If you live in Munich with children, it is time to plan: the first winter markets open this week, and the big Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz follows on 20 November. Here is a date-by-date guide with prices and the one deadline that is easy to miss.
From 7 November the “Winterworld” runs at Motorworld München, and the Herzlmarkt takes place at the Deutsches Museum on 8 and 9 November (Sunday 11:00–18:00, Monday 10:00–17:00). On 12 November several smaller markets start, including Alpenwahn at Der Pschorr, the Werksviertel-Mitte market and the Weihnachtszauberwald in Bogenhausen. On 13 November the Münchner Eiszauber ice rink opens at Karlsplatz (Stachus), along with the airport’s Christmas and winter market. The city lists all dates in its market overview; opening hours differ from market to market, so check each listing.
What does the Eiszauber cost?
The rink is open daily from 10:30 to 22:00, from 13 November 2026 to 10 January 2027. A ticket covers one session. In the morning (10:30–13:00) people aged 12 and over pay €8 and children €6; early afternoon (13:30–16:00) €10 and €8; from 16:30 to 19:00 €12 and €8; evening €14 and €10. Skates and helmets can be hired on site, but the city does not give the price. A quick calculation by our newsroom: two adults and two children pay €28 for the morning session and €40 from 16:30, before hire fees. Going early saves money.
The Christkindlmarkt: free, but with a closed day
The city-run market on Marienplatz runs from 20 November to 24 December, Monday to Saturday 10:00–21:00, Sunday until 20:00, and on 24 December only until 14:00. On Totensonntag, 22 November, it is closed, like all Munich Christmas markets. The city lists no entry fee. Take the U3, U6 or any S-Bahn line to Marienplatz; there is no parking and bicycles are not allowed on the site. Vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free and diabetic-friendly food is flagged on the city’s page.
For children there are two fixed items. At “Singen unterm Christbaum” on Neuhauser Straße (25 November and 2, 9 and 16 December, 16:30), lyrics are in large print and Braille and a sign-language interpreter attends. On 13 December the Krampuslauf runs through the old town from 15:00 to 17:00; the city does not say whether it suits small children, so be cautious with under-sixes.
The deadline not to miss
The “Himmelswerkstatt” is a free craft workshop in the Neues Rathaus for schoolchildren aged 6 to 12, daily from 26 November to 13 December in two slots (14:30–16:00 and 16:30–18:00). Children craft without their parents, who can stroll the market meanwhile. Meet 15 minutes before the start at the Rathauspforte by the Fischbrunnen. Booking is only online through the Kindermuseum München system (kindermuseum-muenchen.de/himmelswerkstatt); for questions, the Kindermuseum can be reached by phone on 089 5404644-0, Monday to Thursday 10:00–14:00. Places open ten days before the date you want, so for the first day, 26 November, booking opens on 16 November. Each child can book at most two dates. Popular weekend slots are likely to go fast, but that is our own estimate; the city gives no figures.
Tollwood: free entry, paid circus
The Tollwood Winter Festival on the Theresienwiese runs from 24 November to 23 December (New Year’s Eve party on 31 December). The grounds and the “Markt der Ideen” are free, as are more than 90 per cent of cultural events. Free children’s activities are aimed mainly at ages 4 to 12; the detailed 2026 programme had not been published at the time of writing. Tickets are needed only for the three Grand Chapiteau shows (25–29 November, 2–9 December, 12–20 December) and the New Year’s Eve party. Take the U4 or U5 to Theresienwiese.
If you pick just one date: an afternoon at Tollwood costs nothing and is the cheapest option; skating and the Himmelswerkstatt are the items you need to plan ahead.
Sources: muenchen.de – Christkindlmarkt, muenchen.de – markets overview, muenchen.de – Himmelswerkstatt, muenchen.de – Eiszauber, muenchen.de – Tollwood
