sp

Munich Christmas markets

An introduction to Munich Christmas markets


Germany's Christmas markets are famous the world over. You are spoilt for choice in Munich, which has about 10 main Christkindlesmärkte spread throughout the city.
Each one has its own flavour so you could easily pass a couple of days just exploring the food, gift stands and attractions at each of them.
Here's a quick guide to the highlights.



munich-christmas-market-marienplatz
LOOKABOUT: Munich Christmas markets draw thousands of visitors to the city. H.Gebhardt / FVAmuc
What to buy

Make sure the purses or wallets are full, this is the perfect place to stock up on gifts for Christmas day.

There are decorations, star-shaped lamps, carved nutcrackers, clothes, picture books, handmade candles, soap, handicrafts, you name it.

Wooden mangers (Krippel) are especially popular.
Most German families keep them to decorate their living rooms for Christmas.

There are also hundreds of manger decorations available, from tiny wooden baby Jesus', to sheep and kings bearing gold, frankincense and myrrh.

There is even a secial market devoted to mangers, the Kripperlmarkt on Rindermarkt just south of Marienplatz.




Here's a map showing the locations of the Munich Christmas markets mentioned below. Why not take a little tour and discover a couple of them?


View Christmas markets in Munich in a larger map 



gingerbread-christmas-market

EDIBLE JOY: Gingerbread comes in many shapes and sizes at the Munich Christmas markets. charley1965
What to eat

Christmas market cuisine is simply a world unto itself.

Gorge yourself on a half-metre sausage or stroll around with a paper cone full of mouth-watering nuts – the choice is yours.

A few foodie favourites:

▪Wurst - Sausages of every shape and ethnicity are on offer - from the diminutive nürnberger würstchen, to classic bratwurst, to the mammoth, spicy, half-metre Feuerteufel (fire devil).

▪Dampfnudeln - This is a light, steamed dumpling often coated with vanilla custard. You can get it with a berry filling if you wish.

▪Chocolate-coated fruit - This comes served on sticks and just screams out at you to take a bite. Choco-bananas, choco-strawberries and choco-peaches are all there.

▪Lebkucken - Gingerbread cookies never tasted better than at a Christmas market. They say the best stuff comes from Nürnberg (Nuremberg) in northern Bavaria.

▪Magenbrot - Another type of gingerbread, the name means "stomach bread". A great tummy filler.

▪Plätzchen - The quintessential baked Christmas cookies. They often come mixed in a bag, tops for snacking. They often feature ingredients like nougat, berries, chocolate or almonds.

▪Gebrannte Mandeln - Roasted chestnuts, coated with spices, sugar or chocolate. Simply delicious, this is the enticing smell that permeates over the Christmas markets.


What to drink at Munich Christmas markets

It's all about the Glühwein. This spicy nectar is the main reason many people come to the Christmas markets at all.

christmas-market-munich
WINTER WARMTH: At Marienplatz. This square hosts the biggest of the Munich Christmas markets. Fritz Witzig / FVAmuc

It's not only becasue of the alcohol content, the way a cup of the stuff warms up your fingers, or the taste of the spicy red wine it embodies.

It's all of those things, and the feeling of cosiness you get from huddling around with friends holding hut mugs, even though it's totally freezing outside.

A cup of Glühwein costs about €2. It's normal to pay double that when you receive your drink, the other half is for the deposit (Pfand) which you can pick up when you return your mug to the stand.

You can, of course, just keep the mug, they make great souvenirs. If you're staying off the booze, the Kinderpunsch (Children's punch) is the most popular non-alcoholic option.


Where to find the main Munich Christmas markets

The biggest and most commercial Christmas market is on Marienplatz, with hundreds of stands and a great big Christmas tree.

There are daily musical performances from the balcony of the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) at 5.30pm. Open November 27 to December 24, weekdays 10am-8.30pm, Saturday 9am-8.30pm, Sunday 10am-7.30pm. December 24 10am-2pm.

christmas-market-manger
AWAY IN A MANGER: A nativity scene (with real sheep!) at a Christmas market.

Post away

Duck under the archways of the Neues Rathaus and through to the inner courtyard called Prunkhof.

There you'll find the once-a-year Christmas market post office.

The Deutsche Post will stamp your envelopes and parcels with a special edition "Christkindl" stamp.

Open: Weekdays 12pm-6pm, weekends 10am-7pm.

The grumpy little man

In Bavarian tradition Santa Claus (the Weilnachtsmann or Sankt Nikolaus) isn't the only character who runs around visiting kiddies in December. He also has a dirty little friend called Grampus.

Grampus dresses in black and carries a big bundle of sticks. He's there to scare the children who"ve fallen into the "naughty" column. Of course it’s all just for show.

On December 6 and December 20 Santa's meanie helpers (many dressed up as grotesque demons) have a "Krampus run" around a few Munich Christmas markets, especially the one at Marienplatz. It's worth seeing for the costumes alone and takes place from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.


Other Munich Christmas markets:

Chinese Tower

One of Munich's nicest Christmas market's is at the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower) in the Englischer Garten. December 7 and 14 are special "children's days" when the little ones receive gifts from a jolly Santa. Open: November 28 to December 23, weekdays 12pm-8pm, weekends 1am-8pm.

Sendlinger Tor

Munich's old southern city gate hosts a spectacular Christmas market that lights up beautifully in the evenings. Blind musicians belt out Silly Season hits on weekends from 5pm to 7pm. Open: November 26 to December 23, daily 10.30-9pm.

Schwabing

The Christmas market in Munich's former Bohemian quarter keeps a cool flair. There are over 100 one-person stands and a focus on unique handcrafted gifts.
There are also daily live musical performances and vendors offering cuisine from around the world.
It's just next to the Münchener Freiheit U-Bahn station to the north of the city centre. Open: November 27 to December 24, weekdays 12pm to 8.30pm, weekends 11am-8.30pm, December 24 (Heiligabend) 11am-2pm.

1000 years ago

The "middle-ages" Christmas market on Wittelsbacherplatz is one of the more unusual of the Munich Christmas markets. This market attempts to throw you back to the age or knights, damsels and jesters.
There are regular fire shows, dance lessons and displays of wizardry.
Open: November 26 to December 23, daily 11am-8pm, see website here.

Praterinsel

This Christmas market prides itself on its fine craftworks and entertainment for children. It's on an island in the Isar River near the major Maximilian Strasse shopping mile. Open: November 27 to December 23, weekdays 3pm-10pm, weekends 11am-10pm.

Neuhausen (Rotkreuzplatz)

A little bit out of the centre, this huge and truly suburban Christmas market has a great program of music and puppet shows on the weekends. Open November 27 to December 23, daily from 11am to 9pm.

Tollwood Winter Festival

This isn't technically one of the Munich Christmas markets but it's very much one in spirit. The winter Tollwood festival excels in art and world culture, and has a "Market of Ideas" with food and handicrafts from the world's four corners.

This year's festival has a "Heaven and Hell" theme. A few big marquees feature live music and other performances.
It's at the Theresienwiese, where the Oktoberfest also takes place. Open: November 25 to December 31 (market only open until December 23), weekdays 2pm-1am, weekends 11am-1am, see website here.

In 2008 I wrote a story about what it would be like to open your own Christmas market stand in Bavaria, which was published on The Local Germany news website. You can find the story here.

 


Want to write your own story about the Munich Christmas markets, or similar events elsewhere in the world? It's easy, just jot your throughs down here. If you'd like to send some photos as well, just email me here: stuartadmin@destination-munich.com
Thanks a lot and Merry Christmas!!

Please send in your comments and questions.
Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be filled in.
First Name*
E-mail Address*
Country*
Write your message here

Please enter the word that you see below.

feedback form   


 
What's Hot
Subscribe to
Munich Magazine
Your email

Your first name

Then

I keep this private.

This is a new type of Munich Germany travel guide. The idea is to provide quality Munich tourist information as well as share my own perspectives and stories with those who travel to Munich.
If you travel in Bavaria, or if you visit Germany at all, don't miss this city!


Oktoberfest Munich

Prost! All about the Oktoberfest in Munich
Photos by.myke

 

kaltenberg-knights

Step back to the Middle-Ages at the Kaltenberg Knights' Festival


linderhof castle

Linderhof Palace - A slice of heaven
Bavaria tour

Find your perfect Bavarian tour.

2-hour-tour

2-hour Munich. See the city's absolute best on this Schnell! Schnell! DIY walking tour.

Me

Read about me and this website.


Subscribe To This Site
XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines
top of current page

Privacy policy

Home | Site Map | Disclaimer
Contact me | Munich mailbag | About the author | Destination Munich blog | Search Destination Munich
Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape

Copyright © 2008-2010 www.destination-munich.com