Koblenz
50°22′ N 7°36′ ECityPop. 113,020The Rhineland
Koblenz suits Rhine and Moselle travellers who want a long-running old-town market and an illuminated fortress across the river, from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. The craft stalls close after 22 December.
Photo Bertram Nudelbach · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Who should base here
Koblenz stands where the Moselle meets the Rhine, at the head of both valleys, so it makes a base for a Rhine Gorge or Moselle trip in December. Its market runs to 3 January 2027, and the Christmas Garden lights the fortress across the river.
The market threads through seven old-town squares, from the Jesuitenplatz with its Advent calendar of lit town hall windows to the Münzplatz with its food and the Zentralplatz with its old wooden Ferris wheel. The Christmas Garden at Festung Ehrenbreitstein runs from 19 November 2026 to 10 January 2027 and needs a timed ticket.
Worth knowing
- Buy the Christmas Garden's combined ticket if you want the cable car ride over the Rhine included.
Quick answers about Koblenz
When is the Koblenz Christmas market 2026?
The Koblenz Christmas market runs from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. It closes completely from 24 to 26 December and on 1 January, and only food and drink stands open after 22 December.
What does the name Koblenz mean?
Koblenz comes from the local name Confluentes, meaning from the Latin Confluentes, the place where the rivers flow together.
Is Koblenz a good place to stay?
Koblenz stands where the Moselle meets the Rhine, at the head of both valleys, so it makes a base for a Rhine Gorge or Moselle trip in December. Its market runs to 3 January 2027, and the Christmas Garden lights the fortress across the river.
