The Aachen Christmas markets and Bonn Christmas markets are both easy day trips from Cologne! And the Monschau Christmas markets are just a bit further and completely charming!
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For 2025, the Aachen Christmas markets are open November 21 – December 23!
The Bonn Christmas markets are open November 21 – December 23 and Epiphany market December 27-January 6!
The Bonn Christmas markets are open November 21 – December 23
If you’re flying into Europe for Christmas markets, you want to spend the most time possible enjoying the markets instead of constantly on a plane or train. Choosing an area with a ton of great German Christmas markets in one place is the easiest way to do that!
The Cologne Christmas markets is world famous as one of the best. I’ve been a few times and love it more every visit! I’ve put together an entire guide just to Cologne Christmas markets, so check that out if you’re planning a trip to the area first.
While you’re in Cologne, there are a few fantastic Christmas markets nearby that you should visit too! These are all easy day trips, so you can leave your bags in one place and maximize your markets.
Aachen Christmas markets
Hours: typically 11am – 9pm, with a few exceptions
The Aachen Christmas markets are great! They hit that sweet spot of feeling not too big but also plenty of booths and things to see. They’re a 1 hour train ride away, so it’s simple to get there and back in a day!
What to look our for:
Hours are typically 11am – 9pm, with a few exceptions on certain holidays.
The number one thing to look for is the local gingerbread version, Aachener Printen! It’s a little extra spiced, and often intricately decorated with nuts outlining the details of characters.
They’re also especially proud of their oldest gluhwein stall with a family-protected recipe. You can find it at OECHER Gluhwein-Treff.
Aachen is famous for being the birthplace of Charlemagne, so you’ll see him all through the city. If you’re interested in that history, check out the Center Charlemagne. The Aachen Cathedral is also beautiful and worth a stop in! German kings used to be crowned here.
The Aachen Christmas markets
The Aachen Christmas markets are in the heart of the city, all about a 15 minute walk from the train station.
Most of the market is spread through three adjacent squares, Martkplatz, Katschof, and Münsterplatz. This is also where the Aachen Cathedral is, so it makes it pretty easy to find. Be sure to see it from all sides – booths surround the cathedral!
If you’re coming from the train station, you’ll arrive at Munsterplatz first. You’ll find the OECHER gluhwein stall in Katschof!
You can also find a few in nearby Holzgraben if you want to get away from the main crowds. This one also has a curling rink, which is a silly fun way to mix it up while exploring the market!
Bonn Christmas markets
Hours: typically 11am – 9:30pm, with exceptions
The Bonn Christmas markets are only 20 minutes away on the train from Cologne! It’s the closest of the three cities here.
What to look our for:
Hours are typically 11 am to 9pm, with a few exceptions. However, often the food and drink stalls stay open later, closer to 10:30 on the weekends! Don’t plan to start that late, but it is a treat to grab one last crepe as you walk back to the trains.
There’s also an Epiphany market open after Christmas! This is unusual in Germany; typically Christmas markets close on/before Christmas Eve.
Outside the Christmas market season, Bonn dates back to Roman times and is the birthplace of Beethoven! So worth a wander if you want a break from markets.
The Bonn Christmas markets
The biggest of the Bonn Christmas markets is in Münsterplatz. It’s also the first you’ll find from the train station, so easy to start here. This one has their biggest Christmas tree sitting right next to the Ferris wheel!
My favorite in Bonn has to be Bottlerplatz. It sits just under the historic city gate, which gives it the best atmosphere.
There’s another market just further, in Friedensplatz.
Vivatgasse has booths that run from Munsterplatz to Friedensplatz, so make sure you walk that route at least one of the directions. There are a few other streets like Poststrasse dotted with booths as well.
There’s another Bonn Christmas market set up in Bad Godesberg. It’s further away, but you can take the train down to Bonn-Bad Godesberg and be less than 5 minutes’ walk! As a bonus, this one gets hardly any tourists, so you’ll see way fewer crowds!
Monschau Christmas markets
Hours: 11am-9pm Fridays and Saturdays, 11am-8pm Sundays
The Monschau Christmas markets are amazing, but take a bit more work to see!
Most importantly: the Monschau Christmas markets are only open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays on the four weekends of advent.
Getting here takes a little longer. If you’re using public transport, it takes about 2 hours each way: first a train to Aachen, then a bus on to Monschau.
If you do have a car, this one is worth driving – it’ll save you a little time in transit. Driving is about 90 minutes from Cologne. Either way, it’s easiest to combine it on a visit to Aachen on the way back!
What to look our for:
Monschau’s Christmas markets are in the same vein as Colmar’s: the city looks straight out of a fairy tale! That makes it a cute stop year round. But at Christmas things are taken to the next level!
Of all three of these towns, this has the most Old World charm. It’s also the smallest town, so it’s very easy to explore in a few unrushed hours!
The market booths are only open on weekends, so plan ahead!
The Monschau Christmas markets
Since it’s a small town, there aren’t many distinct market areas. The town maps out a cute PDF map of the best way to make the most of the decor if you want the visual!
Starting in the southern end of town, there are a few booths in Gerberplatz to welcome you! Then turn onto Rurstrasse for a few more over the river.
You’ll find most of them in the Marktplatz, along with the giant Christmas tree! This is where you’ll want to spend most of your time.
Don’t skip the Indoormarkt! It’s just behind the Aukirche.
From here, go across the river and walk back along the Eschbachstrasse. No booths here, but you’ll have beautiful views of town!
Finish up over by the cute setup in front of the Haus Troistorff!
I hope these help! You can easily spend a week in this region – try adding on Cologne, Dusseldorf, Essen, or Brussels!
