Munich Christmas Market 2023 at Marienplatz (Münchner Christkindlmarkt)

About the Munich municipal Christmas market

The original Munich Christmas market, which dates back to the 14th century, has been held on Marienplatz since 1972. This year, the market will once again feature over 130 stalls selling goods and food. The program includes Advent music from the town hall balcony, the Krampus run and the "Himmelswerkstatt", a workshop for children.

Opening hours

Opening hours: 27.11. to 24.12.2023
Monday to Saturday: 10 am - 9 pm
Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm
On 24.12. from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
 
Location: Marienplatz - get there by S-Bahn, U-Bahn or streetcar 19/21.

Munich Christmas tree 2023

The Munich Christmas tree on Marienplatz in 2023 is a 25-metre-high Serbian spruce. The 50-year-old tree was a gift from the municipality of Königsdorf (Tölzer Land) and was erected on November 8. The approximately 3,000 LED candles will be lit for the first time at the opening of the Christmas market on November 27, 2023 and will then shine every day from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. until January 6, 2024.

Nativity market at the Old Peter

The nativity market in front of St. Peter's is probably the largest of its kind in Germany. The stalls sell complete nativity scenes, individual figures and everything you need to decorate a nativity scene. You should definitely take a look at the large oriental and alpine nativity scenes.

Advent music live from the town hall balcony

The Advent music live from the Rathausbalkon provides the perfect musical backdrop to the Munich Christmas market. Wind ensembles, choirs and parlor musicians perform every Sunday to Thursday, and visitors can look forward to German Christmas classics as well as international songs.

Singing under the Christmas tree

Singing under the Christmas tree has become an integral part of the Christmas market: Every Wednesday, Traudi Siferlinger invites interested people to sing Christmas carols together at Alter Peter. She is supported by violinist Monika Drasch and Johann Zeller on the accordion. The event is inclusive, there is barrier-free access and, among other things, texts in large print and Braille.

Krampus run

One of the highlights of Munich's Advent season is the Krampus Run: On December 10, 2023, around 300 Krampuses, Perchten and Klause will once again run from Sendlinger Straße to Marienplatz. The figures may look scary, but you soon realize that there is no need to be afraid of them.

Children's program: Himmelswerkstatt and Kasperl

A highlight for young visitors to the Christmas market is the "Himmelswerkstatt" in the festively decorated Ratstrinkstube. From 30.11. to 17.12.2023 (daily 14:30 and 16:30), children between the ages of six and twelve can once again dress up as little angels and make Christmas decorations, Christmas tree decorations and other things under expert guidance. Places for the heavenly workshop are limited, so registration at www.kindermuseum-muenchen.de (german) is recommended.

The puppet theater with Kasperl is also a traditional guest at the Munich Christmas market: on three Sundays in Advent (3, 10 and 17 December), at 2 and 3 pm, Nikolaus Zettl performs entertaining stories with Kasperl and his friends in the town hall courtyard.

New twinkling lights in the city center

In the weeks around Christmas, Munich's city center will light up in a particularly beautiful way this year: from 27.11.2023 to 7.1.2024, a new lighting concept will create a festive atmosphere in the city center. The Sendlinger Tor and the Karlstor will be illuminated by light projections in the Christmas colors red, gold and green and many street lamps will be decorated with stars and diamond nets. The highlight, however, are two illuminated Schäffler statues, which are set up at the Hunting and Fishing Museum and connected by a radiant arch. The glittering lights can be seen every morning from 6 am until the street lights are switched off and in the evening from around 4 pm to 10 pm.