Cologne Christmas Market

Cologne's Christmas market is one of the oldest, largest and most celebrated festive events in Europe — held in the shadow of the magnificent Gothic Cathedral and along the banks of the Rhine. The market dates back over 600 years, and today over a million people visit each November to browse the stalls, enjoy steaming Glühwein, sample traditional German festive food and soak up an atmosphere that is simply incomparable. The Cathedral, with its twin Gothic spires illuminated against the winter sky, provides one of the most spectacular Christmas backdrops imaginable.

But this break offers far more than the Christmas market alone. Cologne's Old Town, its Roman heritage, its world-class museums and its famous Kölsch brewery culture make it a wonderfully rewarding city at any time of year. The Rhine Valley in November has its own quiet, romantic beauty — the last vine leaves clinging to the hillsides, the mist rising from the river — and a scenic excursion takes you south through the World Heritage stretch to historic Koblenz.

A Rhine river cruise through the heart of the valley, a visit to the Drachenfels above Königswinter and a stop at the magnificent Marksburg Castle complete a five-day break that combines festive magic with one of Europe's most beautiful river landscapes.