Munich Christmas Markets 2026: the Best Markets and Dates

By Daniel Schulz, residir GmbH · Last updated: 13 October 2026

The biggest Munich Christmas market is the Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz, which runs from 20 November to 24 December in 2026. Around the Old Town you will also find the Christmas village in the Residenz, the medieval market on Wittelsbacherplatz, Pink Christmas and the Winterzauber at the Viktualienmarkt. All the dates below come from München Tourismus and the City of Munich (as of October 2026).

At Ländstraße 6 in Lehel we run a boarding house with 54 apartments, opening in autumn 2027. From here the main Christmas markets in Munich are within walking distance: twelve minutes to Marienplatz, fifteen to the Residenz. If you are looking for accommodation in Munich in this location during Advent, you can head out on the spur of the moment in the evening without relying on a packed S-Bahn.

In this article:

• Munich Christmas markets 2026 at a glance
• Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz
• Christmas market in the Munich Residenz
• Medieval Christmas market on Wittelsbacherplatz
• Pink Christmas on Stephansplatz
• Winterzauber at the Viktualienmarkt
• Christmas market at the Chinese Tower
• Christmas market at Münchner Freiheit
• Christmas markets near Lehel: Haidhausen and Praterinsel
• Tollwood Winter Festival on the Theresienwiese
• More Christmas markets in Munich
• Tips: crowds, mulled wine and our route
• Conclusion
• Frequently asked questions

Munich Christmas markets 2026 at a glance

During Advent, Munich has far more than one market. The Christmas markets in Munich vary enormously: from the large Christkindlmarkt in the pedestrian zone to small neighbourhood markets and a festival with marquees on the Theresienwiese. Which are the most beautiful Christmas markets in Munich depends on whether you are after bustle or peace and quiet. The table shows the Munich Christmas markets in 2026 with location, dates and the route from Lehel.

Market	Location	Dates 2026	From Lehel approx.
Christkindlmarkt	Marienplatz and pedestrian zone	20.11.–24.12.2026	12 min on foot
Christmas village in the Residenz	Kaiserhof courtyard of the Residenz	16.11.–22.12.2026	15 min on foot
Medieval Christmas market	Wittelsbacherplatz	20.11.–23.12.2026	approx. 17 min on foot
Pink Christmas	Stephansplatz, Glockenbachviertel	20.11.–20.12.2026	approx. 25 min on foot
Winterzauber	Viktualienmarkt	20.11.2026–5.1.2027	9 min on foot
Christmas market at the Chinese Tower	English Garden	9.11.–23.12.2026*	approx. 30 min on foot
Schwabing Christmas market	Münchner Freiheit	25.11.–24.12.2026	U-Bahn, approx. 15 min
Haidhausen Christmas market	Weißenburger Platz	23.11.–24.12.2026	S-Bahn or approx. 25 min on foot
Tollwood Winter Festival	Theresienwiese	24.11.–23.12.2026	U4/U5 from Lehel, no change

We also mention the Christkindlmarkt in our overview of things to do in Munich. This article is purely about the markets themselves: when they open, what they feel like and where it gets crowded.

Christkindlmarkt Munich on Marienplatz

The Christkindlmarkt is Munich’s oldest and best-known Christmas market. The stalls stretch from Marienplatz into the pedestrian zone – according to the City of Munich there are 137 stalls selling goods, food and drink in 2026. In the middle stands the large Christmas tree in front of the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), donated every year since 1977 by a community in the Alpine region.

The opening date is new: from 2026 the Christmas market on Marienplatz starts on the Friday before Totensonntag (the Sunday of remembrance before Advent). This means the Munich Christmas market opens on 20 November 2026. Two days later, on Totensonntag, the market stays closed.

Christkindlmarkt opening hours

Opening hours of the Christkindlmarkt in Munich according to München Tourismus (as of October 2026):

• Monday to Saturday: 10 am to 9 pm
• Sunday: 10 am to 8 pm
• 24 December: 10 am to 2 pm
• 22 November (Totensonntag): closed

These opening hours apply only to the Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz. The other markets have their own hours, which are often only published shortly before they open.

Kripperlmarkt and Himmelswerkstatt

Right next to the Alter Peter church is the Kripperlmarkt (nativity scene market), according to München Tourismus the largest of its kind in Germany and first mentioned as early as 1757. Twelve stalls sell nativity figures, stables and accessories. The opening hours are the same as for the Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz.

For children aged six to twelve, the Kindermuseum runs the Himmelswerkstatt (heavenly workshop) in the Neues Rathaus, where they can do crafts free of charge. You will find more ideas for families in the colder months in our guide to Munich with kids.

Christmas market in the Munich Residenz: the Christmas village

The Christmas village in the Kaiserhof courtyard of the Residenz is our tip if Marienplatz is too crowded for you. Between the facades of the Munich Residenz, the Wittelsbachs’ former city palace, wooden huts sell crafts, mulled wine and hot food. At several stations puppets act out fairy tales such as Little Red Riding Hood and Mother Holle, which is a big draw for younger children.

According to München Tourismus, the Christmas market in the Residenz runs from 16 November to 22 December 2026. The entrance is on Residenzstraße near Odeonsplatz, and admission is free. In 2025 it was open daily from 11 am to 9 pm, and the opening hours for 2026 are expected to be similar. From Lehel it is about a 15-minute walk via Maximilianstraße.

Medieval Christmas market on Wittelsbacherplatz

Just a few steps further on, on Wittelsbacherplatz by Brienner Straße, you will find Munich’s medieval Christmas market. Its official name is the Münchner Adventsspektakel. Dozens of dark wooden huts, traders in period costume and open fires set the scene. Grilled sausages sizzle over beechwood fires, while Flammbrot (flatbread) is baked alongside.

According to München Tourismus, the medieval Christmas market in Munich is open from 20 November to 23 December 2026, closed on Totensonntag. The smoke clings to your clothes – worth knowing if you are going on to a concert afterwards. The Residenz and Wittelsbacherplatz combine well in a single evening.

Pink Christmas: Munich’s pink Christmas market

Pink Christmas on Stephansplatz in the Glockenbachviertel is the Christmas market of the LGBTIQ* community and has been held since 2005. Many people simply call it Munich’s pink Christmas market, because the little square glows rosy pink throughout Advent. The crowd is mixed, and in the evenings it gets sociable and lively.

According to München Tourismus, Pink Christmas in Munich runs from 20 November to 20 December 2026, finishing earlier than most other markets. From Lehel it is about a 25-minute walk; alternatively, take public transport to Sendlinger Tor and walk a few minutes from there.

Winterzauber at the Viktualienmarkt

The Winterzauber (winter magic) at the Viktualienmarkt is not a classic market with nativity stalls. The permanent stalls are lit up, there is mulled wine and hot snacks, and the nativity scene by the beer garden – whose figures re-enact everyday life at the market – is well worth a look. What the Viktualienmarkt in Munich offers all year round is covered in a guide of its own.

According to München Tourismus, the Winterzauber runs from 20 November 2026 to 5 January 2027, making it the only large market in the Old Town that is also open between Christmas and New Year. It is a nine-minute walk from Lehel, and many locals meet here after work.

Christmas market at the Chinese Tower

The Christmas market at the Chinese Tower is right in the middle of the English Garden, on the site of the summer beer garden. There are regional crafts, food and drink, plus a lane for Eisstockschießen (Bavarian curling). Between the bare trees and the illuminated wooden tower, the market feels more rural than any in the Old Town.

Take a close look at the dates: München Tourismus gives 9 November to 23 December for 2026. In 2025 the market did not start until 20 November and was only open Wednesday to Sunday. So check the days and times on the market’s website beforehand. From Lehel it is about a 30-minute walk through the English Garden, and the path is poorly lit after dark.

Schwabing Christmas market at Münchner Freiheit

The Christmas market at Münchner Freiheit is officially called the Schwabinger Weihnachtsmarkt and has an artistic focus. Artists have been exhibiting here for more than 40 years, and there is also an art marquee, a sculpture trail and free concerts. If you are looking for gifts beyond gingerbread hearts, you are more likely to find them here.

According to München Tourismus, the market runs from 25 November to 24 December 2026. From Lehel, take the U4 or U5 to Odeonsplatz and change to the U3 or U6 – around 15 minutes. Business travellers staying in serviced apartments in Munich can easily fit it in after a long day.

Christmas markets near Lehel: Haidhausen and Praterinsel

The Christmas market in Haidhausen is the one we most like to recommend to guests for a quiet evening. The stalls have been set up around the fountain on Weißenburger Platz for forty years, with live music and a children’s programme almost every day. According to München Tourismus, the Haidhausen Christmas market runs from 23 November to 24 December 2026.

To get to the Christmas market on Weißenburger Platz, take the S-Bahn one stop from Isartor to Rosenheimer Platz and walk a few minutes from there. On foot across the Isar it takes about 25 minutes. Even closer is Santa’s Isarzauber in the historic courtyard of the Praterinsel, just a few minutes’ walk from Ländstraße. No date has been published for 2026 yet.

Tollwood Winter Festival on the Theresienwiese

The Tollwood Munich Winter Festival is more festival than Christmas market. On the Theresienwiese there are marquees with crafts, organic food, music and acrobatics, and the market there is called the Markt der Ideen (Market of Ideas). The Tollwood Christmas market in Munich runs from 24 November to 23 December 2026; the grounds are free to enter, and only individual shows charge admission.

According to the City of Munich, the market opens from 2 pm Monday to Friday and from 11 am at weekends, and on most evenings stays open until 10:30 or 11:30 pm (as of October 2026). From Lehel, take the U4 or U5 straight to Theresienwiese without changing. On 31 December there is a New Year’s Eve party, for which you will need tickets.

More Christmas markets in Munich: Sendlinger Tor, the airport, Motorworld

Sendlinger Tor has its own small market, running from 20 November to 22 December 2026 according to München Tourismus. The Christmas market at Sendlinger Tor combines well with Pink Christmas, as the two are only a few minutes apart.

Many visitors make a point of seeking out two markets outside the city centre: the Christmas market at Munich Airport in the area between the terminals, and the Christmas market at Motorworld München in Freimann. Please check the organisers’ websites for 2026 dates and opening hours. If you are coming to Munich for a trade fair during Advent, see our page on accommodation for Messe Munich.

Tips: crowds, mulled wine and our route from Lehel

To be honest, on a Saturday evening the Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz is so busy that you shuffle rather than stroll. It is quieter on weekday mornings and early afternoons. The Residenz and Wittelsbacherplatz also fill up from around 5 pm, when the offices close.

• Mulled wine: Almost everywhere you pay a deposit on the mug. Prices have been rising for years; current prices are displayed at the stalls.
• Paying: Many stalls take cards, but smaller huts do not always. A little cash never hurts.
• Clothing: In wet or frosty weather you can easily spend an hour standing outside. Warm shoes matter more than a thick coat.

With a dog, we would avoid the big markets at weekends – the crush quickly becomes too much for animals. The English Garden and the Isar meadows are calmer; find out more on our page about dog-friendly apartments in Munich.

Our one-evening route through the Old Town

If you only have one evening, walk from Lehel first to the Winterzauber at the Viktualienmarkt (9 minutes), then on to the Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz and the Kripperlmarkt by the Alter Peter. Via Theatinerstraße you then reach Wittelsbacherplatz and finally the Residenz. The total walking time is under an hour.

If you are staying several days during Advent, you will not want bratwurst every evening. An apartment with its own kitchen takes the pressure off planning, which is why families like to book an aparthotel in Munich in December rather than a hotel room. Tables in traditional inns are often booked weeks in advance on Advent weekends.

Conclusion

For us, the most beautiful Munich Christmas market experience is a weekday round of the Christkindlmarkt, the Residenz and the medieval market, rounded off with the Haidhausen market for a quiet evening. If you want to walk from market to market, from autumn 2027 you will find a holiday apartment in Munich in Lehel, twelve minutes from Marienplatz.

Frequently asked questions about the Munich Christmas market

When does the Munich Christmas market start in 2026?

The Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz starts on Friday 20 November 2026 and ends on 24 December. Some markets start earlier, such as the Christmas village in the Residenz on 16 November (as of October 2026, according to München Tourismus).

What are the opening hours of the Christkindlmarkt in Munich?

According to München Tourismus, the Christkindlmarkt in Munich is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm and on Sundays from 10 am to 8 pm. On Christmas Eve it closes at 2 pm, and on Totensonntag (22 November 2026) it stays closed (as of October 2026).

Which is the most beautiful Christmas market in Munich?

There is no single most beautiful Christmas market in Munich – it depends on your taste. For the classic experience, go to the Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz; the Christmas village in the Residenz and the Haidhausen market on Weißenburger Platz are quieter and smaller.

Where is the medieval Christmas market in Munich?

The medieval Christmas market takes place on Wittelsbacherplatz by Brienner Straße, just a few steps from Odeonsplatz. According to München Tourismus, in 2026 it is open from 20 November to 23 December, closed on 22 November.

When is Pink Christmas in Munich in 2026?

According to München Tourismus, Pink Christmas on Stephansplatz in the Glockenbachviertel runs from 20 November to 20 December 2026. The LGBTIQ* community’s market has been held since 2005 and finishes a few days before the other markets.

Is the Tollwood Winter Festival a Christmas market?

Yes, the Tollwood Winter Festival on the Theresienwiese includes the Markt der Ideen (Market of Ideas), a large Christmas market with crafts and organic food. It runs from 24 November to 23 December 2026, and entry to the grounds is free.

Which Christmas markets in Munich are still open after Christmas?

According to München Tourismus, the Winterzauber at the Viktualienmarkt runs until 5 January 2027. Most other Christmas markets in Munich end on 23 or 24 December.