Chat with us, powered by LiveChat Escorted Group Festive City Breaks to Cologne, Germany for Solo Travellers

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What to expect

4 Included Excursions

4 Included Excursions

TimeRide, Chocolate Museum & more

Four-star Central Hotel

Four-star Central Hotel

With pool, bar, restaurants & gym

Heumarkt Xmas Market

Heumarkt Xmas Market

Free time at Heinzel’s Winter Fairytale

Cologne Guided Tour

Cologne Guided Tour

Explore lively squares & the cathedral

About this trip...

Join us on this four-night festive break and combine culture with celebration as you spend Christmas time in Cologne with a small group of solo travellers and accompanying Tour Leader. Discover Cologne’s rich history on a guided city tour before stepping back in time at TimeRide Cologne, an immersive VR experience that transports you to 1926, surrounding you with the sights, sounds and spirit of the Weimar era through cutting-edge storytelling. Marvel at world-class masterpieces in Museum Ludwig, breathe in centuries of fragrance at Farina House and indulge your sweet tooth at the Chocolate Museum with a delicious tasting. With time to wander through Heinzel’s Winter Fairytale market on Heumarkt and cosy evenings enjoying traditional German festive fare, this is Christmas wrapped in culture, warmth and wonderful company.
Activity Level: Activity Level Rating
What's this?

What's included?

  • Return flights & transfers
  • Airport taxes & charges
  • Classic single room with Queen-size bed for sole use
  • Solos Board: Daily breakfast & four dinners
  • Two hours of soft drinks, beer and wine on days 1 & 2
  • Welcome drink
  • Festive dinner on 24th & 25th December
  • Cologne City Tour
  • TimeRide Cologne
  • Museum Ludwig
  • Guided tour of Fragrance Museum
  • Guided tour of Chocolate Museum including tasting
  • Accompanying Tour Leader
  • Fully financially protected

What's extra:

  • For insurance, please click here

Itinerary

  • Arrive in Cologne - City Tour of Cologne
  • Christmas Eve Celebrations
  • TimeRide Cologne - Museum Ludwig - Festive Dinner
  • Fragrance Museum - Chocolate Museum
  • Depart Cologne

What you'll be doing

Day One: Arrive in Cologne

Day One: Arrive in Cologne

Welcome to Cologne! On arrival, we’ll transfer to the hotel before meeting our local guide for a sightseeing tour of the city, taking us through the Old Town around the cathedral, town hall and the Romanesque church of Groß St. Martin. We tour through narrow, cobbled alleyways and across lively squares such as the Alter Markt, where Cologne’s rich urban history comes to life through its strong regional character and social identity. This evening, we meet for a welcome drink and dinner.
 
  • Dinner included
Day Two: Festive Celebrations

Day Two: Festive Celebrations

Christmas eve is the main festive highlight of Christmas in Germany with shops generally opening until noon. Today is free for you to explore independently or to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities. This evening we meet for a festive dinner including 2 hours of soft drinks, beer and wine. The hotel will be able to suggest places of worship if you wish to attend midnight mass or a festive service.

  • Breakfast & dinner included
Day Three: TimeRide SENSEUM & Museum Ludwig

Day Three: TimeRide SENSEUM & Museum Ludwig

Today, after a leisurely breakfast, we head to Cologne's award-winning top attraction 'TimeRide Cologne' - an immersive experience that transports you back to 1926 and the sights, sounds and atmosphere of the city during the Weimar era through cutting-edge VR storytelling. This afternoon, we visit the renowned Museum Ludwig, home to works by prestigious artists such as Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Tom Wesselmann. The collection spans styles from Pop Art and Expressionism to photography and striking art from the Rhineland. We finish the day with a festive dinner at the hotel.

  • Breakfast & dinner included
Day Four: Fragrance and Chocolate Museums

Day Four: Fragrance and Chocolate Museums

This morning, there’s some free time to relax or explore a little more. Why not take a wander around Heinzel’s Winter Fairytale at Heumarkt, where the festive market serves up a tempting mix of seasonal specialities, handcrafted treats and unique gifts. Stroll the themed lanes and little squares, soak up the atmosphere with live music, jugglers and street artists, or hit the ice on Germany’s finest open-air ice rink.*

This afternoon, we head to the Fragrance Museum at Farina House for a guided tour, discovering over 300 years of scent-making history at the birthplace of the original Eau de Cologne. This multi-sensory visit through the historic Farina House features fragrance stations filled with natural essences to sample, along with historic flacons, portraits and beautifully preserved interiors to admire.

We then make our way to the Chocolate Museum for a guided tour, where a host of sweet experiences awaits. Learn about the cocoa bean’s journey from tropical plantations to the finished treat, finishing with a tasting that lets you experience how the flavours develop on the way to the final chocolate bar.

 

  • Breakfast & dinner included


*Additional cost applies and payable locally.

Day Five: Depart Cologne

Day Five: Depart Cologne

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport, taking with us memories of a special time in Cologne and Germany—the true home of Christmas. 
 
  • Breakfast included

Accommodation

Four-star Maritim Hotel Cologne

Situated between the Old Town and the Rhine, the four-star Maritim Hotel Cologne is the perfect base whilst in Cologne. With a warm welcome and great facilities, this hotel puts you at the centre of it all.
Facilities include:
The Maritim Hotel Cologne features four restaurants and a bar, plus a swimming pool, sauna, steam bath and fitness room (currently €5 per person per day). Complimentary WiFi is available throughout the property and there are 3 lifts.
Room includes:
The classic single rooms feature a Queen-size bed, flat screen TV, complimentary WiFi, capsule machine for tea and coffeee, air-conditioning and a fully equiped bathroom with colour changing LED shower or bathtub.

Dates & Prices

Departure Return Nights Price from Other Info Regional flights
23 Dec 2026 27 Dec 2026 4
£1899
   Please call for regional flights

Essential Information

Passport & Visa Information
To enter Germany your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:
  • less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
  • valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
Check both the issue date and the expiry date in your passport. If you renewed your passport early, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. This could affect the requirement for your passport to be less than 10 years old.
A visa is not required by holders of passports endorsed “British Citizen” for stays of upto 90 days in any 180-day period. Please note that stays in other EU countries counts towards this 90 day period.
 
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa, a valid passport and any other travel documents for your holiday.  All information provided relates to British citizens who hold or are entitled to apply for a British passport. For the most up-to-date visa information please visit; Germany Foreign Advice
 
If you are not a British citizen and do not hold a British passport, you must make your own enquiries as to the applicable requirements.

From the 12th October 2025 the EU is introducing a new European Entry System (EES) that will be phased in and fully operational by the 10th April 2026. Non-EU nationals including British passport holders will now be required to complete biometric checks on arrival and exit to Schengen countries, which will include facial recognition and fingerprints. There is no cost for this, and no action needs to be taken prior to departure.

 

Christmas Markets
Most Christmas markets in Cologne close on the 23rd December. There will be some time on our day of arrival to visit the local markets.
 
During the free time on the 26th December, it is recommended to visit the Christmas market at Heinzels Winter Fairytale which is open until 3rd January and a short walk from the hotel. This is not open on the 24th and 25th December.
Transfer Time
The transfer time from Cologne Bonn Airport to the hotel is approximately 20 minutes depending on traffic.
Currency
Euros €
Gratuities
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. In order to give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below. Your Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection to cover drivers, porters and hotel staff of €20.00. 
 
Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate add on.
Dress Code
The dress code for during the day is casual. In the evenings the dress code is smart casual. Comfortable warm shoes for walking and sightseeing are recommended. Winters in Germany can be extra chilly, so be sure to bring layers that will keep you cozy and warm. Bring a comfortable coat, thick scarf, hat and gloves. Insulated boots and thermal tops are also good idea.
Included Meals
Traditional German Christmas cuisine will be served during the festive meals.
 
Dinner may be served either as a buffet or 4 course menu.

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Rated as Excellent (4.8/5) by our customers

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First Class

I’d highly recommend Solos to people looking to travel on their own with a group of like minded people.
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Fabulous experience

Solos are extremely organised and provide fantastic holidays for people on their own. The tour leaders are of a very high standard and are extremely caring with the guests.
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I’ve recently returned from my first Solos holiday and had a fantastic time. I can honestly say that I enjoyed every minute, and the memories will last a lifetime.
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