Things to do in Munich

A good way to plan things to do in Munich is to look at the calendar first. The city's customs follow the seasons: Christmas markets and Krampus runs in Advent, street carnival in February, strong beer in Lent, fairs in spring, summer and fall, an early-morning dance in July and the Oktoberfest in September. This guide walks you through a Munich year with dates published by the organizers for 2026 and 2027, and adds the sights you can visit any day, each with a little of the history behind it.

Things to do in Munich at a glance: dates for 2026 and 2027

Winter: Christmas markets, Krampus and Tollwood

In late November, Christmas stalls move into Munich's Old Town. The city's Christkindlmarkt around Marienplatz runs from Friday, November 20, to Thursday, December 24, 2026, with 138 stalls; it stays closed on Sunday, November 22, Totensonntag, the Protestant day of remembrance for the dead. The city lists opening hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Part of the market is the Kripperlmarkt by St. Peter's Church, with complete Nativity scenes, single figures and accessories. Our guide to the Munich Christmas market has the details, and the Advent calendar explains a custom with Munich roots.

On Sunday, December 13, 2026, from 3 to 5 p.m., the Krampus run winds through the Old Town. According to the city, roughly 25 groups take part, together more than 300 Krampus, Perchten and Klaus figures; they line up on Augustinerstrasse by Frauenplatz and finish at the Old Town Hall, and watching is free. Read up on the figures on our Krampus page first. Another winter option is the Tollwood Winter Festival on the Theresienwiese, open from November 24 to December 23, 2026, with a market, organic food and circus and dance shows in a big top; according to the city, more than 90 percent of its cultural events are free, and it returns on December 31 for a New Year's Eve party.

Carnival and strong beer: February and March 2027

Munich's carnival season, called Fasching, ends with three days in the streets. The city plans "München narrisch" for Sunday, February 7, to Tuesday, February 9, 2027, in the pedestrian zone between Karlsplatz (Stachus) and Marienplatz, with two open-air stages, free entry and costumes explicitly welcome. On Shrove Tuesday, February 9, 2027, the dance of the market women at the Viktualienmarkt is planned for 11 a.m.: the women who run the market stalls dance in costumes they design themselves.

During Lent, the beer gets stronger. The Paulaner am Nockherberg beer hall announces its strong beer festival for February 26 to March 21, 2027, with Salvator, the brewery's strong beer. The style behind it, doppelbock, is explained on our doppelbock page. Strong beer is just that, so pace yourself.

Spring: the Auer Dult, May Day and the Spring Festival

Three times a year a fair called the Auer Dult fills the Mariahilfplatz in the Au district with stalls selling pots and pans, crockery, antiques and household goods, plus rides and food. The organizer, the city's Department of Labor and Economic Development, traces the Dult back to a first Jakobidult held in 1310 on the Anger, today's St.-Jakobs-Platz. In 2027 the Maidult runs from April 24 to May 2, with a family day on Tuesday, April 27. Around May 1, many neighborhoods hold maypole festivals; how a maypole goes up is told on our maypole page.

The Spring Festival on the northern part of the Theresienwiese, with beer tents and rides, takes place in April and May. As of November 10, 2026, the city says the 2027 dates are still to be announced and expects a run of a little over two weeks, with free entry.

Summer: the Kocherlball and the English Garden

A Munich custom with an unusual start time begins at 6 a.m. The Kocherlball, a folk dance in the Chinese Tower's beer garden, goes back to the 19th century: around 1880, the city says, cooks, nannies and other household staff met there on summer Sunday mornings to dance before going back to work. The 2027 date is Sunday, July 18, 6 to 10 a.m.; admission is free, and it can be called off at short notice if there is a thunderstorm. Steps for the traditional dances are taught on site; the Schuhplattler page introduces another Bavarian dance.

The Chinese Tower stands in the English Garden, a park with an American connection. When Elector Karl Theodor ordered it laid out in 1789, according to the Bavarian Palace Administration, he decreed it should serve the whole population, and the idea came from Benjamin Thompson, born in America and later known as Count Rumford. Back at the Mariahilfplatz, the Jakobidult runs from July 24 to August 1, 2027.

Fall: Oktoberfest 2027 and the Kirchweihdult

The Oktoberfest 2027 runs from Saturday, September 18, to Sunday, October 3, according to the city of Munich. The festival grounds, the Theresienwiese, cover 42 hectares (about 104 acres), which the city compares to roughly 60 soccer fields. Start with our Oktoberfest guide, then see what to wear to Oktoberfest. Less than two weeks after the Oktoberfest ends, the Auer Dult returns as the Kirchweihdult, from October 16 to 24, 2027.

Sights to see in Munich any time of year

• Glockenspiel on Marienplatz: the carillon in the New Town Hall tower plays daily at 11 a.m. and noon, from March to October also at 5 p.m., with 43 bells; watching from the square is free. More on our Glockenspiel page.
• Hofbräuhaus: founded on September 27, 1589, by Duke Wilhelm V, at first solely to provide the ducal court with beer, according to the Hofbräuhaus. Read the story on our Hofbräuhaus page.
• Theresienwiese: outside festival season, an open square for skating, soccer and kites, watched over by the Bavaria statue. See Theresienwiese.
• Day trip: King Ludwig II had Neuschwanstein built as a private retreat above Hohenschwangau in the Allgäu; read more on our page on Neuschwanstein Castle.

Hungry after all that? Our overview of Bavarian food tells you what to order, from pretzels to pork knuckle.