GERMANY
Cologne Christmas Markets 2026
Cologne holds several big Christmas markets a short walk apart: the one beside the cathedral, the Old Town market with its ice rink, the Market of Angels on Neumarkt and a harbour market by the Chocolate Museum.
Christmas Market at Cologne Cathedral
Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom (Markt der Herzen)
| Dates | 16 November to 23 December 2026 |
|---|---|
| Closed | Sunday 22 November |
| Opening Times |
Closed on Totensonntag, Sunday 22 November 2026. |
| Where | Roncalliplatz, beside the cathedral Open in Maps |
| Official page | www.koelnerweihnachtsmarkt.com |
| Hotels | Hotels in Cologne near the market affiliate |
Checked against KW Kölner Weihnachtsgesellschaft mbH (organiser), 20 October 2026.
Heinzels Winter Fairytale (Old Town Christmas market with ice rink)
Heinzels Wintermärchen
| Dates | 23 November 2026 to 10 January 2027 |
|---|---|
| Closed | Thursday 24 December, Friday 25 December |
| Opening Times |
Heumarkt runs 23 Nov 2026 – 10 Jan 2027 (closed 24 and 25 Dec). The Alter Markt section runs only 23 Nov – 23 Dec 2026, daily 11am–10pm. |
| Where | Heumarkt and Alter Markt, Old Town (Altstadt) Open in Maps |
| Official page | www.heinzels-wintermaerchen.de |
Checked against Heinzel GmbH (organiser), 20 October 2026.
Market of Angels
Markt der Engel
| Dates | 16 November to 23 December 2026 |
|---|---|
| Closed | Sunday 22 November |
| Opening Times |
Mulled-wine stalls stay open an hour longer (10pm Sun–Thu, 11pm Fri–Sat). Closed Totensonntag 22 Nov 2026. Closes at 9pm on Wednesday 23 December. |
| Where | Neumarkt Open in Maps |
| Official page | www.markt-der-engel.de |
Checked against Markt der Engel (organiser), 20 October 2026.
Harbour Christmas Market at the Chocolate Museum
Hafen-Weihnachtsmarkt am Schokoladenmuseum
| Dates | 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 |
|---|---|
| Closed | Thursday 24 December, Friday 25 December |
| Opening Times |
Sun 15 Nov 2026 (Volkstrauertag) opens 1pm; Sun 22 Nov 2026 (Totensonntag) opens 6pm. Closed 24 and 25 December. |
| Where | In front of the Chocolate Museum, Rheinauhafen (Rhine riverside) Open in Maps |
| Entry | Free |
| Official page | www.hafen-weihnachtsmarkt.de |
Checked against Hafen-Weihnachtsmarkt am Schokoladenmuseum (organiser), 20 October 2026; Schokoladenmuseum Köln (venue host), 20 October 2026.
Organisers can change hours or close early in bad weather: check the official page before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Making a Trip of It
Staying over? Most visitors from the UK make it a weekend. See hotels in Cologne for two nights, priced for the first weekend the market is open. affiliate link
Or see it from the river. Riviera Travel's Christmas river cruises call at Cologne and other market cities, with excursions to the markets. Christmas river cruises on Riviera Travel affiliate link
More Christmas Markets in Europe
- Prague 28 Nov 2026 to 6 Jan 2027
- Strasbourg
- Bruges 20 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
- Krakow 27 Nov 2026 to 6 Jan 2027
- Vienna 13 Nov to 26 Dec 2026
- Brussels 27 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
- Amsterdam 3 to 27 Dec 2026
- Berlin 23 Nov to 31 Dec 2026
- Budapest 13 Nov 2026 to 1 Jan 2027
- Colmar 23 Nov to 29 Dec 2026
- Copenhagen 13 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
- Munich 20 Nov to 24 Dec 2026
- Nuremberg 27 Nov to 24 Dec 2026
- Tallinn 20 Nov 2026 to 6 Jan 2027
- Dublin 20 Nov to 31 Dec 2026
- Lille 18 Nov to 30 Dec 2026
- Paris
- Salzburg 19 Nov 2026 to 1 Jan 2027
- Frankfurt 23 Nov to 22 Dec 2026