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Christmas markets in Cologne 2025: Mulled wine and magic in Advent!
Discover the festive atmosphere of the Christmas markets in the Oberbergischer Kreis and the surrounding area - dates, highlights and more!
Christmas markets in Cologne 2025: Mulled wine and magic in Advent!
When the cold season begins and the first lights shine, the people of Cologne are magically drawn to the Christmas markets in the city. This year too, the markets promise a festive atmosphere with fragrant mulled wine, roasted almonds and all sorts of delicacies. According to that Cologne City Gazette The most popular Christmas market, the one at Cologne Cathedral, opens its doors on November 17th and remains open until December 23rd. A real highlight for anyone who wants to get into the festive mood this year.
That too Cologne portal emphasizes that the Christmas markets in Cologne start around November 20th this year, although the particularly small markets in the districts take a little longer and usually only open in December. For example, the Christmas market in Cologne-Sülz, which also opens its doors to visitors from the end of November until shortly before Christmas.
The big and small markets
The Christmas markets in Cologne have something to offer for every taste. For example, you can find Heinzel's Winter Fairy Tale on the Heumarkt, which is considered the largest market in the old town and from November 24th to January 5th next year will bring whispering children, happy adults and of course lots of shining stars. This big event doesn't just attract tourists; the city itself shines in full splendor during this time.
Interestingly, Cologne Cathedral is not only the most popular, but also the largest Christmas market in the city, attracting around five million visitors each season. This shows that the combination of impressive scenery and classic delicacies such as dominoes and festive punch variations are always very popular.
Dates and opening times
Here is an overview of the major Christmas markets in Cologne for 2025:
| market | Data | Opening hours | Rest of the day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas market at Cologne Cathedral | November 17th – December 23, 2025 | Sun-Wed 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Thu+Fri 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-10 p.m | 11/23 |
| Heinzel's winter fairy tale | November 24, 2025 – January 5, 2026 | 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (from December 26th to 9 p.m.) | December 24th and 25th |
| Market of Angels | November 17th – December 23, 2025 | Sun-Thurs 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri and Sat 11 a.m. to 10 p.m | 11/23 |
| Christmas market in the city garden | 14.11. – December 23, 2025 | Mon-Fri 4 p.m. - 9.30 p.m., Sat and Sun 12 p.m. - 9.30 p.m | 11/23 |
| Cologne harbor Christmas market | 14.11. – December 23, 2025 | Sun-Thurs 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri and Sat 11 a.m. to 10 p.m | December 24th and 25th |
Another special feature are the new options for parking and traffic, which should probably be taken into account Cologne Tourism informed. This is particularly important when you consider the large number of visitors on the weekends and in the run-up to Christmas.
Cologne shines during this festive period, and the various Christmas markets invite you to enjoy the pre-Christmas atmosphere. No matter whether you want to sip mulled wine with the family or spend a romantic time for two - the city's numerous events and markets transform Cologne into a true winter wonderland! The Advent Sundays can be kept in mind closely: the first Advent begins on November 30th, followed by the next ones on December 7th, 14th and 21st.