The Christmas Markets in Munich

New In 2026

While “Santas Isarzauber” will not be returning to Prater Island after just one season, Alter Hof will host its first-ever Advent festivities in 2026. It all kicks off on November 16. The Winterhof, including the stock lane, will be open daily from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. The organizer has not yet confirmed whether the advertised eisstock lane is actually made of ice or just a plastic surface.

Although there was already a “Winter Wonderland” at a shopping mall last year, the event is really taking off in 2026 following its move to Pineapple Park—that is, the Paketposthalle (Hirschgarten S-Bahn station, Briefzentrum tram stop, Wilhelm-Hale-Straße bus stop). The “Winter Market,” taking place there for the first time, will offer a mix that’s quite unusual for Munich from November 20 through January 6, daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Not only will there be a parade—apparently modelled after American parades—at 4 p.m. on opening day, but the selection of rides is also quite unusual for Southern Bavaria. In addition to a children’s carousel and a train ride, the Musikexpress Power Express and the Crazy Vegas ride are also on site. The event takes on an Alpine flair with the Krampus parades on November 27 and December 20.

The new owners of Gasthof Hinterbrühl are setting up a few stalls in the courtyard for the first time. Thanks to the idyllic location, this could work out well. It will be open starting November 20, Tuesday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The last day of operation is January 6. Ideally, the end of the season could coincide with Lake Hinterbrühl freezing over.

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 could be more charming than it is, 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 20 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 Haidhauser Weihnachtsmarkt (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, Weihnachtsmarkt am Schneckenplatz and the Pasinger Christkindlmarkt, which only takes place on Advent weekends.

Nevertheless, the Blutenburger Weihnacht, which will only take place from December 3 to 6 in 2026, 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 (except for Mondays). Incidentally, it is one of the few markets that is also open on December 24 until 2 p.m.

Munich's loudest 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 is open one day longer each week since 2025. It is now only 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 to 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 Christmas Markets Opening the Earliest

• November 7: Winterworld (Motorworld)
• November 12: Winterwunderwerk (Werksviertel Mitte), Weihnachtszauberwald/Glühweinfestival (Rosenkavalierplatz)
• November 16: Weihnachtsdorf in der Residenz

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 (Charles Blume), is enjoying some popularity, not least because of this. However, the extension into the Christmas season was cancelled in 2026. This year, the last day of operation is December 20. In addition, the event is closed on Mondays.

On November 12, 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 usually 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. We're still missing a confirmation, if this will be the case in 2026 as well.

On November 20, an event kicks off that doesn’t seem quite sure whether to call itself the “Christmas Enchanted Forest” or the “Mulled Wine Festival.” What has been held at the Cosimabad in recent years will move to Rosenkavalierplatz (U-Bahn Arabellapark) in 2026. Unlike in previous years, the serving of 30 different hot beverages will end as early as December 23 and will not be extended beyond Christmas.

Much more established than the aforementioned is the Weihnachtsdorf at Residenz, which can be visited from November 16 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 12, but also because it significantly expands the area around the which's house.

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).

Still Open After Christmas Eve

• Until December 28: Märchenbazar
• Until 6 January 10: Christkindlmarkt unterm Maibaum, Münchner Feuerzangenbowle
• Until January 10: Münchner Eiszauber

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 10. Why it is dismantled just when it finally gets cold is beyond our knowledge.

Another well-known event is Münchner Feuerzangenbowle, which will return to the Isartor in 2026 after two years of construction. The festivities will kick off there on November 23 and continue through January 6.