Stand Under the 25-Metre Tree at Marienplatz
The heart of a Munich December is the Münchner Christkindlmarkt, filling Marienplatz from November 20 to December 24, 2026. A 25-metre Christmas tree carries 3,000 candles above the stalls, and the market's roots reach back to the city's 14th-century St. Nicholas markets — the first documented "Nikolaidult" was held in 1642 on Kaufingerstraße near the Schöner Turm, and the market moved to its present site in 1972. Opening hours run Monday to Saturday 10:00–21:00 and Sunday 10:00–20:00, with a short final day on December 24 from 10:00–14:00. Arrive by public transport: there is no parking around Marienplatz. The site is barrier-free, with access information at muenchen-tourismus-barrierefrei.de.
- Warm up with mulled wine or punch; the stalls also cater for vegan, diabetic, gluten-free and lactose-free diets.
- Come back in the late afternoon — see the balcony concerts below.
Browse Germany's Largest Nativity Market at St. Peter's
Steps from Marienplatz, the Kripperlmarkt has stood at St. Peter's since 1757 and runs from the first Advent until Epiphany. Ten stalls sell nothing but nativity-related goods, which makes it the place to spend an unhurried hour. You can buy stables made by a single family in alpine, Bavarian or oriental styles; figurines carved in South Tyrol's Val Gardena from maple, oak, lime and Swiss stone pine, painted or dressed in fabric, including self-dressing figures; wool sheep; handmade "Marolin" papier-mâché figures from Thuringia; angels in the form of putti, angel heads, standing and Gloria angels; wooden Madonnas, patron saints and Magi; and accessories such as wells, bonfires, miniature vessels, shepherd's carts and agricultural implements. Stalls also stock electrical fittings and spare parts, including USA-compatible lighting, plus natural materials — moss, lichen, bark, straw, hay and sand. Repairs, restorations and custom commissions are offered, and staff advise in English, French, Spanish and Italian.
Hear Advent Music from the Town Hall Balcony and Sing Under St. Michael
From Sunday to Thursday, live Bavarian Stubenmusic, wind ensembles, singers and choirs play from the Town Hall balcony starting at 5:15 pm — a free performance that turns the market square into a listening room. On December 24, the Grünwalder Turmbläser traditionally play at market close at 12 noon.
For something you can join in with, head to St. Michael on Neuhauser Straße for "Carols under the Christmas Tree" with Monika Drasch, Traudi Siferlinger and accordionist Johann Zeller. Admission is free and booklets are provided; the 2025 dates were Wednesdays November 26 and December 3, 10 and 17, starting at 4:30 pm and lasting about 30 minutes. The venue is barrier-free, with large print and Braille texts, sign language translation and induction loops, and guide dogs are allowed.
Watch the Krampus Run — and Ride the Christkindltram
On December 13, 2026, from 3 to 5 pm, Munich's Krampus Run takes over the centre. Around 25 groups and more than 300 participants, organised by the City of Munich's RAW department with Munich's first Krampus group, the Sparifankerl-Pass, line up on Augustinerstraße before processing through the pedestrian zone to Färbergraben, Rosental, Sendlinger Straße, Dultstraße, Oberanger, Rindermarkt, Petersplatz, Viktualienmarkt and the Altes Rathaus. Up to 50,000 onlookers turn out. The tradition is roughly 500 years old in the Alpine region and is tied to Bishop Nicholas and his companion Krampus; "Klabaufs" were already roaming the streets in the 16th century.
For a slower view of the lights, board the MVG-Christkindltram, a festively decorated tram that has run through the old town since 1994, serving mulled wine, children's punch and gingerbread on board. It operates from November 28 to December 21, departing from a special stop at the Brunnenschleife on Sendlinger-Tor-Platz, where drinks and food are also available. Trams leave every 45 minutes — Fridays 3:30–8:00 pm, Advent weekends 11:00 am–8:00 pm — and the trip takes about 30 minutes with no boarding or alighting at other stops. Tickets cost €5, reservable online via MVG or sold on site; seats are limited and group reservations are not possible.
Climb the Tower, Then Take the Children to the Himmelswerkstatt
Officially trained City of Munich guides lead 90- to 120-minute Christmas tours in German that include the Christkindlmarkt's history, Christmas customs, a walk to Marienplatz and an ascent to the Rathausturm viewing platform. The 2025 dates were Fridays at 4 pm — November 28 and December 5, 12 and 19 — at €30 for adults and €25 reduced, including a bag of almonds and a mulled wine. Meet ten minutes before the start under the Christmas tree at Marienplatz; free cancellation is available up to 24 hours beforehand, a free city map is included, and group bookings go through tourismus.guides@muenchen.de.
Children aged 6 to 12 can make candles and Christmas cards in the Himmelswerkstatt, with angel robes and wings provided. Meet at the Town Hall gate by the Fischbrunnen fountain and work in the Ratstrinkstube in the New Town Hall. The 2025 programme ran November 27 to December 14, daily at 2:30 pm, 4:00 pm and 4:30–6:00 pm, lasting about 1.5 hours. It is free but places are limited, so register at kindermuseum-muenchen.de.
For anything else — tickets, maps, questions in person — the München Tourismus visitor service sits in the Neues Rathaus on Marienplatz (tel. +49 (0)89 233-96500, Mon–Fri; tourismus.gs@muenchen.de; www.simply-munich.com).
Munich's Saint Nicholas season rewards a little forward planning: the Krampus Run falls on a single afternoon, the Christkindltram seats are limited, and the tower tours and children's workshops fill quickly. Check the 2026 dates as Advent approaches, book what needs booking, and let the rest of the visit unfold at market pace — one mug of mulled wine, one carved figurine, one balcony concert at a time.