Our favorite time of the week is approaching: the weekend in Cologne is just around the corner! Of course, Cologne offers an impressive selection of things to do all year round, but what are the highlights of this weekend? Here you can find out every week what the best plans in Cologne are that you can’t miss.
Visit the most beautiful Christmas markets
The festive season is upon us in Cologne and where better to spend it than at the Christmas markets? Fortunately, there are more than enough of them in the city. Visit the most beautiful stalls with gift ideas, go ice skating or sample the range of mulled wine. We have put together the most important information about the Christmas markets in Cologne.
Location: e.g. Rudolfplatz, Alter Markt, Neumarkt, Belgian Quarter, Stadtgarten
Date: whole weekend
💶 Price information: mostly free admission
China Lights at Cologne Zoo
It’s getting bright at Cologne Zoo: hundreds of animal and fantasy figures will be shining in the zoo until February 1, 2026. The China Lights festival will show you a total of 1,400 individual figures. These include a 25-metre-long snake and even extinct animals such as the sabre-toothed tiger and woolly rhinoceros. And in the middle of the zoo you can experience a (quasi) real volcano and prehistoric landscape.
Location: Cologne Zoo
Date: Fri. – Sun., 5:30 – 9 p.m.
💶 Price information: 24 euros
Alice in Wonderland “Garden of Lights”
Cologne’s winter is sweetened by a new garden of lights in the city. On the grounds of the racecourse, you will find the creatively designed characters from “Alice in Wonderland”. Admire the magical open-air lights and get in the mood for Christmas.
Location: Racecourse
Date: Fri. – Sun., 5 – 9 p.m.
💶 Price information: 21 euros
ℹ️Tickets and more infoMulled wine walk in Südstadt and Sülz
A winter weekend without mulled wine? Not in Südstadt and Sülz. From Thursday to Saturday, you have the opportunity to sample various hot drinks on the “Glühweinwanderweg”. Vintner’s mulled wine, hot gin or espresso martini are available “to go” from vendors in Südstadt such as Café Kult Köln, Torburg, Filos, Speisekammer, Elsa, frau mahér, Limani, Mainzer Hof and “Der kleinste Weihnachtsmarkt der Stadt”. There will also be mulled wine and much more to take away at eleven locations in Sülz/Klettenberg throughout the weekend. The whole thing runs until December 20!
Location: Südstadt, Sülz/Klettenberg
Date: Thu. to Sun. from 6 to 9 p.m. or Thu. to Sun. from 5 to 9 p.m.
💶 Price information: Admission free, drinks cost
Frido Kahlo exhibition
The immersive exhibition about Frida Kahlo finally starts with its second edition “Viva Frida Kahlo” in Cologne. Immerse yourself in the legendary “Casa Azul”, where you can meet the artist up close and gain intimate insights into her life. Impressive projections, music and original quotes promise an intense 360-degree experience that will get under your skin! We’ll tell you in advance what you can experience there.
📍 Location: Alegria Exhibition Hall, Lichtstr. 15, 50825 Cologne
📅 Date: Friday to Sunday 10 am to 9 pm
💶 Price information: Standard ticket from 22 euros
ℹ️Mehr Info and ticketsCologne Christmas
Christmas is a “Jeföhl” and it can’t start soon enough. That’s why Kölsche Weihnacht is starting now. On this show, you’ll hear stories from pre-Christmas Cologne and, of course, lots of Cologne music. In other words, everything that moves the Kölsche Hätz!
Location: Eltzhof and Theater am Tanzbrunnen
📅 Date: Friday, 8 pm, Saturday, 2 pm and 8 pm, Sunday, 12:30 pm and 6 pm
💶 Price information: 45,90 €