After Bonn in 2023 and Münster in 2024, Dennis and I went further than North Rhine-Westphalia for our 2025 Christmas market in Germany outing. We went to Koblenz in Rhineland-Palatinate, at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle rivers. Hence the name of the city.
This blogpost is about the 2025-2026 Christmas market in Koblenz. The 2026-2027 edition may be (very) different.
Every year during Advent, Koblenz is transformed into a festive pre-Christmas wonderland. Set at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle, the historic city takes on a particularly enchanting atmosphere in winter, when twinkling lights, traditional market stalls and the scent of seasonal treats fill the streets.
Unusual for Germany, the Koblenzer Weihnachtsmarkt or Koblenz Christmas Market doesn’t stop just before Christmas, but continues until after New Year’s Eve and Day, aka Sylvester. The 2025-2026 Koblenz Christmas Market ran from 21 November to 4 January.
From freshly roasted almonds and gingerbread to mulled wine and Feuerzangenbowle, the aromas of Christmas accompany visitors as they stroll through the festively decorated city centre.
The Koblenz Christmas Market is spread across several atmospheric squares in the old town and modern centre, allowing visitors to wander from one favourite spot to the next while discovering handcrafted gifts, regional delicacies and cosy places to pause and warm up.
A highlight of the Advent season awaits at Jesuitenplatz, where the city’s largest Advent calendar comes to life. Each evening, the colourfully illuminated dormer windows of the baroque town hall reveal one of the 24 calendar ‘doors’, creating a particularly contemplative and memorable sight.
Jesuitenplatz: tradition at the heart of the Old Town
Jesuitenplatz, located in the heart of Koblenz’s Altstadt, is the starting point for many Christmas market strolls. Surrounded by picturesque half-timbered houses, the square offers a wide range of traditional Christmas goods. Visitors will find unique tree decorations, candle arches, Christmas pyramids, smokers, nutcrackers, stollen, honey, The Weihnachtsmarkt stars, hats and scented oils – ideal for finding distinctive and meaningful gifts.
Looking up is just as rewarding as browsing the stalls: the illuminated Advent calendar in the town hall roof dominates the square throughout December. Nearby, close to the Citykirche, the charity house hosts local clubs and organisations, who offer homemade items and information in support of charitable causes.
Am Plan: where it all began
The historic square Am Plan is where the Koblenz Christmas Market was first held over 40 years ago. Today, it remains one of the most convivial meeting places, centred around a beautifully decorated Christmas pyramid and cosy wooden booths. On weekends, live saxophone music adds a modern yet festive soundtrack to the traditional setting.
Shopping enthusiasts will discover Indian scarves, decorative items and even handmade dog treats, while younger visitors can enjoy a ride on the children’s carousel. After visiting the market, the surrounding restaurants and cafés invite guests to end the evening in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Josef-Görres-Platz: a cosy Christmas Village
The youngest of the seven Christmas market squares, Josef-Görres-Platz has been part of the festivities since 2017. Festively illuminated buildings frame a small, idyllic Christmas village that is especially popular with families and those seeking a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere.
A small train winds its way through a Christmas forest surrounding the historic column at the centre of the square.
Visitors can sample confectionery, regional wines, exquisite culinary products and fine mulled wines from local winegrowers, as well as browse woollen goods, decorative items and olive wood crafts. Heated seating huts allow guests to linger comfortably, even on cold winter evenings.
Münzplatz: festive buzz and culinary variety
Münzplatz is the largest and liveliest square of the Koblenz Christmas Market. It’s the food court of the Weihnachtsmarkt. Although there’s food everywhere.
There is always something happening here, making it a popular gathering place, especially for younger visitors. The Christmas mill and coin barn provide a lively backdrop for enjoying mulled wine, mulled beer and seasonal drinks.
The culinary offering is particularly diverse, ranging from apple pancakes and Baumstriezel, aka kürtőskalács from Hungary, to vegetarian vegetable skillets, fresh potato chips and Flammlachs (salmon on a flame). Gift hunters will find leather goods, schnapps and liqueurs, hams and cheeses, olive wood products and handcrafted glass items. A children’s carousel ensures that younger guests are equally entertained.
Willi-Hörter-Platz and the Town Hall Courtyard: wine and reflection
At Willi-Hörter-Platz, between the Schängelbrunnen and the historic city hall, visitors are welcomed by the softly lit ‘SchaEngelbar‘. This popular wine bar specialises in white and red mulled wines, complemented by sweet treats and freshly roasted almonds.
Opposite lies the entrance to the town hall courtyard, where an atmospheric nativity scene is displayed. Away from the bustle of the market, the courtyard offers a peaceful and reflective setting, ideal for those seeking a quieter moment during their Christmas visit.
This area is the posh, m’as-tu vu square of the Koblenz Christmas Market. It felt like the Exotic Market in Antwerp after 10:30 AM.
Zentralplatz: modern meets traditional
Zentralplatz is the ideal stop for combining Christmas market visits with shopping. Located next to the Forum Confluentes, the square features a mix of classic and contemporary elements. Stalls offer crêpes, handmade knitwear, Christmas tablecloths and fine glass writing instruments.
Coming from the railway station, it’s the first square you’ll encounter.
A striking contrast is provided by a 70-year-old giant wooden wheel turning slowly between the colourful huts, while two illuminated Christmas trees – one natural, one a futuristic metal structure – bathe the square in festive light. The nearby tourist information office also offers a wide selection of regional products and souvenirs.
We had Schneeball there. A deep-fried pastry made from shortcrust pastry especially popular in the area of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Its name derives from its round, ball-like shape, its diameter of about eight to ten centimeters, and its traditional decoration with white confectioner’s sugar. It is also known as a Storchennest.
Liebfrauenkirche: intimate and atmospheric
The smallest square of the Koblenz Christmas Market, at Liebfrauenkirche, or Church of Our Lady, is also one of the most charming. Beneath the onion domes of the church, visitors can enjoy Feuerzangenbowle (some kind of punch) while watching local artisans craft delicate gifts from wood and mammoth ivory.
At weekends, Koblenz artist Manfred Gniffke and his son Michael perform Christmas stories and carols in the local dialect, adding a distinctly regional flavour. With a little luck, visitors may also encounter Father Christmas, who hands out sweets to children and is happy to pose for photos.
Christmas Garden at Ehrenbreitstein Fortress: a magical finale
A winter visit to Koblenz would not be complete without a trip to the Deutsches Eck or German Corner, followed by a cable car ride up to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. The fortress becomes the setting for the spectacular Christmas Garden, one of the seasonal highlights of the city.
After dark, the historic site is transformed into a glowing world of light and sound installations. Illuminated tunnels, sparkling lawns, artistic projections and romantic viewpoints create a magical open-air experience for visitors of all ages. Each Christmas Garden season is unique, offering new designs and imaginative displays that invite guests to pause, marvel and immerse themselves in festive fantasy.
The most convenient way to reach the fortress is by cable car, with combination tickets available that include the return journey.
At the steep price of 25 euros per person, we did not do it and opted to visit the fortress by day.
A visit
As we were in Koblenz from Friday evening to Monday morning, we experienced a full weekend. But we explored the Christmas Market mostly on Saturday.
Some takeaways:
- Koblenz Christmas Market is crowded but not too much. You can still move around easily.
- The opening times are a bit early. The Weihnachtsmarkt opens early but closes at 21:00 or even 20:00 on Sunday. We were a a bit caught out by this.
- Koblenz Christmas Market is very much food and drinks oriented. We were under the impression that there were few souvenir and trinkets vendors.
- The Weihnachtsmarkt is very walkable. On a map, the squares look far away from each other but in reality that’s not the case.
- We didn’t hear live music. Where are the brass bands and carol singers?
- There are a few regional drinks such as Koblenzer Winter Rosé. Try it.
As always in Deutschland, bring cash.
So?
So, my top 3 of our Christmas Market escapades so far. I’ll put Bonn first. I enjoyed Koblenz a lot as well, but Bonn was the first in this series and everything gets compared to that one. So it has a slight edge on Koblenz.
Of the three, I put Münster last. I guess it was too crowded and there too many Dutch people. I look for dépaysement. If I want to see and hear (!) Dutchies I’ll just stay in Antwerp in Belgium.
And for 2026? Perhaps Bremen in the state called Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, or Frankfurt in Hesse.