Last year, I planned to spend 1 day in Munich before embarking on a Christmas market road trip through southwest Germany and the Alsace region of France. But a freak snowstorm literally brought the city to a halt, and turned my 1 day in Munich into… several.
But being stuck in Munich around Christmas time is not a terrible thing; the city is very historic, and it boasts a surprisingly large number of unique Christmas markets! I was able to explore many of them (and have also visited Munich several times in the last couple of years), meaning that I can now share with you my version of a perfect day in Munich during the Christmas season.
Munich’s Christmas markets
Cities across Germany (and other cities throughout Europe) transform in the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas into holiday wonderlands. It’s no different in Munich, where there are literally dozens of Christmas markets to choose from.
Munich’s main and largest market (the Münchner Christkindlmarkt) takes place on Marienplatz, with more than 130 market stalls selling everything from food and wine to Christmas decor and gifts. This one dates back to at least the 1600s, but possibly as far back as the 14th century. And then there are all the smaller markets, too.
Just some of the major Christmas markets in Munich include:
- Münchner Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz – The largest in Munich on the main square. (Nov. 25-Dec. 24, 2024)
- Kripperlmarkt at St. Peter’s – 10 stalls selling exclusively nativity-related things.
- Christmas Village at the Residenz – Munich’s city palace, the Residenz, has its own Christmas market in its largest courtyard. (Nov. 18-Dec. 22, 2024)
- Medieval Christmas Market at Wittelsbacherplatz – A small market with medieval-inspired goods, food, and drinks. (Nov. 25- Dec. 23, 2024)
- Christkindlmarkt at Sendlinger Tor – A small market beneath one of Munich’s remaining city gates. (Nov., 25- Dec. 22, 2024)
- Pink Christmas at Stephansplatz – The city’s LGBTQ+ Christmas market is small, but so fun! With pink lighting, fun gifts, and live music/DJs. (Nov,. 25-Dec. 23, 2024)
- Tollwood Winter Festival – An alternative, artsy version of a Christmas market, this one takes place at the Theresienwiese (Oktoberfest fairground) and features arts, crafts, and theater productions. (Nov. 26-Dec. 31, 2024, with the market ending on Dec. 23)
- Haidhausen Christmas Market – To the southeast of central Munich, this market on Weissenburger Platz is said to be the most beautiful in Munich, and has live Christmas music every day. (Nov. 26-Dec. 24, 2024)
- Christmas market at Chinesischer Turm – This market surrounds the Chinese Tower inside the Englischer Garten (think: Munich’s version of Central Park) with artisan stands and a children’s carousel. (Nov. 27-Dec. 23, 2024)
- Fairytale bazaar at Olympiapark – Looking for slightly different winter market vibes? Head to Olympiapark, where circus tents house artisans, cozy bars, and small performance stages.
You can also find a festive atmosphere at the Viktualienmarkt food market, an ice rink at Karlsplatz-Stachus, and the mulled wine festival at the Cosimabad wave pool. There’s even a Christmas market at the Munich airport! Find a full list of ALL the Munich area Christmas markets here.
Important note: You’ll notice from the dates above that Christmas markets run in the weeks leading UP TO Christmas. So for this specific itinerary, you’ll want to be visiting Munich between the end of November and roughly December 23 if you want to experience all the markets.
1 day in Munich itinerary (at Christmas)
And now here’s where my Munich Christmas market guide is going to differ from all the others out there… instead of simply listing all the Munich Christmas markets for you – which can be overwhelming since there are so many of them! – I’m going to give you a suggested 1-day Munich itinerary that will allow you to visit all the best ones.
This is itinerary is based on my own visit(s) to Munich, including at Christmas. I’ll tell you what I ate and when, and also suggest one or two non-market-related things to do along the way.
A fair warning though: this can be a very busy day of sightseeing and market-going if you want it to be!
Morning: Marienplatz market
- Closest public transit stop: Marienplatz (both S-bahn and U-bahn)
- Time recommended: 1 hour
Start your day at the Münchner Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz, the city’s main and largest Christmas market. This grand square is very famous and very photogenic, with the ornate New Town Hall at its center. No need to rush this morning since the market stalls don’t open until around 10 a.m., but going in the morning is completely different than later in the day (which you’ll experience later, don’t worry!).
Stroll among the stalls as they open this morning, and grab a coffee or hot chocolate. One of my favorite morning market snacks are Apfelkücherl, or deep fried apple rings.
Head down the lane in front of St. Peter’s church next to see the Kripperlmarkt. Here, a handful of stands are exclusively selling nativity sets, nativity figures, and more items related to nativity scenes. If you’re looking for a unique handmade gift in Munich, these stalls are worth a browse. You can also pop into St. Peter’s, which is the oldest church in Munich.
You can follow the street down to the Rindermarkt, where there are several more Christmas market stalls and usually a big Christmas pyramid (a tiered wooden structure decorated with nativity scenes and other Christmas figures that rotates). This is another good spot to grab a morning snack!
A note on Christmas market mugs: In Munich (and at most other Christmas markets in Germany), any hot drink you order will be served in a real glass/mug. You’ll have to pay a deposit (pfand in German) on these mugs – usually in cash – in addition to the cost of your drink. If you return the mug after you finish your drink, you’ll get your deposit back. If you want to keep the mug as a souvenir, consider the mug deposit the cost of the mug. In Munich, you can expect to pay €5 as a mug deposit.
Morning: Frauenkirche
- Closest public transit stop: Marienplatz (both S-bahn and U-bahn)
- Time recommended: 30 minutes (longer if you go up the tower)
Next, take a break from Christmas market shopping to visit the Frauenkirche (Cathedral Church of Our Lady). The iconic twin towers of this church are a symbol of Munich, and you can even go up the South Tower (via elevator!) for some excellent Munich views.
The Frauenkirche is also home to “the devil’s footprint” near the entrance, said to be made by the Devil himself (who wears shoes, apparently).
Late morning: Residenz Palace
- Closest public transit stop: Odeonsplatz (U-bahn)
- Time recommended: 2 hours
From the Frauenkirche, you can walk to the Residenz München, or Munich Residence – the largest city palace in Germany. Going here is actually a two-fer: you can tour the palace, AND visit the Christmas market that takes place within the palace’s largest courtyard!
If you’re getting hungry for lunch, I would head to the Christmas market first (you can enter the Kaiserhof courtyard for free from Odeonsplatz), and get something from one of the stalls. There are also handicraft workshops here, alongside food stalls and even children’s puppet shows.
And then head to the palace entrance to purchase a ticket (they don’t sell tickets online unfortunately) and tour the Residenz. This massive building was the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria, who ruled this region from the 1600s until 1918. Today, you can tour a good portion of the palace, visiting many opulent rooms, chapels, and halls.
You can also get some nice views out over the courtyard Christmas market from inside the palace (where the above photo was taken)!
Allow up to 2 hours to fully visit the Residenz Palace – and note that there’s a free cloakroom for bulky coats and backpacks.
Afternoon: Medieval market
- Closest public transit stop: Odeonsplatz (U-bahn)
- Time recommended: 30 minutes
From the Residenz Palace, it’s a short walk over to Wittelsbacherplatz for Munich’s unique medieval market. Here, vendors wear period garb and sell medieval-themed goods, clothing, and foods.
One of the most popular things to try here is a Feuerzangenbowle, which translates literally to “Fire Tongs Punch.” This “punch” is basically mulled wine with a shot of rum that’s poured over a sugar cube, which is then lit on fire. You can try this drink all over Munich, but it’s most unique at the medieval market, where it’s served in a huge clay goblet. (Note that you’ll pay a larger deposit on the goblet.)
Late afternoon: Englischer Garten
- Closest public transit stop: Nationalmuseum/Haus D.Kunst (tram or bus) for the Eisbachwelle; Tivolistraße (tram) and Chinesischer Turm (bus stop) for the Chinese Tower
- Time recommended: 1 hour
After getting warmed up by your fire punch, it’s time to head a little further north to the Englischer Garten (English Garden), which is basically Munich’s Central Park.
On the way, I highly recommend stopping at the Eisbachwelle at the south entrance of the park. Here, in the middle of the city, people surf on a continuous wave in the river. (And yes, even in the winter there will be people surfing the wave!)
Then, if it’s nice, walk north through the park to the Chinesischen Turm, or Chinese Tower. Home to a very fun beer garden during the warmer months, the Chinese Tower is surrounded by a cozy Christmas market during the holidays. There’s usually live music, a children’s carousel, and cute market stalls.
Optional: Mulled wine festival
- Closest public transit stop: Cosimabad (tram or bus), or Arabellapark (U-bahn)
- Time recommended: 1 hour
IF the Chinese Tower market doesn’t interest you, then I’d skip the English Garden and head a bit further east by public transit to the winter festival grounds outside the Cosimabad swimming pool*.
This area hosts a Glühwein Festival from mid-November through January 6th each year, where there are 30+ different types of mulled wine to try. There are cozy tents to lounge in (rare for a German Christmas market, if I’m honest!), plus stalls outside selling food and artisan goods and gifts.
I have not been to this festival, but it’s on my list for next time in Munich at Christmas!
*I don’t realistically think you can fit in both the Chinese Tower market and Glühwein Festival in the same afternoon. I would choose just one, unless you want to skip the Residenz Palace or the Pink Market listed below.
Evening: Pink Market and Sendlinger Tor
- Closest public transit stop: Sendlinger Tor (U-bahn or tram)
- Time recommended: 1 hour
Munich’s Pink Market doesn’t open until the evening, so head to Stephansplatz after it starts to get dark. This pink-lit queer market is small, but really fun. Expect live music or a DJ, rainbow market mugs, and lots of fun things for sale. Just grab a drink here!
From the Pink Market, it’s a short walk over to Sendlinger Tor, where a handful of market stalls are set up beneath one of Munich’s three remaining city gates. This one is just cool to see, considering this gate dates back to around 1300. In the evening, this small market appeared to be a popular spot for locals to go for a drink.
Dinner: Rindermarkt
- Closest public transit stop: Marienplatz (both S-bahn and U-bahn)
- Time recommended: 30 minutes
My absolute favorite thing I ate at the Munich Christmas markets can be found at the Rindermarkt market stalls that you may have visited earlier in the day. I don’t care; go back for this!
The dish is called Flammlachs, and it’s salmon that’s cooked on a plank around an open fire and then shredded into a sandwich. This is SO GOOD. I still dream about it.
Night: Marienplatz + New Town Hall
- Closest public transit stop: Marienplatz (both S-bahn and U-bahn)
- Time recommended: 1-2 hours
Or, I suppose if you don’t like fish, then I’d recommend heading back to Marienplatz for dinner. There’s so much good (and affordable!) food here, including sausages (my favorite are the small Nürnberger Rostbratwurst on a bun), Käsespätzle (cheesy egg noodles topped with crunchy onions), and so much more.
Then, for an extra good view of Munich’s largest market, head up a nearby tower!
I had originally planned to climb the tower at St. Peter’s, but it closes fairly early. An even better option (in my opinion) is to go up the New Town Hall Tower. This tower is open later (until 8 p.m.), and two elevators take you up to the observation deck 280 feet (85 meters) above Marienplatz.
You can either buy tickets at the tourist information center, or pre-book a timed ticket online (I went with this option). It was snowing when I went up, and it was magical!
And then just enjoy the Marienplatz market until you’re ready to head back to your hotel.
If you have more time…
Would I recommend more than one day in Munich at Christmas? Yes, definitely! You could easily fill 2-3 days with mostly Christmas activities and Christmas markets.
With more time in Munich, I would also:
- Visit the English Garden or Glühwein Festival (whichever you didn’t do on this day)
- Shop at the Viktualienmarkt food market
- Go ice skating at Karlsplatz
- Take public transit out to Nymphenburg Palace
- Go to either the Tollwood Winter Festival or Fairytale bazaar at Olympiapark for a different vibe
- Maybe take a WWII-themed tour, or go on a Night Watchman walking tour
And if you have even MORE time, then you could plan a day trip from Munich to somewhere like Neuschwanstein castle or even Salzburg.
How to get around Munich
Within central Munich, you can actually walk to most places within 10-15 minutes. But for some of the spots that are a little further out, public transit is the easiest and most efficient way to get around.
Munich has an excellent system of trains, trams, and buses, all operated by the Münchner Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund (MVV). The easiest way to get tickets is to download the MVV app on your smartphone, and buy tickets directly through there.
If you think you’ll use public transit for more than just one or two rides, it’s worth it to get a Single Day Ticket, which is good for 24 hours (and for everywhere on this itinerary, you just need an M-Zone ticket, which costs €9.20 for the day). The ticket is validated on your phone when you purchase it, and you generally don’t have to show/scan it anywhere.
Pro tip: If you’re traveling as a couple or small group (up to 5 adults, or 2 adults and up to 6 kids), then getting a Group Day Ticket will actually save you money. A group ticket for 24 hours costs just €17.80, and can be used an unlimited number of times for the whole group on U-bahn and S-bahn trains, trams, and buses.
Where to stay in Munich
Munich is one major city in Europe where the area around the main train station (Hauptbahnhof) is actually fairly nice, with many good hotels to choose from. I often stay near the train station to make getting to/from the airport easier (you can take a train directly to the airport).
My favorite hotel in Munich (so far) is the NH Collection München Bavaria, which is a 4-star hotel across the street from the train station, with an entrance to S-bahn and U-bahn trains (plus a tram stop) right outside.
Other good picks in Munich include Hotel Metropol (also near the train station) and Hotel Torbraeu (near the Old Town).
What to wear in Munich in December
You’ll be in Munich in December for Christmas markets, and the weather can vary a bit in early winter. In general, it’s cold in December – but usually not bitterly so.
High temperatures in Munich in December are usually around 40 degrees F (4.4 degrees C), with lows dipping into the low- to mid-30s F (right around 0-2 degrees C). It can of course be slightly warmer or slightly colder than this, depending on weather patterns. (It dipped below 20 degrees F, or -6.6 degrees C, during the snowstorm I got stuck in, for example.)
You’ll want to prepare for the chance of both rain and snow in December – I had a bit of both on my trip.
My top tips for packing include:
- Warm layers – Pack layers that you can mix and match depending on the forecast. On warmer days, a sweater and jeans under your coat might be fine, while on colder days I usually go for a merino or moisture-wicking base layer under a sweater/cardigan on top, and potentially fleece-lined leggings (like these) under jeans or other pants on the bottom.
- A winter coat – You’ll want a good jacket, too, either a lightweight down jacket or heavier winter coat, depending on the forecast. (Last year, I wore this one and was glad for the heavier coat during that snowstorm.)
- Warm, waterproof shoes/boots – Your footwear might be the most important item in your Christmas market wardrobe! Be sure to bring at least one pair of warm and waterproof shoes/boots that can tackle any weather. (These Columbia boots are my go-to.)
- Hand/feet warmers – Speaking of staying warm, these HotHands hand/toe warmers are must-packs for me for any winter trip. You can put them in your gloves or boots, and they’ll stay warm for up to 8 hours.
I have a full Christmas market packing list you can check out for more specific suggestions and outfit ideas!
Check out these other Christmas market posts:
And that’s how I would spend one day exploring Munich at Christmas! It’s a potentially long day, yes, but I think you’ll be satisfied that you saw the best of Munich’s Christmas markets and holiday traditions!
Who’s ready to visit Munich at Christmas?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she’s actually traveled!