Munich's Christmas Markets

Every year during the Advent season, the city of Munich adorns itself with the most famous and beautiful Christmas markets in Germany, perhaps even in Europe.

Munich’s largest and most famous Christmas market is on the Marienplatz, right in the heart of the city. If you just want to give yourself a treat during lunch break, or if you need to strengthen yourself during the exhausting Christmas shopping, or if you simply want to enjoy the Christmassy atmosphere quickly after work, or the whole weekend long, the Christmas markets are just the perfect place to be. Traditionally, Christmas markets used to be commodity markets where you could buy Christmas tree ornaments, woolen goods and any other kind of handcrafts; so to say everything you need during the Christmas & winter season. They still offer all these bric-a-bracs, either for you to take back come or to give away as a present. But in spite of all these nice goodies and culinary delights of Munich's Christmas markets, it is still primarily a place of encounter, where hurried Christmas shoppers meet in order to enjoy a cozy, cheerful and warm Christmas spirit all together – Advent is in the city with Christmas arriving soon.

Not far from central Marienplatz, illuminated at night in iridescent colors, you will find the famous Christmas village in the imperial court of the Munich Residenz. In the Christmas farming village, with beautiful alpine huts, visitors will be able to marvel at numerous artisan arts. From a Glassblower, knives and scissors grinders, wood carvers to a gold-and silversmith, various arts are presented. Everything is still handcrafted. The culinary highlights are rustic and hearty, freshly prepared in front of your eyes. In addition to mulled wine and eggnog, all different kinds of coffee and teas are served. Festive baked goods from bread to fruitcake and the famous Stollen are served and make the pre-Christmas time even more Christmassy in the village’s bakery.

A special highlight, right in the middle of Munich’s English Garden, is the Christmas Market at the Chinese Tower. There you may start one of the famous horse carriage rides tours through the winterly English garden. Away from the bustle & hush of the city, located right in the middle of the English garden, this Christmas market offers its visitors the opportunity to spend moments of magic with punch, sausages and Christmas pastries away from everyday’s life. You will also find traditional decorated wooden market stands, offering especially lovingly processed works of art and classical Christmas decorations.

If you are looking for a very special Christmas gift, the Christmas market at Munich’s Sendlinger Tor is the place where visitors will find unique spices, teas and essential oils from the Orient, jewelry, precious stones and treasure chests. Handmade mangers come from Tirol and Peru. You may buy soap in all different kinds of shapes and scents, such as hand-carved sculptures and animal figurines, with rose and olive scent. Christmas spirit gets to you when you look at a sparkling crystal glasses from Russia or on the Christmas tree ornaments with romantic Sissi themes. Visitors will find handmade pottery from Latvia, male screws, cobalt and handmade candles from India.

The Christmas Market in Schwabing at the famous “Münchner Freiheit” area, approximately 10 minutes by taxi from the hotel, has become an institution in Munich after 35 years. Here in the heart of Schwabing, people meet not only in order to drink mulled wine and eat delicacies during the Advent, but it is alo a meeting place for artists and art lovers. The mix of art, craft and various attractions make this Christmas Market an exceptional experience for young and old.