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Munich Christmas Market Guide – A Must Visit Christmas Markets in Munich
- Mar 4, 2020
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 17
At the end of November, Munich city is decorated with lights and the festivity of Christmas. There are different Christmas markets in Munich that are unique in their own style and worth to visit them.
How to reach Munich:
There are diverse transportation options to reach Munich, including regional and high-speed trains, buses, and flights. The best choice for your journey depends on your point of departure.
How many days to spend Christmas Market in Munich:
To fully enjoy the Christmas markets in Munich, it's highly suggested to spend at least 2 to 3 days, as there are many different Christmas markets, and not all of them are located near each other.
Tips for visiting the Christmas Market in Munich:
Don't only focus on the main Christmas market like Marienplatz Christmas Market but also visit the other themed Christmas markets like Residenz Christmas Village or Schwabing to get the flavor of festivity in Munich.
Munich gets very cold in December and sometimes, it also snows a lot. Be ready to dress up with layers, gloves, hats, and scarves.
Christmas Market Schwabing Don't forget to try out local food like Lebkuchen (gingerbread), Bratwurst, Käsespätzle (cheese noodles), Roasted chestnuts, and Stollen (fruitcake).
Munich has a very good public transporation system and all the christmas markets are accessible with public transport - you can buy day pass or group ticket and use the public transport for free.
Christmas Market in Munich Most of the small stalls don't accept card payment, It's better to carry cash. There are also very many ATMs located nearby.
The weekends are very crowded so it's suggested to visit the markets during the weekdays if possible.
Christmas Markets in Munich:
1. Munich Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz:
You should start your tour of Munich Christmas Market from Christkindlmarkt, one of the oldest Christmas markets. It's the Christmas market located in Marienplatz and the shopping street nearby.
It also has one of the tallest Christmas Trees in Munich with a background of the magnificent Munich Town Hall.
The Marienplatz is already one of the most happening and lively places in Munich, but the square and the streets are overcrowded with people during the Christmas festivity.
The square has small wooden shops selling unique Christmas decoration pieces and souvenirs.
Some food stalls also sell Christmas specialties like Mandel, wurst, etc. You can also enjoy live music (glockenspiel) every day over the balcony of the Town hall.
2. Christmas Market at SternenPlatz at Rinder:
It's an extension of the Christmas Market at Marienplatz and it's typically missed by lots of people, but it's a beautiful market with the mind-blowing decor of lights on the trees. It provides the cozy and romantic feel of Christmas.
You can find a Christmas Wooden Pyramid and traditional red-colored stalls serving Gluhwein.
3. Christmas Festivity in Viktualienmarkt:
Just a few minutes walk from Marienplatz, you can also visit Viktualienmarkt. It is a permanent open-air market just a few meters away from Marienplatz. The market has turned into a Christmas wonder with decor.
The market is lightened up with Christmas colors with lots of stalls and tables to enjoy the Christmas specialties.
4. Sendlinger Tor Christmas Market:
Sendlinger Tor is one of the gates of Munich, and it's just a few meters away from Viktualienmarkt, so you can walk directly towards Sendlinger Tor to experience the Christmas market there. It’s also one of the most vibrant places in Munich, with uncountable bars.
The place has a beautiful Christmas market with wooden stalls selling Christmas decorations, jewelry, lights, Christmas trees, etc.
5. Christmas Village at the Munich Residenz (Weihnachtsdorf):
After exploring these markets, we headed towards our favorite Christmas market in Munich. It’s in the Courtyard of Munich Residenz.
You will be amazed at how Munich Residenz's courtyard portrays Christmas festivity.
Various wooden stalls sell wooden ornaments, lanterns, Christmas decor, scarves, and many other things.
The fascinating thing about the market is the display of the dolls and Santa Claus depicting different scenes. The markets become very crowded and packed on the weekends.
6. Travel back to Medieval times in Wittelsbacher Platz:
You can also walk for 2-3 and reach Wittelsbacher Platz which celebrates the Christmas festivity in Medieval style near the famous Odeonsplatz.
The Wittelsbacher Platz has changed into a Medieval village even the people over there are also dressed in traditional old medieval style costumes.
There are ongoing shows for the entertainment of the audience on weekends and a lot of music surrounded by different wooden stalls selling Christmas special things like wooden carved decoration pieces, candles, soaps, jewelry, etc.
7. Pink Christmas Market in Stephansplatz:
Munich also has a pink Christmas market, which looks like a fairy tale. It has pink theme trees and typical German stalls like any other Christmas Market.
8. Tollwood Magic- Theresienwiesen:
The Tollwood is not a Christmas but a winter market where the World’s famous Oktoberfest takes place yearly in Theresienwiese.
There are German and International exhibitors displaying different things in tent stalls. There are lots of food tents serving different cuisines with seating stalls.
9. Weihnachtsmarkt am Chinesischen Turm:
The Chinese Christmas market is located in the famous Englischer Garten. The market is more popular with locals than international visitors. There are lots of families and friends visiting there and crowded with lots of people.
There’s a famous Grandma Barn which is famous among kids. There are a variety of stalls with traditional food, jewelry, ornaments, etc.
10. Neuhaus Christmas Market - Rotkreuzplatz Christmas Market:
The Christmas market at Rotkreuzplatz also known as Neuhaus Christmas Market is well connected with the subway and buses.
It’s a small Christmas market with the most authentic and local vibes as it's not too touristic.
There are many food stalls selling Crepes, Sausages, Pommes, Potatoes with Sour cream, and other street food there. The market also has live performances.
11. Haidhausen Christmas Market:
The Christmas Market is also set up in the East part of the city near Rosheimer Platz and it's known as Haidhausen in Weissenburger Platz.
The place has a perfect environment of festivity with magical lights and wooden huts of different stalls with Christmas decor, lights, candles, small souvenirs, and food stalls.
12. Schwabing Christmas Market (Künstlerweihnachtsmarkt):
To enjoy the Bohemian-style Christmas market, you should visit Schwabing Christmas Market which is located in Munich Freiheit.
The market has a lot to offer, from its unique, bright, and inspiring arts and crafts of the Schwabing Artist to sculpture and live concerts and performances.
13. Karlsplatz Skating:
The Ice Skating Rink is set up in the middle of the city in Karlsplatz Stachus to enjoy the winter and Christmas festivals at maximum. Everybody is welcome in the rink to enjoy ice skating whether you know how to skate or not.
You can also borrow skating boots from the counter. There are a variety of discounted offers on various days for students, old people, and others.
Check their website. The price of each block varies from Euro 6 to Euro 9 for adults for 2.5 hours.
14. Pasing Christmas Market:
You can also visit the Pasing Christmas Market which is located in the suburb of Munich but this is mainly famous among the locals.
The Market is relatively small and it has stalls offering handmade crafts, gifts, and Christmas treats, and it also has some rides like a Carousel and a small train.
15. Christmas Decor in the malls in Munich:
Munich has different shopping malls that also turn into Christmas festivity - like Riem Arcaden, Olympia-Einkaufszentrum, Pasing Arcaden, and Fünf Höfe have Christmas trees, twinkling lights, music, and performances.
Ending Note:
Apart from Munich Christmas markets, you can also explore other Christmas Markets nearby Munich:
Dachau Christkindlmarkt
Freising Christkindlmarkt
Fürstenfeldbruck Weihnachtsmarkt
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