Munich is one of my favourite German cities. I love the culture, history and just all of the things you can do. When the festive season comes, this city gets extra special. There are markets, celebrations and so much more. If you are wondering what to do in Munich at Christmas time, this post is for you.
What to do in Munich at Christmas Time
1. See the Christmas Markets
Perhaps most famously are the Christmas markets. Whilst these take place all over Germany (see my blog post here), they come alive in Munich. Running from the 27th of November to Christmas Eve in 2023, the most traditional of these markets is in the Marienplatz square. Here you will find festive food, drink (including spicy mulled wine!) and hand-made gifts. If you are in Munich during the festive season, you just have to go to the Christmas markets. No questions asked. This post from Munich Travel gives you a far more thorough look at these special markets.
2. Munich Eiszauber (Ice Skating)
There is not much more European at Christmas than ice skating. Whilst I am absolutely terrible at this sport, I can see the appeal of it. Seeing people glide across the ice in winter gear really reminds me of the festive season and it always looks like great fun. The best place in Munich this year is the Stachus, which is at Karlplatz. It is a central location so it should be easy to find. This year I think it is time for us to return to the ice rink, however I’m not massively confident on how it will go.
3. Eat Yummy Food
Bavarian food is some of the best that Germany has to offer and Christmas makes it even better. One thing that you must have is a bratwurst sandwich. The best one in the city is apparently the Regensburg Special found at the Sendlinger Tor. The Christmas Markets offer lots of different savoury and sweet dishes for you to sample. My favourites have to be Käsespätzle, which are cheesy noodles with fried onions, as well as Flammkuchen (flatbread pizza). If you have more of a sweet tooth, I personally recommend lebkuchen or a chocolatey crepe.
4. Drink Glühwein / Glühbier
A trip to any German city at Christmas wouldn’t be complete without drinking Glühwein. This is German mulled wine and it tastes incredible. I would always recommend grabbing a cup of it to accompany your journey throughout the markets, which is perfectly matched with a waffle or a pretzel. If wine isn’t quite your thing, the Germans have you covered. You can also get spiced beer (Glühbier) which I would recommend. There aren’t particular places to get this; you can pretty much find it anywhere.
5. Experience Live Music
One of the best things to do in Munich at Christmas is to experience live music. One of the best places to do this is at the Herkulessaal (Hercules Hall). The Christmas Concert takes place on the 5th of December and you can book tickets for this (at the time of writing) through their website. Another great experience is the Night of the Proms, which takes place in the Olympiahalle. This takes place in 2023 from the 15th to 17th of December and features headliners including Toto, James Morrison and Anastacia. Tickets can be bought here and cost 82.50EUR.
6. Lumagica
Perhaps one of the most unique things to do is to visit Lumagica. This runs from the end of October through the festive season in Cavalluna Park. Essentially, you walk around the park along a trail where you will see lots of handmade luminous objects, framed as if it were a fairytale. It is always done in a really artistic and tasteful way and really feels like a winter wonderland. Tickets can be bought here and only cost 25EUR per person, whereas children go in for 18EUR.
7. Tollwood Winter Festival
The Tollwood Winter Festival describes itself as an ‘alternative Christmas market’. Held at the Munich Theresienwiese, the Festival promises to bring you some of the best art, music, crafts and food. It is entirely different from a traditional market and is definitely more modern and interactive. I personally think that this is a must-do whilst in Munich at Christmas, especially for the range of food and music that the festival offers.
8. Christmas Village at the Royal Residence
The Residenz is the main palace in Munich. During the festive season, the entire area turns into a Christmas village. This is a highly-traditional German market, with craftsmen working hard throughout the day to produce some stunning gifts that you can take home. There are also traditional food stands and puppet shows. The atmosphere here is exceptional and you will really feel like you are in Germany at Christmas time.
9. Curling at the Nymphenburger Canal
Okay, this one is a bit more peculiar. However, I do think that it could be a lot of fun and is something that you probably won’t get to do elsewhere. This is not particularly touristy and does require the weather to be icy. If you are lucky with the temperature, walk along the canal. You will see how it has transformed into a giant ice rink. Apparently, the canal is only 50cm in depth and so creates a thick layer of ice. Obviously though, there are risks associated with this one.
10. Christmas Shopping
If you have exhausted all of the other options to do in Munich at Christmas time, then maybe finish your Christmas shopping. I am quite bad at leaving things to the last minute and so I would definitely be doing this! The Neuhauserstrasse and Kaufingerstrasse are the main shopping areas of the city and, like many places, look rather festive this time of year. You can also head to any of the markets listed above for a more personal and unique gift for a loved one.
*cover image source: Munich Travel
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Other posts that may help you:
- Vienna at Christmas Time: December in Vienna
- The Best Christmas Markets in Nordrhein-Westfalen [2023]
- Berlin at Christmas Time: Festive Things To Do [2023]
- What to do in Düsseldorf at Christmas Time! [2023]
Thank you for reading and I hope I have inspired you with a few ideas for Christmas Time in Munich. If you have any questions about the items on my list or the city in general, please do get in touch in the comments below.
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Happy exploring,
Love Victoria X
