Finally - one of the first Christmas markets opens these days in Germany, which means that the most wonderful time of the year is officially beginning!

The city of Cologne celebrates the season with seven Christmas fairs, but the most impressive one is the Christmas Market in the heart of the city, right in front of the Cologne Cathedral.

Opening on Monday, November 23, 2009, the Cologne Christmas Market features the tallest Christmas tree in the region. Swing to free Christmas concerts playing nightly in front of the Cologne Cathedral, watch artisans at work, and try a cup of hot spiced wine to keep the cold away.

The rest of Germany's Christmas Markets will follow soon, with most of them opening next weekend, November 27 and 28, 2009.

Germany's Holiday Season

• Germany's Best Christmas Markets
• Photo Gallery: Take a Stroll Through a German Christmas Market
• Christmas Gifts From Germany

_{(Team Bilderdienst Köln)}

Every week, I will be posting budget travel tips for your Germany vacation in my blog, so you can find out how to make your Dollar go further - without taking the fun out of your travels.

This week is all about the German capital: Getting the most out of Berlin doesn't have to break the bank; you can enjoy the culture, history, and architecture Berlin is famous for without paying a single Euro. Here are the best things to see and do in Berlin - on the house:

Berlin For Free

More Berlin Budget Travel Tips:

• The Best Berlin Hostels
• The Berlin Discount Card
• Berlin Walking Tour

Do you have a budget travel tip you want to share with us? Leave a comment or join the conversation in our Germany Travel Forum. The best Germany budget travel tips will be published in this blog.

Check out Last Week's Budget Travel Tip: Sleep Cheap

_{(Photo by Rene Erhardt)}

If you have a sweet tooth like I do, then a visit to the Chocolate Museum should be on your list of things to do in Cologne. Probably the most delicious museum in Germany, the Chocolate Museum takes you on a journey through the 3000-year old history of chocolate-making around the world.

From the Mayan's "Drink of the God's" to a mini-production unit where you can see how chocolate bars and pralines are made, this museum is a fun and interesting adventure for visitors of all ages. The highlight of the museum is the 10-feet high chocolate fountain; the museum staff will be happy to dip waffles into the warm chocolate to give you a try.

• Guide to the Chocolate Museum
• The Best 5 Museums in Cologne
• Cologne Travel Guide
• The Best Free Things to Do in Cologne

(Photo: GNTB/Astrid Schwarz)

This week, Munich is hosting the Jewish Culture Days, an annual festival dedicated to Jewish history, art, and tradition. This year, the festival celebrates the 100th birthday of the city of Tel Aviv, and you can enjoy an interesting series of concerts, theater, film, panel discussions, and exhibitions.

The Jewish Culture Days take place from November 14 - 24, 2009 in the Munich venue Gasteig.

• Website of the Jewish Culture Days (in German)
• More Events in November
• Germany in Winter