The Christmas Markets in Munich
Over 20 Advent events enchant Munich before Christmas.
In recent years, Munich has seen an unprecedented increase in the number of end-of-year events. Christmas markets, Starfleet, winter magic, fairy tale bazaars—under many different banners, numerous markets and gastronomic events vie for the mulled wine crowd, with more or less Advent-themed undertones depending on the event. The range of events on offer is now so extensive that it is fair to say that Munich awakens from a slumber at the end of November, which the city has indulged in since Oktoberfest.
For many Oktoberfest fans, the Advent season is also a welcome opportunity to meet up with some of their Oktoberfest friends again. That's why we've taken the trouble to list all of Munich's Christmas markets and add a little classification. After all, even many Munich residents are not familiar with some of these pre-Christmas attractions. One of them even has its own beer.
If you know Munich only from Oktoberfest, you'll be pleasantly surprised by hotel prices. Don't be shy to get one in the city center (Hotel am Platzl looks nice in winter).
The Original: Münchner Christkindlmarkt
Admittedly, most Munich residents do not have a particularly strong affection for the original Christmas market, whose roots go back so far that its origins cannot be determined with certainty. It certainly deserves a little more appreciation. Its origins are believed to lie in a St. Nicholas fair (Nikolaidult), which was probably first held in the 16th century at the latest. However, the only documented evidence is its relocation in 1642 from St. Michael's Church to the Beautiful Tower (in front of today's Hirmer building), which was demolished in 1807.
The Dult only became a “Protestant-style Christ market,” as contemporary chronicler Lorenz Westenrieder put it, in 1806 at Max-Josephs-Platz, when its event period was no longer based on St. Nicholas Day, the traditional day of gift-giving, but, in keeping with the spirit of the times, on Christmas Eve. Westenrieder described the market as Protestant because it was Martin Luther who invented the Christkind as the bringer of Christmas gifts in order to offer his followers an alternative to the extremely popular custom of St. Nicholas, which many Reformed Christians simply did not want to give up.
In 1886, the market moved towards Sendlinger Tor and in 1945, after several short-term relocations, it finally moved to the tall bunker, where the Schrannenhalle stands again today. It was only with the construction of the pedestrian zone in 1972 that the market was able to move back into the old town. Unfortunately, it lost one thing in the process: a harmonious lighting concept. The illuminated green garlands that still hung above the market square on Blumenstraße were not moved to Marienplatz. So all that remains is a wistful glance at Salzburg, where the market is still illuminated in a similar way today.
What many visitors, or rather those who complain from afar, tend to overlook is that even though the Christmas market on Marienplatz unfortunately lacks a certain charm, which may be due in no small part to the unfavorable ratio of crowds to available space, it is nevertheless gratifying that the state capital is trying to preserve the traditional character of the market. Stalls decorated with natural green mainly offer items that were already popular at the first Christmas market. Chronicler Westenrieder listed Zwetschgenmanderl (plum brandy), children's clothes, wooden toys, and nativity figures as early as 1792. Incidentally, mulled wine is far less deeply rooted in Munich than many people think. It was not until 1970 that the Reuss family, after much resistance, was given permission to sell it at the Christmas market (today known as “Glühwein nach Großmutterart” at Marienplatz).
Speaking of nativity scenes: one special feature is the Kripperlmarkt, which has been around since 1757. For several years now, it has been held around the Alter Peter. Other offshoots of the Christkindlmarkt, which are organized independently, are the stalls at Sendlinger Tor and the food and drink offerings, including the pyramid at Rindermarkt. The Viktualienmarkt is also expanded to include a few rather insignificant stalls for “Winterzauber” (winter magic).
In addition to the opening by the mayor on November 24 at 5 p.m., the market offers numerous other program items, such as folk music and the extremely popular Krampus run.
The Successor For Romantic Beer Lovers
Hard to believe from today's perspective, but the state capital did not allow competition for its own Christkindlmarkt until 1976. One of the first was the Haidhausen Christmas Market on Weißenburger Platz. We could have just mentioned it among the district markets, but it is not one of the larger ones; thanks to the many fairy lights in the trees, it is also one of the more beautiful ones. Ultimately, however, the decisive factor for our selection is the range of products on offer: the Christmator stand sells a light and a dark Christmas bock beer, as well as a beer liqueur. Don't be put off by the Paulaner logo: the beer, especially the dark one, tastes absolutely delicious. Although they are brewed by Paulaner, they are not part of the usual range and are not available anywhere else.
Tollwood Winter Festival
Tollwood may not be a traditional Christmas market. The main thing it has in common with traditional markets is probably the timing of the event, which coincides with the peak of Advent shopping. Its size alone—the number of vendors is actually even greater than at the Christmas market—warrants special mention. Particularly unusual are the 50 restaurants, some of which are elaborately designed and, thanks to their large covered areas, are inviting even in bad weather. In addition, there are over 200 vendors whose range of goods goes far beyond what is familiar from Christmas markets, and a variety of free events.
By the way: even though Tollwood organizes a New Year's Eve celebration that requires a fee, this does not mean that it operates as usual after December 23. It closes the day before Christmas Eve.
Neighborhood Markets
Outside the city center, there are several smaller markets that are not worth a long journey and are primarily suitable for local Christmas market shopping. These include the Sendlinger Bergweihnacht at Harras, the Neuhauser Weihnachtsmarkt at Rotkreuzplatz, and the Pasinger Christkindlmarkt, which only takes place on Advent weekends.
Nevertheless, the Blutenburger Weihnacht, which will only take place from December 4 to 7 in 2025, is worth mentioning. The market is held in a particularly attractive setting, Blutenburg Castle, but is a little too small to justify a long journey. However, if you have the opportunity, you should definitely take advantage of it.
Themed Markets
As soon as the first two contemporary Christmas markets were approved in Munich in 1976, the city gained a new market with a thematic focus. The Schwabing Christmas Market was born out of a search for an exhibition and sales opportunity for Schwabing artists. Today, around 80 artists exhibit their work at Münchner Freiheit. Unsurprisingly, there is also a range of food and drink on offer, as well as a music program at 6 p.m. Unfortunately, due to high GEMA fees, this will no longer take a break on Mondays and Wednesdays in 2025. Incidentally, it is one of the few markets that is also open on December 24 until 2 p.m.
Munich's most spectacular Advent event is celebrating its anniversary this year. Pink Christmas has been taking place at Stephansplatz for 20 years. Apart from its focus on a gay audience, the market is particularly notable for its daily stage program. However, the space available is often not adequate for the crowds.
The medieval market at Wittelsbacherplatz, actually called Münchner Adventsspektakel, probably has the strongest thematic focus among Munich's Advent events. Since 2005, behind ancient facades, it has ultimately offered quite ordinary Christmas market food and drink, as well as medieval-themed gifts. There is also regular entertainment—even with real knights, or at least almost real ones.
Insider Tip: Chinese Tower
It may seem silly to present an event at the Chinese Tower as an insider tip, but although the Christmas market at the Chinese Tower has been around since 1989, it still hasn't made it into the city's collective memory. This particularly romantic market, which is the closest of Munich's markets to a forest Christmas, is nevertheless enjoying growing popularity and will be open one day longer each week from November 20, 2025. It will now only be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Those who prefer to avoid crowded markets will get their money's worth here during the week.
Despite its beautiful location and appealing design, the market is not able to fully realize its potential. The main reason for this is the catering. All the stalls are run by the organizer itself, the Haberl beer garden empire. It may seem ironic that this is the weak point, but it should come as no surprise to connoisseurs of Haberl beer gardens. Several stalls offer the same food, which is not necessarily served in the quality or at the temperature one would hope for, and the range of drinks on offer is identical at all stalls. Unfortunately, early closing is also a familiar feature of beer garden operations. However, this is particularly noticeable in winter, because the independent vendors dutifully stick to their contractually guaranteed opening hours, while the sausage stand next door is already closed. Nevertheless, we urge anyone who is not yet familiar with the event to overlook these shortcomings for the time being.
The annoying fact that the stock rink advertised as being made of ice is actually made of plastic is also familiar from most other beer gardens (Hirschgarten and Augustinerkeller are the only exceptions).
The Early Starters
Winterworld, located in front of Motorworld in Freimann, got off to an early start on November 7, filling a niche that has earned it remarkable media attention every year since its inception. The Santa Reindeer event, unmistakably organized by a showman, is enjoying growing popularity, not least because of this.
On November 13, the Winterwunderwerk follows in the Werksviertel, which may not offer a cozy atmosphere in its cool urban surroundings, but at least has an ice rink for skating. Just one day later, the Christmas village at the Pasing Arcaden begins, which may only exude as much charm as you would expect from an event next to a shopping mall, but it does offer regular musical entertainment.
Much more established than the aforementioned is the Weihnachtsdorf at Residenz, which can be visited from November 17 in the Kaiserhof of Munich's city palace. This offers a beautiful setting for kitschy but atmospheric Advent entertainment and is by far the most beautiful of the early starters. However, the Christmas village is not for people looking for a quiet spot. Its main entrance is even regularly closed due to overcrowding. Incidentally, it ends one day earlier than most markets. On December 23, the Kaiserhof is already so empty that it's as if nothing ever took place there.
Additional Mulled Wine Offerings
A number of events that are more of an extension of year-round culinary offerings to include mulled wine are also often counted among the Christmas markets. These include, in particular, the atmospheric events organized by the Hahn brothers throughout the year. Bahnwärter Thiel has its Mondscheinexpress, Alte Utting has its Sternenflotte, Gans am Wasser has its Winterzauber, and Gans Woanders has its Winterrausch. The latter deserves a special mention, not only because it starts on November 14, but also because it actually includes a market that significantly expands the area around the Hexenhaus.
Other notable mulled wine bars can be found at the Moosacher Hüttenzauber, the Alpenwahn at Pschorr am Viktualienmarkt, which, like its restaurant, offers extremely original prices (mulled wine €7.50), and the Christmas market at Praterstrand.
Still Open After Christmas Eve
For years, the author of these lines has been wondering why there are no larger mulled wine bars after Christmas. Apart from their names, most Christmas markets have as little to do with the celebration of Jesus' birth as drinks with “Glüh” in their names.
For organizers who are enthusiastic about a traditional setting, the following sentences should therefore serve as a free service to justify a market during the actual Christmas season and not during Advent: From 1550 onwards, the so-called Dreykönig- und Gebnachtdult took place in the Old Court, which only ended on Epiphany. The term Gebnacht refers to the last of the Rauhnächte (rough nights).
However, fans of Munich's end-of-year events do get a few extensions: the most significant of all is the Märchenbazar, which takes place in winter, at least in part, on the Sommer-Tollwood grounds south of the Olympic Park. The comparison with its big brother, which takes place in winter on the Theresienwiese, is not only obvious because of the location. The atmosphere here is atmospheric and a bit alternative, continuing after Advent until December 28.
Also noteworthy, as it is much more than just a mulled wine bar, is the Christkindlmarkt unterm Maibaum (Christmas market under the maypole) at Luise-Kiesselbach-Platz. It even continues until January 6 and features an ice rink for skating. The market is recommended, especially after Christmas Eve, for people who are not fond of crowds.
Another ice rink with food and drink is offered by Münchner Eiszauber at Stachus until January 11. Why it is dismantled just when it finally gets cold is beyond our knowledge.
The Münchner Feuerzangenbowle is also well known, but since 2024 it can no longer take place at the Isartor due to construction work. At the bunker behind the Schrannenhalle, it's not quite so easy to find an audience. The afterglow continues there until January 6.
Both early starters and latecomers can enjoy an event at the Cosimabad in Bogenhausen, which can't quite decide whether to call itself Christmas Magic Forest or Mulled Wine Festival. At the not-too-atmospheric fairground, dominated by white pavilions, there will be all kinds of mulled drinks – 28 different ones in total – from November 13 to January 13. Those who sorely miss the beer garden season will be helped with a mulled wine maß for €20.