy country and the Christmas markets are no different. You’ll want cash for most purchases.

• The Glühwein System: One of the most fun parts of the German Christmas markets in the Glühwein mug system. Rather than giving you a disposable cup of mulled wine, you will purchase both the wine and a mug (normally around 8 euros). The mugs can then be returned when you are done drinking your Glühwein, or can be kept as a souvenir. The mug designs vary from market to market and from year to year and are one of my favorite souvenirs from all over the world (I have too many to admit).

• Crowds: The Christmas markets are open both during the day and at night, with night becoming quite crowded. As Cologne is a large city, the evenings become especially crowded. If you want to avoid the crowds, try to visit the markets on weeknights vs. weekends and visit both during the day and in the evening.

CHRISTMAS MARKET DAY TRIPS FROM COLOGNE

Cologne is a great place to either kick off your German Christmas market tour or use as a base for day trips to other Christmas markets nearby.

If you want to do a multi-city Christmas market tour through Germany, here are a few direct train routes you can take from Cologne:

• Nuremberg, Germany: 3-4 hours direct by train from Cologne.

• Munich, Germany: 4-5 hours direct by train from Cologne.

• Hamburg, Germany: 4 hours direct by train from Cologne.

• Bremen, Germany: 3 hours direct by train from Cologne.

If you want to use Cologne as a base and take day trips to other Christmas markets in the region, here are a few Christmas market destinations close enough to visit in a day:

• Aachen, Germany: 30 minutes direct by train from Cologne.

• Düsseldorf, Germany: 30 minutes direct by train from Cologne.

There are also direct trains from Cologne to other European countries, making it easy to access cities such as Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels.

Where to Stay in cologne

We very last minute planned our trip to Cologne from Paris, after I discovered there was a direct train between the two. However, we lucked out in booking our hotel in Cologne, as it was steps off of the Heinzels Christmas market and just overall incredibly comfortable and beautiful. I highly recommend booking in advance as hotels can sell out during the Christmas market and holiday season.

Legend Hotel Cologne

Steps from Alter Markt (where the Heinzels Christmas Market is located), Legend Hotel Cologne is the perfect hotel for visiting the Christmas markets in Cologne. The hotel has been newly renovated and outfitted with modern, interior furniture and decor, the rooms feature lovely skylights and windows, and the hotel has a rooftop that provides amazing views of the Cologne Cathedral.

STICK AROUND FOR A WHILE

Need help planning the rest of your European Christmas market trip?

Be sure to read our French Christmas Market Guide and our Munich Christmas Market Guide. You can easily take the train from Cologne to Amsterdam, and if you’re interested in adding the Dutch capital to your itinerary be sure to read our Complete Amsterdam Guide.

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