Weinfest am Rhein is a chick summer festival in Cologne that takes place every year during the first week of August from Wednesday to Sunday. It’s free to enter and stretches along the Rhine promenade, with stalls offering wines from Germany and the world. The atmosphere changes through the week — from lively evenings with friends to calmer family Sundays — and there’s always good food, great wine, and beautiful river views.
Read here 10 things you should know before coming to this festival which is a perfect escape to pair with summer evenings in Cologne.
@pilarnoriegaa ✨ Weinfest am Rhein - weekend recap ✨ I went both Saturday & Sunday – two different vibes, both amazing! 🍷 Highlights: 🍇 Wine from everywhere – German, French, Greek & more! 🍟 Gourmet street food – truffle & ratatouille fries from Michelin-starred Maximilian Lorenz🤤 📅 When – every year the first week of August (Wed–Sun) 📍 Where – along the Rhine promenade in Cologne’s Rheinauhafen 🎟 Entrance – free, just pay for what you eat & drink 🕒 Best times to go – Fri/Sat for the party vibes, Sun for families & chill 🚋 Easy to get there – Tram 🚊 Bus 🚌 bike 🚲 or parking (but tricky!) 💳 Cashless – pay by card, €5 deposit for your wine glass, refunded at the end 💰 Prices – wine €4.50–€5.50 (0.1 L), bottles €25–€33, food €6–€19 📖 Full tips, prices & all you need to know are on my blog — [link in bio] 💻 #WeinfestamRhein #CologneEvents #WineFestival #köln #germanytravel ♬ original sound - .
Table of Contents
1. What is Weinfest am Rhein?
This wine festival has become a beloved summer tradition in Cologne. It takes place along the Rhine promenade near the distinctive “Crane” building (Kranhaus). To be more precise it goes between Harry-Blum-Platz and Elisabeth-Treskow-Platz. The walkway between these architectural highlights makes for a scenic wine-tasting route.
It runs from Wednesday through Sunday, usually during the first week of August—an ideal mix of weekday after-work drinks, weekend pre-parties, and laid-back family Sunday.
- Wednesday to Saturday: from 4pm to 10pm
- Sunday: from 2pm to 8pm
2. Which wines can you find?
Here’s a breakdown of the wine vendors by origin that were in the wine festival while I went—many German, with some European variety:
Germany: IMI Winery (Pfalz), GOETZ (Rheinhessen), Schloss Ortenberg (Baden), III FREUNDE (Rheinhessen), LILIENTHAL WEINE (Pfalz), REVERCHON (Saar), KORBUS — Franken & Mallorca
France: Côtes du Rhône
Greece: MyGreekWine
International: LOVE & ROSÉ (Rosés of Europe), WINE & GLORY (world wines)
So, whether you’re into a light rosé, a bold Pfalz red, or something Greek and unexpected, there’s a pour for every palate.
3. Food to pair with your glass
Maximilian Lorenz is the official food supplier. It is a Michelin-starred restaurant in Cologne, which brought gourmet street food to the festival. Their main restaurant in Altstadt-Nord is known for modern German dishes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
At Weinfest am Rhein, they kept it casual but delicious—with tarte flambée, french fries, mediterranean sausage and cheese specialties and crème brûlée. So if you are vegetarian you will also find options.
4. Music & Entertainment
The vibes are relaxed and welcoming—music plays softly in some spots along the Rhine, never overpowering, so conversation is easy.
This year, the charming and quirky Die Grüngürtelrosen performed. They’re not your typical choir—instead, they’re a playful and diverse men’s choir from Cologne, formed in 2018 as a fun project by a lively bunch including policemen, students, bartenders, and lawyers. What counts most? The sheer joy of singing together, not perfect pitch.
5. Best time to go & atmosphere changes
This is a summary of what you can expect:
- Wednesday & Thursday: Definitely busy—not quiet—but noticeably less crowded than the weekend. Perfect for a relaxed midweek evening.
- Friday & Saturday: Peak festival energy! Expect big crowds, lively vibes, and lots of people dressed up for a night out. Officially it ends at 10 pm (the stalls close), but on weekends the party often keeps going as the crowd lingers along the Rhine.
- Sunday: Calmer and more family-friendly. Easier to find a table, the music is softer, and the pace is slower—ideal for kids, strollers, and relaxed sipping.
6. Getting there & public transport
- Tram: The stops of Ubierring and Schönhauser Straße are the closest ones, you can use the lines 15 and 16 to get there.
- Bus: Bus 133 stops at Rheinauhafen and Schokoladenmuseum, both just a short walk from the festival stretch at Rheinauhafen.
- Car: driving to the festival can be tricky because parking space is limited along the Rhine promenade. Consider nearby garages like Am Gürzenich.
- Bike and e-scotter: probably the best options.
7. Tickets, seating logistics and food & drinks prices
The festival is free to enter, but wine and food are pay-as-you-go.
Seating is the tricky part—there are small tables dotted along the promenade and larger communal tables near buildings, but they fill up fast. If you want a good spot, arrive early, especially on weekend nights.
| Item | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Wine (0.1 L glass) | €3.70 – €5.50 |
| Wine (0.2 L glass) | €7.40 – €11.00 |
| Wine (0.75 L bottle) | €22 – €33 |
| Food (snack/basic meals) | €5 – €19 |
Note: Prices for wine are usually listed for 0.1 L, which is the standard tasting size in Germany. Many stalls also serve 0.2 L pours (double the amount) for roughly double the price, making it a popular choice if you plan to sip longer between refills.
8. How can I pay?
The festival is completely cashless—all payments are made by card (credit or debit).
Here’s how it works for the wine cups:
At the first wine stall you visit, you’ll pay an extra €5 “Pfand” (deposit) for your wine glass.
You keep this same glass with you and can refill it at any wine stall throughout the festival.
When you’re done, take the glass to one of the “Return Stations” (marked around the festival).
Hand over your glass and your card—they’ll refund your €5 deposit directly to your card.
This system keeps things simple, avoids waste, and means you don’t have to juggle change while carrying your wine.
9. Bringing the family (and pets!)
It’s totally family-friendly—especially on Sunday, with space to roam, low-key music, and easy-going vibes. And yes—it’s pet-friendly, too. Plenty of pups tagged along, adding even more charm to the festival atmosphere.
10. My experience at Weinfest am Rhein
I went on Saturday and Sunday (yes, 2 days!)—which turned out to be the perfect (and very different) weekend.
Saturday was peak-festival mode: bustling, lively, and stylish, filled with young crowds dressed up for summer nights by the river.
Sunday was a change of pace—quieter, more family-focused. My husband and baby joined, and it was easier to find a table to sit. We had truffle and ratatouille fries—from Maximilian Lorenz. The wine from III Freunde, cool and refreshing, was the perfect companion.
Contact
- Website: www.weinfest-am-rhein.de
- Instagram: weinfestamrhein
- Facebook: weinfestamrhein
Read more about top 15 places you should visit in Cologne on the blog.
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