Cologne Harbour Christmas Market
Hafen-Weihnachtsmarkt am Schokoladenmuseum50°56′ N 6°58′ EColognefrom Nov 13Seasonal
The harbour Christmas market at Cologne's Chocolate Museum runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 (announced), the longest season in the city, and suits couples and anyone who wants the river beside them. It sits south of the old town, a little away from the other three big markets.
Photo Jorge Franganillo · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Cologne Harbour Christmas Market runs November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027 · confirmed by the organizer (source)
Advent SundaysGaudete, 13 DecemberChristmas Eve
Dates and hours
- November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027Confirmedsourcechecked Oct 10, 2026
Hours · Sun–Thu 11:00–21:00; Fri–Sat 11:00–22:00
- Nov 15, 2026 · 13:00–21:00 (Volkstrauertag)
- Nov 22, 2026 · 18:00–21:00 (Totensonntag: closed until 18:00.)
This one runs on a maritime theme on the open square in front of the Chocolate Museum, where the Rheinauhafen meets the Rhine. Craft stalls and food huts line the waterfront, and the river traffic slides past behind them. It opens on 13 November, three days before the cathedral market, and it is the only big Cologne market that opens on the evening of Totensonntag, from 18:00.
Worth knowing
- Combine it with the Chocolate Museum next door and walk back north along the Rhine promenade to the Heumarkt.
Quick answers about Cologne Harbour Christmas Market
When does the Cologne harbour Christmas market open in 2026?
The harbour Christmas market at the Chocolate Museum opens on Friday 13 November 2026 and runs until Sunday 3 January 2027, according to the museum's announcement. It opens 11:00 to 21:00, and to 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Is any Cologne Christmas market open on Totensonntag?
Yes, the harbour market opens on Totensonntag, 22 November 2026, from 18:00 to 21:00. The cathedral market and the Markt der Engel stay closed all day.
In the journal and guides
Read more about Cologne Harbour Christmas Market
Guide · 9 min read
Are German Christmas markets open on Sunday?
Every Advent Sunday is a market day in Germany. The two Sundays before Advent are different, and on 22 November 2026 most markets that have already opened stay shut.
Dates guide · 6 min read
Is the Cologne Christmas market cancelled in 2026?
The cathedral market has confirmed 16 November to 23 December 2026, and three more Cologne markets sit within walking distance if the square loses space.
Guide · 12 min read
What's open in Europe on Christmas Eve?
Seventy-nine markets open on 24 December 2026, and most of them close by 18:30, so do your last shopping before dark.
Guide · 10 min read
When do Christmas markets open in Germany in 2026?
Totensonntag falls on 22 November in 2026. Most German markets open in the week after it, and the date of a city's market comes from a rule you can read ahead.