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Cologne Christmas Market

Overview

This beautiful city is an enchanting place to discover the German language and culture, particularly in winter, with no fewer than six Christmas markets to explore.  Some of the smaller ones take place rather conveniently near the Chocolate Museum, if you’re looking for a special treat for your students.

The most impressive of the lot has the stunning Cologne Cathedral as a backdrop.  Watch artisans crafting unique gifts among its 160 wooden stalls, or head straight to sample a mug or two of the spiced "Glühwein" (for adults only) or "Kinderpunsch" for the students!

Christmas market dates vary from year to year - they usually start in the last week of November and last all the way up to Christmas.

Our Suggested Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Travel overnight to Cologne.

    Arrive in Cologne and freshen up at your accommodation.

    Visit the famous Gothic Cathedral and climb the 500 steps of the cathedral tower for a magnificent view over the Rhine.

    Spend your afternoon exploring the Christmas markets in Domplatz.

    In the evening, take a walk along the Rhine to the Altstadt (Old Town) and enjoy ice skating on the open-air rink!

  2. Day 2

    Continue exploring Cologne the next day.

    First, visit the Chocolate Museum and discover the 5000-year history and modern production process of everyone's favourite treat.

    Afterwards, head over to see the Harbour Christmas Market.

    Then, in the afternoon, begin your return journey to school.

A&O Cologne Hauptbahnhof

Accommodation

Our schools tend to stay at one of the A&O Hostels when visiting Cologne.  We only use safe and secure accommodation especially suited to schools; providing a perfect base for you to enjoy your tour.  All the accommodation we use is audited, and our auditing regime is verified by independent experts.