The festive season begins in November in many German cities. Cologne Cathedral's Christmas market opens on 16 November 2026, followed by Düsseldorf on 19 November. Christmas Town Valkenburg starts on 13 November. Closing dates depend on the event: some markets finish before Christmas Eve, while others remain open until late December or early January.

You can look for accommodation in Christmas market destinations such as Düsseldorf, Cologne, Aachen, Maastricht, Valkenburg, Antwerp, The Hague and Edinburgh. There are more than 700,000 accommodation options available worldwide through hotelgiftcard.com, with hotel availability depending on the chosen dates.

The Hotelgiftcard is for accommodation booked through hotelgiftcard.com. It doesn't cover purchases, meals or paid attractions at the market itself. Most traditional outdoor Christmas markets are free to enter, although individual activities may have an admission fee.

Certainly. Hotelgiftcards issued for Germany are valid for three years from purchase. There's no requirement to book a festive getaway, so the recipient is welcome to plan a city break, summer holiday or another trip instead. They must complete the booking before the expiry date, but the stay can take place afterwards.

Digital gift cards are usually delivered by email within an hour. Physical Hotelgiftcards ordered before 5 pm on a working day are dispatched on the same day. The delivery period will depend on the country and postal service.