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Christmas Markets 2024 in Munich, Germany – Complete Guide

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Christmas Markets in Munich, Germany – Complete Guide

Guide to the best Christmas Markets in Munich, Germany, with an updated calendar for 2024, including tips, itinerary, food and more.

The best time of year to be in Germany is without a doubt Christmas, mainly because of its Christmas markets. Sorry to those who like Oktoberfest (I do too, of course), but German holiday celebrations are special.

The city of Munich, mainly because it is one of the largest cities in the country, has a special program for Christmas markets, with several options for all types of visitors. There are dozens of Christmas markets in Munich with different start and end dates, as well as rules, ticket prices and times for each of them.

Christmas markets in Munich will be available to visit from the second half of November 2024. The Christmas festivities will last until the beginning of January 2025 .

We’ve also published an updated calendar with the start and end dates of the best Christmas Markets in Germany in 2024, including some gems in cities we’ve already visited , so be sure to check it out!

But most importantly, plan your trip to the Munich Christmas Markets well in advance! It’s not too much effort to have a Glühwein and eat Würste, Lebkuchen and Spekulatius.

I hope our information is useful.

2024 Calendar of Christmas Markets in Munich, Germany

Let’s go to the list of the best Christmas Markets in Munich, Germany.

Munich Christmas Market at Marienplatz

Munich Christmas Market at Marienplatz

It is Munich’s main Christmas market. It is scheduled to take place from 25 November to 24 December 2024, at Marienplatz and Rindermarkt.

Munich’s well-known and popular Christmas market covers much of the historic part of the city. It runs from Marienplatz in a star shape through Weinstrasse and Kaufingerstrasse, Fürstenfelder and Liebfrauenstrasse and via Rosenstrasse to Richard-Strauss-Brunnen.

In front of the neo-Gothic town hall on Marienplatz stands the Christmas tree, which shines and decorates the city center until January 6th. The largest nativity scene market in Germany is also held here, and is also displayed in Munich’s churches. Interestingly, the first independent nativity scene was created in Munich in 1757.

Pink Christmas at Stephansplatz in Munich

Pink Christmas at Stephansplatz

The Christmas market organized by Munich’s LGBTIQ+ community will take place at Stephansplatz from November 25, 2024 until December 23, 2024. Interestingly, in addition to the usual Christmas market offerings such as Glühwein, sausage rolls and other drinks and food, Pink Christmas also features DJ shows and drag queen Gene Pascale every Sunday.

Everyone is invited to enjoy Munich’s Pink Christmas.

Christmas Market at the Chinese Tower

For over 30 years, the Chinese Tower in Munich’s famous Englischer Garten has hosted a beautiful Christmas market. This year it will run from November 27, 2024 to December 23, 2024.

It’s definitely worth going to enjoy the craft stalls, Christmas food and drinks, as well as a nostalgic wooden carousel.

Tollwood Winter Festival

From 26 November to 23 December 2024, the Tollwood Winter Festival invites you to something different, the extraordinary Christmas market.

The Tollwood Winter Festival is often referred to as Munich’s “alternative Christmas market.” Here you can experience exciting international productions, street theater, as well as organic food and sustainable and fair-weather crafts from all over the world. The winter festival traditionally ends with the Tollwood New Year’s Eve events and the midnight waltz on the Theresienwiese.

The Tollwood Winter Festival, which takes place at the Theresienwiese in Munich, offers attractions such as the Canadian company “Machine de Cirque” which will present its program with artistic acrobatics and the “Market of Ideas” (Markt der Ideen) with Christmas food and drinks.

And on 12/31/2024 the Silvesterparty , the New Year’s Eve party, will take place.

Visitors can also have fun on a curling rink, in the “Magic Forest”, with glowing sculptures and the “Weltsalon”, the tent for urgent social and ecological issues.

Market of Ideas at Tollwood Winter Festival

Christmas Village in the Imperial Courtyard of the Munich Residence

  • Wedding in the Kaiserhof of the Residence – No date set for 2024
  • Official website : https://www.dasweihnachtsdorf.de/
  • Address : Kaiserhof der Residenz, mitten im Herzen von München.

Voted as the Christmas market with the best “Christmas atmosphere” in Munich in 2014, mainly for its illuminated decorations in the Imperial Courtyard of the Residence. Other highlights include the 14-meter-high Christmas pyramid with moving characters and the fairytale forest.

The Christmas village in the Kaiserhof of the Residenz is open daily from 23 November to 22 December 2023 from 11:00 to 21:00 , in the Emperor’s Court of the Munich Residenz, the former seat of the Bavarian government.

Munich Medieval Market

The Medieval Christmas Market is open daily from 25 November to 23 December 2024 from 11 am to 9 pm on Wittelsbacherplatz in Munich.

Munich’s Christmas markets date back to the late Middle Ages, and the Mittelaltermarkt recreates the medieval atmosphere of a real German Christmas market. At the hand-carved wooden stalls, you’ll find vendors in medieval costumes selling handcrafted goods, jewelry, ceramics, clothing, as well as food and drink, many prepared using ancient recipes.

The market is taking place here for the 14th time and has become a popular meeting point during this Advent period and is special among Munich’s Christmas markets.

Munich Medieval Market

Fairytale Bazaar at the Olympic Park

  • Märchenbazar in Olympiapark – 11/28/2024 to 12/29/2024
  • Official website : https://maerchenbazar.de/
  • Address : Olympiapark Süd (Sommer-Tollwood Gelände)

The fairytale bazaar will be open from 28 November to 29 December 2024 in Olympiapark Süd, the summer area of ​​Tollwood in Munich.

In the middle of the city, nostalgic circus tents and fairground stalls emerge from the fantastic world of fairy tales. With dances, music, parties, artists and colors, they delight their visitors. The gastronomic offer is exotic and classic at the same time. And a special program for all children.

A different market worth visiting during the Advent period in Munich.

Munich Christmas Market at Sendlinger Tor

  • Christkindlmarkt München am Sendlinger Tor – 11/28/2024 to 12/22/2024
  • Official website : https://www.sendlingertor.com/
  • Address : Sendlinger-Tor-Platz Munich

The Christmas market at Sendlinger Tor will take place from 28 November to 22 December 2024 at Sendlinger-Tor-Platz.

This Christmas market has been held since 1886 at Sendlinger Tor, one of the three remaining gates of the old Munich fortifications, which lights up and invites visitors to stroll around.

Nativity scenes, Christmas tree ornaments, hand-drawn candles, scented oils, ceramics, jewelry, crafts, wooden toys and more. Plenty of Christmas food and drink is also available.

Tips for enjoying the Christmas festivities in winter in Munich, Germany

Tips for enjoying the Christmas festivities in winter in Munich, Germany

Below we list the main Christmas markets, but it is worth listing them a few days in advance (more details in the links to learn more about Germany):

  • Wear warm clothes, it’s winter, it’s cold;
  • In Germany it is more common to use cash and not debit cards (much less credit);
  • Check if the chosen market has a limit on people, tickets and entrance fees;
    • Due to health regulations, some Christmas markets are limiting the number of people, including having set entry and exit times;
  • Some German Christmas markets are open all day
    • It is worth mentioning that during the day they are emptier (some are really crowded at night _ however, once again, we do not know what it will be like during this period with different rules);
  • Try all the food and drinks!
    • We love Glühwein (German mulled wine), Würste (white or red and even spicy sausage), Langos (a fried dough with sweet and savory toppings), Brezel (Germany’s famous knotted bread) and other delicacies;
  • You need to know the Pfand process at the beverage stands
    • How does Pfand work in Germany? You pay an additional amount for the mug, in addition to what you are drinking (which can be anywhere from €1 to €3), and then return it and get your money back.
    • Oh! But you can keep the mug for yourself, we have several as souvenirs.
  • In addition to food, Christmas markets in Germany also have stalls selling crafts, clothes, Christmas decorations, and jars of jam and honey. They are well worth a visit and, why not, buy some souvenirs and last-minute Christmas gifts.

Promotions for tours, excursions and tickets to tourist attractions in Munich, Germany

Offers for tours, excursions, and tickets to tourist attractions in Munich, Germany:

Hotel Deals in Munich, Germany

Find the best deals and promotions for hotel, hostel and Bed & Breakfast accommodation in Munich.

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Touristic Attractions and Guided Tours Deals in Germany

Suggestions of guided tour deals and touristic attractions in Germany. For planning a trip to Germany, we have some publications that can help a lot:

We also write about 8 of the best attractions on the Romantic Road in Germany with up-to-date tips, be sure to check it out .

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