Best Christmas Markets in Munich
In this section we would like to give you an overview about some of the best Christmas markets in Munich.
But: it’s only a small selection, in total over 40 different markets are spread all over the city and just wait to be visited.
Below now our favourite and best Christmas markets in Munich.
Pink Christmas, der Schwule Christkindlmarkt
27.11. – 23.12.2017
Stephansplatz
Opening hours: Mo – Fr 16 – 22h, Sa/So 12 – 22h
How to get there: U1/U2/U3/U6/U7 or Tram 16/18/37/38 stop Sendlinger Tor, Bus 62 stop Stephansplatz
The Pink Christmas market is our absolute favourite of all of Munich’s Christmas markets.
The first one took place in 2005 and it’s organized by the gay and lesbian community of Munich.
The boots are not really typical Christmas-like but make up your own opinion : )
Each day at ca. 19h you have a special evening program sometimes bringing stars on stage like world famous French singer Mireille Mathieu performing her timeless hits.
Unfortunately this year Mireille won’t perform on stage but maybe she will give the market a private visit.
Tollwood Winter Festival
23.11. – 23.12.2017 (31.12.2017)
Theresienwiese
Opening hours: Mo – Fr, 14 – 1h, Sa/So 11 – 1h
How to get there
The Tollwood Winter Festival is not really the typical Christmas market but an event with its own magic – and magic really describes it best: on the Tollwood Winter Festival, you find huge tents which seem to be taken from 1001 Nights full with places to have delicious food, all kind of handcraft and alternative shops just like you know it from the Tollwood summer festival.
Like on normal Christmas markets, you get good hot wine punch on some boots not to mention the famous Feuerzangenbowle. Parallely, you can see all kinds of concerts and performances in the tents.
On New Year’s Eve the closing party takes place, whereas the market already ends on 23 December.
Make sure to reserve your tickets well in advance for this happening and welcome the New Year with a traditional waltz in and all around the tents.
Münchner Christkindlmarkt – Marienplatz & Sternenplatzl
27.11. – 24.12.2017
Marienplatz/Rindermarkt
Opening hours: Mo – Sa 10 – 21h, So 10 – 20h, 24.12. 10 – 14h
How to get there: All public transport stop Marienplatz
The Münchner Christkindlmarkt is the biggest and oldest Christmas market in Munich and with its over three million yearly visitors even in the German speaking part.
It was first mentioned in a document in 1310 as Nikolaimarkt 🙂 and then named to Christmarkt in 1806.
Each year, the huge Christmas tree is donated by another village or city located in the Bavarian Alps or sometimes even Austrian or Italian ones. This year’s tree is from the village Burghausen by the way.
Don’t miss to visit the Sternenplatz as the part of the Munich Christmas market on the Rindermarkt is called with its huge Christmas pyramid – there it’s not as crowded as the part on the Marienplatz and you get delicious food and some good hot wine.
Mittelaltermarkt und Adventsspektakel
27.11. – 23.12.2017
Wittelsbacher Platz
Opening hours: 11 – 20h
How to get there: U3/U4/U5/U6 or Bus 100 stop Odeonsplatz
The medieval Christmas market on the Wittelsbacher Platz is a special one as all vendors are dressed up just like – you guess it correctly – in the Medieval selling all kind of food and goods out of historical looking boots.
Prices are fairly high and a little disadvantage is the fact that the market already closes at 20h. On some days especially at weekends it might also be quite crowded.
Weihnachtsdorf im Kaiserhof der Residenz
23.11. – 22.12.2017
Kaiserhof/Residenz
Opening hours: 11 – 21 h
How to get there: U3/U4/U5/U6 or Bus 100 stop Odeonsplatz
This wonderful market is located right on the Kaiserhof in the Münchner Residenz, just a few steps away from the medieval Christmas market.
It’s very interesting if you are coming with children as they have some show booths with moving puppets in one of the corners – watch out for the singing elk, a class of its own. A big plus: the market is open until 21h.
Haidhauser Weihnachtsmarkt
28.11. – 24.12.2017
Weißenburger Platz
Opening hours: So – Mi 11 – 20.30h, Do – Sa 11 – 21h, 24.12. 10 – 14h
How to get there: S1/S2/S3/S4/S5/S6/S7/S8 or Tram 15/25 stop Rosenheimer Platz
Beautifully located around the fountain of the Weißenburger Platz is the Christmas market of Haidhausen.
During the whole market, you have the possibility to watch some artists over the shoulder and see how they work and create their pieces of art.
Weihnachtsmarkt am Chinesischen Turm
27.11. – 23.12.2017
Opening hours: Mo – Fr 12 – 20.30h, Sa/So 11 – 20.30h
How to get there: Tram 18 stop Tivolistraße, U3/U6 stop Giselastraße, Bus 54/154 stop Chinesischer Turm
On the rare occasion to have snow already before Christmas, this market has a charme which can’t be topped by any of Munich’s Christmas markets!
Located just beside the Chinesischer Turm in the Englischer Garten it spreads real Christmas magic.
Every day from 16 – 19h, the brass are playing from up the tower just like you know it from the beer garden time. Ideally reached by bus or bike – don’t laugh: When we visited the market on 20 December 2015, we firstly went by bike to the Biergarten Seehaus and after that to the Christkindlmarkt am Chinesischen Turm.
Märchenbazar: Weihnachtsmarkt auf dem Viehhofgelände
30.11. – 30.12.2017
Tumblingerstraße 29
Opening hours: Mo – Do 16 – 23h, Fr 16 – 1h, Sa 11 – 1h, So 11 – 21h, 24.12. closed
1. & 2. Weihnachtsfeiertag 12 – 23h
How to get there: U3/U6 stop Poccistraße, Bus 62 stop Zenettistraße
Last but certainly not least is this very charming Christmas market at the Viehhofgelände in the heart of the Schlachthofviertel, one of Munich’s hippest areas.
Most of the exhibitors and vendors are from this area which makes this market very “Munich-ish”.
Each Saturday and Sunday Weißwürste (white sausages) are being served from 11h “until the last sausage”.
Be sure to visit this lovely Christmas market this year as it won’t take place here forever.
On the major part of the Viehhofgelände new apartments and business area will be contructed, what a shame but that’s unfortunately also Munich…
Now you have a very good overview about the best Christmas markets in Munich.
If you shouldn’t know what to do tomorrow, then visit our Best Things to do in Munich section.