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Aachen Christmas Market

When is the Aachen Christmas market open?

This year the Christmas market will take place from 21.11. - 23.12.2025.

The Christmas market is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm.

Deviating from this: Dead Sunday (23.11.2025) from 6 - 9 pm, 13.12.2025 from 11 am - 10 pm, 23.12.2025 from 11 am - 8 pm.

Further information about the Aachen Christmas Market can be found on the official website of the Aachen Christmas Market.

How do I get to the Aachen Christmas Market (by car)?

Information on how to get to the Aachen Christmas Market can be found on the official website of the Aachen Christmas Market.

We recommend that individual guests travel by public transport or use the Park+Ride parking spaces, as the volume of traffic in Aachen city center is very high during the Christmas market period. You can find information on our travel page.

How do we get to the Aachen Christmas market by coach?

For coaches, the Bendplatz is available free of charge as an official parking lot with drivers' meeting point and toilets. From there, a shuttle bus will take you to the city center, the walking distance is approx. 1.2 km. Please drive directly to Bendplatz and use the shuttle bus, as the traffic volume in Aachen city center is very high during the Christmas market season. The coach stops in the city center may be closed at short notice by the traffic authorities.

Further information on how to get to the Aachen Christmas Market can be found on the official website of the Aachen Christmas Market.

Are there toilets at the Christmas market?

There are public toilets both in the city center and at the Aachen Christmas Market. The latter are marked on the information flyer.

Information about the shuttle bus

There will be a shuttle bus to the Christmas market, which will take you from Bendplatz (bus parking lot) to the city center and back every 15 minutes.
Christmas market bus stop: Templergraben (opposite Super C)

This costs €3 per person (return journey). Travel times are daily from 09:30 to 18:30.

Tickets for individual customers cannot be purchased in advance.

Bus companies can order the desired number of tickets in advance from the shuttle company. Payment is then made by invoice.
Please contact: Info@willms-reisen.de

Can the shuttle bus be used by wheelchair users?

Yes, this is not a problem. There is a ramp for wheelchair users with a maximum load capacity of 200 kg.

Can I pay with my bank card at all stands? Do I have to carry cash with me?

Not all stands accept card payments. Card payment is possible at large catering stands. However, many stalls only accept cash. There are many opportunities to withdraw money from ATMs around the Christmas market.

Accommodation tax

How high is the accommodation tax?

From January 1, 2026, the city of Aachen will levy an accommodation tax of € 2.50 per person andd per Üovernight stay.

Who has to pay the accommodation tax?

In principle, all persons of legal age who stay in hotels, guesthouses, vacation apartments or similar establishments for a fee are liable to pay the tax. accommodation establishments overnight stays.

Who is exempt from the accommodation tax?

Exempt are:

  • Children and young people up to and including the age of 17
  • Persons who already pay a visitor's tax
  • Persons staying overnight as part of school trips or similar youth trips

Where and when do I have to pay the accommodation tax?

The accommodation tax is not included in the stated accommodation price or in our package tour prices.

The accommodation tax is levied by the accommodation provider; payment at other locations (e.g. tourist information or payment machines) is not possible.

A hotel, inn, guesthouse, guest room in a private household, private apartment, youth hostel, vacation apartment, motel, campsite, motorhome site with special sanitary facilities and similar establishments are considered accommodation.

Do I also have to pay the tax if I stay overnight in Aachen as part of a business trip?

Yes, business travelers are also liable to pay the tax.
Exemptions are only possible under the aforementioned conditions.

Do I also have to pay an accommodation tax if I have booked accommodation outside the city of Aachen?

For accommodation establishments outside the city of Aachen, no accommodation tax is levied by the city of Aachen.
However, some municipalities, especially in the Netherlands, may charge their own accommodation tax. The exact amounts will be indicated at the time of booking.

Where can I find more information on this topic?

The statutes on the levying of the accommodation tax in the city of Aachen can be found here.

Public guided tours

Where can I get tickets for the public tours?

Tickets can be purchased online (payment by credit card or Paypal) on our website or at our Tourist Info (cash or card payment). Tickets for public tours cannot be reserved or canceled.

Where does the public tour start?

The meeting point is shown on your ticket. You will receive this by e-mail when you order online or it will be printed out for you when you buy it at the Tourist Information.

Most of our guided tours start at our Tourist Information at the Elisenbrunnen.

Themed tours or neighborhood tours may have a different meeting point. You will find the exact address of the meeting point on the ticket.

Group tours

Can I book an appointment for a guided tour?

Reservations are not possible as we cannot block the availability of guides.

To secure an appointment, we recommend booking directly. Cancellation free of charge is then possible up to 7 days before the date of the service.

Where can I find the invoice for my booked group tour?

You will receive the invoice for your booked group tour in a separate email at the same time as the booking confirmation.

Exception: the "Sweet Aachen" tour will only be invoiced after the tour. You will receive the invoice from us by e-mail.

How do I pay for my booked group tour?

Payment shall be made by bank transfer of the invoice amount up to 14 days before the date of performance or at the earliest possible date.

Is it possible to pay the tour guide for my booked group tour?

It is not possible to pay the booked group tour to the tour guide. Please pay for the tour in advance by transferring the invoice amount.

Where does our tour start?

The meeting point for your booked tour can be found on the booking confirmation you received by email. For public tours, the meeting point is stated on the ticket.

For group tours, the meeting point "Tourist Information am Elisenbrunnen" is usually chosen. If you would like an alternative meeting point, please indicate this in your booking request. The meeting point must be in the historic old town.

Until when is it possible to cancel free of charge?

Cancellation of ats guided tours is possible free of charge up to 7 days before the service is performed.

Cancellation is only possible during ats business hours and must be communicated in written or electronic form. It is best to send us an e-mail.

Further information can be found in our terms and conditions for group tours.

What is the maximum number of participants for a group tour?

The maximum number of participants for group tours is 20 people per tour guide. If you would like to bring more people with you, we will be happy to offer you several guides at the same time.

The city tour is not limited to 20 participants. The rule is: 1 guide per bus.

Guided tours of Aachen Cathedral

Where can I book a guided tour of Aachen Cathedral?

Guided tours of Aachen Cathedral are organized exclusively by the Cathedral Information Office.

You can currently only reach the Cathedral Information Office during opening hours on site at Johannes-Paul-II.-Straße 1 (opposite the main portal of Aachen Cathedral) or by e-mail.

Group tours of Aachen Cathedral must be requested and booked in writing. Please fill out the form and send it by e-mail to: tour@aachenerdom.de
There is currently a long waiting time for a reply.
Reservations for group tours are currently processed max. 4 weeks in advance. Earlier requests will be placed on a waiting list. Remaining tickets can be booked at the Dominformation.

Tickets for public cathedral tours are available at the cathedral information desk (only on the day of the tour itself) or online up to 12 hours before your visit. Tickets for the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) are an exception; these must be booked by Friday at 2 pm at the latest. The dates are always online 8 weeks in advance.

You can find more useful information about Aachen Cathedral here.

Can I book a guided tour that combines the old town and the cathedral?

A combined tour of the old town and cathedral cannot be offered by one and the same guide.
The aachen tourist service will be happy to book an Old Town tour (1.5 hours) for you. This then ends at the cathedral information desk, where a guide from the cathedral chapter will continue with the cathedral tour (45 minutes).
The aachen tourist service guides do not have the right to speak inside the cathedral and are only allowed to explain interesting things about Aachen Cathedral from the outside.

City tour with the CityTour bus (red double-decker bus)

When does the red CityTour bus run?

From April to October, the bus runs every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 am, 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm (from Elisenbrunnen). From November to December, the bus only runs every Saturday at 1 pm (from Elisenbrunnen). The tour starts directly opposite the Tourist Information Elisenbrunnen on Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz.

Information material

Can I have brochures & leaflets sent to me by post?

We will be happy to send you brochures and leaflets that are in stock. Please complete the order form. Materials that you cannot select there are not in stock.

Please note that shipping takes about 2-3 working days (abroad significantly longer). We do not send brochures & leaflets within Aachen.

Why did I receive a brochure with an older date?

For reasons of environmental protection, we will continue to send out brochures of an older date until a more recent edition of the brochure is available. This may be the case in the first few months of a new year. Most of the basic information is still correct. You can also find up-to-date information on all topics in the brochures and leaflets here on our website.

Arrival

Do I need a green environmental badge if I want to come to Aachen by car?

Aachen has an environmental zone, which is why a green environmental badge is required within the outer ring. This also applies to the motorhome parking area!

The green environmental badge is awarded to cars whose exhaust emissions meet the relevant guidelines. The environmental zone is intended to help improve the air quality in Aachen city center. You can obtain it from various emissions testing centers or garages by presenting the original vehicle documents (no digital form or copy). It is not necessary to have your car inspected.

Electric cars also require a green environmental badge. Classic cars with an H license plate are exempt from the regulation.

You can find more information here.

Where can I park my car in the city center?

You can find a list of Aachen's parking garages and Park & Ride parking spaces here.

Depending on the time of year, there can be a high volume of traffic in the city center. We therefore recommend the Park & Ride parking lots on the outskirts of the city.

Where can our coach drop us off in the city center?

Please note our information on traveling by coach.

It is not permitted to stop at the public transport stops at Elisenbrunnen by coach. This prohibition is checked regularly.

If your tour starts at the Tourist Information Elisenbrunnen, the nearest coach stop is on Sandkaulstraße. From there, it is 850 meters on foot to the Tourist Information.

Which parking garage is high enough for my car?

Most parking garages in Aachen have a maximum height of 1.90 meters.

The following parking garages have a greater maximum height:

Luisenhospital multi-storey parking lot (2.10 meters)

Parking garage at the cathedral, Jesuitenstraße 10: 2.00 meters

Tivoli multi-storey parking lot (2.20 meters on the first floor, 1.90 meters on the upper floor)

The Pontstraße parking lot has no height limit, nor do the Park+Ride parking lots (with the exception of the Tivoli parking garage, see above).

All information without guarantee! Please pay attention to the warning signs at the parking garage entrances!

Are there currently any major roadworks in and around Aachen that you should avoid?

There are currently a number of roadworks in the Aachen city area. You can find an overview in the construction site information system of the city of Aachen.

Theaterplatz is currently closed. Please use the signposted detours.

Coaches please also note our information on traveling by coach.

Events in Aachen

Where can I find event dates in Aachen?

An overview of the most important events in Aachen and a calendar of events can be found here or on the Bad Aachen website.

Where can I find information on music events / church services in Aachen Cathedral?

Information on musical events in Aachen Cathedral can be found on the Cathedral Music website.

Information on church services can be found on the Aachen Cathedral website.

Can I buy tickets for events in Aachen from you?

On our website you will find an overview of the services for which we sell tickets.

For other events (concerts, theater, musicals, cabaret, etc.) you can get your ticket at Medienhaus Aachen.
Sales and advice in the publishing house building at Dresdener Straße 3, 52068 Aachen.
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri 8.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m.
Sat 9.00 - 12.00

The ticket store in the Elisenbrunnen was operated by Medienhaus Aachen until 2021. The Tourist Information and the ticket store simply shared the premises. Since the reopening of the premises in 2021, a café and the Tourist Information have been located in the Elisenbrunnen.

CHIO Aachen

Frequently asked questions

Click here for the FAQ page of the CHIO Aachen

World Equestrian Games 2026

Where and when can I book accommodation for the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 (FEI World Equestrian Games)?

We currently have no hotel rooms available for visitors to the World Equestrian Games.

The usual online portals are now activated for August 2026. We assume that individual rooms will gradually be released in the hotels. So please check there regularly or contact the hotels directly. You can find an overview of accommodation in Aachen and the surrounding area in our hotel information brochure. We recommend that you also consider accommodation in the surrounding area of Aachen or in the neighboring regions of Belgium and the Netherlands - for such a major event, it is worth looking beyond the city limits.

Or book our attractive World Equestrian Games package directly, which includes hotel accommodation as well as a season ticket for the dressage (10-16.08.2026) or show jumping (18-23.08.2026 - unfortunately already fully booked) disciplines. You can find more information here.

Where can I book a ticket for the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 (FEI World Equestrian Games)?

We recommend that youtickets on the official website. You can also find more information about the World Equestrian Games here.

Other

Where are public toilets located?

You can find a list of public toilets here.

There are no public toilets at the Tourist Information Elisenbrunnen.

Where can I store my luggage?

There are luggage lockers at Aachen main station. For larger pieces of luggage / groups, please check availability with Deutsche Bahn in advance.

We recommend that overnight guests arrange luggage storage with their accommodation.

I have a request to the Aachen city administration (citizen service, public order office, registry office, traffic authority, etc.) that has nothing to do with tourism. Who should I contact?

Please contact the City of Aachen directly with your request on +49 (0) 241 4320 or by e-mail.

We, the aachen tourist service e.v., are not part of the city administration and have no way of directing you to the right contact person for your request.

I have a disability and need information on suitable toilets and the accessibility of the center. Where can I find information on this?

The city of Aachen publishes a city map for people with disabilities, on which the most important information can be found. You can download it here or obtain it from the Tourist Information Elisenbrunnen and the city's citizen services.

Further information and contact details for advice can be found on the website of the City of Aachen's "People with disabilities" control center.

André Rieu

Can I travel from Aachen to André Rieu's concerts by public transport?

The journey from Aachen is via Line 350 – Maastricht Station : 350_arriva.pdf (avv.de) 

Last possible return journeys from Maastricht to Aachen are:
Sunday–Friday at 11:16 p.m. / Saturday at 11:46 p.m. by bus (line 350) or at 11:52 p.m. by train (RE18) from Maastricht station.

However, the official end of the concert is expected to be around 00:30. You can plan your trips here: Reisplanner: plan je bus- of treinreis | Arriva

Alternative means of transportation are car and cab.

Where can I park my car in Maastricht?

All parking options in the city of Maastricht can be found here: Parking in Maastricht | Visit Maastricht

We recommend the free P+R Maastricht Noord on the outskirts of the city.

Where can I find more information about Maastricht?

Sights and lots more information can be found at our colleagues from the "Maastricht Marketing": Discover Maastricht | Visit Maastricht

What can I do as a supporting program in Aachen and where can I book a hotel?

Our diverse city tours are a great option for a supporting program in Aachen.

If you are still looking for a hotel, please take a look at our accommodation page or send us an e-mail with the following details and we will be happy to send you a non-binding hotel offer.

Information required: Number of persons and rooms, date of travel, mode of travel (car, train, etc.), billing address, special requests.

Please note that the occupancy rate of the Aachen hotels and the room prices are high at the time of the Rieu concerts.

You can find more information about the concerts on the Visit Maastricht website.

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