Munich Christkindl Christmas Market
It isn’t Christmas in Germany without a visit to a magical Christmas market, and you’d be hard-pressed to find one more beautiful and welcoming than the traditional Christkindl Christmas market in Munich!
Spanning more than 20.000 square metres, the wooden stalls and booths of the Munich Christmas market cover the Marienplatz to the tower of the old town hall, along the Kaufingerstraße and Neuhauser Straße to the Sternenplatzl at Rindermarkt, turning the city centre into a winter wonderland.
Christmas spirit in the hustle and bustle of Munich
With a history stretching back to the 14th century, the Christmas market in Munich is known to retain its traditional Bavarian character, with over 160 lovely wooden stalls featuring a variety of handmade items, such as Christmas baubles and decorations, sheepskin jackets and paper pictures.
If visitors seek something to fill their bellies, then they can feast on classic festive treats, like fresh chestnuts, baked apples and fruit cake. During the evenings you can listen to songs of advent while sipping on a mug of berry mulled wine or German beer, to really get into the Christmas mood.
A Christmas market with Bavarian spirit
One of the biggest attractions of Munich’s Christmas market is the magnificent Christmas tree in front of the new town hall, which is covered in over 2.500 lights. Over in Neuhauser Straße, a few steps away from Marienplatz square, you can also find Germany’s largest authentic manger market, complete with lanterns for the mangers and fodder for the ox and donkeys.
And if you want to learn more about the history behind the Munich Christmas market why not attend a free cultural tour of the market? Led by certified guides from the city, these tours explore the ins and outs of the Christmas market!
Visiting the Christmas market in Munich
Be sure to dress warmly in layers before heading out to the Christmas market, as the weather in Germany can be fickle! As there is no parking available by Marienplatz, we do recommend travelling by public transport, or even foot!
Come down for the second Sunday in December to experience the traditional Krampus Run, when horned devil creatures take over the streets to scare the naughty children!
For all the details on Munich’s Christmas market, visit the official Munich tourism website, and don't forget to also check out the unique Pink Christmas Market in Munich.
Video credit: YouTube / Happy to Wander