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Quick answer: Munich’s main Christmas market, the Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz, runs November 20 to December 24, 2026. It sits right in front of the giant Gothic New Town Hall. It was beautiful, and it was also the most crowded market of the six cities we visited. Go on a weeknight, then ride the tower for the view.
Munich was our third stop on our London-to-Prague Christmas market trip by train at the end of November 2025, after London and Stuttgart. There were ten of us, including Chantelle’s young niece and nephew.
2026 dates and hours
According to the market’s official site, the Münchner Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz runs November 20 to December 24, 2026:
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday – Saturday | 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. |
| Sunday | 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. |
| December 24 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
Hours can change, so check christkindlmarkt-muenchen.de before you go (checked October 20, 2026).
What the Marienplatz market is like
The market fills Marienplatz, right in front of the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus), with a towering Christmas tree lit up beside it. It was beautiful, and it was also the busiest market of our whole trip.
The glühwein comes in a souvenir mug with a deposit (Pfand). Return the mug to get your deposit back, or keep it. We collected a mug from every market on the trip.
The view from the New Town Hall tower
The next day we rode up the New Town Hall tower, right above the market. From the top you can see over the whole city, including the twin towers of the Frauenkirche.
The Residenz and its Antiquarium
We also toured the Residenz, the former royal palace. Its Antiquarium, a long arched hall covered in painted ceilings, was one of the most impressive rooms we saw all trip.
Tips for the Munich Christmas market
- Go on a weeknight. It was the most crowded market on our route.
- Keep your group close. We were a group of ten in the busiest market of the trip.
- With little kids, a wagon or a sturdy stroller with a rain cover helps. Our niece and nephew rode, and often napped, in a wagon. Most stalls sell kinderpunsch.
- Bring a bag for your mugs if you’re collecting them.
- Pack for the cold. Here’s our Christmas market packing list.
A day trip to Neuschwanstein
Munich is the easy base for Neuschwanstein Castle. We took a guided day tour into the Bavarian Alps and woke up to fresh snow. Read our Neuschwanstein in winter guide, or compare Neuschwanstein day tours from Munich.
Getting there and moving on
We came to Munich from Stuttgart and left by train for Salzburg. From there we went on to Vienna, our favorite market of the trip, and then Prague. If your phone plan doesn’t include international data, an Airalo eSIM makes the city easy to navigate.
How Munich compared
- Vienna (Rathausplatz): our favorite of the whole trip.
- Prague (Old Town Square): second favorite, with an incredible tree.
- Munich (Marienplatz): beautiful, but more crowded than all the others.
If Munich is on your route, go. Just go early in the week, and don’t skip the tower.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Munich Christmas market in 2026?
The Munich Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz runs November 20 to December 24, 2026. It's open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Check the official market site before you go.
Is the Munich Christmas market crowded?
Yes. Of the six cities' markets we visited on our trip, Munich's Marienplatz market was the most crowded. Go on a weeknight if you can, and keep your group close.
How does Munich's Christmas market compare to Vienna's?
Munich's was beautiful, but Vienna's Rathausplatz market was our favorite of the whole trip, and Prague's Old Town Square was second. Munich came third for us, mostly because of the crowds.
What else should you do in Munich at Christmas?
Ride up the New Town Hall tower, right above the market, for a view over the city and the twin towers of the Frauenkirche, and tour the Residenz, the former royal palace. Its Antiquarium hall was one of the most impressive rooms we saw all trip. Munich is also the easy base for a day trip to Neuschwanstein.
Is the Munich Christmas market good for kids?
Yes, with a plan for the crowds. The niece and nephew on our trip rode, and often napped, in a wagon through the markets, and most stalls sell kinderpunsch, a non-alcoholic punch.
