See Marienplatz and the glockenspiel in the Neues Rathaus at plays a tune at 11, 12 and 5. Its quite slow and a little bizarre but you can't leave it out of a trip to Munich.
When are you travelling? The Christmas markets are really great - I think they start in the last weekend of November
Munich's Christmas Market - whose roots go back to the 14th century - is held on Marienplatz in the heart of the city centre. Town records first mention a ”Nicholas Market” in the Kaufinger Strasse near the Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady) in 1642.
Back then, just like today the Munich Christmas Market offers traditional Bavarian Christmas gifts, including wood carvings from Oberammergau, gingerbread (Lebkuchen) from Nuremberg and notably some exquisite glassware from the Bavarian Forest. Crib figurines, bee wax candles, chimney sweeps made of plums and almonds are just some of many thousands of other traditional Christmas gift ideas on display.
Each day, from the balcony of Munich’s town hall, music lovers will be able to enjoy the festive season celebration with a special alpine Christmas Market concert.
In the Town Hall‘s ”Heavenly Workshop”, children between the ages of 6 and 12 can have fun with arts and crafts or baking Christmas cookies. Gossamer wings and shimmering gowns lie ready in magnificent surroundings, waiting to transform young visitors into angels – at least for a short while. Under the supervision of professional artists and instructors from the city‘s Children‘s Museum, girls and boys can have a good time. And it‘s free!
The equally popular Kripperlmarkt, one of the largest in Germany to specialise in cribs and other nativity accessories, is a short walk away on nearby Rindermarkt. The historical event has been part of Munich‘s traditional Christmas Markets since the middle of the 18th century. The Kripperlmarkt has all you need to create an authentic manger. Each lovingly chosen and carefully packed item, being a reminder of childhood, when the manger under the Christmas tree symbolized a world of mystery and wonder.
Christmas mangers, cribs and nativity scenes have long been a tradition in Munich. As early as 1597, the Jesuits set up a manger in St Michael’s church. In 1757, the first original Kripperlmarkt Christmas market took place: it lasted from the 1st day of Advent to Epiphany.
More than a Christmas Market and totally different is the “Tollwood”, Munich´s fantastic ethnic festival. On the Theresienwiese you will find a spectacle of tents offering an exciting mix of international musicians and drama groups, performances, live music, art and culture as well as popular Christmas Market ideas with handicrafts and cuisine from all over the world.
In all there are a further 20 Christmas Markets located throughout the city of Munich, including a Medieval Christmas Market with gospel singing at the Wittelsbacher Platz, a gay pink Christmas Market (Stephansplatz) and if you have forgotten anything before leaving for home there is even a Christmas Market with ice skating facilities at Munich’s international airport.