Christmas markets in Munich 2023

Christmas Market Munich – Ultimate guide

The charm of Munich is on full display in the Christmas market season. From offbeat to classic, romantic and hip, there is something for everyone. Come and see!

When the scent of mulled wine is in the air and the sky is full of sparkling lights, the Christmas market season has begun. There are countless unique Christmas markets in Munich that you should not miss out on. Whether to find gifts, drink mulled wine, eat street food or even catch a concert – from offbeat to classic, romantic and hip, there’s something for everyone!

#1 Märchenbazaar – the hip market

The Märchenbazaar (fairy tale bazaar) has a little bit of everything: it’s part circus, part carnival, part flea market – anything but “just” a normal Christmas market. Between homemade sales stands, nostalgia and colourful lights, you can find Indian food, vegetarian döner kebab or sweet crêpes, and alongside homemade leather goods, warm ponchos and elegant jewellery, there is live music daily. Early in the evening, families from the neighbourhood have good fun, while the evening sees more of an alternative crowd. On Saturday and Sunday, there is a veal sausage breakfast from 11:00 onwards. (23.11. until 29.12.2023)

Opening hours

Monday – Thursday 16:00 – 23:00
Friday 16:00 – 0:00
Saturday 12:00 – 0:00
Sunday 11:00 – 21:00

Special opening hours

Christmas holidays 14:00 – 23:00
27.12. – 29.12.2023 16:00 – 23:00
Christmas Eve closed

#2 Adventszauber on Lake Tegernsee – The romantic market

If despite all the sparkling lights and roasted almonds, the Christmas spirit is still eluding you, it’s time to visit the Christmas market at Lake Tegernsee. Before a breath-taking mountain backdrop lies the idyllic Tegernsee, whose banks are skirted with brightly lit wooden huts. The romantic atmosphere of a boat trip from one Christmas market to the other can hardly be surpassed. While you ride across the two-kilometre-wide lake, the lights from one side of the lake fade as the lights become brighter on the other side. There’s hot funnel cake waiting for you there – directly in front of the Tegernsee brewery! And when you take the Bob train from Munich you can be there in just an hour.

Good to know

The markets around Lake Tegernsee are only open at the advent weekends. The boat runs between 14:00-19:00. A day ticket is available for €10 at the market stand Tegernseer Tal Tourismus GmbH. It’s advisable to step out of the train in Tegernsee (town) and go aboard. Take the boat clockwise to Rottach-Egern, where you can visit the Christmas market and either take the boat back via Bad Wiessee (takes 40 minutes) or take the bus RVO Ring Line A & B (9559) towards Tegernsee, running every 30 minutes.

Opening hours

Second to the fourth advent weekends, Saturday and Sunday 14:00 – 19:00

#3 Pink Christmas – The crazy market

Love is always the right direction. That’s the motto of the hot pink Christmas market that the gay community of Munich initiated in Glockenbach over 10 years ago. Here the entire neighbourhood is bustling, while DJ James spins his Christmas mix with No Angels and drag queens on stage set the mood. A unique spectacle in Munich that can hardly be surpassed in terms of kitschiness. Have you had enough of the traditional Christmas stand magic? Then come on over!

Opening hours

Monday to Friday 16:00 – 22:00 

Saturday and Sunday 12:00 – 22:00 

Tuesday to Sunday Showtime daily at 19:00 

#4 Tollwood – The alternative market

Tollwood is a winter festival and Christmas market rolled into one. Here art, culture and politics come together. And in between there is live music, for example in a tent known as ‘In the middle of the forest’, which also looks the part. While mulled wine awaits at Almrausch or Schräglage (the horizontal), the creatives are ready to welcome you in the bazaar tent, where you can find jewellery made from old silverware or clocks made of glass, fashion from Peru or candles from Africa. Whether offbeat or classic, here you can truly find a present for everyone in your family! With six tents on over 30,000 square metres, you’ll find everything the cosmopolitan heart desires! And in terms of cuisine you can find dishes from everywhere in the world here – of course organic and fair trade, as one would expect from Tollwood. In other words, Tollwood aims to mirror the multicultural society, and that’t why the Munich residents love it!

Good to know

Tollwood also takes place in summer (June/July) in Olympiapark.

Opening hours

23.11– 31.12.2023 Monday to Friday 14:00 – 0:30

Saturday 11:00 – 0:30

Sunday 11:00 – 23:30

#5 Chinese Tower (Chinesischer Turm) – the contemplative market

A Christmas market right out of the picture books, you could say. Or right out of the fairy tales themselves! The Christmas market at the Chinese Tower is in the middle of the city, yet secluded: a brightly lit island in the middle of a dark forest. A merry-go-round circles merrily, the adults play a game of curling and in the distance, you can hear the bells of the horse carriage! The brass band also plays classic Christmas tunes from the tower: “We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!”

Good to know

It is easy to reach the Chinese Tower by bus or tram, or you can take a 15-minute stroll through the English Garden. Just follow the lit path from Marienplatz through the Hofgarten.

Opening hours

Monday to Friday 12:00 – 20:30

Saturday and Sunday 11:00 – 20:30

#6 Christmas village in the Residenz imperial court – the classic market

Hidden within the Munich Residenz, this market has a breath-taking backdrop. It is a place that you don’t visit every day and that’s probably the source of its popularity. The more extraordinary the setting, the more classic the Christmas market, one might think. As soon as you enter the market, the mulled wine stands beckon. The red candy apples catch your eye and before you know it, your friends are already munching on roasted almonds. From the corner of your eye, you spot an old lady selling tree ornaments and the image of the classic Christmas market is complete.

Opening hours

23.11 – 22.12.2023 Daily 11:00 – 21:00