Pic: H.Gebhardt / FVAmuc
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 special market devoted to mangers, the Kripperlmarkt on Rindermarkt just south of Marienplatz.
EDIBLE JOY: Gingerbread comes in many shapes and sizes at the Munich Christmas markets. Pic: charley1965
WINTER WARMTH: At Marienplatz. This square hosts the biggest Christmas market Munich has. Pic: Fritz Witzig / FVAmuc
Chinese Tower One of Munich's nicest Christmas markets 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 22, 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 25 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 26 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 25 to December 23, daily 11am-8pm, see website here. Christmas Village you'll find the Christmas Village (Weinaachtsdorf) inside the Kaiserhof courtyard of the Munich Residenz, just off Odeonsplatz. It's Munich's second biggest Christmas market and features traditional craftsmen's works. There is also regular live music to keep the shoppers bopping along. Open: November 25 to December 23, daily from 11am to 9pm, 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 26 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 26 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. There will be a few big marquees feature live music and other performances. It's at the Theresienwiese, where the Oktoberfest also takes place. In my opinion it's the most funky Christmas Market Munich has to offer. Open: November 24 to December 31 (market only open until December 23), weekdays 2pm-1am, weekends 11am-1am.
Aaarrrggghhhh! Krampus could really scare the bejesus out of your kids! Pic: Traveller_40
Mmmm..There’s nothing better in the cold Munich winter than a cup of Glühwein (mulled wine) in your hand. It’s basically hot, sweet red wine mixed with herbs.Pic: maximolly
Like to see more photos from Munich Christmas Markets? Just click forward!
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• See here for a story on German Christmas Traditions. • See the main Munich Attractions page. • Jump from Munich Christmas Markets back to Destination Munich Home
A few years ago 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.Click here to read the story.