Cologne Christmas Market and Kölsch Beer Tour

Taste Kölsch at its source, then wander four Christmas markets with a guide who knows them.

A small-group Christmas market tour in Cologne that starts at Brauerei zur Malzmühle, the city's second oldest brewery, where a guide introduces you to Kölsch beer and its culture before leading you through four Christmas markets, from the intimate Alter Markt to the Cathedral square. The tour runs three hours with a live English-speaking guide and stays under ten guests. Drinks are available for purchase at each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cologne Christmas Market and Kölsch Beer Tour

• Try Kölsch beer at Malzmühle brewery
• Explore Heumarkt and Alter Markt Christmas markets
• Visit small Christmas market with live music
• See Cologne's largest Christmas market by Cathedral

The experience

The tour opens at Brauerei zur Malzmühle, where your guide walks you through what makes Kölsch the local beer: its history, the brewing tradition, and the culture that surrounds it. You'll taste the beer itself, straight from the brewery that has been making it since the 1600s. From there, the group moves into Cologne's Christmas markets, starting with Heumarkt and Alter Markt, where you can order more Kölsch or mulled wine as you move through the stalls and decorations.

The route takes you to two smaller markets that most visitors miss. One sits in a quieter corner of the city and often hosts live music. The other is known for Feuerzangenbowle, a traditional German drink where a rum-soaked sugarloaf is set on fire and drips into mulled wine. The final stop is the largest market, right beside Cologne Cathedral: the one most people photograph but fewer know how to navigate without a guide. The whole outing runs three hours and stays small, capped at ten people per departure.

Drinks are not bundled into the price, so you order and pay for each beer, wine or specialty drink as you go. This setup lets you choose what to try and how much to spend at each market rather than paying upfront for drinks you might skip. The guide speaks English throughout, and the pace is built around walking and stopping rather than rushing between sites.

What’s included

• Guided tour led by a live English-speaking guide.
• exclusive introduction to Kölsch beer and brewing culture at Brauerei zur Malzmühle.
• access to four Christmas markets across the city.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 16:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10 · max 5 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by The Kölsch Crew

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want a guide to lead you through the Christmas markets and breweries at a set pace, rather than wandering on your own: the three-hour format fits one afternoon, and the group stays under ten people.

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Top questions

What exactly is Kölsch beer and why is it special to Cologne?

Kölsch is a light, crisp beer style that originated in Cologne and is protected by a brewing convention: only beer brewed in the city using the Kölsch method can carry the name. Your guide introduces the beer and its brewing culture at Brauerei zur Malzmühle before you taste it, so you understand what makes it distinct from other German beers.

How many Christmas markets does the tour visit?

The tour visits four markets: Heumarkt, Alter Markt, a smaller market known for live music and Feuerzangenbowle, and the largest market at Cathedral Square. Each one has its own character and drink options.

Are drinks included in the price, or do I pay separately?

Drinks are not included. You order and pay for each beer, mulled wine or other drink at the brewery and at each market stop. This lets you choose what to try and how much to spend at each location.

What is Feuerzangenbowle and where can I try it?

Feuerzangenbowle is a traditional German mulled wine drink where a rum-soaked sugarloaf is set on fire and drips into the wine below. You can order it at one of the smaller Christmas markets the tour visits, where it is sometimes prepared.

How many people are on each tour?

Tours are kept to a small group of no more than ten guests, so you move through the markets without feeling crowded.