Christmas Markets
It’s the best time of the year again, European Christmas Markets! It wasn’t until 2014 that I first heard of, or shall I say “stumbled upon”, a Christmas Market in Switzerland. I was in total awe of how cute it was - there are various stalls set up along the sidewalk offering handcrafted gifts, ornaments, hats, sweets, local food, paintings… the list could go. My absolute favorite thing about Christmas Markets is glühwein, also known as mulled wine or hot wine with spices. Munich is a great place to check out Christmas markets; the whole city is filled with them, from traditional ones to modern ones. You will be amazed! Munich is also a great location to do day trips to check out some other amazing markets.
Christkindlmarkt Marienplatz - This is Munich’s main Christmas Market and is located in the main square, Marienplatz. There is a huge Christmas tree that glimmers with lights in the middle of the market, along with a gorgeous backdrop - Neues Rathaus. Many would say this is a traditional Christmas market - there are wooden stalls filled with toys, handcrafted gifts, ornaments, scarves, glühwein, bratwurst, and pretzels. To get that initial giddy feeling of a Christmas Market, start here! Just be warned, on weekends and nights this market will be extremely crowded. Walk to the top of the St. Peter’s Church at night to get the best view of market lit up.
November 27, 2019 to December 24, 2019
Weihnachtsdorf im Kaiserhof der Residenz - One of my favorite Christmas Markets! It’s nestled in the courtyard of a royal palace (yes, royal palace!) and has the cutest stands. It is meant to be a replica of a farming village, and it’s just so cozy. I absolutely love the replica of a windmill that is found in Nativity sets located in the middle of this market. Take a moment to observe glass blowers or goldsmiths hard at work, and be sure to check out the fairytale forest and puppet theater. I was in absolute awe when I was wandering around this market; it started to snow and was such a magical moment!
Nov 21, 2019 to Dec 22, 2019
Weihnachtsmarkt am Chinesischen Turm - Chinese Christmas Market: Found around a Chinese Tower in the English Garden and known for being romantic, offering horse-drawn carriage rides; but no worries, it’s still fun even if you’re with your mom and dad (I know firsthand). It offers traditional stalls, but there’s a different ambiance about this market, which was fun to experience. You can expect wooden stalls selling traditional Christmas market items, a carousel made of wood, and even a curling rink.
November 28, 2019 to December 23, 2019
Tollwood Winter Festival - Located at Theresienwiese, where Oktoberfest is held - talk about flashbacks. This market is truly like no other Christmas market I have experienced and is quite quirky. It can be described as an alternative Christmas Market, as it raises awareness for the environment, politics, and culture. Explore the inside of the market where you can find handbags, pottery, jewelry, paintings, arts/crafts, scarves, and countless other items. You can also attend concerts, exhibitions, and performances. One of the coolest drinks I’ve tried here was Feuerzangenbowle - a sugar cube soaked in rum and set on fire and then dropped into mulled wine. Oh baby, this drink will warm you right up!
November 26, 2019 to December 31, 2019
Nuremberg - Another favorite, only 1:15 minutes to 1:45 minutes from Munich, and well worth the journey. The stalls are topped with red and white stripes and outlined with green garland, which makes it one of the most picturesque markets. Make sure you climb the stairs of Frauenkirche to get the best bird’s eye view of the market! Indulge in Nuremberg sausages, which traditionally comes with 3 sausages in a roll (what’s not to love?). Every year the design of the wine mug is changed and designed specifically for the new year, and if you decide to take one home, it’s only about 2-3 euros.
November 29, 2019 to December 24, 2019
Check out the Nuremberg Trials Museum before heading to the Christmas Market. The series of trials were held here after World War II by the allied forces and were known for prosecuting Nazis who participated in the Holocaust and war crimes. It’s definitely heavy, but worth learning about.
Salzburg - Traveling from Munich by train, it takes about an hour and a half to an hour and 45 minutes. This Christmas Market can be found in the Cathedral Square, and is another one of my favorite markets. You can expect to find decorations, ornaments, sweets and coffee, food and drinks, textiles, toys, and jewelry. Depending on the day, you may get to experience children putting on a concert. Take full advantage of the skating rink located in the middle of the market, absolutely magical. This market turns into a real-life fairytale when covered in snow.
November 21, 2019 to December 26, 2019
Head up to Fortress Hohensalzburg; I opted to take the cable car up and down, big shock! You will be able to wander around the fortress and experience the small market up here. There is a stellar view of Salzburg from up here as well.
Adventzauber Palace - The 24 windows of the palace are turned into an Advent Calendar, and the Christmas trees at this market are decorated with red ornaments and twinkling lights. This market is kid-friendly and worth checking out if you’re already in Salzburg.
November 21, 2019 to December 24, 2019
Neuschwanstein - It’s said that Walt Disney was inspired by this castle to create the iconic Magic Kingdom Castle. It’s one of the most visited castles in Europe and definitely looks like it belongs in a fairytale. The castle was built on a hill, giving you a wonderful view of the landscape and towns below. From Munich, you can take a two hour train ride to Fussen and then a ten minute bus ride to the castle. Tickets are 13 Euros and you can book ahead to skip the line. Be sure to walk Queen Mary’s Bridge to get the best view of the castle (unfortunately both times I went the bridge was closed).
Leeds Christmas Market - This market is inspired by, as you can imagine, German markets. There are numerous stalls offering sweets, food, handcrafted gifts, toys, and the most important thing – glühwein! My favorite part of this market was a tent that was set up called Thor’s, it was the cutest thing ever and worth going in for a few drinks.
November 8th, 2019 to December 21, 2019
Miscellaneous - Nothing feels quite as good as gluhwein at a freezing Christmas Market. You will be cold, so pack accordingly - thick socks, warm boots, hats, ear warmers, gloves, etc. Most markets will make you pay a 2-3 Euro deposit for the mug that glühwein comes in, so if you love the mug then take it home as a souvenir. The markets are worth seeing at night once they are lit up, but keep in mind they will be more crowded at night and on the weekends. Try local cuisines and save room in your suitcase for items you want to bring home.
Other Markets in Munich to consider: Pink Market, Medieval Market, Neuhausen Market Sendlinger, and the Christmas Market in the Munich Airport.
