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The Munich Christmas Market that most visitors picture is the Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz, set beneath the Neues Rathaus, but Munich has far more than one. In 2026 the city runs a string of markets from mid-November, from a medieval-style market with costumed traders to a Christmas village in the Residenz palace courtyard. This guide covers which ones to prioritise, the 2026 dates, what to eat and drink, practical tips and where to stay.
Munich’s markets are close enough together that you can see several in one day on foot. The main Marienplatz market opens on 20 November 2026 and runs to Christmas Eve, and most of the others open the same week, so late November through the second week of December is the sweet spot. This guide is part of our Christmas Market Dates in Europe series, alongside our guides to Vienna, Budapest and Strasbourg.
In this guide
Munich Christmas markets at a glance
These are the 2026 dates published by the city’s tourism site. Dates can still be updated, so check before you book travel.
| Market | 2026 dates | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Marienplatz Christkindlmarkt | 20 Nov – 24 Dec | The classic: big, central, beneath the Rathaus |
| Residenz Christmas Village | 16 Nov – 22 Dec | A palace courtyard setting and crafts |
| Medieval Market (Wittelsbacherplatz) | 20 Nov – 23 Dec (closed 22 Nov) | Costumed traders, flame-baked bread and sausages |
| Viktualienmarkt Winterzauber | 20 Nov – 5 Jan 2027 | Lights and mulled wine beside the food market |
| Christkindlmarkt Sendlinger Tor | 20 Nov – 22 Dec | A small market at a medieval city gate |
| Pink Christmas | 20 Nov – 20 Dec | The queer-friendly market, with a show stage |
| Chinesischer Turm | 19 Nov – 23 Dec | A beer-garden market in the English Garden |
| Tollwood Winter Festival | 24 Nov – 23 Dec | Organic food, live shows and a festival feel |
| Haidhausen (Weißenburger Platz) | 23 Nov – 24 Dec | A cosy neighbourhood market |
Marienplatz Christkindlmarkt
Christkindlmarkt am Marienplatz
This is Munich’s best-known market, with roots going back to the 17th century. It fills Marienplatz and the streets around it, with the Neues Rathaus as the backdrop. Expect rows of wooden stalls selling ornaments, candles and toys, plus food and mulled wine, and daily live music from the Rathaus balcony. The city says there is a children’s workshop, the Himmelswerkstatt, for ages 6 to 12, and a Krampus run during the season.
Look for the Kripperlmarkt, a nativity market that sits within the Marienplatz market and sells figures and accessories for building a nativity scene, one of the biggest of its kind in Germany. The market is usually open from around 10 am to 9 pm (shorter on Sundays and on 24 December), but check the official site for this year’s hours.
Munich: Christmas Markets Food & Drink Tour — a three-hour guided walk through the Old Town that, per the listing, takes in the Marienplatz market, the Residenz Christmas village, the Crib Market and the Medieval Market, with tastings included. Check live availability and prices below.
Medieval Market and Residenz
These two sit close enough together to visit back to back, and both are among the most atmospheric in the city.
Mittelalterlicher Weihnachtsmarkt, Wittelsbacherplatz
The Medieval Christmas Market has wooden huts, traders in historical costume and food cooked over fire, including flame-baked bread (Flammbrot) and grilled sausages. It has a different feel from Marienplatz: darker, smokier and more theatrical. It is usually open from around 11 am to 9 pm. Hot drinks may come in clay goblets with a higher deposit than the usual mug.
Weihnachtsdorf in der Residenz
The Residenz Christmas Village is set in the Kaiserhof courtyard of the former royal palace. The city lists a fairy-tale forest, a puppet theatre and craftspeople such as goldsmiths and glassblowers. It is smaller and calmer than Marienplatz, and best visited in the daytime before the evening crowds. It usually opens around 11 am to 9 pm.
Munich: Festive Concert in the All-Saints Court Church — a two-hour classical concert by the Residence Soloists in the church of the Residenz, with works from Vivaldi and Mozart to Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. A calm evening option after the Residenz Christmas Village.
More markets worth a visit
Winterzauber at the Viktualienmarkt
Christmas lights, mulled wine and treats at Munich’s famous food market, a few minutes from Marienplatz. It stays open longest, into January, with a nativity scene by the beer garden. The everyday food stalls mostly close in the late afternoon, so combine it with an earlier visit.
Christkindlmarkt at Sendlinger Tor
A small market by one of the old city gates, with stalls selling goods from around the world, mulled wine and Feuerzangenbowle, and a changing programme of Christmas music each day.
Pink Christmas
A queer-friendly Christmas market held since 2005, near Sendlinger Tor, with a small stage for cabaret and singing acts. It is a lively, welcoming stop in the evening.
Chinesischer Turm
A market around the Chinese Tower beer garden in the English Garden, with weekend horse-drawn carriage rides, a brass band playing from the tower and Advent singing. It is a pleasant walk from the centre.
Tollwood Winter Festival
More festival than traditional market, held on the Theresienwiese grounds. It focuses on organic food, an international “market of ideas” and live performances, many of them free. Tollwood tends to be best in the evening.
Haidhausen Christmas Market
A small, family-friendly neighbourhood market with live music nearly every day and a hand-carved South Tyrolean nativity scene. A good choice if you want a quieter market away from the main crowds.
Guided Tour · Viator
Munich Christmas Market Tour
Prefer to go with a guide? Compare a guided Christmas market tour in Munich, with live availability and free-cancellation options where offered.
What to eat and drink
- Glühwein: hot spiced red wine, the staple at every stall.
- Feuerzangenbowle: mulled wine with a rum-soaked sugar cone set alight above it. Several markets serve it.
- Bratwurst: grilled sausages in a bread roll, found everywhere, with Rostbratwurst a favourite at the Medieval Market.
- Flammbrot and fire-roasted salmon: flame-baked bread at the Medieval Market, and flame-grilled salmon at stalls near Marienplatz.
- Lebkuchen and roasted almonds: gingerbread and sugar-roasted nuts for snacking or for gifts.
Munich: Christmas Market Tour with Glühwein — a three-hour English-language walking tour of five to six markets with two Glühwein, a Feuerzangenbowle and local Christmas treats included, a good way to try the drinks above with a guide.
Plan your visit
- Best time: weekday afternoons are the quietest. Marienplatz is busiest from about 3 pm until closing, especially at weekends, and sunset is around 4 pm in December, so arrive before dark for photos and stay for the lights.
- Mug deposits: hot drinks usually come in a deposit mug, typically about €3 to €5. You can return the mug for a refund or keep it as a souvenir.
- Getting around: Marienplatz has its own underground and S-Bahn station, and most of the central markets are within walking distance of each other.
- Cash: carry some, as small stalls can be quicker with cash.
- Dates: the city says some dates are still being updated, so check the official tourism site before you go, especially for hours.
Where to stay
For the Christmas markets, base yourself near Marienplatz or the Altstadt so you can walk between them. Hotels fill quickly for late November and December weekends, so book early.
A design hotel in a historic former post office and royal telegraph station, opposite Munich Central Station and within walking distance of the old town and Marienplatz. It is our pick for a base near the markets, not a hotel we have stayed in ourselves.
Check AvailabilityMunich hotels and apartments near the markets
FAQ
When does the Munich Christmas market open in 2026?
The main Marienplatz Christkindlmarkt runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026. The Residenz Christmas Village opens a few days earlier, on 16 November, and the Viktualienmarkt Winterzauber continues until 5 January 2027.
Which is the best Christmas market in Munich?
Marienplatz is the best-known and the best first stop, with the Rathaus as its backdrop. For atmosphere, the Medieval Market at Wittelsbacherplatz and the Residenz Christmas Village are the two most often recommended, and they are close together.
Are Munich Christmas markets open on Christmas Day?
Most close on or before Christmas Eve. The Marienplatz market ends on 24 December, and several others end between 20 and 23 December. The Viktualienmarkt market continues into January.
Is entry to the Munich Christmas markets free?
Yes, the markets are free to walk around. You pay for food, drinks and anything you buy. Hot drinks usually carry a refundable mug deposit, typically about €3 to €5.
How many days do you need for the Munich Christmas markets?
One full day covers the main markets, and two days lets you add Tollwood, the Chinese Tower and the neighbourhood markets without rushing.
What should I eat and drink at the Munich Christmas market?
Try Glühwein or Feuerzangenbowle to drink, and Bratwurst, flame-baked Flammbrot, fire-roasted salmon and Lebkuchen to eat.