Cologne Cathedral and a 25 meter high Christmas tree – these are the key ingredients, which turn the Christmas Market at Roncalli Square (Roncalliplatz) and Cologne Cathedral to the most visited one in Germany. I felt to skip this place with Flyctory.com, as it is massively crowded in most evenings and especially during the weekends. Fortunately, I found a good time to go for this review.
Roncalli Square Christmas Market – Location
Roncalli Square is right South of Cologne Cathedral. The square is adjacent to the Roman-German Museum as well. The connections of the Christmas market are excellent, as the place is right next to Cologne Main Station, which is linked to the German high-speed rail system. Furthermore, there is plenty of regional and local traffic, majorly rail. The banks of River Rhine are just a short walk away.
In 2019, Roncalli Square Christmas Market opened on Monday, 25th November 2019 and will close on 23rd December 2019. The daily opening times are 11:00 to 21:00 hrs. On Saturdays, the market already opens at 10:00hrs, while it closes at 22:00hrs Thursday to Saturday. Entrance is free.
Roncalli Square Christmas Market – Atmosphere
No discussion: especially if you enter the market from the Main Station side, the combination of the festive atmosphere of the stands and Cologne Cathedral, the icon of the city, is just unique and leads to a special atmosphere. During evenings and nighttime, the Cathedral is illuminated. The stores are small huts, all decorated with light.
Another very atmospheric part of the market is the natural Christmas tree. The height is 25 meters. In addition, there is a carpet of lights above the heads of the visitors, which even adds the winter-romantic touch.
There are some additional elements and attractions, which add a lot of atmosphere. At the edge of the grounds, there is a steel manger, while there is a major stage quite at the center of the market. Next to it is a carousel and a children theater. You may also find Santa Claus in this area.
Roncalli Square Christmas Market – Food / Drink
Compared to other christmas markets, there is quite some variety of food. For example, there are a couple of Swiss stores, one of them is offering bread with melted cheese. There is also Bavarian and Alpine cusine. Medieval-touch food or Oriental one is comparably rare, though. On the liquid side, mulled wine is just the favorite – maybe on nearly any German Christmas market.
Roncalli Square Christmas Market – Products
Especially as Cologne is offering so many Christmas markets, I am always very happy to spot some rather unique products. For example, I liked the hand-painted sneakers or the handbags made out of used soccer balls and basketballs. Of course, you will be able to stock your Christmas decoration as well.
Roncalli Square Christmas Market – My View
Of course, this Christmas market is special and a signature place for the city of Cologne. On a day like the one I visited it at, just on the second day of opening 2019, it is just great and gives lovely winter wonderland atmosphere. You will likely not be as lucky as I am – masses of locals and tourist may give you a comparably worse experience, but nevertheless, if you are around Cologne at Christmas time, you may got for a walk and try to meet Santa there.
Flyctory.com about Christmas
Here are all Flyctory.com postings which deal with Christmas in any way:

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 04 August 2023)


Justine Blazer – Joy!


Flyctory.com – My Favorite Albums / EPs 2022



Phantasialand Wintertraum on the Evening (Pictured Story)


Some 2022 new Christmas Song Releases – Good Ones and Weird Ones


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 02 December 2022)



Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 18 November 2022)


Sarah Connor – Not So Silent Night


Steel Guitar Santa is Back – The Flyctory.com Country Christmas Playlist 2022


Debbie Gibson – Winterlicious


Backstreet Boys – A Very Backstreet Christmas



Some Non-Country Christmas Songs 2021


Christmas Market at Westfield Centro Oberhausen



Charles Dickens Christmas Market Heimbach


Ho Ho Ho – The Flyctory.com Country Christmas Playlist 2021


Lucinda Williams – Have Yourself A Rockin’ Little Christmas (Lu’s Jukebox Vol. 5)


Armanda Shires – For Christmas


Steve Perry – The Season


Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung – EAVliche Weihnachten – Ihr Sünderlein kommet?


Brett Eldredge – Mr. Christmas


Tom Aquinas – XMas Greetings EP


Josh Turner – King Size Manger


Roland Kaiser – Weihnachtszeit


Eyjafjördur Jolahusid – The Christmas House


Winter Time at IMG Worlds of Adventure Dubai


Songs Of My Life (Christmas) – Bless Us All (Tiny Tim / Muppets Christmas Carol)


Charles Dickens Museum London


Majestica – A Christmas Carol


My Country Music Picks – Christmas Songs 2020 (29th November 2020)


Some Christmas Present Ideas for Flyctory.com Music Lovers


Ross Antony – Lass es glitzern (Weihnachten mit Ross)


Jojo – December Baby


Meghan Trainor – A Very Trainor Christmas


Andrew Bird – Hark!


Runaway June – When I Think About Christmas


Dolly Parton – A Holly Dolly Christmas


Terri Clark – It’s Christmas … Cheers!


Carrie Underwood – My Gift


Christmas Songs – Why not Hawaiian Style?


Pittsburgh Christmas Market and Ice Rink


My Country Music Picks – Christmas Songs 2019 (8th December 2019)


The Christmas Market at Munich Airport



Cologne Old Town Christmas Market



Cologne Stadtgarten Christmas Market



Cologne Harbor Christmas Market at Chocolate Museum


Robbie Williams – The Christmas Present


Christmas at SeaWorld Orlando
Postings of the Greater Cologne Region
Here are postings which are dealing with the Greater Cologne and Rhineland region:


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 15 September 2023)


Randall King (15th September 2023, Cologne)


The Blackwhitecolorful – Brace for Impact


SkyTrain Dusseldorf Airport


Heart To Heart Event (29th August 2023, Düsseldorf)


Songs Of My Life: Doro – The Fortuneteller


Bergischer HC (Handball) at Uni-Halle Wuppertal


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 11 August 2023)


Mo-Torres – Heute war alles Besser


Pullman Cologne



Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 04 August 2023)


Mercure Hotel Severinshof Cologne City


#TrueAthletes Classics Leverkusen 2023 – Track Events


#TrueAthletes Classics Leverkusen 2023 – Field Events


Ben Zucker (28th July 2023, Monheim)


Mercure Cologne City Friesenstrasse


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21 July 2023)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 14 July 2023)


German Athletics Nationals 2023 – Day 2 Track (9th July 2023)


German Athletics Nationals 2023 – Day 1 Track (8th July 2023)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 23 June 2023)


Hilton Dusseldorf


Wuppertaler Schwebebahn (Wuppertal Suspension Railroad)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 16 June 2023)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 09 June 2023)


Rock of Ages (9th June 2023, Solingen)


The Deslondes (6th June 2023, Cologne)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 02 June 2023)


Saturn Oil Open 2023: R. Ramanathan (IND) / N. Zimonjic (SRB) – D. Brown (JAM) / T. Sandkaulen (GER) 4-6 7-6(4) x-1(9-11))


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 26 May 2023)


Everette & Austin Jenckes (23rd May 2023, Cologne)


Sören Vogelsang – Optimismus Prime


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 19 May 2023)


Open Sky Lounge Dusseldorf Airport (DUS)


Kip Moore (14th May 2023, Cologne)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 12 May 2023)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 28 April 2023)


Storm Seeker – Nautic Force


The Longest Johns (21st April 2023, Cologne)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 07 April 2023)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 31 March 2023)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 24 March 2023)


SSF Dragons Bonn – Red Devils Wernigerode 5-4 (2-2, 0-2, 3-0)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 10 March 2023)


Mael & Jonas – Rocket Science


H+ Hotel Köln Brühl


Weird Al Yankovic tours Europe 2023 – My Reprise


Wolfgang Petry – Stark wie wir


AnnenMayKantereit – Es ist Abend und wir sitzen bei mir


Five Years of Flyctory.com – My 20 Most Popular Travel Posts (so far…)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 17 February 2023)


Julian Taylor (15th February 2023, Cologne)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 10 February 2023)


ISTAF Indoor Duesseldorf (29th January 2023)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 27 January 2023)


IUMA – Genug EP


Kane Brown (27th January 2023, Cologne)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 20 January 2023)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 13 January 2023)


Groenalund – #lovestorm


Hambach Surface Mining – The Largest Man-Made Hole in the World


Wasserturm Hotel Cologne (Curio Collection by Hilton)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 30 December 2022)



Phantasialand Wintertraum on the Evening (Pictured Story)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 09 December 2022)


Sea Life Oberhausen


Neufundland – Grind



Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 18 November 2022)


Brett Young (19th November 2022, Cologne)


Milky Chance (18th November 2022, Cologne)


Weird Al Yankovic is touring Europe 2023 – Tour Dates and Travel Hints


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 04 November 2022)


Superläuche – Superläuche


Alexander Ludwig (2nd November 2022, Cologne)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 28 October 2022)


Hostage – Memento Mori


Road Stop Motel Mettmann (Presidential Suite)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21 October 2022)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 14 October 2022)


Staying Overnight at the VIWA Private Spa Wuppertal


Rock of Ages – International Dates of the Musical in 2023


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 16 September 2022)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 02 September 2022)


Blind Guardian – The God Machine


Jolina Carl – Hallo, ich bin Jolina Carl


INNSIDE Dusseldorf Derendorf


Lindsay Ell (with Kyle Daniel & Shy Carter, 23rd August 2022, Cologne)


German Röntgen Museum Remscheid


Gipsy Kings & More Than Words (11th August 2022, Cologne)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 05 August 2022)


Marie Reim – Bist Du dafür bereit?


Pete Wolf Band – Crosswalk To Nowhere EP


KölnTriangle Cologne View – a great View of Cologne


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 08 July 2022)


The Bergisch Coffee Table (Bergische Kaffeetafel) – A Sweet and Savory Tradition


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 24 June 2022)


Charly Klauser – Mehr


European Airports Go Mad – a Morning at Dusseldorf Airport


Hampton by Hilton Aachen Tivoli


Kasalla – Rudeldiere


Johnossi (12th June 2022, Cologne)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 3 June 2022)


Dan O’ Clock – Seelenhippie EP


The Lounge Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 27 May 2022)


Marius Müller-Westernhagen – Das eine Leben


Mrs. Greenbird – Love You To The Bone


The Paradise of Calories – Chocolate and Candy Outlets in Aachen


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 25 March 2022)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 11 March 2022)


House of German History (Haus der Geschichte) Bonn


Solingen Bird and Animal Park


Visiodrom Wuppertal


Premier Inn Cologne City South


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 18 Feb 2022)


Alexander Martin – Wir zieh’n das durch


Sea Life Königswinter


KEC “Die Haie” Cologne – ESC Planegg-Würmtal 1-6 (1-2, 0-1, 0-3)


Hampton by Hilton Dusseldorf City Centre


VfL Gummersbach (Handball) at SCHWALBE arena


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21 Jan 2022)


Walking Through Historic Remscheid-Lennep (Pictured Story)


Flyctory.com Best Ones 2021


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 24 Dec 2021)


German Cup: DJK Holzbüttgen – PSV 90 Black Wolves Dessau 14:1 (4:0, 4:0, 6:1)



Some Non-Country Christmas Songs 2021


My Top 15 Airports Flown – With Some Brief Thoughts



Charles Dickens Christmas Market Heimbach


Cat Ballou – Alles Bunt


Det Haggard – Teamwork 2.0


Leonardo Hotel Düsseldorf Airport (Ratingen)


Wolfgang Petry – Auf das Leben


Freakstorm – Storm Inside My Heart


LaFee – Zurück In Die Zukunft


Hyatt Regency Cologne


The Twelve Best Flights Of My Life (… so far)


Jolina Carl – Mexican Overdrive


Fauna Animal Park Solingen


Country Music Picks – The German Songs (20th July 2021)


Moxy Cologne Bonn Airport


Helge Schneider – Die Reaktion – The Last Jazz Vol. II


MyWellness Cologne – Renting a Private Spa Experience


Luna Morgenstern – Taking The Blow EP


Paul Weber – Alles im Arsch EP


Durch & Durch – Nice Aber Nutzlos


Bergisches Museum for Mining, Craft & Trade Bensberg


Songs Of My Life: Nino De Angelo – Jenseits von Eden


Mike Leon Grosch – Wenn wir uns wiedersehen


Klee – Trotzalledem


Country Music Picks – The German Songs (28th April 2021)


Sarah Lombardi – Im Augenblick


A Walk Through Cologne / Bonn Airport Terminal at Covid-19 Times (Pictured Story)


Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum Dusseldorf


PeterLicht – Beton Und Ibuprofen


Nino de Angelo – Gesegnet und Verflucht


Rhine Cable Car (Kölner Seilbahn) Cologne


Jack McBannon – True Stories


Cologne – My Ten Favorite Songs About My Home Town


taku Dining Box in Cologne – Gourmet Food at Home


Bucket Boys – Twentyfive


Accept – Too Mean To Die


Deutsches Museum Bonn


Chocolate Museum Cologne (Schokoladenmuseum)


Bläck Fööss – 5Ö


Maritim Hotel Cologne


bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Krawietz / Mies (GER) – A. Zverev / M. Zverev (GER) 6-4 7-5


bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Gilles Simon (FRA) – Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 6-1 4-6 6-2


bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Alexander Zverev (GER) – John Millman (AUS) 6-0 3-6 6-3


bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Sharan (IND) / Sandgren (USA) – Marach (AUT) / Pavic (CRO) 4-6 2-6


bett1HULKS Championship: Egor Gerasimov (BLR) – Daniel Altmaier (GER) 6-1 6-0


bett1HULKS Championship: Jordan Thompson (AUS) – Gilles Simon (FRA) 3-6 5-7


bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Sumit Nagal (IND) – Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) 6-3 (4)6-7 1-6


bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs. Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-4 6-3


bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Davidovich Fokina / Verdasco (ESP) – Masur / Molleker (GER) 3-6 6-1 10-8


bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Gonzales (MEX) / K. Skupski (GBR) – Nielsen (DEN) / Puetz (GER) 4-6 6-1 10-5


bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Sharan (IND) / Withrow (USA) – Herbert / Mahut (FRA) 3-6 3-6


The Fair Play Suite at the Kameha Grand Hotel Bonn


Bonn Marriott Hotel


Watching Cologne from Europa Rad Ferris Wheel


ibis Dusseldorf Main Station


Dusseldorf Rhine Tower (Rheinturm)


INNSIDE Hotel Dusseldorf Hafen


U.D.O. & The German Armed Forces Concert Band – We Are One


Women Soccer Bundesliga is back – But some Girls score in a different Way


Björn Heuser (28th May 2020, Drive-In Show, Bonn)


100 Years of Gold Bears and More – Haribo Shopping around Cologne


“Climbing” the Monte Troodelöh, Cologne’s Highest Point


Autokino Düsseldorf – Drive-Movies & Show


Car Watch – A new Pop-up Drive-in Cinema in Cologne


Cologne/Bonn Airport during Covid-19 Times (Pictured Story)


Cologne DRIVE IN Movies – More than the Covid-19 Alternative


German Fairy Forest (Deutscher Märchenwald) Altenberg


Arithmeum Bonn – A Museum about Calculations


Brett Eldredge / Lauren Jenkins (24th January 2020, Cologne)


Hilton Bonn


Flyctory.com Best Ones 2019


Historic Mustard Mill Cologne


Noah Guthrie (9th December 2019, Cologne)


Pete Wolf Band – 2084 (Album Review)



Cologne Old Town Christmas Market



Cologne Stadtgarten Christmas Market


Björn Heuser – Kopp voll Dräum (Nashville Recordings)


Stars Of The Galaxy – A Star Wars Shrine in Mönchengladbach



Cologne Harbor Christmas Market at Chocolate Museum


Mrs. Greenbird (Frankfurt, 7th November 2019)


Ben Zucker & Van De Forst (6th November 2019, Cologne)


Willie Jones & Tyler Rich (29th October 2019, Cologne)


Dusseldorf Airport Photo Tour


Logan Mize (26th October 2019, Cologne)


Scotty McCreery (24th October 2019, Cologne)


Andy Clark (19th October 2019, Dusseldorf)


SSF Dragons Bonn – MFBC Leipzig/Grimma 0:3 (0:1, 0:0, 0:2)


DJK Holzbüttgen – SSF Dragons Bonn 9:8 (2:4, 3:2, 4:2)


Rock of Ages (Zons / Germany, 28th Sep 2019)


Jillian Jacqueline & Lauren Jenkins (9th September 2019, Cologne)


Andernach Geyser


Floorball RENEW Cup 2019 (Holzbüttgen, Germany)


On Top of Leverkusen Water Tower


Wade Bowen (6th August 2019, Cologne)


SV Menden – 1. FC Köln 3:5 (0:3) (31st July 2019)


German Blade Museum Solingen


The Scherz-Tour – A Different RheinEnergieSTADION Cologne Tour


Bergisch Historic Trams Wuppertal


Museum Plagiarius Solingen – The Place for Copies


Mrs. Greenbird – Dark Waters (Review)


SSF Dragons Bonn – TV Schriesheim 5:8 (1:1, 3:1, 1:6)


Lindlar Open Air Museum


“Sound of Nashville” in Cologne (6th March 2019)


Alte Dombach Paper Mill


Very Important Postings – July to December 2018


Ratingen-Cromford Textile Factory


The Eau de Cologne Giants – 4711 vs. Farina


Floorball Bundesliga: DJK Holzbüttgen – ETV Piranhhas Hamburg 2:7 (1:3, 0:4, 1:0)


Leverkusen Deer Park Reuschenberg (Review)


Dormagen Deer Park Tannenbusch


SV Menden – 1. FC Köln 0:1 (0:1) (2018 pre-season)


Life of a Women Soccer Legend


City Outlet Bad Münstereifel


LINA @ Kunst!Rasen Bonn


History of Gaming in Cologne’s City Museum


Six Intercontinental Flight Weekend – Day 5 (Trip Report)


Six Intercontinental Flight Weekend – Day 1 (Trip Report)

