There are amazing Christmas markets currently being held all over Europe but the ones in Germany seem to be the most popular and are certainly our favourites. Over the years we have visited markets in Hamburg, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Berlin and Hannover but the best by far were found at this years destination – Munich.
What are the Munich Christmas Markets?
Munich doesn’t just have one Christmas market in the main square though, it has several dotted all over the city. There are seven main markets to visit if you get the time. Open from November 27th through to December 23rd between 10am and 8pm with no admission fees.
We were lucky enough to have a few days so planned to get to as many of these seven markets as we could. the city has a fabulous underground system but we were happy to wrap up and just walk as far as it took. Work off some of those bratwurst and gluhwein calories!
1. Sendlinger Tor
A fairly small market held in the shadow of one of the cities main gates featuring a couple of fabulous food stalls, some supplying gluhwein, and several selling traditional wooden Christmas decorations. We wandered through but didn’t stop for a drink or food as it was pretty early in the day.
Sendlinger Tor Christmas Market
2. Tollwood.
This is the market that sits on the famous Oktoberfest grounds at Theresienweisse located 20 minutes south of the main central station. Interested to see what this would be like as we had both been to Oktoberfest many times. Unfortunately as we turned up at lunchtime we saw the opening hours sign informing us that Tollwood didn’t open until 2:30. Damn.
The grounds didn’t look like the traditional Christmas markets though, it’s definitely an evening place to visit and although there isn’t an entry fee for the festival grounds there are individual fees for the shows and performances taking place.
3. Christkindlmarkt.
This is Munichs main Christmas market and is located in Marienplatz right in front of the Rathaus and the famous Glockenspiel. It’s the biggest one in the city and has by far the highest number of stalls with more food and drink available than you can believe.
The market stalls run all the way from Marienplatz to Karlsplatz where there’s a huge ice skating rink and more food and drink stalls.
4. Chinese Tower.
Right in the middle of the beautiful Englischer Garten is the Chinese Tower with another large Christmas market. With a couple of curling alleys (is that the right word) surrounded by stalls and decorations it’s arguably the prettiest setting of the seven markets and must look absolutely stunning in the snow.
Chinese Tower Christmas Market
5. Middle Ages or Medieval Market.
Without doubt our favourite of all of the Christmas markets we visited in Munich, the Medieval market was full of old-world character and charm. Every stall fitted the medieval theme with stall holders dressed appropriately and every little detail contributing to the overall atmosphere.
We got there early in the afternoon when it was reasonably empty and managed to peruse all the stalls and enjoy a leisurely goblet of feuerzangenbowle in the sunshine. Bitterly cold the traditional Bavarian drink of rum-soaked sugarloaf dripped into mulled wine was fabulously delicious.
A trip back the following day in the early evening wasn’t quite so successful as the place was packed solid with queues to get in from the street and hardly any space to get around. We managed a circuit of the stalls pushing and shoving through the crowds but couldn’t face a thirty-strong queue for our favourite feuerzangenbowle with no space to stand and drink. So we reluctantly headed off. Good job we went early.
6. Pink Christmas.
A very alternative small market in the glockenbackviertal area just south of Sendlinger Tor. Originating and organised by the gay community it welcomes visitors and families to it’s colourful evenings, opening at 7pm most nights. We didn’t get to Pink Christmas during the evening but did walk through in the daytime. The big stage was obviously the centrepoint of the market and posters listing daily acts hinted at a real party atmosphere every night.
Pink Christmas Christmas Market
7. Schwabing Christmas market.
The only one that we unfortunately didn’t get to as it was a little further out and we were determined not to get the U-bahn around at all. With so much unhealthy food and drink, albeit delicious, we had decided to walk everywhere. According to locals it’s a fairly large square though and it’s main attraction seems to be that it is full of locals with fewer tourists than the others.
Although we didn’t make it to Schwabing and got the times for Pink and Tollwood a bit wrong we did enjoy a few gluhweins at all of the other markets along with various bratwurst, frikadelle, potato fritters, and so much more (‘Weihnactsmarkte in Munchen’ or ‘Christmas markets in Munich’).
What are the Munich Christmas Markets?
They’re brilliant fun that’s what they are! Highly recommended too if you ever get the chance to go. So much to see and do in a variety of locations in one of the most incredibly friendly cities in the world.
02/12 – 06/12/2019
JWalking 
Will add this to our list. It looks like fun. Happy Holidays!
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It was brilliant, you’d love it.
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V v beautiful pictures
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Thanks, it’s a fabulous place to visit.
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By the sound of it they knock spots off our Christmas markets! I never knew there were so many in one place!
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It’s an amazing city and they do really show the rest of the world how to do it properly.
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That’s for sure. One day hopefully I’ll get there!
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I love Christmas Markets, hopefully I’ll get to visit the Munich one sometime. Nearer home, Manchester is big on Christmas Markets too with numerous ones scattered through the city centre making it enchanting.
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Nothing better than a Christmas Market to get you in the festive spirit is there?
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We have Christmas markets too, but there’s no snow. 🙂 I would love to visit these one day.
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Bit if a longer journey for you though isn’t it? Would really be worth it though.
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We’d be coming for a few weeks to do a nice long trip. One day…
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Let us know and we’ll meet you there for a gluhwein and a bratwurst.
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Wouldn’t that be fun!
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Be great wouldn’t it?
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😊🍻
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We were in Bruges this time last year and their markets weren’t a patch on Munich. They look huge and amazing. Did you not have bratkartoffeln mit speck?
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No bratkartoffeln mit speck to be found.
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I put on weight just reading that post!
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Ha just imagine how horrendous it was actually being there! Not that horrendous to be honest, more like fantastic.
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😂😂
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I’m adding this to my list for next year, I just love Christmas Markets, but I haven’t been to one in Germany. (yet!)
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Ah well you really need to plan a trip to one of the German ones as they are all so good.
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This is on my bucket list of travels to dos! Margo and I are hoping we can make it to Europe for the markets in 2021 as long as we can convince the husbands! Great post!
Miri
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You really need to get on with the convincing Miri as it’s really worth visiting. Those husbands would love all of the food and drink surely? It’s such great fun.
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You made it back as promised. Soooo beautiful and looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing the experience. Now I am super jealous!
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It was so much fun and really got us in the Christmas spirit. If you ever get the chance I’d recommend a visit. Long way though …..
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You k ow I would love to make it there at xmas. Too many things to do in this lifetime, so little time 😉
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It’s so tough to choose sometimes isn’t it? So much to see. Just go for it.
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Every one of these looks so wonderfully colourful and fun. I particularly love the look of the Medieval market.
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Medieval market was easily our favourite. The hot rum gluhwein was spectacularly strong there and the food amazing.
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It’s hard to believe that there are so many within one city! What fun to explore all of them and should i ever find myself in Munich in the holiday season I shall definitely be back to your post for reference.
As to curling, here in Canada a building that holds several curling sheets of ice would be called a curling rink.
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Ah ok not an expert with curling terminology but I obviously bow to a Canadians superior curling knowledge. Munich is certainly one of the best places in the world for Christmas markets so well worth a visit if possible.
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I associate them with cold and snow, which isn’t really my thing, Jonno, but I’ve enjoyed the low key variety in Leeds and Nottingham. A very merry Christmas to you and Jo 🙂 🙂
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It was a bit on the chilly side in Munich, in fact it was freezing. Easy to wrap up though. A good excuse to drink more hot gluhwein to warm up.
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Oooh Jonno these all look amazing! I had no idea there are so many Christmas Market possibilities in Munich but I can see you had a blast exploring them. The Christkindlmarkt looks how I would expect a German Christmas Market to look, but they all sound fab, especially the pink one!
We visited the Vancouver Christmas market a couple of days ago (invited by German friends) It wasn’t quite as huge as these, but we had fun sampling the gluhwein 😉
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All Christmas markets are fun so worth visiting any of them. Munich is something special though with so much to see. Seriously recommended.
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I mostly like the sound of them for the food! I don’t like crowds, but i can put up with them for tasty snacks!
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The crowds weren’t too bad but the food was awesome. Everything looks so tasty. Just not enough time to eat everything!
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Loved the pictures. We have never been to a proper Christmas Market but after reading this, and if we decided to go, we would probably choose Munich first. A variety of choices and lots of fun!
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It was brilliant Liz, you’d really enjoy visiting. We’ve been to quite a few all over Europe.
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Those Christmas markets look amazing! I’ve been to quite a few in Britain, but I would like to see the real thing one of these years.
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It’s worth the trip and I’m sure you’d absolutely love it.
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