How to Open the Hood when the Latch Breaks

From Volkswagen Cabrio Wiki

If the hood latch does not pop the hood, first see if the cable is broken at the handle. If it is, you should be able to grasp it with pliers to pull it and open the hood.

If the cable is still attached to the handle, the cable is likely broken somewhere inside the engine compartment. You will likely not be able to get to it without removing the grille. You can do this by grasping the bottom of the grille and pulling. There are two tabs on the bottom that should come loose. There are two remaining connectors on the top. They will have to be broken, as the screws that go into them come down from beneath the hood. With care and luck, the grille should come off with minimal damage and it can later be reinstalled. With the grille off, use a socket extender and a 13mm socket to remove the two latch bolts. You will then be able to raise the hood and release the latch. Reinstall the latch and the grille, and fix the cable!