Greetings from Cologne
Christmas markets
We came to Cologne because of a football match (Bayer Leverkusen v Newcastle in the Champions League) but you can’t visit this city in December without taking in the Christmas markets. For those of us more used to the pallid imitation in English cities, those in Germany are a real treat. In Cologne we found a series of six located in a string of open squares in the city centre, each with its own character. From the large one at the foot of the towering cathedral, to the more intimate space of Rudolfsplatz (complete with a singing reindeer!) and my personal favourite, the village style of the Alter Markt with carol singers and crafts people at work … each has its own unique appeal.
39 Comments
Jenggala Aksara
What a beautiful spot and spirit 😍
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂
Jenggala Aksara
It has been a huge pleasure .. enjoyable and fun.. you’re welcome
the eternal traveller
I would love to be in Germany one year for the Christmas markets. We just don’t have anything like that here. Cologne is one of our favourite cities. We stayed for several days in an apartment 200 metres from the Cathedral. It was a wonderful location, perfect for exploring.
Sarah Wilkie
That sounds an excellent location 🙂 Our hotel was also very near the cathedral so really convenient for that, the station and these markets!
Image Earth Travel
I love European Christmas markets – we in Australia have a lot to learn. 😉
Sarah Wilkie
In the UK too – ours are4 pale imitations, though some are better than others!
grandmisadventures
I would love to visit Cologne’s Christmas markets! Beautifully festive and perfect for this time of year
Sarah Wilkie
You would love it, I know!
Amy
How fun, Sarah! Your beautiful photos remind me the trip we made to Germany years ago.
Sarah Wilkie
Glad to have transported you back to Germany Amy 😀
thehungrytravellers.blog
Got here at last! German Christmas markets are as you say always well done, although I’ve only been to two (Baden Baden and Bremen). I really wish I liked Glühwein but I can’t stomach it unfortunately! Sounds like you had a good trip despite the late equaliser…
Sarah Wilkie
Yeah, the late equaliser was a bit of a bummer, though we’d have settled for a draw before the game! Apart from that it was a great trip – plenty of beer (Kölsch is oddly served traditionally only in .2 l glasses, and most bars stick with that tradition, but it does mean your drink is always cool and fresh tasting), only the one Glühwein (because you have to and I quite like it!), good food, great company and a little bit of shopping in the markets. Oh, and a lovely sunny walk by the Rhine one morning, which will no doubt come up in a future post 😀
thehungrytravellers.blog
In which case I must talk to you about Düsseldorf one day…and its Altbier…
Sarah Wilkie
I like Altbier – but I’ve never drunk it in Düsseldorf!
thehungrytravellers.blog
Always served straight from a barrel which usually sits on the bar, always in very small glasses. I maintain that it’s the closest beer to English ale that exists abroad .
Annie Berger
I’ve heard great things about the Christmas markets in Germany, France, and Luxembourg. Looks like you found some great ones in Cologne, Sarah. I know that there’s a German Christmas market in downtown Denver now – that would be the closest we would get anytime soon. I hope Newcastle won the match!
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, German Christmas markets are excellent Annie 🙂 As I said to Leanne below, the so-called ‘German’ Christmas markets we get in the UK are pale imitations, but hopefully your Denver one would be closer to the real thing.
No, we didn’t win, but did get a draw – not bad away from home against a big club.
Leanne Cole
I think I would do the same Sarah, looks amazing.
Sarah Wilkie
Definitely the best Christmas markets I’ve been to, though Karlsruhe some years ago was also good. The ‘German’ Christmas markets we get in the UK are pale imitations!
Ju-Lyn
Nice! Lovely way to enjoy the Christmas vibes. Did you eat lots of nice things and pick up pressies?
Sarah Wilkie
I’d done most of my Christmas shopping before we went, and as we were travelling light I didn’t want to buy a lot, but I did get a few little extras and also a nice decoration for our own tree as a souvenir! As for the food, yes lots of tasty things to eat 😀
margaret21
What fun!
Sarah Wilkie
It was indeed! On our way home now though.
margaret21
It’s raining ….
Sarah Wilkie
Great 😧 ☔️
Egídio
Wonderful!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Egidio 😀
Rebecca
Ah, lovely! I visited the Cologne Christmas markets years ago while still living in Europe. I only checked out the markets next to the cathedral, and it was utterly magical in the evening. I’m glad you had a wonderful time there, too!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Rebecca 😊 We loved all four of the markets we went to, for different reasons, but the ones nearest to the cathedral have the best backdrop of course!
Anonymous
sounds marvellous, Sarah – the continentals know how to put on a Christmas market!
Sarah Wilkie
And the Germans in particular!
Monkey's Tale
Beautiful!! That will put anyone in the Christmas spirit. Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Maggie 😊
Yvonne Dumsday
Here’s hoping you enjoyed both the football and the market. 😊
Sarah Wilkie
We’ve had a great trip, thanks Yvonne 😀
Forestwood
Not sure if the comment was lost so I will rewrite it. The German Christmas markets are first class. I still have a mug from the glögg stall at the Munich markets. It just feels like a real Christmas atmosphere compared to Australia in December. We travelled the whole German nation one year going from market to Christmas market.
Sarah Wilkie
I didn’t receive any comment from you other than this one Amanda, so I’m grateful you persevered! That trip across Germany to visit so many of the markets must have been a very festive one 🙂
Forestwood
It certainly was a festive trip, Sarah. I used Insight tours then, which at the time provided a wonderful tour experience. I normally travel independently but could not have reached all the places that particular tour visited.