| Cologne
 
How to get there: 
 
Next nearest Christmas Markets:
Bonn
Duesseldorf
|
22.11. – 23.12.2010
Most
Christmas Markets in Cologne will start on the 22.11.10. The
Floating Christmas Market and the Christmas Market am Stadtgarten
starts on the 25.11.10, whilst the Cologne Medieval
Christmas Market will open a day later on the 26.11.10.
11am-9pm daily
| Cologne's Christmas Markets
The city of Cologne offers
seven Christmas markets in total. Among them are four big Christmas markets - at the Cologne Cathedral, on the Alter Markt, on the Neumarkt and on the Rudolfplatz.
Every year these four markets attract almost 2 million visitors. The market at the Cologne Cathedral is the most impressive one of Cologne's Christmas markets due to the backdrop of the imposing Cathedral. Beneath the largest Christmas tree in the Rhineland you can find 160 attractively designed wooden pavilions. Here you can choose from numerous sweet delicacies, watch artisans at work and enjoy the “Original Christmas mulled wine” out of the festively decorated Christmas mugs.
The Christmas market on the Alter Markt takes place in front of narrow-gabled houses of the Old Town Hall. It has an especially idyllic atmosphere because of its half-timbered stalls. Children in particular will find lots to do here. With a nostalgic children’s roundabout, puppet theatre, Santa Claus’ grotto and many toy stands, this Christmas market in the heart of the Altstadt (Old Town) has attracted young and old to Cologne for many years.
Cologne's oldest Christmas market is the market on the Neumarkt, in the shopping area against the backdrop of the Church St. Aposteln. There, several old stands still bear witness to the origins of the market back at the beginning of the 70s. A nostalgic flavour is provided by decorative plates with illustrations of the Christmas markets with their long traditions, which are sold there alongside many other artisans’ products.The Christmas Market on the Rudolfplatz takes you to the world of fairy tales. Against the historic backdrop of the mediaeval Hahnentorburg, large fairy tale figures and festive illumination provide a special eye-catcher.
Besides the four big Christmas markets there is also a Medieval Christmas Market outside the Chocolate Museum
and a Floating Christmas Market on board MS Wappen von Mainz (KD Riverboats) alongside the old quarter.
Finally and well worth seeing is the Stadtgarten Christmas
Market, a new and fairly large Christmas Market, located on the
edge of Cologne's oldest park. The Stadtgarten Christmas Market
has a far more relaxed and village like atmosphere and it is,
apart from the traditional local food, arts & crafts, a great choice
for children's entertainment or any one young at heart.
As
Christmas approaches there is plenty of entertainment and things to
do through out Cologne, including a variety of Christmas concerts, Nativity scene displays and a huge temporary ice rink on Heumarkt.
EUROSTAR NEWS: From
the 13th December 2009 journey times from London to Cologne will be cut to just over
4 hours, making it
even easier to enjoy a real German Christmas Market in Cologne. |
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IN COLOGNE >>
Favourite Hotels in Cologne*
 Hotel
im Wasserturm
Marriott
Cologne
Excelsior
Hotel Ernst
*Independent guest satisfaction reviews, source 2010:
www.hrs.com &
www.hotel.com
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