Munich does Christmas in several registers at once: the classic market under the New Town Hall, a medieval fair, a Christmas village in a royal courtyard, a drag-and-Schlager party in the Glockenbach district and a huge alternative festival on the Oktoberfest grounds. The old town is compact, so you can see four markets in a day and still have time for a beer hall. It suits first-timers, couples and groups who like variety.
Why go
Munich’s markets are bigger and more polished than most, but they are spread across the city, so no single square has to carry all the crowds. The Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz is the heart of it, with a market tradition that goes back centuries and a towering Christmas tree in front of the Rathaus. A few minutes’ walk takes you to quieter courtyards and squares, each with its own character.
The city around the markets is reason enough to come. Gothic churches, a palace you can wander for hours, the Viktualienmarkt food market and the English Garden all sit within walking distance or a short ride. Trains link Munich with Nuremberg and Salzburg, so it also works as one half of a two-city trip.
Munich
Don’t miss
The places that make the trip, and why each one deserves your time.
Diliff / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz
Rows of stalls fill the city's central square beneath the neo-Gothic New Town Hall, with a towering Christmas tree and brass bands and choirs playing from the town hall balcony every day.
Come at 10am on a weekday for space to browse.
Jorge Royan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 St Peter's Church and the Kripperlmarkt
Munich's oldest parish church hosts the nativity market at its foot, and about 300 steps up the tower lead to a platform with views over the market roofs to the Frauenkirche.
Climb before dusk; the tower closes on Christmas Day.
Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Viktualienmarkt
Munich's open-air food market sits a few steps behind the Christkindlmarkt, with butchers, cheesemongers and Café Frischhut frying its sugary Schmalznudel pastries on the edge.
Residenz Christmas village
Wooden huts fill the largest courtyard of the former royal palace, sheltered from the wind, with craft stalls, mulled wine and fairy-tale scenes for children among the façades.
Open from 16 November, earlier than Marienplatz.
Rufus46 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Medieval market, Wittelsbacherplatz
Stallholders in costume, torchlit huts, medieval music and staged sword fights turn a formal square near Odeonsplatz into a winter fair from another century.
Closed on Sunday 22 November.
Carsten Steger / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 English Garden and the Chinese Tower
One of the world's largest city parks gathers a small Christmas market around its wooden pagoda, with ice-stock shooting and a woodland feel after the old town squares.
Tollwood Winter Festival
On the Oktoberfest grounds, around 200 stands of international crafts and fair-trade goods meet more than 50 organic food stalls, live music and circus shows in a big top.
Entry to the grounds is free; go in the evening.
Munich Christmas market 2026 dates and the main markets
The main Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz runs from Friday 20 November to Thursday 24 December 2026. It opens Monday to Saturday from 10am to 9pm and on Sunday from 10am to 8pm, and on Christmas Eve it closes at 2pm. It now opens on the Friday before Totensonntag.
- Christkindlmarkt, Marienplatz: Well over a hundred food and gift stalls spread from the square into the streets around it. Brass bands, choirs and folk musicians play from the town hall balcony every day, and children can make decorations dressed as little angels in the Himmelswerkstatt in the Ratstrinkstube.
- Kripperlmarkt, St Peter’s: Probably Germany’s largest nativity market, with figures and Alpine and oriental cribs at the foot of the Alter Peter. A separate nativity market was first held in Munich in 1757. It keeps the same hours as the main market.
- Residenz Christmas village: In the largest courtyard of the Residenz, from 16 November to 22 December 2026, with crafts, food and fairy-tale scenes along the way.
- Medieval market, Wittelsbacherplatz: From 20 November to 23 December 2026, closed on 22 November. Expect costumed traders, medieval music, mock combat and its own name for mulled wine.
- Pink Christmas, Stephansplatz: Munich’s LGBTQ+ market in the Glockenbach district, from 20 November to 20 December 2026, with pagoda tents, Schlager shows every evening and a prosecco bar.
- Tollwood Winter Festival, Theresienwiese: From 24 November to 23 December 2026, with a New Year’s Eve party on 31 December. The market opens Monday to Friday from 2pm and at weekends from 11am, closing at 10.30pm on Sundays and Mondays and 11.30pm from Tuesday to Saturday (10pm on 23 December). Entry to the grounds and the Markt der Ideen is free; the circus and dance shows in the Grand Chapiteau need tickets.
The small market around the Chinese Tower in the English Garden adds ice-stock shooting and a woodland setting. Check the city’s official site for its 2026 days and hours, as it has opened only from Wednesday to Sunday in past years.
The 48-hour route
Day 1
Morning: Start on Marienplatz at 10am, before the crowds build, and walk the stalls beneath the New Town Hall. Then cross to St Peter’s for the Kripperlmarkt and climb the tower, about 300 steps to a platform 56 m up. From November to March it opens daily from 9am, closing at 6.30pm on weekdays and 7.30pm at weekends.
Afternoon: Drop down to the Viktualienmarkt for lunch from the food stalls, and a Schmalznudel from Café Frischhut on Prälat-Zistl-Straße. Walk north through the old town to the Residenz and its Christmas village, then look into the palace itself if you have time.
Evening: Cross to Wittelsbacherplatz for the medieval market as the torches are lit. Finish with dinner at the Hofbräuhaus on the Platzl, where brass bands play daily in the main hall. It opens until midnight every day.
Tip: Marienplatz is busiest on Saturday afternoons and evenings. See it on a weekday morning, and save the weekend evenings for Tollwood, which is built for crowds.
Day 2
Morning: Take the U-Bahn to the English Garden and walk through the meadows of one of Europe’s largest city parks, arriving at the Chinese Tower towards lunchtime, when its market stalls are open.
Afternoon: Head south to Stephansplatz for Pink Christmas, then walk through the Glockenbach district’s cafés and independent shops.
Evening: Take U4 or U5 to Theresienwiese for Tollwood. Browse the crafts and fair-trade stalls in the big tents, eat from the organic food stands and catch some live music. Book ahead if you want to see a show in the Grand Chapiteau.
Where to stay
- Altstadt (old town): Marienplatz, the Residenz and the medieval market on your doorstep. Best for first-timers and couples.
- Around the Hauptbahnhof: Easy arrivals by train and from the airport, and a short walk to the old town. Best for rail travellers and day trips to Nuremberg or Salzburg.
- Glockenbach and Gärtnerplatz: Bars, cafés and Pink Christmas nearby. Best for nightlife and return visitors.
- Schwabing and Maxvorstadt: Close to the English Garden and the museums, with a residential feel. Best for a quieter base.
What to eat and drink
Dishes and drinks to try
- Glühwein and Feuerzangenbowle: Mulled wine at every market, and its fiery cousin, where a rum-soaked sugar cone burns over the punch.
- Bratwurst and Leberkäse: Grilled sausages in a roll, or a thick slice of Bavarian meatloaf in a bread roll, the standard market snack.
- Schmalznudel: A wide, fried yeast pastry dusted with sugar, also called Auszogne.
- Gebrannte Mandeln: Almonds roasted in sugar and cinnamon, sold warm in paper cones.
- Lebkuchen and Stollen: Spiced gingerbread and fruit loaf to take home.
- Bavarian beer: A Helles or a seasonal strong beer in a beer hall, for a break from mulled wine.
Where to eat and drink
- Hofbräuhaus (Platzl 9): The famous beer hall, with roots in a ducal brewery of 1589 and live brass music daily.
- Café Frischhut (Prälat-Zistl-Straße 8): A Viktualienmarkt institution for Schmalznudeln, also to take away.
- Tollwood’s organic food stands: More than 50 stalls of organic food from around the world, the best choice for vegetarians.
- Viktualienmarkt: Stalls and stands for a standing lunch of cheese, sausages and bread.
Getting around
Marienplatz, St Peter’s, the Viktualienmarkt, the Residenz and Wittelsbacherplatz are all within about 15 minutes’ walk of each other. For the English Garden, Theresienwiese and Stephansplatz, use the U-Bahn; Marienplatz is the hub of both the S-Bahn and the U-Bahn.
Getting there: S-Bahn lines S1 and S8 link Munich Airport with the centre. München Hauptbahnhof has ICE trains from across Germany and direct links to Austria, so pairing Munich with our Nuremberg Christmas market weekend is easy by train. For the wider picture, see the best Christmas markets in Europe.
Good to know
- Dates: Marienplatz runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026. The Residenz village opens first, on 16 November, and Tollwood runs from 24 November to 23 December.
- Christmas Eve: Marienplatz closes at 2pm on 24 December. Most of the other markets close by 23 December.
- Totensonntag: The medieval market is closed on Sunday 22 November.
- Crowds: Weekends are busiest. Visit Marienplatz on a weekday morning and go to Tollwood on a weekday evening.
- Tower closures: The Alter Peter tower is closed on Christmas Day and opens only until 2pm over Christmas and New Year.
- More markets: Compare German cities in our best Christmas markets in Germany, or see the Christmas markets 2026 dates roundup. For Austria, try the Vienna Christmas markets.
FAQ
When is the Munich Christmas market 2026?
The Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026. It opens Monday to Saturday from 10am to 9pm, Sunday from 10am to 8pm, and from 10am to 2pm on Christmas Eve.
What is the best Christmas market in Munich?
Marienplatz is the classic, with the tree and the New Town Hall behind it. For atmosphere, the medieval market on Wittelsbacherplatz and the Residenz courtyard are smaller and more distinctive, and Tollwood is the choice for crafts, organic food and an evening out.
Is Tollwood free to enter?
Yes. Entry to the festival grounds and the Markt der Ideen is free, as are most of its cultural events. The shows in the Grand Chapiteau and the New Year’s Eve party need tickets.
Are Munich’s Christmas markets open on Christmas Day?
No. Marienplatz closes at 2pm on 24 December, and the other markets covered here close on or before 23 December. Tollwood holds a separate New Year’s Eve party on 31 December.
Is two days enough for Munich at Christmas?
Two days covers the old town markets, the Residenz, the English Garden and an evening at Tollwood. Add a day for a train trip to Nuremberg or Salzburg.
