Our next morning in Munich, we were undecided where we would spend our day. Should we go to one of the many museums? Maybe take a more detailed tour of the city? Go back to a place that we saw through the bus window but didn’t visit?
But ultimately we decided to spend the day enjoying festivities of the season at some of the Christmas markets throughout the city. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the markets in Munich, each with different themes and feels from the freshly modern to the richly traditional. There was no way we could see all of them, so we selected a few that really sounded interesting and set out to see them.
Residenz
Our first stop was a return to the Residenz where we had stumbled on the day before. Here in the courtyard of the governmental seat of Munich, is a lovely market that immediately greets visitors with cute houses and delicious smells.
We returned because the day before there was something we had talked about coming back for, but distracted by the sights and smells of the market we completely forgot what it was we came for and so just enjoyed the revisit to the market for itself.
Viktualienmarkt
Our next stop was to the Viktualienmarkt, or the Food Market. This market is not seasonal, but a permanent and favorite place to shop for locals and visitors alike. But with the season, all the shops had expanded the usual offering to include more holiday time things.
We loved the wreaths of herbs and tomatoes, gingerbread cookies hanging on ribbon, garlands of mushrooms and holly, shops selling traditional Stollen loaves, and fresh mistletoe to entice a holiday kiss. Nothing helps bring joy and cheer like being surrounded by food.
Mittelaltermarkt
Our next stop took us to the Wittelsbacherplatz for the medieval themed Christmas market called Mittelaltermarkt. We really loved walking through this market and seeing the different items that were sold as compared to the more traditional markets.
Need a dragon chalice for your table, or an intricately crafted blade, or a long cloak with Celtic runes tracing the front? Then this market is the place for you. We watched a women spin wool into yarn and listened to mandolin music playing above. This market was very fun and nothing like we expected from a Christmas market.
Marianplatz
After the medieval market we were ready for the traditional and iconic and so we went to the center of the city to visit Marianplatz. I was so enamored by the stunning gothic architecture of the building, that I barely noticed the market happening below it. In the center of the tower you can see medieval characters spin around in time to the music being played. The characters were inspired by the tournaments that took place in the square during medieval times.
Because Marienplatz is at the historic heart of the city, the Christmas market here is the largest and most visited of any of the markets. Rows of shops cover the square with selling traditional items and treats. We loved walking down each row and stopping at each shop and feeling so caught up in the festive crowds.
Also within the courtyard of the building is another market, this one very small with only a few shops, tucked away from the clamor of the larger market outside. This was a great place to get another drink and admire the stunning architecture of a long ago past.
Frauenkirche
We paused our market tour with a visit to the city’s most famous and iconic church, Frauenkirche. The two towers loom above the city with their unmistakable green domes. There has been in place for many years, the law that no building in the area can exceed the height of these towers so the cathedral remains visible throughout the city as the symbolic landmark of the city.
Construction of this cathedral began in 1468 and would take a mere 20 years to complete. The architecture is a simplified gothic, which leads to almost a modern feel. This scaled down architecture came from financial constraints at the time and the detailed envisioning of the cathedral could not be done.
A large and beautifully detailed crypt stands within the entrance of the cathedral holding the remains of many of the prominent figures of medieval Munich, including that of the Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV.
The cathedral suffered tremendous damage during the later stages of WWII. Many of the historic artifacts and artwork were lost and the roof collapsed. It wouldn’t be fully restored to its former glory until 1994.
Englischer Garten
Our day began and ended with a walk through the beautiful Englischer Garten, or English Garden. We were a little disappointed to learn though that the Christmas market that takes place by the Chinese Tower was only open on the weekend. The space for it was really lovely to walk through though, even without the activity of the market.
This park is one of the largest in the world with enough space for everyone to roam and enjoy. We passed a few people carrying surf boards through the park on their way to the river outpouring to catch some waves in the city. This park has continued to grow over the years, expanding areas and adding new spots of beauty, and it is a favorite place for so many people.
Munich Airport
Don’t worry, if you missed the markets in the city you can still experience them at the Munich airport before you fly out or if you have a long layover. The Munich airport hosts their own Christmas market in-between the terminals with rows of shops and a small ice skating rink. As we made our way to our terminal to fly home a few days later, we passed by the market and lamented that we had such an early flight and couldn’t see the market in all of it’s festive fun.
While we didn’t see more of this beautiful city like we thought we would, we loved our day exploring the different Christmas markets throughout Munich. There are so many markets to see in this city and we had just seen a few of them. But the ones we saw really gave a varied and joyful look at Christmas in Munich and they were all beautiful.
If you need some more Christmas cheer, then you may want to consider these places and their festivities:
Holiday Experiences in Salt Lake City- Utah
Christmas markets of Salzburg- Austria
Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs- Florida
Thanks for coming along on this visit to Munich’s Christmas markets. May your holiday season be merry and bright.
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