The original among the Christmas markets is Munich Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz (main square) – and a whole series of other markets in Munich's districts are original and lovingly designed. An overview.
- Old Town
- Glockenbachviertel and Ludwigsvorstadt
- Neuhausen-Nymphenburg
- Haidhausen and Bogenhausen
- Schwabing
- Olympiapark (Olympic Park)
- Werksviertel
- Schlachthofviertel
- Giesing and Sendling
- Airport and Pasing
This traditional market, with roots dating back to the 14th century, is considered the original among Munich's Christmas markets. Against the romantic backdrop of the neo-Gothic town hall on Marienplatz, the village of stalls enchants with its old Bavarian charm and seduces all the senses. This is not only the home of living customs and old crafts but also of what is probably Germany's largest Nativity scene market.
Here you can find everything needed for a real Nativity scene – from the lantern for the stable to the gifts of the Magi. The first independent Nativity market was held in Munich as early as 1757, and this year the Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz is scheduled to take place from 27 November to 24 December 2023.
The heavenly workshop Himmelswerkstatt for children aged six to twelve is a little paradise for young craftspeople – crafting fun for free is the name of the game here. At the Krampuslauf (Krampus run), there is no need to be afraid of the creepy creatures and shaggy fellows. Every day, live Bavarian Stubenmusik (traditional folk music), brass bands and choirs set the mood for the Advent season from the town hall balcony. If you want to learn more about the history of the Christkindlmarkt, you can book a guided tour of the Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz.
Venue: Around Marienplatz (main square) and in the Fußgängerzone (pedestrian street)
Date: 27 November to 24 December, 2023
www.christkindlmarkt-muenchen.de
The traditional market at Marienplatz with its roots in the 14th century is considered the original among Munich's Christmas markets.
The Viktualienmarkt stands for a fresh variety and a close-up experience of the Munich way of life. During the Christmas season, the popular market exudes a special charm – many tasty treats invite you to nibble. In addition, guests are welcomed with Christmas lights, Advent magic and mulled wine. A must-see is the Nativity scene in the beer garden, which beautifully mirrors the market activities.
Venue: Viktualienmarkt (food market)
Date: date follows
This year, Bavaria's largest mobile ice arena on Karlsplatz-Stachus is finally back: for the 20th time, visitors can skate in the middle of Munich's city centre between 10.30 a.m. and 10 p.m. at the "Eiszauber". The programme changes daily: on Mondays, for example, all Dirndl and Lederhosen wearers have free admission to "Tracht on Ice", party hits are played at "Saturday Night" Fever and on Sundays two people can skate for the price of one.
Venue: Karlsplatz-Stachus
Date: date follows
Nestled away from the cold wind and driving snow, the Christmas Village is located in the largest courtyard of Munich's city palace, the Residenz. Hansel and Gretel in the fairytale forest and puppet shows don’t only make children’s eyes light up.
And as befits a Bavarian village, the handicraft workshops play a distinctive role: Goldsmiths, fur tanners and glassblowers allow you a glimpse over their shoulders while they work.
Venue: Munich Residenz (city palace), entrance Residenzstrasse, Odeonsplatz (square)
Date: 13 November to 22 December, 2023
As early as 1886, a Christmas market is said to have already taken place on the grounds in front of Sendlinger Tor. More than a hundred years later, this tradition continues with a small and charming Christkindlmarkt. The Sendlinger Tor, one of the three remaining city gates of Munich's former fortifications, is aglow with lights and invites visitors to take a leisurely stroll.
Vendors with goods from all over the world offer Nativity scenes from Tyrol and Peru, extravagant Christmas tree baubles, hand-drawn candles, scented oils, ceramics, jewellery, Indian handicrafts, wooden toys and much more. Plenty of food and drink is available. To warm up, there is spicy mulled wine and Feuerzangenbowle, which literally means “fire-tongs punch” and, of course, non-alcoholic hot drinks. A daily changing programme with Christmas music gets visitors young and old in the mood for the Advent season.
Venue: Sendlinger-Tor-Platz
Date: 27 November to 22 December, 2023
Brienner Strasse really lights up during Christmas season, with 16 silvery chandeliers creating a spectacular light display using LEDs. Modern technology is set against a distinctive feel for the history of this grand avenue.
History at your fingertips: Dozens of lovingly designed wooden huts bring the Middle Age back to life. Merchants in historical garb offer their goods for sale. Artisans demonstrate ancient crafts. The culinary offerings of the Middle Ages are not neglected either: Bakers prepare traditional tarte flambée on site and grilled sausages sizzle over an open beechwood fire. Hot drinks like Drachenglut (dragon's embers) and spiced wine are prepared according to traditional recipes.
Venue: Wittelsbacher Platz, Briennerstrasse 6-10
Date: 27 November to 23 December, 2023
www.mittelaltermarkt-muenchen.de
Munich Feuerzangenbowle at the Isartor will be a “hot hit” again in winter 2022: This punch, a fragrant mixture of red wine, rum and spices is served from a huge cauldron with a wreath of flames. Each year, there is a joint exhibition with the history workshop and other partners. Food and drink are in good supply. Good to know: On New Year's Eve, the stalls are open for an unlimited time.
Venue: Isartor (gate)
Date: 27 November 2023 to 7 January, 2024
www.muenchner-feuerzangenbowle.de
The Tollwood Winter Festival immerses the Theresienwiese (Oktoberfest fairground) in Ludwigsvorstadt in an intriguing light. Typical of the alternative Christmas market is the mix of delicious organic food and lots of original arts and crafts at the Markt der Ideen – Market of Ideas. Most of the events, ranging from theatre to music and performances to environmental activities and a varied children's programme, are free of charge. The Christmas markets on Tollwood close on 23 December. The entire festival then concludes with the traditional New Year's Eve party.
Venue: Theresienwiese (Oktoberfest fairground)
Date: 23 November to 31 December, 2023 (market until 23 Dec.)
During Advent, the small Stephansplatz (square) in the middle of Munich's Glockenbachviertel glows in pink. Since 2005, the Christmas market of the LGBTQ* community has been held here. Mulled wine and gifts, tasty treats and light displays await the colourful crowd at Pink Christmas. The small show stage features travesty artists, upcoming singers or even big names like Grand Prix legend Johnny Logan or pop star Patrick Lindner. Small, fine and simply different!
Venue: Stephansplatz (near Sendlinger Tor)
Date: 27 November to 23 December, 2023
The market in Neuhausen-Nymphenburg opens its doors daily from 11 am to 8.30 pm and offers a wide selection of Christmas tree decorations, Nativity figures, soaps, beeswax candles, gloves, felt stars, wooden toys, jewellery, ceramics, gauntlets, scented oils and much more. In addition, there is an extensive programme of events, including a puppet show, Christmas goose raffle and music.
Venue: Northern and southern side of Rotkreuzplatz (square)
Date: date follows
www.weihnachtsmarkt-muenchen-neuhausen.de
Because of its idyllic location in the middle of the courtyard of the late Gothic moated castle, it is worth making the detour to Munich-Obermenzing, for example after a visit to Schloss Nymphenburg (Nymphenburg Palace). At Blutenburg Castle, you will find small craft stalls and, of course, mulled wine and Feuerzangenbowle, the traditional fire-tong punch, is not to be missed. The masonry of Blutenburg Castle is bathed in colourful lighting, and there are live musical performances.
Venue: Blutenburg Castle
Date: date follows
Not only Haidhausen residents, but also guests from near and far appreciate the homely, tranquil character of the Christmas market around the fountain at Weißenburger Platz. The Haidhausen Christmas market has been around for forty years – some consider it the most beautiful Christmas market in Munich. Almost every day, there is live Christmas music and a children's programme. The hand-carved figures in the South Tyrolean Christmas Nativity scene are another beautiful attraction.
Venue: Weissenburger Platz
Date: date follows
www.haidhauser-weihnachtsmarkt.de
The Haidhausen Christmas market has been around for forty years – some consider it the most beautiful Christmas market in Munich.
From the end of November, the festival grounds in front of Cosimabad (wave pool) is transformed into a fairytale Christmas world: In two large tents with modern lounge areas or cosy seating arrangements with alpine cottage flair, more than 30 varieties of mulled wine, punch and traditional Feuerzangenbowle (fire-tong punch) welcome the guests. In the open-air area, artisans present their work in a festively lit fir tree landscape. In addition to delicacies, such as roasted almonds, gingerbread or marzipan, dishes from all over the world are freshly prepared (also vegetarian and vegan). There are also plenty of things for children to explore: a nostalgic children's railway and a carousel with beautifully painted historic vehicles, a puppet show, storytellers and much more. Non-alcoholic mulled wines for children are also available.
Venue: Festival grounds in front of Cosimabad (wave pool) (Cosimastrasse/corner Englschalkingerstrasse)
Date: date follows
For more than 40 years, artists and restaurateurs have been opening an atmospheric Christmas market full of loving details and gift ideas on Münchner Freiheit in Schwabing. Of course, this year's Christmas market will again offer culinary delights, plus an art tent, a sculpture trail and installations, free concerts, performances, tours, children’s activities and above all: a special and unique atmosphere.
Venue: Forum Münchner Freiheit
Date: 1 December to 24 December, 2023
www.schwabingerweihnachtsmarkt.de
Nostalgic circus tents radiate warmth and cosiness, a movie set in the middle of the grounds serves as a snug bar, and delicacies from Bavaria and the rest of the world are on offer. Clothing, leather goods, fancy jewellery and wooden artworks tempt visitors to buy. In addition, the Fairy Tale Bazaar at Olympiapark offers an entertaining programme of art, culture and music for the "grown-ups" and action and surprises for kids - including candle-drawing, a funny puppet show and even story time with a moon goddess. This year, the Fairy Tale Bazaar will be held for the first time on the premises of Tollwood Summer Festival in Olympiapark (Olympic Park).
Venue: Premises of the Tollwood Summer Festival, Spiridon-Louis-Ring 100
Date: 23 November to 29 December, 2023
The Märchen Bazar offers an entertaining programme of art, culture and music for the "grown-ups" and action and surprises for kids – including candle-drawing, a funny puppet show and even story time with a moon goddess.
Christmas under the sign of Pegasus? The mythical creature is the central theme of the magical Christmas market in the Werksviertel, which offers a colourful stage programme for young and old on two weekends from Thursday to Sunday. The market's assortment reflects all the diversity of the neighbourhood's residents – creative minds, artists and gourmets always provide great highlights.
Venue: Knödelplatz (near Ostbahnhof – Munich East)
Date: date follows
Since the opening of the Alte Utting in 2018, twinkling lights and beguiling scents have been pointing the way to the Sternenflotte, the star fleet, in the Christmas harbour – Sendlinger Weihnachtshafen. Located on a bridge between Großmarkt (wholesale market) and Viehhof (district), the decommissioned excursion steamer from the Ammersee (lake) offers mulled wine, food, gift stalls and music in the festive season before Christmas.
Venue: Lagerhausstrasse 15 (near Grossmarkthalle (wholesale market hall))
Date: date follows
During the cold Christmas season, the entire grounds of the Bahnwärter Thiel in the Schlachthofviertel district are transformed into a "Bahntastic" Christmas carnival! Along the promenade in the studio park, with its numerous studios and workshops where a wide variety of artists and craftspeople offer their work and all kinds of curiosities, past fragrant delicacies, rare treasures, cosy warm tents and fireplaces as well as delicious organic mulled wine stalls, you reach the enchanted market square. Here, concerts take place daily on a cabaret stage.
Venue: Bahnwärter Thiel, Tumblingerstrasse 45, Atelierpark
Date: 23 November to 23 December, 2023
Here you can look forward to local musicians, exciting readings, Christmas workshops, spectacular fire shows, fun senior citizens' bingo, a colourful children's programme, breathtaking aerial acrobatics, delicious mulled wine, Christmas biscuits and much more throughout the Advent season. The Winterrausch Christmas Market takes place in and around the Hexenhaus in Untergiesing.
Location: Kulturcafé Gans Woanders, Pilgersheimerstrasse 13
Date: 30 November to 31 December 2023 (craft market only until 23 December)
The Winter Magic – a dreamy place in the middle of the wonderful winter landscape of the Westpark. An oasis of calm in the midst of the Christmas hustle and bustle. Far away from the stress of everyday life, the „Winterzauber Gans am Wasser“ is a place where there is room for thoughts, musings and creativity. Cosy get-togethers around shimmering fire bowls, live music, a hands-on programme for young and old, handicrafts from the neighbourhood to rummage through and delicacies from various food trucks - you can enjoy it all here.
Venue: Café Gans am Wasser in the Westpark at Mollsee
Date: date follows
Amidst a Christmas-decorated fir forest around a large ice rink, visitors from near and far can enjoy a wide range of culinary delights and lots of good vibes every day from 11 am to 9 pm at Munich Airport. And as every year, this will be accompanied by great musical entertainment: Live music – the right music style for every taste.
On the covered outdoor area, passengers and visitors can enjoy the Christmas and winter market extensively – even in bad weather.
Venue: Munich Airport
Date: 18 November to 31 December, 2023
www.weihnachtsmarkt-deutschland.de
Many items traded at the traditional Pasinger Christkindlmarkt are handmade and unique. From small souvenirs to exclusive gifts, there is something for every taste and budget. For example, a Nativity scene stall, embroidery, beautiful textile creations, lamps, jewellery, glass art, candles and honey, ceramics and much more. A crèpe and chestnut stall, Greek specialities, a mulled wine bar and other food stalls will cater for the visitors' culinary desires.
Venue: Schererplatz, in front of Maria Schutz church
Date: date follows
www.pasinger-christkindlmarkt.de
