This review is way overdue, but someone said it's "better than never." Since Christmas season has come and gone for 2021-22, I'm finally picking up a pen (though a virtual one it might be) and writing this down. All the Cologne Christmas markets (perhaps with one exception--City Park Markt was not that great with disorganized area and just a minimal vendors) were very nice indeed. Though this one was not my favorite per se, it was still a very nice one and worthy of a review for sure.

Christmas market is a great German Advent/Christmas tradition. It really heightens the Christmas spirit in the land. Even though the atmosphere was a bit dampened by the COVID pandemic for the last couple of years, I'm so glad this one was open. After the announcement of total closure for Bavaria and Saxony in 2021, we were so disappointed for the second year. We searched for any open ones and decided to make a trip to the west Germany/Luxembourg to visit as many markets as we could. We weren't disappointed. We traveled to seven cities/towns and saw at least fourteen separate Christmas markets. Needless to say, it was a very successful weekend trip for us.

Just a little down the street from the very impressive Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market, the biggest attraction here in Heinzelmannchen "Helpful Elves" Christmas Market is the ice skating rink. Folks playing curling is very fun to watch, by the way. As the name suggests there are elves all over this market. By comparison there aren't too many vendor booths here besides a very large mulled wine hut (photo).

If you are in Germany during Advent/Christmas season, you must visit as many Christmas markets as you can to really enjoy German holidays for sure.