Münchner Christkindlmarkt, Traditional Christmas market at Marienplatz, Germany.
Münchner Christkindlmarkt is a Christmas market on Marienplatz featuring hundreds of wooden stalls. These sell crafts, seasonal items, and food beneath the Neo-Gothic New Town Hall that towers above the square.
The market began in the 14th century and was first officially documented in 1642 as the St. Nicholas Market. It later evolved into today's Christmas market while remaining a central tradition in Munich.
The Nativity display here features hundreds of handcrafted figures created by artisans from Bavaria and surrounding areas. Visitors encounter traditional scenes that have been passed down through generations and continue to be made in the workshops of local craftspeople.
The market spreads across a large central area with many pathways between stalls for walking. It is easy to reach on foot and you can spend the whole day there, as small spots to rest are found throughout.
At the center stands a large Christmas tree lit by thousands of candles that illuminate the entire square in the evening. This candlelit display creates a special atmosphere you will not find elsewhere in the city.
Location: Munich
GPS coordinates: 48.13722,11.57528
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:43
Every year, when the advent arrives, Christmas markets change the squares and old streets of European towns. Wooden stalls are set up and offer local flavors, crafts, and seasonal decorations. Walking from one stand to another, you can taste hot mulled wine, roasted almonds, and see the handmade goods that each region is proud of. In Germany, markets are found in Nuremberg, Dresden, Munich, Hamburg, and Stuttgart. Austria has markets in Vienna and Salzburg. France gathers its markets in Strasbourg, Metz, Montbéliard, and Lille. Brussels, Bruges, and Louvain welcome visitors in Belgium, Maastricht and Valkenburg in the Netherlands, and Wrocław, Krakow, and Poznań in Poland. These places tell stories about their local history and food traditions. From Prague to Budapest, passing through Zagreb, Basel, and Bern, markets are also found in Central and Eastern Europe. Scandinavian cities like Stockholm, Gothenburg, Oslo, and Rovaniemi, along with Riga and Tallinn in the Baltic states, keep this tradition alive. London, Edinburgh, Merano, Asti-Govone, and Madeira finish this winter trip across the continent, each showing how Christmas is celebrated in their ways.
Marienplatz
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Old Town Hall, Munich
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Mariensäule
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Fischbrunnen
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Marienplatz 2
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Geschäftshaus
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Geschäftshaus
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Wohn- und Geschäftshaus
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Pfarrhaus
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Ehem. Geschäftshaus
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Keller
140 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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