Weekendo
opens Fri 13 November, 11:00
Harbour Christmas Market (Chocolate Museum, Cologne)
On the Rhine in front of the Chocolate Museum, the harbour market is the first in Cologne to open and stays open until 3 January.
Christmas markets near Cologne 2026
31 Christmas markets within about an hour's drive of Cologne (up to 75 km as the crow flies), 4 of them across the border. The closest: Christmas Market at Cologne Cathedral in Cologne (≈ 10 min by car). Drive times are estimates; for an exact route use 'On the way'.
This weekend
opens Fri 13 November, 11:00
opens Thu 12 November, 11:00
Duisburg Christmas Market
Market along Königstraße through Duisburg's whole city centre, with an ice rink for Bavarian curling. 12 November to 30 December 2026.
Essen International Christmas Market
Large city-centre market stretching from the light-canopied Kennedyplatz to a medieval market on Flachsmarkt. 13 November to 23 December 2026.
All markets
31 markets
Christmas Market at Cologne Cathedral
Right below the cathedral's twin spires on Roncalliplatz, Cologne's best-known market brings red-roofed stalls, a giant tree and a canopy of lights.
opens Mon 23 November, 11:00
Heinzels Wintermärchen (Cologne Old Town)
Cologne's market of the Heinzelmännchen house elves spreads over Alter Markt and Heumarkt, with a large open-air ice rink running into January.
opens Fri 13 November, 11:00
Harbour Christmas Market (Chocolate Museum, Cologne)
On the Rhine in front of the Chocolate Museum, the harbour market is the first in Cologne to open and stays open until 3 January.
opens Mon 16 November, 11:00
Markt der Engel – Angels' Market (Neumarkt, Cologne)
On Neumarkt in the heart of the shopping district, the Angels' Market glows with thousands of star lights in the trees and angels strolling between white stalls.
opens Mon 16 November, 11:00
Nikolausdorf – St Nicholas Village (Rudolfplatz, Cologne)
In front of the medieval Hahnentorburg gate, a 'village' of huts where St Nicholas makes his rounds every day and local Kölsch bands play in the evening.
opens Wed 18 November, 12:00
Bonn Christmas Market
More than 160 stalls across Bonn's pedestrian centre, from Münsterplatz and its Beethoven statue to Friedensplatz.
opens Sat 12 December, 11:00
Zülpich Christmas market
Christmas market in Zülpich (Siechhaus-Café) — from 12 December to 13 December 2026, 11:00–18:00. A local market: check the details with the organiser before you go.
Düsseldorf Christmas Market
Several themed markets link the old town, the Königsallee and the Rhine, with a Ferris wheel, an ice rink and opening until 30 December.
opens Thu 19 November, 11:00
Düren Christmas market
Christmas market in Düren (Innenstadt Düren) — on 19 November, 20 November, 21 November, 23 November, 24 November, 25 November, 26 November, 27 November, 28 November, 29 November, 30 November, 1 December, 2 December, 3 December, 4 December, 5 December, 6 December, 7 December, 8 December, 9 December,
opens Fri 20 November, 13:00
Bad Münstereifel Christmas Market
In this walled Eifel town, the 'WinterZauber' market runs between half-timbered houses and City Outlet stores until 30 December.
opens Sat 28 November, 15:00
Hürtgenwald Christmas market
Christmas market in Hürtgenwald (Dorfplatz Bergstein) — from 28 November to 29 November 2026, 15:00–23:59. Free entry. A local market: check the details with the organiser before you go.
opens Sun 29 November, 11:00
Kall Christmas market (Kneipen-Weihnachtsmarkt)
Christmas market in Kall (Gaststätte Gier) — Sunday 29 November 2026, 11:00–18:00. A local market: check the details with the organiser before you go.
opens Sat 28 November, 14:00
Simmerath Christmas market
Christmas market in Simmerath (Förderverein Rurberger Weihnachtsmarkt e.V.) — on 28 November, 29 November, 5 December, 6 December, 12 December and 13 December 2026, 14:00–19:00. Free entry. A local market: check the details with the organiser before you go.
opens Sat 5 December, 12:00
Kall Christmas market (Kloster Steinfeld)
Christmas market in Kall (Basilika Steinfeld) — from 5 December to 6 December 2026, 12:00–20:00. Free entry. A local market: check the details with the organiser before you go.
opens Sat 12 December, 14:00
Wershofen Christmas market
Christmas market in Wershofen (Dorfladen | Dorfspezi) — Saturday 12 December 2026, 14:00–23:59. Free entry. A local market: check the details with the organiser before you go.
opens Thu 12 November, 11:00
Duisburg Christmas Market
Market along Königstraße through Duisburg's whole city centre, with an ice rink for Bavarian curling. 12 November to 30 December 2026.
Essen International Christmas Market
Large city-centre market stretching from the light-canopied Kennedyplatz to a medieval market on Flachsmarkt. 13 November to 23 December 2026.
opens Fri 27 November, 17:00
Hellenthal Christmas market (Burg Reifferscheid)
Christmas market in Hellenthal (Burg Reifferscheid) — from 27 November to 29 November 2026, 17:00–22:00. A local market: check the details with the organiser before you go.
opens Sat 28 November, 16:00
Hellenthal Christmas market (Auf dem Raubritterweg zum)
Christmas market in Hellenthal (Grenzlandhalle Hellenthal) — Saturday 28 November 2026, 16:00–23:59. A local market: check the details with the organiser before you go.
opens Sat 5 December, 14:00
Roetgen Christmas market
Christmas market in Roetgen (Rathausplatz in Roetgen) — on 5 December, 6 December, 12 December and 13 December 2026, 14:00–21:00. A local market: check the details with the organiser before you go.
Aachen Christmas Market
Aachen's big Christmas market wraps around the cathedral and town hall, with the famous Printen gingerbread and stalls tucked into the old-town lanes.
opens Sat 21 November, 14:00
Blankenheim Christmas market
Christmas market in Blankenheim (St. Johann Baptist Kirche Ripsdorf) — Saturday 21 November 2026, 14:00–23:59. A local market: check the details with the organiser before you go.
opens Fri 27 November, 11:00
Monschau Christmas Market
On the four Advent weekends, the half-timbered town of Monschau in the narrow Rur valley turns into a storybook Christmas setting.
hours not confirmed yet
Raeren Christmas market
Christmas market in Raeren — from 28 November to 29 November 2026. At the foot of Raeren Castle, on the first Advent weekend.
hours not confirmed yet
Wintertijd Heerlen
Winter village on two squares in central Heerlen: ice rink, ice slide, curling, a winter café and a winter market on some Sundays.
hours not confirmed yet
Kelmis Christmas village
Christmas market in Kelmis — from 5 December to 6 December 2026.
opens Fri 27 November, 16:00
Dahlem Christmas market
Christmas market in Dahlem (Historischer Burgbering) — from 27 November to 29 November 2026, 16:00–22:00. A local market: check the details with the organiser before you go.
opens Thu 19 November, 11:00
Dortmund Christmas Town (Dortmunder Weihnachtsstadt)
One of Europe's biggest markets, centred on a 45-metre giant tree on Hansaplatz. 19 November to 30 December 2026, free entry.
opens Sat 5 December, 14:00
Birgel Christmas market
Christmas market in Birgel (Historische Wassermühle Birgel) — from 5 December to 6 December 2026, 14:00–21:00. A local market: check the details with the organiser before you go.
opens Fri 11 December, 14:00
Eupen Christmas Market
The 54th edition of the Euregio's oldest Christmas market: more than 90 chalets in Eupen's upper town, for a single weekend.
opens Sat 28 November, 12:00
Hillesheim Christmas market
Christmas market in Hillesheim (Am Viehmarkt 54576 Hillesheim) — from 28 November to 29 November 2026, 12:00–20:00. A local market: check the details with the organiser before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Which Christmas market is the closest?
Christmas Market at Cologne Cathedral — Cologne, ≈ 0 km, ≈ 10 min; 16 November – 23 December.
Which ones are across the border?
Raeren Christmas market, ≈ 80 min; Wintertijd Heerlen, ≈ 85 min; Kelmis Christmas village, ≈ 90 min; Eupen Christmas Market, ≈ 90 min.
Which markets are open this weekend?
Harbour Christmas Market (Chocolate Museum, Cologne); Duisburg Christmas Market; Essen International Christmas Market.
Are there free Christmas markets?
Yes, 20 of 31 have free entry, for example Duisburg Christmas Market, Harbour Christmas Market (Chocolate Museum, Cologne), Essen International Christmas Market.
By region
Brussels-Capital Region 5Wallonia 59Flanders 6East Belgium 8Belgian Ardennes 16Dutch Limburg 6Eifel and Aachen region 20North Rhine-Westphalia 31Lorraine 21Hauts-de-France 5Champagne-Ardenne 3Île-de-France 6
Near you
Brussels 38Antwerp 21Ghent 33Liège 60Namur 48Charleroi 44Mons 37Leuven 41Hasselt 47Maastricht 49Aachen 61Luxembourg 41Lille 19