Aachen, the westernmost city in Germany, is located near the border with Belgium and the Netherlands. It’s a short train ride from Brussels. With easy connections from the Eurostar and many ferry ports, it’s popular with British tourists.

Aachen started out as a Roman settlement and spa town. In medieval times it was the imperial residence of Charlemagne, and that’s when the town really flourished. From 936 to 1531, the Aachen cathedral, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, was where 31 Holy Roman Emperors were crowned. The core of the cathedral is still the octagon built by Charlemagne, and his gilt shrine and throne are some of the top sights to see in town. 

Aachen Christmas Market is a beautiful market thanks to its backdrop against the stunning cathedral. Twinkling lights and decorated trees are strewn across the city, and the wooden chalets have a rather medieval feel. This gives Aachen’s Christmas market a spectacular air, and has made this market one of the Top Ten Best Christmas Markets in Europe.

• The market and cathedral can easily be seen over the course of a few hours, making Aachen a great daytrip from Cologne.
• Each area of the market runs into one another, transforming the city into one big holiday wonderland.
• Aachen is particularly famous for its Aachen printen, a kind of spiced gingerbread that’s sweet and goes well with mulled wine.