The Cologne Christmas Market in Germany is not just one! Read our guide to where to stay, what to visit and the best tips for 2024.
October comes around and what I think about most in life are the Christmas markets that we will visit during the year. The period from the end of the year, from November until Christmas Eve, is magical in Germany. The streets are filled with lights, the smell of roasted almonds, the wonderful smell of raclette and, of course, the smell of Glühwein .
And of course we visited one of the most hyped , the Cologne Christmas markets. With that in mind, you can expect a market packed with people thirsty for their hot beverage, children crowding to get a Bratwürst and many people open-mouthed with the decorations and this Christmas atmosphere ( I can tell you that we were too ).
We have some posts that can help your travel planning:
- Carnival 2025 in Cologne in Germany – Tips and travel guide
- Chocolate Museum in Cologne, Germany: Complete Guide an Best Tips
The Cologne Christmas markets will run from 18 November 2024 to 5 January 2025. Read below for more details and specific dates for each of them.
Where to Stay to Visit Cologne’s Christmas Markets in Germany
The first tip for finding a good hotel is to plan ahead and book your hotel at least 3 months in advance, as the best deals sell out quickly. I ended up finding a really good hotel next to the Hauptbanhof in Cologne, just sneezed on the boarding platform.
The Wyndham Köln hotel was a great find and a great surprise. The superior room we booked is huge, comfortable and has good soundproofing. The bathroom is also nice and the amenities have a nice smell. As for breakfast, we didn’t think the price of 19 Euros per person was a good deal and decided to eat out. The Hauptbanhof itself has budget options that do the job well.
To help with travel planning, we wrote a post that makes choosing easier the best region and the best hotels to stay in Cologne in Germany.
If you are looking for a hostel, hostel accommodation, at a more affordable price, it is worth researching other options on the Cologne city page at Booking.com website.
Guided tour of the Melaten Cemetery in Cologne
Stroll through Cologne’s Melaten Cemetery and see the graves of the city’s most prominent figures on a walking tour. Immerse yourself in the tranquility and rich history of the large park with a guide.
Discover a place of silence nestled in a beautiful park with unparalleled flora and fauna in the heart of Cologne. Visit the Melaten cemetery and stroll through the complex, which covers an area of over four hundred thousand square meters and contains around 55,000 graves.
Enjoy moments of peace and tranquility during the guided tour and experience how love, death and suffering, as well as artistic culture, are intertwined. Learn interesting facts and curiosities about historical figures and impressive tombs and monuments and visit the former “Leprosenanstalt”.
What are the Christmas markets in Cologne, Germany?
But let’s get to the point! What is the Cologne Christmas market like? It is structured very similarly to all German Christmas markets: food, drink and souvenir stalls, the Pyramide (the main stall with a “reclining weather vane” on top) and performances by a choir and German Christmas carols.
The big difference is that in Cologne there are 9 main markets with their own identities, each with its own twist that makes it worth visiting. Since the markets are spread throughout the city, it’s a good idea to know which market you want to visit and plan your walking route, since it takes a while to get from one corner of the city to the other. Especially since, as we said before, it will be packed with people everywhere.
Please note : Cologne’s Christmas markets will be open from 18/11/2024 until 05/01/2025.
We have published a calendar of the German Christmas Markets in 2024, be sure to check it out.
And look, if you have time, go to all of them!
Another important question: how many days should I spend in Cologne to enjoy the Christmas markets? I think three days just to visit the Cologne markets is enough, but if you want to visit the city’s attractions, add another 2 full days.
What are the Christmas markets in Cologne, Germany in 2024?
As I said before, there are 9 Christmas markets to enjoy in Cologne, the ones in bold were the ones we visited:
- Markt der Heinzel , in the historic part of the city
- Der Himmlische or Markt der Engel on Neumarkt square
- Der Maritime or H afen-Weihnachtsmarkt am Schokoladenmuseum in front of the Chocolate Museum
- From Nikolausdorf on Rudolf Square
- Adventsmarkt on Chlodwigplatz, Christmas market on Chlodwig square
- Christmas market in the municipal garden
- Christmas Market at the Cologne Cathedral , the most famous and sought after
- Heavenue , the LGBTQ+ market in Rudolf Square
- The small Christmas market of the city , the smallest Christmas market in the city, is located in the Lutherkirche
And if these weren’t enough, there are a few more small Christmas markets scattered around the region. The city’s official website has all the information in German and English.
Calendar 2024 of Christmas Markets in Cologne, Germany
The main one, Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market ( Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom ) opens from 11 November to 23 December 2024, being Sunday to Wednesday from 11 am to 9 pm, Thursday and rainy Friday from 11 am to 10 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm.
Other Christmas markets in Cologne are:
- 18.11. – 23.12.2024 – Weihnachtsmarkt am Neumarkt
- 25.11.2024 – 05.01.2025 – Weihnachtsmarkt in the Altstadt
- 18.11. – 23.12.2024 – Nikolausdorf auf dem Rudolfplatz
- 23.11. – 23.12.2024 – Weihnachtsmarkt in Stadtgarten
- 21.11. – 23.12.2024 – Weihnachtsmarkt am Chlodwigplatz
- 20.11. – 21.12.2024 – Kleinster Weihnachtsmarkt der Stadt
- 15.11. – 23.12.2024 – Hafen-Weihnachtsmarkt am Rheinauhafen
What to visit at the Christmas markets in Cologne, Germany
We begin our journey through Cologne’s Christmas markets at Markt der Heinzel , where there is a super cool ice skating rink, a walkway that gives a great view of the market and the city, and lots of food.
In this market, the stalls look like dollhouses or fairy tales. Everything is very cute. And it was here that we rode a 116-year-old Ferris wheel!
From there we walked around the city along the Fishmarkt until we reached the Hafen-Weihnachtsmarkt , which is right next to the Lindt Schokoladenmuseum . As it was very cold and raining, we took the opportunity to go to the museum café and have a hot chocolate to cheer ourselves up. Once warmed up, we went to enjoy the Hafen-Weihnachtsmarkt Christmas market , which has a naval theme, complete with a pirate ship and everything.
We left the cherry on the cake, the Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom , until it got dark to enjoy the market lights in all their splendor. It’s beautiful, it’s crowded, it’s fascinating! The network of lights hanging from the top of the Christmas tree is enchanting. It’s worth the trouble of feeling like you’re in a can of sardines to see it up close.
It’s easy to see why it’s the most famous and sought-after Christmas market in the city. In addition to having everything that any Christmas market in Germany has, its atmosphere makes it unique. So much so that we returned the next morning to see the market open. The overcast weather helped, it was so cloudy that it almost looked like night and the photos came out beautiful. We were also able to satisfy Genoveva with more Christmas treats and watch typical German performances on the main stage.
Last tip: since it’s cold at this time of year, it’s a good idea to wear appropriate clothing and footwear. And if you don’t want to walk around the city in the cold, there’s a little train, the Weihnachtsmarkt Express , that goes through the main markets. A ticket valid for 60 minutes costs €10 for adults and €5 for children.
Another tip is to buy the KölnCard which gives you free access to public transport for 24 or 48 hours, as well as discounts on some tourist attractions.
After walking around the Christmas markets in Cologne, we ended our visit at the Ludwig Museum of Modern Art , which is a really cool place and the visit surprised us. Olivinha loved it!
Tours and Attractions Offers in Cologne, Germany
Enjoy your trip to Cologne and discover the best tours and tourist attractions in the city.
Travel Posts and Experiences in Germany
Suggestions for travel posts and experiences in Germany. If you’re planning a trip to Germany, we have some publications that can be very helpful:
- Berlin, Germany – Top 20 sights and things to do and visit
- The Best Christmas Markets in Germany
- Best travel tips for Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany
We also write about 8 of the best attractions on the Romantic Road in Germany with up-to-date tips, be sure to check it out .
Are you traveling to Germany?
Specifically about international travel by plane to Frankfurt Airport, we have the best post:
Where to stay near Frankfurt Airport Germany – FRA, Frankfurt/Main
Search for the best place to stay near Frankfurt Airport, including hotel and hostel at different prices.
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