Christmas walks in Cologne

Walk Cologne's Christmas markets at night, from the stalls under the twin spires of the cathedral to the gnome-themed market in the old town. Cologne has several large markets close together, so one evening is enough to walk between them.

The cathedral market stands right below the west front of Cologne Cathedral, under a canopy of thousands of small lights strung from a huge tree. A few minutes away, Heinzels Wintermärchen fills the Alter Markt and Heumarkt with stalls themed on the Heinzelmännchen, the helpful house gnomes of a Cologne legend, plus an ice rink. On Neumarkt the Markt der Engel has white stalls and costumed angels walking through the crowd, and by the Rhine a harbour market sits beside the Chocolate Museum.

Every market has its own Glühwein mug, and many people collect them. The local market snack is Reibekuchen, crisp potato pancakes eaten hot with apple sauce. The markets usually open in the second half of November and close just before Christmas.

Cologne city guide and walks →All Christmas walks →