When are the Cologne Christmas markets in 2026, and can I do them as a day trip from Amsterdam?
The market at Cologne Cathedral, on the Roncalliplatz, runs from Monday, November 16, to Wednesday, December 23, 2026, with more than 140 huts. It opens 11:00 to 21:00 from Sunday to Wednesday, 11:00 to 22:00 on Thursday and Friday, and 10:00 to 22:00 on Saturday, and it is closed on Sunday, November 22, for Totensonntag. Cologne is about 263 km from Amsterdam, 3 h 03 by car on a clear road, so a day trip works if you leave by 08:00; the city's other markets, in the old town, on the Rudolfplatz and on the Neumarkt, are a short walk or tram ride away.
Last updated:
With a driver by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, Cologne day from Amsterdam | €65 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, Cologne day from Amsterdam | €80 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, Cologne day from Amsterdam | €100 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
By the hour: minimum 2 hours, 40 km included per hour, and the day starts and ends in the same city. The driver waits between stops. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20 to 26, 2026) fixed ADE-week prices apply, shown before you book; promo codes cannot be used that week. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
What is included in the price
- A fixed price confirmed at booking, with VAT included: no meter and no surge
- The chauffeur’s name, car and phone number before pickup, plus e-mail reminders 24 hours and 2 hours ahead
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car
- Status updates to the person who booked, if that is not the passenger: confirmed, chauffeur en route, guest in the car, arrived
Cathedral market hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Sun to Wed | 11:00 to 21:00 |
| Thu and Fri | 11:00 to 22:00 |
| Sat | 10:00 to 22:00 |
| Sun Nov 22 | Closed |
Car or train
| Car with driver | Train | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | About 3 h 03 each way on a clear road | Trains to Köln Hauptbahnhof, a minute's walk from the market |
| Shopping bags | In the trunk | Carry them |
| Combine with | Düsseldorf (41 km) or Aachen | One city per day |
| Cost | About 14 hours: €910 in Business Class, €1,120 in Van Class | A return ticket per person |
The train suits couples. A car suits families, groups and anyone combining Cologne with Düsseldorf or Aachen; because the round trip is about 528 km, ask us before you book a day this long.
Parking and the environmental zone
Garages at the Hauptbahnhof, the Theater and the Heumarkt are very full in Advent, and the market recommends public transport. Cologne's environmental zone applies to cars registered abroad too: only a green sticker may drive in, and the fine is €100.
Related questions
When is it least crowded?
On weekdays soon after opening; Saturdays are the busiest.
Is the cathedral market open on Christmas Eve?
No. It ends on December 23.
Can we go one way and stay in Cologne?
Yes; see Amsterdam to Cologne by private car.
Sources
- Festivals in Deutschland: Cologne Cathedral (checked October 20, 2026)
- City of Cologne: the environmental zone (German) (checked October 20, 2026)
Book it, or ask dispatch first
Book online in a few minutes (no account, no app), or send your flight number and address on WhatsApp and dispatch replies in English, 24 hours a day.