Munich Christmas Markets: What to Eat & Drink
The short version: Munich’s main Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026, with the medieval market on Wittelsbacherplatz, the Christmas village in the Residenz courtyard and the Tollwood winter festival close behind. Drink Glühwein with a “Schuss” of rum or a flaming Feuerzangenbowle, and eat a Bratwurstsemmel, crisp Reiberdatschi potato pancakes with apple sauce, Lebkuchen and hot sugared almonds. Then sit down in a beer hall for roast pork and a litre of Helles. On a short visit, a guided market tour is the shortcut to the best stalls.
Book a Munich Christmas market tour
Want to see the markets with a local?
Our top pick is the Christmas Market Tour with Glühwein: 3 hours, rated 5.0 from 7 reviews on GetYourGuide.
At a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Dates 2026/27 | Marienplatz 20 November to 24 December 2026 (closed Sunday 22 November). Most other markets close on 20, 22 or 23 December |
| Drink | Glühwein, Feuerzangenbowle, Eierpunsch (egg punch), Munich beer |
| Street food | Bratwurstsemmel, Reiberdatschi, Flammlachs, Käsespätzle |
| Sweet | Lebkuchen, gebrannte Mandeln, Kaiserschmarrn, Dampfnudeln, Schmalznudel |
| Best markets | Marienplatz, Wittelsbacherplatz, Residenz Kaiserhof, Tollwood |
| Mug deposit | A refundable deposit (Pfand) of about 3 to 5 euros per mug; the medieval market’s clay goblets cost more |
| Best time to go | A weekday afternoon, then stay into the evening; Marienplatz is open 10:00 to 21:00 (Sundays to 20:00) |
What to drink at the Munich Christmas markets
Glühwein is the default, hot spiced red wine, and Munich drinkers often order it “mit Schuss”, with a shot of rum. Munich is one of Germany’s pricier markets: in 2025 a cup cost about 5 to 6 euros. Some stalls also pour a blueberry Glühwein.
The local show drink is Feuerzangenbowle: a rum-soaked sugar loaf is set alight above a pot of mulled wine and drips into it as it burns. The medieval market on Wittelsbacherplatz serves it in clay goblets, and the dedicated Münchner Feuerzangenbowle stand brews it in a 9,000-litre kettle. Normally at the Isartor, in 2025/26 it stood between the Schrannenhalle and the Hochbunker by the Viktualienmarkt and stayed open until 6 January; the 2026 site was not yet announced at the time of writing. In the Residenz courtyard, try homemade Eierpunsch, a warm, thick egg punch. And this is Munich, so the beer halls a few minutes away are part of the evening.
Drinks come in ceramic mugs with a deposit of roughly 3 to 5 euros. Return the mug to the stall for your money back, or keep it; each stall tends to have its own design.
What to eat at the Munich Christmas markets
| Food | What it is | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Bratwurstsemmel | A grilled sausage in a crusty bread roll with mustard, the classic market snack | Marienplatz |
| Reiberdatschi | Bavarian potato pancakes fried until crisp and served with apple sauce. Eat them hot | Marienplatz |
| Flammlachs | Salmon fillets roasted on boards beside an open fire, served in a roll | Marienplatz and the Rindermarkt |
| Käsespätzle | Soft egg noodles baked with mountain cheese and crisp onions | Marienplatz |
| Wild boar with potato salad | Roast wild boar served with Bavarian potato salad | Medieval market |
| Flammbrot | Flatbread baked in a wood-fired oven | Medieval market |
| Gebrannte Mandeln | Almonds roasted in sugar in copper kettles, sold warm in paper cones | Marienplatz and most markets |
| Lebkuchen and Maroni | Spiced gingerbread and roasted chestnuts | All central markets |
| Kaiserschmarrn and Dampfnudeln | Torn, caramelised pancake with raisins; and steamed yeast dumplings with vanilla sauce | Residenz Christmas village and other markets |
| Organic street food | More than 50 stalls of certified organic food from many countries | Tollwood |
The one thing not to miss is a plate of Reiberdatschi straight from the pan. They go soft within minutes, so eat them at the stall, ideally with a Glühwein in the other hand.
The best Munich Christmas markets
Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz
The city’s own market fills Marienplatz in front of the New Town Hall, with 137 food and gift stalls. Its roots go back to the 14th century and it has been on Marienplatz since 1972. For 2026 the city confirms 20 November to 24 December, closed on Sunday 22 November, open Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 21:00 and Sunday 10:00 to 20:00, and 10:00 to 14:00 on 24 December. The Kripperlmarkt in front of the Alter Peter church, possibly the biggest nativity market in Germany, keeps the same hours. Eat here: Bratwurstsemmel, Reiberdatschi and sugared almonds. Vegan and gluten-free options are on offer too.
Medieval Christmas market on Wittelsbacherplatz
On Wittelsbacherplatz, a short walk north towards Odeonsplatz, the Mittelalterlicher Weihnachtsmarkt has been held since 2005. In 2026 it runs from 20 November (opening at 18:00) to 23 December, daily 11:00 to 21:00, closed 22 November. Historically styled stalls and crafts, a wood-fired grill, Flammbrot and Feuerzangenbowle in clay goblets make it the most atmospheric market in the centre, with a cultural programme every Advent weekend.
Christmas village in the Residenz
The Weihnachtsdorf im Kaiserhof der Residenz fills the Kaiserhof courtyard of the royal palace (entrance on Residenzstraße by Odeonsplatz). It opens earliest: 16 November to 22 December 2026, daily 11:00 to 21:00, closed 22 November and closing at 20:00 on 22 December. There are more than 50 stalls, a fairy-tale forest for children and Glühwein in many varieties plus homemade Eierpunsch.
Tollwood Winter Festival
On the Oktoberfest grounds at Theresienwiese, Tollwood runs from 24 November to 23 December 2026, with a New Year’s Eve party on 31 December from 19:00. Entry to the site and its “Market of Ideas” is free; the market opens weekdays from 14:00 and weekends from 11:00. Come hungry: more than 50 stalls sell certified organic food from around the world, with organic Glühwein to match.
Pink Christmas
Munich’s queer Christmas market sits on Stephansplatz in the Glockenbachviertel, about four minutes’ walk from Sendlinger Tor. In 2026 it runs from 20 November to 20 December, closed 22 November, open weekdays 16:00 to 22:00 and weekends 14:00 to 22:00, with a DJ from 18:00 and shows from 19:00. Expect Glühwein with orange and cinnamon, a prosecco bar and freshly made sweet and savoury food.
Christmas market at the Chinese Tower
In the Englischer Garten, the beer garden around the Chinesischer Turm turns into a small Christmas market with local crafts and Eisstockschießen, Bavarian curling on ice. In 2025 it ran from 20 November to 23 December, Wednesday to Sunday only, 11:30 (weekends 11:00) to 20:30. Expect a similar pattern in 2026; dates were not yet published at the time of writing.
Where to eat a proper meal near the markets
Hofbräuhaus on the Platzl is the famous one, five minutes from Marienplatz. Order a litre of Hofbräu beer and a Bavarian roast, with live music most days.
Augustiner Stammhaus on the shopping street west of Marienplatz pours Helles from Munich’s oldest brewery, in a hall with dark wood and the historic Muschelsaal of 1897.
Weisses Bräuhaus in the Tal is the house of Schneider Weisse wheat beer. Order Weißwurst, the white veal sausage, with sweet mustard and a pretzel, traditionally before noon.
Nürnberger Bratwurst Glöckl am Dom beside the Frauenkirche serves, as the name says, little Nuremberg sausages, a good warm-up for a Christmas market day.
Andechser am Dom, on the same square, pours beer from the Andechs monastery brewery with hearty Bavarian plates.
Haxnbauer in the Tal is named for its speciality, Schweinshaxe: pork knuckle with crackling skin.
Bratwurstherzl am Viktualienmarkt is a tavern on the Dreifaltigkeitsplatz at the edge of the Viktualienmarkt. Order the house bratwurst.
Café Frischhut by the Viktualienmarkt has fried Schmalznudel (also called Auszogne) since 1973. The yeast dough is fried in lard; order one with a coffee.
Names link to Google Maps for directions. We checked these places in October 2026. Christmas opening days change, so check before you go.
Christmas market tours to book in Munich
Munich’s markets are spread across the old town, from Marienplatz to the Residenz and Wittelsbacherplatz, so a guide who knows which stalls are worth it saves time and stomach space. These are the Christmas market and food tours we rate for the season.
| Experience | Length | Rating (reviews) | Best for | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Market Tour with Glühwein | 3 hours | 5.0 (7) | The markets with a local | Check availability |
| An Evening of Bavarian Beer and Food Culture | 3.5 hours | 4.7 (1,217) | A beer hall dinner | Check availability |
| Old Town Food Tour with 10 Tastings | 3.5 hours | 4.7 (192) | Daytime tastings | Check availability |
Our pick: the Christmas Market Tour with Glühwein, rated 5.0 from 7 reviews on GetYourGuide.
Ratings as shown on GetYourGuide in October 2026. Seasonal tours sell out in December, so check the listing for live dates and prices.
Tips for visiting
- Marienplatz closes on Sunday 22 November 2026 (Totensonntag), as do the medieval market, the Residenz village and Pink Christmas.
- On 24 December Marienplatz closes at 14:00, and most other markets have already shut on 20, 22 or 23 December. If you are in Munich after Christmas, Tollwood’s New Year’s Eve party is the main event.
- Keep your mug and return it to the same stall for the deposit, because designs differ from stall to stall.
- Take the U-Bahn or S-Bahn to Marienplatz for the centre, U4 or U5 to Theresienwiese for Tollwood, and walk from Sendlinger Tor to Pink Christmas.
- The Chinese Tower market opens Wednesday to Sunday only, so plan the Englischer Garten for the second half of the week.
- With children, look for the Himmelswerkstatt, the children’s craft workshop at the Marienplatz market (ages 6 to 12), or catch Saint Nicholas at the Residenz village on 6 and 7 December from 17:00.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Munich Christmas markets 2026?
The Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026 (closed 22 November). The Residenz village opens first on 16 November, Tollwood runs 24 November to 23 December, and the medieval market runs 20 November to 23 December.
What do you eat at the Munich Christmas markets?
A Bratwurstsemmel, Reiberdatschi potato pancakes with apple sauce, Flammlachs, Käsespätzle, sugared almonds and Lebkuchen, with Glühwein or Feuerzangenbowle to drink. For a full meal, walk to the Hofbräuhaus or the Augustiner Stammhaus.
What is Feuerzangenbowle?
Mulled wine with a rum-soaked sugar loaf burning above it, so the caramelised sugar drips in. In Munich try it in a clay goblet at the medieval market on Wittelsbacherplatz.
Which Munich Christmas market is best?
Marienplatz for the classic scene, Wittelsbacherplatz for the medieval atmosphere and Feuerzangenbowle, the Residenz courtyard for crafts and egg punch, and Tollwood for organic food from around the world.
Are the Munich Christmas markets open on 25 and 26 December?
The Christmas markets are not: Marienplatz closes at 14:00 on 24 December and the other central markets close before Christmas. The Münchner Feuerzangenbowle stand was open from 12:00 to 22:00 every day from 25 December to 6 January in 2025/26, so expect it again. Beer halls set their own holiday hours, so check before you go.
Is a Christmas market tour worth it?
If you only have a day, yes. A guide links Marienplatz, the Residenz and the medieval market on foot, explains the Bavarian food, and leaves you ready for a beer hall dinner.
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