Mini-guide Cologne Christmas markets

Cologne · Bonn is wonderful but Cologne is also definitely worth a visit to check out the many different Christmas markets. Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect there.

Creative, warm, colorful, maritime or with a medieval flair - there are so many Christmas markets in Cologne to choose from and many will be opening soon. Visitors can shop, walk around and just soak up the atmosphere of the pre-Christmas season. It doesn’t cost a thing to step inside and culinary aromas and delights will be there waiting to tempt you as well as all sorts of unique handmade items, Christmas decorations and the like. Here’s a mini-guide to some Christmas markets you may want to visit.

Cologne Cathedral: Around 4 million visitors from Germany and abroad come to visit this Christmas market every year. It’s the most popular of its kind in Germany. Around 150 stands and booths are built up at the foot of the Cathedral in the shape of a star, with a twinkling net of starlights above. In the center is a 25-meter tall Christmas tree, visible for quite some distance. Splendid scenery but often very full. Tip: go in the morning. Open: Nov. 21 - Dec. 23, Sun. - Wed. 11 am - 10 pm, Sat. 10 am - 10 pm, www.koelner-wiehnachtsmarkt.com

Altdstadt (Old town): This market is grouped into themes based on the “Heinzelmännchen” - house gnomes from a tale of Cologne, little folk who do all sorts of work during the night. This year for the first time, there are not only “Heinzelmen” but also a couple of “Heinzelwomen”. This is part of the oldest and biggest Christmas market scene in Cologne, reaching all the way to Heumarkt. It is dominated by a 2,400 square meter ice skating rink (admission fee). Open from Nov. 21 - Jan. 8, every day 11 am - 10 pm. Closed on Dec. 24 & 25. www.heimat-der-heinzel.de

Neumarkt: This is called the “Market of the Angel”. There are angel Christmas lights, figures and also real angels in glistening white and silver who show visitors the way. Every Thursday at 6 pm, St. Nicholas comes riding in on a horse. Open from Nov. 21 - Dec. 23, Sun. - Thurs. 11 am - 9 pm, Fri./Sat. 11 am - 10 pm. www.markt-der-engel.de

Rudolfplatz: “Nicholas village” is the name of this market. 60 small timbered-house like structures make up the market, which sits in the backdrop of a medieval gate called Hahnentor. Attractions here are a giant Advent calendar, village chapel, and a place where kids can go get creative - under supervision until 7 pm. It’s warm and cozy for them and a hand puppet called Niko tells Christmas stories (daily at 5 pm). Open Nov. 21 - Dec. 23, Sun. - Thurs. 11 am - 9 pm, Fri. 11 am - 10 pm, Sat. 10 am - 10 pm. www.nikolausdorf.com

Rheinauhafen: Next to the Chocolate Museum at the Rhine River, this market takes on a maritime flavor. White tents appear as sails on a ship and in the middle is a 15 meter long three-masted schooner. A lighted tower holds a dive bar. More than 70 Christmas stands are set up on wooden planks. Tip: visit the Chocolate Museum afterwards. Open: Nov. 18 - Dec. 23, Sun. - Thurs. 11 am - 9 pm, Fri./Sat. 11 am - 10 pm (closed on Nov. 20 for Sunday of the Dead). www.hafen-weihnachstmarkt

Stadtgarten: A little bit removed from the hustle and bustle of the inner city but not too far (between the Bahnhof West on Hans-Böckler-Platz and Friesenplatz) is a real jewel. When the big trees in Cologne’s oldest park are lit up at night, it’s oh so romantic. This Christmas market started ten years ago as an alternative market and many of the 90 stands offer unusual and unique gift ideas. Open Nov. 21 - Dec. 23, Mon. - Fri. 4 - 9:30 pm, Sat./Sun. 12 - 9:30 pm. www.weihnachtsmarkt-stadtgarten.de

Mauritiuswall: You will not find “Christmas Avenue” on any Cologne map. But during the pre-Christmas season, you will see it in the area of Mauritiuswall/Schaafenstraße and Pilgrimstraße. Cologne’s first gay Christmas market premiered in 2012 - and already then there were 120,000 visitors. Stand are decorated in pink and purple and there is a stage program filled with color and diversity. Open Nov. 21 - Dec. 23, Mon. - Fri. 12 - 10 pm, Sat./Sun. 12 - 11 pm. www.christmas-avenue.cologne

Orig. text: Susanne Schramm

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