Cologne

Cologne, the biggest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, has a lot to offer all year long. Even though the city is warmer in winter than much of Germany, there is still some snow.

Visit the Claudius Therme thermal bath on those cold January days to warm yourself in the outdoor pools and saunas while the sky is becoming darker. With celebrations and parades filling the streets for days, Cologne's carnival in February is one of the largest in the nation. Germany is home to some of the most beautiful Christmas markets in all of Europe, with Cologne being a standout. Right in front of the 157-meter-tall Gothic tower of the Cologne Cathedral is the largest Christmas market in the city. Here, more than 150 wooden pavilions offer a variety of goods for sale, including gingerbread cookies, lebkuchen holiday cards, traditional wooden toys, and quirky Tassen tableware.