Cologne Christmas Markets 2026

Holiday market

• 📷 Superbass · CC BY-SA 3.0
  

  📷 Superbass · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Holiday market · Cologne

  Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom)

  🎉 With friends✨ Date night

  What's there

  • ★Right at the foot of Cologne Cathedral
  • ★Live music on the stage
  • ★High-quality jewelry and crafts

  What visitors sayGoogle 4.5 ★ · 409 reviews

  Many are surprised how beautifully it is decorated and find the value for money fair. At weekends from 4 pm, however, it is so full that you are simply pushed along. Mondays and midday are relaxed.

  Cologne's best-known market - visit on a weekday during the day, then walk to the Heinzels in the Old Town.

  2026

  16 Nov - 23 Dec 2026

  Cost

  Free entry.

  Getting there and parking

  • The main station is right next door (lift to the cathedral square).

  Worth knowing

  • Sunday to Wednesday 11:00-21:00, Thursday and Friday until 22:00, Saturday 10:00-22:00.

  Roncallipl., 50667 KölnOfficial site
• 📷 Corradox · CC BY-SA 4.0
  

  📷 Corradox · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Holiday market · Cologne

  Heinzel's Winter Fairytale - Old Town Christmas Market (Heinzels Wintermärchen)

  🧒 With kids🎉 With friends

  What's there

  • ★Cologne's largest Christmas market
  • ★Ice rink looping through the market
  • ★Ice stock shooting
  • ★Heinzelmännchen (house elf) decorations

  What visitors sayGoogle 4.6 ★ · 299 reviews

  Many consider it Cologne's best market, mainly because of the ice rink in the middle of it. It is also open after Christmas. Criticism: very cramped and crowded even on weekdays; the ice rink is expensive.

  Cologne's market for families - because of the ice rink; come on a weekday evening or after Christmas.

  2026

  23 Nov 2026 - 10 Jan 2027

  Cost

  Free entry; ice rink costs extra, skate hire on site.

  Getting there and parking

  • Tram stop Heumarkt (lines 1, 5, 7, 9) or Rathaus (5); within walking distance of the main station.
  • The Christmas Market Express links all Cologne markets.

  Worth knowing

  • Open until 10 January 2027 (daily 11:00-22:00 until 30 December).

  Innenstadt, 50678 KölnOfficial site
• 📷 Superbass · CC BY-SA 4.0
  

  📷 Superbass · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Holiday market · Cologne

  Angels' Market (Markt der Engel)

  ✨ Date night🧒 With kids

  What's there

  • ★On Neumarkt in Cologne
  • ★Angels walk through the market
  • ★Fairytale lighting
  • ★Cheese bratwurst and hot mulled wine

  What visitors sayGoogle 4.7 ★ · 127 reviews

  Many consider it Cologne's prettiest market: harmonious, cozy, lovingly designed, with more moderate prices than elsewhere in the city. It is overcrowded at weekends; some note a drug scene at the underground entrances at Neumarkt.

  The most atmospheric of Cologne's city-centre markets - go on a weekday afternoon.

  2026

  16 Nov - 23 Dec 2026

  Cost

  Free entry; mulled wine and the mug deposit are on the high side.

  Getting there and parking

  • Underground/tram to Neumarkt.

  Worth knowing

  • On weekday afternoons it is relaxed.

  Neumarkt, 50667 KölnOfficial site
• Illustration

  Holiday market · Cologne

  HEAVENUE

  🎉 With friends

  What's there

  • ★Queer Christmas market on Friesenplatz
  • ★Loud, colorful decorations
  • ★Fair prices
  • ★Card payment

  What visitors sayGoogle 4.6 ★ · 75 reviews

  A colorful, lively oasis in Cologne's grey city centre - the decorations are so over the top that they become great again. Visitors praise the friendly staff, the variety and the humane prices.

  Cologne's happiest market - perfect for an evening with friends.

  2026

  16 Nov - 23 Dec 2026

  Cost

  Free entry, humane prices; card payment only.

  Getting there and parking

  • Underground/tram to Friesenplatz.

  Worth knowing

  • Bring a card or phone to pay.

  Friesenpl., 50672 KölnOfficial site
• Illustration

  Holiday market · Cologne

  Cologne Harbour Christmas Market at the Chocolate Museum (Hafen-Weihnachtsmarkt)

  ✨ Date night🎉 With friends

  What's there

  • ★Right on the Rhine by the Chocolate Museum
  • ★White tents instead of chalets
  • ★Crafts from small regional traders
  • ★High-quality food

  What visitors sayGoogle 4.6 ★ · 67 reviews

  A little away from the city-centre markets and therefore more pleasant: a waterside location, good mulled wine and stalls that are better than at other markets. Sometimes empty in the evening; the organisation at the drinks tent was recently criticised.

  Cologne's most relaxed market with a view of the Rhine - ideal in the morning or until 4 pm.

  2026

  13 Nov 2026 - 3 Jan 2027

  Cost

  Free entry; mulled wine around EUR 4.50.

  Getting there and parking

  • 15 minutes on foot from the cathedral along the Rhine; bus to Schokoladenmuseum.

  Worth knowing

  • Combine it with the Chocolate Museum.

  Am Schokoladenmuseum 1a, 50678 KölnOfficial site

• Holiday market · Cologne

  Smallest Christmas Market in the City (Kleinster Weihnachtsmarkt der Stadt)

  🎉 With friends✨ Date night

  What's there

  • ★Charity market run by KG Ponyhof at the Kartäuserkirche
  • ★Live programme
  • ★Moderate prices
  • ★Egg liqueur with cream, heart-shaped waffles

  What visitors sayGoogle 4.6 ★ · 53 reviews

  Small, cozy, with quality instead of trinkets and nice helpers - and the money goes to good causes. Not too crowded on weekdays.

  Cologne's most likeable mini market - mulled wine for a good cause.

  Dates

  2026 dates to be confirmed

  Cost

  Free entry, moderate prices.

  Getting there and parking

  • Tram to Ulrepforte or Chlodwigplatz.

  Worth knowing

  • It is cosiest on weekdays.

  Volksgartenstraße 27, 50677 KölnOfficial site

• Holiday market · Cologne

  Ehrenfeld Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt in Ehrenfeld)

  🎉 With friends✨ Date night

  What's there

  • ★Small market in Ehrenfeld
  • ★"Warmer Himmel" (warm sky) and a special mulled wine
  • ★Friendly organizers

  What visitors sayGoogle 4.8 ★ · 30 reviews

  A real insider tip: cozy like your own garden, with especially friendly people and special products.

  Cologne's cosiest neighborhood (Veedel) market.

  Dates

  2026 dates to be confirmed

  Cost

  Free entry.

  Getting there and parking

  • S-Bahn to Köln-Ehrenfeld.

  Worth knowing

  • Try the "Warmer Himmel".

  Bartholomäus-Schink-Straße 2, 50825 EhrenfeldOfficial site

• Holiday market · Cologne

  Christmas Market at Herbrands (Weihnachtsmarkt im Herbrands)

  🎉 With friends

  What's there

  • ★Market on the Herbrands site in Ehrenfeld
  • ★Creative, regional stalls

  What visitors say

  Previously praised for creative, handmade stalls; more recently criticised for few stalls and a long wait to return the deposit.

  A small neighborhood market - combine it with the Ehrenfeld market.

  2026

  20 Nov - 23 Dec 2026

  Cost

  Free entry.

  Getting there and parking

  • S-Bahn to Köln-Ehrenfeld.

  Worth knowing

  • Return your deposit on your next purchase.

  Herbrandstraße 21, 50825 EhrenfeldOfficial site

• Holiday market · Cologne

  Stadtgarten Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt im Stadtgarten)

  🎉 With friends✨ Date night

  What's there

  • ★Market in Cologne's Stadtgarten, a little alternative
  • ★Stalls with handmade goods, cards and enamelware
  • ★Organic winemaker's mulled wine
  • ★Street food such as empanadas and grilled cheese next to potato fritters

  What visitors say

  Those who like the market praise the family atmosphere with many locals, lovely craft stalls, clean toilets and mulled wine mugs without deposit. Long-standing regulars are disappointed: mulled wine at around EUR 5.60, potato fritters at EUR 8-9 and a lukewarm currywurst are criticised, as are hygiene at one waffle stall and litter around the park.

  Worth a visit for crafts and the atmosphere in the park - better to be picky about the food.

  Last season

  14 Nov - 23 Dec 2025

  Cost

  Free entry. Mulled wine around EUR 5.60, potato fritters EUR 7.90-8.90, waffle around EUR 4.50.

  Getting there and parking

  • Venloer Straße 40 in Cologne, in the Stadtgarten.

  Worth knowing

  • On weekdays the market only opens in the afternoon (Mon-Fri from 4 pm according to the organizer).
  • Mulled wine mugs without deposit.

  Venloer Str. 40, 50672 KölnOfficial site

• Holiday market · Cologne

  Veihnachtsmarkt (vegan Christmas market)

  🎉 With friends

  What's there

  • ★Vegan Christmas market of Cologne's Voodmarkt
  • ★Plant-based street food
  • ★Crêpes and other treats

  What visitors say

  The only review praises the tasty food but sees it more as a food market than a Christmas market; the queues at all stalls were very long and crêpes cost EUR 7.

  Worth a detour for fans of vegan street food - do not expect a Christmassy market feel.

  Dates

  2026 dates to be confirmed

  Cost

  Crêpes EUR 7 according to a visitor.

  Getting there and parking

  • Köln-Kalk (Steinmetzstraße 57 according to the listing).

  Worth knowing

  • Allow for long queues.
  • Check the date and place beforehand at voodmarkt.de or on Instagram (@vood.markt).

  Steinmetzstraße 57, 51103 Köln-KalkOfficial site
• Illustration

  Holiday market · Cologne

  Winter Market at the CBE (Wintermarkt im CBE)

  🧒 With kids🎉 With friends

  What's there

  • ★In the back yard of Club Bahnhof Ehrenfeld
  • ★Free craft corner for children
  • ★Mulled wine for EUR 4
  • ★Dry under the railway arches when it rains

  What visitors say

  Consistently enthusiastic: a sweet, hidden market behind the tracks, cheap mulled wine, nice staff and a free craft corner for children.

  An Ehrenfeld insider tip for families and cheap mulled wine.

  Dates

  2026 dates to be confirmed

  Cost

  Free entry; mulled wine EUR 4 (2025).

  Getting there and parking

  • Bartholomäus-Schink-Straße 65 in Köln-Ehrenfeld, behind the railway tracks.

  Worth knowing

  • Stand under the arches when it rains.

  Bartholomäus-Schink-Straße 65, 50825 EhrenfeldOfficial site

• Holiday market · Cologne

  Max und Moritz Wine Market (Max und Moritz Weinmarkt)

  🎉 With friends✨ Date night

  What's there

  • ★Small wine market on Lenauplatz in Ehrenfeld
  • ★From the end of November until shortly before Christmas

  A neighborhood meeting place with wine instead of mulled wine - for Ehrenfeld evenings.

  Last season

  28 Nov - 23 Dec 2025

  Cost

  Free entry.

  Getting there and parking

  • Lenauplatz in Köln-Ehrenfeld.

  Worth knowing

  • 2025: 28 Nov - 23 Dec.

  Lenaupl., 50825 EhrenfeldOfficial site