Hi Everyone,

We are considering a trip to Cologne for Christmas this year (12/22-12/31.) I have been to Germany (Munich, Heidelberg, Frankfurt), which I love, but not Cologne. Is this a good destination city for the Christmas holiday? Is this too long a time to spend here? Any insight on Cologne is appreciated! Thank you!

No place in Germany is a good destination for the Christmas holidays, except, perhaps, a ski resort in the Alps (if there is snow) or a big and expensive hotel that offers its own entertainment program for the guests. To soak up German Christmas atmosphere, come before, not during the holidays. Arriving Dec 22, you'll catch at least the end of the Christmas markets, which terminate on Dec 24 around noon. Christmas is a quiet family holiday in this country, no party time. Dec 25 and 26 are public holidays. All shops and many restaurants, museums etc. will be closed. The days "between the years", i.e. between Christmas and New Year, are usually rather dull. The big parties take place on New Year's Eve, which is after you'll have left. Believe me, I've seen 39 Christmasses in this country. So think about it again...

> Cologne for Christmas?<

Usually a good idea.

Cologne is my least favorite German city thus far (I've been to Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Heidelberg as well). But with the long, continuous amalgamation of pedestrian shopping streets, maybe its more fun at Christmas.

I arrived in Cologne the day after christmas, the market was closed and most of the stores were closed. But I was able to enter the DOm and explore the town. it is very pretty.

Wow, am I hearing some serious negativity? Quokka, do you live in Germany? With all the Christmas markets, I always imagined Christmas to be beauriful in Germany, no matter where, for the most part.
We are not looking for a big party on Christmas, as we are travelling with a 2 year old. Just a beautiful place to spend a traditional Christmas.
Any other feedback on Cologne in general? Thanks!

ira is exactly on my wavelength - the first thing I thought of when I saw the thread title was 4711.

The German Christmas markets are special and beautiful. As I keep telling again and again, though, they take place BEFORE Christmas, not during the holidays. Practically all of them terminate on Dec 23 or 24 around noon. Come during Advent, and you'll be able to enjoy them.

While most Christmas markets end on the 23rd or 24th, there are a number of them that are open even after Christmas. There are several websites that list many of the Christmas markets with dates.

I was not being negative, I loved Cologne, but I happen upon it after Christmas. From my experience Munich had a wonderful market and it snowed. Last year I spent Christmas eve and day in Berlin and in was quiet.

travel_chef1, I think quokka was just trying to be realistic. It is hard to experience a "traditional" Christmas in Germany as a tourist. Traditionally, Christmas in Germany is a time for family, and the big celebration is the evening of the 24th. Most of the Christmas markets in Germany close the 22, 23 or at noon on the 24th. Many restaurants close for Christmas on the 24th; some reopen on the 25th.

If you visit a sizeable city, such as Cologne, I'd warrant that you will have more chance to find a restaurant for dinner on the 24th and 25th than if you are in a smaller town.

We visited Germany for two different Christmas holidays: 2002 and 2005. Both times we were in Regensburg for the actual holiday. The first year, our hotel had wonderful special meals and activities for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Christmas Eve church service at the Dom cannot be beat (oldest boy choir in Europe). In 2005, we found that our hotel (the same one) had decided to close the restaurant for December 24 and 25. We weren't able to locate a restaurant for Christmas Eve (although it is possible that a few pubs were open), so we walked the town in the morning, picking up ingredients for a lovely picnic which we enjoyed in our hotel room before going to church. On the 25th, we had a delicious dinner at a nice restaurant that was open (I made my reservations from the US before the trip.) We got all dressed up and made an evening of it. This worked out for us, because we usually have our Christmas meal on the 25th.

Everything in the town itself closed up tight at 1:00 pm on the 24th (the Christmas market closed the 23rd), and remained closed on the 25th (a Sunday) AND the 26th (a Monday, which we assumed was the legal holiday). The little grocery shop at the train station was open on the 26th, but you had to have a train ticket to make purchases.

It snowed on Christmas, and I had a great time walking the old town and taking pictures of the lovely buildings in the snow. I saw things in the windows that I wanted to purchase, but the stores never opened before we left for Prague midday on the 26th.

Since it is quite a bit larger, Cologne may be different, but I would make sure that you have reservations for the major holiday meals, and check the opening hours of any attractions that you plan to visit.

Heres a good link for Cologne:
http://www.koeln.de/tourismus/weihna...-index_gb.html

I agree, Advent is really the time to visit Germany with all of the holiday markets. In the evenings, it is cold and crisp, the smells of food and gluhwein are everywhere and there is often snow on all of the cathedrals. Christmas is a quiet family holiday in Germany - my parents lived in Germany while my father was doing post-doctoral research and they were very lonely at Christmas with no family.

Have you considered doing a Holiday Markets river cruise? Even with the little one, it would be a lovely, relaxing, festive way to celebrate Christmas in Germany. You would be able to unpack once and basically enjoy day trips into all of these beautiful cities and Christmas markets. The shore excursions are included, but you are welcome to do independent touring, too. You would have lots of doting adopted grandparents on the ship for your little one, too.

Best Regards,
Julia

If you want to spend Christmas in Germany, I think that you could do much better than Cologne. In my opinion, it's not a terribly interesting place, aside from the Dom, and the weather is likely to be depressing (overcast, with rain or wet snow).

Why not try one of the alpine resorts such as Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Oberammergau? Fuessen might also make an interesting place to stay with its There are also some interesting towns and resorts in the Schwarzwald, including the very attractive city of Freiburg-im-Breisgau.

Unless you have strong reasons to go to Cologne this Christmas, I would save it for a visit in summer.

Sorry, meant to say "Fuessen might also make an interesting place to stay with its proximity to Neuschwanstein and the other royal castles."

We did spend a lovely Christmas (and after) at a Kurhotel (spa-type hotel complex) in the Bavarian Forest -- 20 years ago, though, and I forget the name.

It had x-country sking and hiking in the woods, with swimming pool and massages. Very cozy and relaxing. They served a great Christmas dinner, and everything was beautiful in the snowy woods. You might want to look in to something like that.

quokka took the words out of my mouth , you're too late for the Christmas season, but leave before the New Year parties are over... Consider some other time?

10 days in Cologne? 1 day is more than enough for me - one of least inspiring cities i've seen in Germany - doesn't mean it's a dump but i'd look elsewhere - not even many easy day trips in winter from Cologne. Too cold to enjoy the Rhine or Mosel. In past business dealings i've spent weeks in Cologne and i would never recommend it for such a period of time.

Let me add that I wasn't trying to be negative but trying to tell the truth, according to my own experience. And yes, I do live in Germany.

If you really want to come, choose a place to stay that offers some Christmas activities for the guests. A nice hotel in a mountain resort might be the best option for a family with a small child. In a lonesome hotel room in a city you probably won't be too happy.
And whereever you decide to go, book soon.

>do live in Germany.
That's quite obvious ;-)