The Nikolausdorf Rudolfplatz Christmas market is smaller than some of the others in Koln and a bit…read morefurther away from the cathedral and downtown. We visited on our first night because it was close to our hotel and we were tired from the flight and travel. When you visit the Christmas markets in Germany, you can get gluwhine or hot chocolate to drink and pay a deposit for the mug. This markets mug is the cutest because it's boot shaped, and there are boot sculptures you can strike a picture pose with. Of course, I opted to keep the boot shaped mug. The only reason for four stars instead of five is that this market doesn't have as much selection for items to purchase/crafts/gifts as some of the others. It's still a great market and the only one with a boot shaped mug.

Although very pretty, there isnt much there. its a nice place to meet and eat and drink with…read morefriends though.

This is one of a few "Medieval-themed" Christmas Markets in Germany. I've seen another one in…read moreDresden before (pre-COVID pandemic since all the Christmas markets are closed down in Bavaria, Saxony and many other places again this year). You may have a sense of being taken back in time (with sights and smell) for a moment or two to the Middle Ages with costumed artisans and merchants, bonfire, music, some attractions and certain foods they offer. Often times, Glühwein is served in a simple clay cup at such a Medieval Christmas market, and it was no exception here (photo). It's not a very large market, but you can really get a kick out of this place since it's really different from your ordinary ones around. After all, where else can you eat some pork from a whole pig roasted on a spit, or ride a taxidermy wild pig on a merry-go-round?? If you are in the area...or on your way to Köln, you have to stop here for an hour or two to enjoy this small but very out of ordinary weihnachtsmarkt for sure.

Very interesting middle age market. People put quite a lot of effort in reliving the old time from…read morethe clothes, music, food, bonfire, dishes, shop decoration... Even though it's quite small, it's really worth a visit! We love to drink the met there (it's a kind of honey wine) which is sweet, nice and warm!

great decor, amazing dj for 2025, and the best bratwurst from the entire trip. vibe was very uni…read morenight out so it was crowded and fun

This market is so pretty to see at night, the trees are lit up with Christmas stars which makes it…read morefeel magical. They have a very unique mug for those who like to collect them.

This was my favorite Christmas Market in Köln. Everything is gnome and fairytale themed, with…read morehandmade items at most booths and a huge ice skating rink. I read to go to the markets during the daytime hours to avoid crowds, so we set off after breakfast to shop at this one. Due to wind, the market stalls were closed until late afternoon. However, you could walk through- so I took pictures of all the gnome paintings. Normally, I wouldn't have noticed these when visiting during a crowded time. The paintings had ice skating gnomes, gnomes cooking sausages, and gnomes drinking beer. No matter how old you are, you can't help but smile at the fun art. Thankfully, the winds improved and we came back to the market that night to shop and have hot chocolate. The mugs were super cute, and numerous designs were offered. I don't know much German, so all I can tell is that my mug has a little gnome girl who likes to dance. You pay a deposit for the mug, but I chose to keep mine as a souvenir. If you visit Köln during the holidays, don't miss out on this market.

Beautiful AND fun market!! They had a little ferris wheel and an ice skating rink where you could…read moreskate and play games. I tried truffle dumplings here which I hadn't seen at any other markets and they were very yummy!

This was the least lively market I went to which made me sad because it was the most unique. The…read moretheme was very cool with the location, and they had small vendors that I hadn't seen anywhere else. There weren't that many food options, but their speciality is the salmon!

There are six Christmas markets in Cologne, and we made it through three. This was the last one,…read morethe Harbor Christmas market. The sun started to peek through the clouds ever so briefly. There was a Ferris wheel, a pirate ship, shops, the Schokoladen museum (the most popular in town). We finally stopped for a mug of glühwein. It was hot and fragrant with spices (don't breathe in the fumes), and once it cooled slightly, it was pleasant and sweet. They do take a deposit on the mugs but we decided to keep them. With the sun just about to set, it was a pleasant stroll along the harbor to the cathedral.

I hesitate to write this review, because the Christmas Markets in Bonn are one of the best-kept…read moresecrets in Germany! I absolutely adored my day trip here, especially because the markets haven't been co-opted by tons of foreign tour buses. Enjoy it while it lasts, because I'm sure hordes of tourists will eventually ruin the magic. Bonn has several different markets sprinkled across the city, and all are absolutely charming. There are tons of food booths and terrific drinks, including one of the most fun things I've ever had at a Christmas market: the Schneeball! It's a hot white chocolate with spirits, served in the cutest snowman mug you've ever seen! They also served warm and cold beer, which was even more fun. The mulled wine is excellent as always (red AND white varieties, I'd never seen warm white wine before), and the food had larger portions than some of the more touristy town Christmas markets. The decorations are lovely, and I especially liked the booth that had three talking reindeer animatronincs. They'd yell at you in German to come and buy more beer and wine, LOL. There are also a few festive rides scattered around town. The drinks are good here, affordable, and the attendees are a friendly and chatty bunch! We had so much fun in Bonn.

We loved the Christmas Markets in Bonn. Cute and small, not overwhelming like the very beautiful…read moreand fun, but massive and busy, markets in nearby Cologne. Overall, prices were were significantly better than in Cologne - we found ourselves paying 1/3 to 1/4 less for drinks, foods, and any of the other items for sale too. People are kind and patient here (and at all German Christmas markets) even though things can get crowded. A highlight here was the "eierlikor" (eggnog liquor) stand... everything coming out of this place was utterly delicious. Coming back in 2026!