Cologne Christmas Market: Best Gifts To Buy

The Cologne Christmas Markets are a collection of various markets around the city, with the biggest and most festive market residing at the ornate Cologne Cathedral. The event usually begins the last Monday before Advent and runs for one month leading up to Christmas. The markets attract millions of visitors from all over the world every year.

The Cologne Christmas Markets have plenty to offer, from selected gifts and individually crafted artisan handicrafts to culinary specialties. The market stands offer a wide spectrum of handcrafted gifts, festive delicacies and traditional Christmas decorations.

- The Dom Market (or Weihnachtsmarkt)

- Heinzels Wintermärchen (Altmarkt and Heumarkt)

- The Angel Market (at Neumarkt)

- St. Nicholas Market (at Rudolphplatz)

- Harbor Market

- Stadtgarden Market

- Winterzauber Eigelstein

- Weihnachtsmarkt VringsVeedelsAdvent

Handmade ornaments

If you're looking for handmade ornaments to buy at the Cologne Christmas Market, there are plenty of options to choose from. The market stalls offer a wide range of handcrafted gifts, including wooden ornaments, paper stars, and even unique hats. You can find stalls selling intricate wooden model kits, colourful blown glass, and beautiful hand-painted ornaments. In addition, the Stadtgarten Christmas Market, located in a public park away from the city centre, features local wares such as silver jewellery and handmade notebooks.

The Christmas Market at Cologne Cathedral, also known as the Dom Market or Weihnachtsmarkt, has stalls with a distinctive red colour scheme and shooting stars at the top. Here, you can find a variety of Christmas decorations, including wooden, glass, or paper ornaments, along with candles and other festive goods.

The Angel Market, or Markt der Engel, features stalls decked out in white and silver, with angels and stars as part of its theme. You can find a variety of hanging ornaments and candles at this market, along with specialty foods like speculoos cookies in the shape of the cathedral.

For a more rustic feel, the Heinzels Wintermärchen market at Altmarkt and Heumarkt features wooden stalls with garlands and a woodland/gnome theme. You can find a variety of goods here, including wooden bowls, leather goods, and candles. The Heumarkt section also has a carousel and an ice skating rink for added entertainment.

Lastly, the St. Nicholas Market at Rudolphplatz has a Bavarian feel with half-timbered, chalet-style stalls. Here, you can find paper stars, ornaments, toys, and specialty soaps. This market offers a charming and adorable atmosphere with a Santa and reindeer display, making it a great place to find unique handmade ornaments.

Local food products

For those with a sweet tooth, there are plenty of treats to choose from. Speculoos cookies, essentially the same as biscoff cookies, are crunchy, cinnamon-y, and delicious. There are also soft gingerbreads, fruit breads, and chocolate-dipped tree bread. Stands selling these treats are common throughout the markets. For something a little different, try the tree bread (Baumbrot)—a spit of dough is cooked over a rotisserie and regularly dipped in batter to create layers that look like tree rings.

If you're looking for something savoury, there are grilled sandwiches (speckbrots) with crème fraiche, bacon, onions, and potatoes. Reibekuchen/Kartoffelpuffers are potato pancakes served with applesauce. Or try Flammkuchen, shredded pancakes with sugar.

Wash it all down with a mug of gluhwein (hot, mulled wine) or kinderpunsch (hot apple cider).

Unique hats

If you're looking for unique hats, the Stadtgarten Christmas Market is the place to go. This market has a very different vibe from the others, as it's set in a park and has a more local feel. While there aren't many stalls, you can find interesting books, travel gear, and handcrafted hats, including special ones for Karneval.

The Dom Market, or Weihnachtsmarkt, also has a selection of clothing, including hats, scarves, and gloves.

The Angel Market, or Market of Angels, is another great option for unique hats. This market has a variety of specialty foods and crafts, and you can find silver jewellery, hanging ornaments, and candles among the stalls.

Christmas treats

Christmas in Cologne is a magical experience, with the city's many markets offering a delightful array of treats to warm both the heart and the soul. Here are some of the delicious foods and drinks you can expect to find:

Food

• Reibekuchen/Kartoffelpuffer – Crispy potato pancakes, served plain or with apple sauce.
• Flammlachs – Grilled salmon, often cooked over an open flame.
• Waffles – Including those shaped like the iconic Cologne Cathedral.
• Muzen – A soft, slightly sweet dough that is fried until crispy on the outside and then rolled in powdered or cinnamon sugar.
• Baumbrot – Tree bread cooked on a spit over a rotisserie and regularly dipped in batter to create layers that look like tree rings.
• Kartoffel-Spiral – A spiralized potato fried on a stick and served with a sweet ginger dipping sauce.
• Brezeln – Pretzels.
• Crêpes – Thin pancakes, often served sweet with sugar, fruit, or chocolate, but can also be savoury.
• Noodles – Made from potatoes and served with sauerkraut, crème fraîche, and fresh herbs.
• Speculoos cookies – Crunchy, cinnamon-y cookies, similar to biscoff biscuits.
• Grilled bread – With crème fraîche, bacon, onions, and potatoes.
• Nuts – Choose from a variety of flavoured nuts.
• Speissbrotchen – Sandwiches with crusty buns and tender, juicy, flavoursome meat.
• Bratwurst – Bacon-wrapped German sausages.

Drinks

• Glühwein – Hot, mulled wine, often served in a unique themed mug that you can keep as a souvenir.
• Kinderpunsch – Hot apple cider.
• Hot chocolate – Sometimes served with whipped cream and marshmallows.

Handcrafted gifts

The Cologne Christmas Markets are a great place to shop for handcrafted gifts. The markets offer a wide spectrum of handcrafted gifts, from beautiful hand-painted ornaments to intricate wooden model kits. Here are some specific examples of handcrafted gifts you can find at the markets:

The Dom Market (or Weihnachtsmarkt)

At the Dom Market, you can find stalls selling beautiful hand-painted ornaments, as well as wooden ornaments and other Christmas decorations. This market is located next to the Cologne Cathedral and features a giant, elevated Christmas tree with a blanket of lights extending over the stalls.

Heinzels Wintermärchen (Altmarkt and Heumarkt)

The Altmarkt and Heumarkt markets, also known as Heinzels Wintermärchen, have a woodland/gnome theme. Here, you can find wooden bowls and cookware, leather purses and belts, stuffed animals, and speciality shot glasses. These markets are located near the Dom Market and feature a delightful woodland theme with gnomes adorning the stalls.

The Angel Market (at Neumarkt)

The Angel Market is a themed market with stalls decked out in white and silver, and nods to stars and angels everywhere. You can find a variety of handcrafted items here, including silver jewellery, hanging ornaments, candles, and decorative gingerbread "ornaments". This market is located in the middle of the city, near the Cologne Cathedral.

St. Nicholas Market (at Rudolphplatz)

The St. Nicholas Market offers a variety of handcrafted goods, including paper stars, ornaments, toys, specialty soaps, and nutcrackers, tin soldiers, and other Christmas decorations. This market is located near the Dom Market and has a Bavarian-style half-timbered structure, creating a charming and adorable atmosphere.

Cologne Harbour Christmas Market

The Harbour Market, located along the Rhine River, features a variety of artisanal crafts, including handmade stools and wine holders, pictures, art, specialty knives and knobs, toys, and beeswax candles. This market has a nautical theme, with white tent stalls and flags and helm wheels.

Stadtgarden Market

Although this market is a bit farther from the city centre, it offers unique handcrafted items such as interesting books and travel gear. It has a more local feel and is a great place to enjoy drinks and snacks away from the larger crowds.

Frequently asked questions