Fresh air, room to run and something going on: these are the open-air family events coming up next, from street festivals and Dult funfairs to zoo days and bike parades. The list updates itself as new events land and old ones finish, so check back before the weekend and look at the forecast before you head out.
A night watchman leads kids along Munich's old city wall on his evening rounds, telling them how the city lived in the Middle Ages. Kids help him watch for shady characters and lock the city gates, or just listen if they prefer. The stories get a little spooky but are chosen for children, and it's less gory than the adult tour. Stay after for a photo with him.
A St. Martin's lantern walk from a farm at Munich's eastern edge. The loop runs about 2 km along field paths from Reitsberger Hof to the old village of Baldham-Dorf and back, with stops that tell the story of St. Martin sharing his cloak.
Stands at the farm and in Baldham-Dorf serve hot apple juice, sausages, pretzels and roast goose, so it doubles as an early dinner.
A 750-square-meter open-air ice rink on Karlsplatz, the square locals call Stachus, at the edge of Munich's old town. Kids skate under Christmas lights to music, with themed evenings through the week.
Skates and helmets rent on site, so nobody needs their own gear. Between laps, the Schmankerl-Hütte and Glühwein-Alm huts serve hot food and drinks. It works for first-timers and confident skaters alike.
LUMAGICA turns the Showpalast grounds in Fröttmaning into a 1.5 km loop of glowing sculptures and light installations. This year's theme follows Phileas Fogg and Passepartout from Around the World in 80 Days, through light worlds for Asia, the Americas and Europe.
Kids can set off some of the installations themselves, pose at photo spots and catch a light and laser show along the way.
LUMAGICA is an outdoor light park, a walking loop of about 1.5 km through light installations after dark. This season's theme is Around the World in 80 Days.
It suits kids who are happy to walk a while on a cold winter evening. Younger kids who tire quickly may need a carrier or a ride on your shoulders for part of the loop.
A Christmas market inside the Kaiserhof, the grand courtyard of Munich's Residenz palace, just off Odeonsplatz. More than 50 stalls sell handmade crafts, old Bavarian nativity scenes, mulled wine and homemade eggnog.
For kids, the draw is the Märchenwald, a fairy-tale forest where scenes come to life at the push of a button. It suits preschool and early primary kids most.
A Christmas market set inside the English Garden, with wooden huts around the lit-up Chinese Tower pagoda. Kids ride a historic 1913 carousel and a small kids' train, take a horse-drawn carriage loop through the park, and try Bavarian ice stock, a curling-style game, on two lanes. Brass players perform from the tower. It suits families who want a calmer market than the crowded Old Town ones.
Munich's oldest Christmas market fills Marienplatz and nearby streets with stalls of ornaments, gingerbread hearts and roasted almonds, under a giant tree outside the New Town Hall. Kids can hear brass bands and choirs on the town hall balcony, browse a huge nativity-figure market by St. Peter's, and catch the Krampus run if they like a scare. About three million people visit each season, so expect crowds.
An Advent market set up as a medieval Munich market scene, with detailed stalls, crafts and market food. Much of it ties back to the city's own history, such as the monk on its first city seal who later turned into the Münchner Kindl.
It suits kids who like knights, castles and old stories, and grown-ups after a more atmospheric Christmas market than the usual.
Kasperl, the red-capped Bavarian hand puppet, teams up with Mucki, an Easter bunny who has lost his job. Together they cause chaos with slapstick, soap bubbles and plenty of Kasperl magic. Kids are invited to shout along and help the heroes, while the adults laugh at the same old jokes. The Kasperl speaks Bavarian, but the story is easy to follow.
Tollwood is Munich's alternative Christmas market, set up in big tents and open-air lanes on the Theresienwiese. Around 200 stalls sell crafts, clothing and gifts, much of it fair trade, and more than 50 stands cook certified organic food from many countries.
Walk-acts roam the grounds, a performance stage runs shows, and there is a kids' program. It suits families who want shows and food alongside the shopping.
Santa Claus, known here as Nikolaus, visits the zoo with his angels. Every child gets a moment to tell him their Christmas wishes, and a sweet surprise to take home. It all happens in front of the elephant house, with festive decorations around.
Around 300 Krampus and Perchten in shaggy fur and hand-carved wooden masks rattle, clang and roar through the Old Town's Christmas market streets. The groups come from across the Alps, keeping a 500-year-old tradition alive.
The figures play with the crowd, snatch a hat and hand it back, and stop for selfies. Fun for kids who like a good scare; not for a child afraid of masks.
Munich's official Fasching parade, the Faschingszug, is led by the Damische Ritter, a local carnival club. More than 50 groups wind through the Altstadt: brass bands, decorated floats, dance troupes, carnival societies and the city's Fasching prince and princess.
Thousands line the old-town streets to watch, many in costume, so kids get to see the floats up close from inside a crowd in fancy dress.
Once a year, the women who run the stalls at Munich's Viktualienmarkt trade their aprons for costumes and dance on a stage by the maypole. Each costume shows a stall, so kids can spot the baker, the butcher or the flower seller.
The Narrhalla guards and the Fasching prince and princess warm up the crowd first. It's a big outdoor crowd, so smaller kids see best from a parent's shoulders.
The Auer Dult is one of Munich's oldest traditions, a market fair that fills Mariahilfplatz in Au three times a year. The spring edition brings about 250 stalls selling pottery, antiques, toys and kitchen gadgets, plus a ride area with bumper cars, a 1919 chain swing carousel, a Ferris wheel and throwing booths. It suits kids who like a few rides and parents who like to browse.
Twice a year, Leopoldstraße in Schwabing closes to cars and becomes one long festival street between the Siegestor and Münchner Freiheit. Stages along the way run from swing and salsa to Bavarian dialect bands, cabaret and electronic music, with art, dance taster classes and football courts in between.
The Corso Leopoldino kids' area has easel painting, crafts and movement games, a good base while the grown-ups browse.
A medieval festival on the grounds of Schloss Kaltenberg, a Bavarian castle west of Munich. Jugglers and musicians play on five stages, and a craft market, camps and food stands fill the site. The centerpiece is a staged jousting show in the arena, with horse stunts, sword fights and fire effects. On Family Sundays, kids then take the arena themselves in a children's tournament and are knighted at the end.
Thousands of people in dirndls and lederhosen fill the beer garden around the Chinese Tower in the Englischer Garten and dance Bavarian folk dances at sunrise. A dance master calls and demonstrates every step from the stage, so beginners and kids join in.
The ball revives a tradition of the city's cooks and maids, who danced here before work in the 1880s. It suits early-rising families who like music and a crowd.
The Wiesn is Munich's giant folk festival on the Theresienwiese: beer tents, yes, but also a full fairground. Kids ride the Ferris wheel, chair swings, the Toboggan's conveyor belt and wooden slide, and the Teufelsrad spinning disc.
The Oide Wiesn at the south end is calmer, with historic carousels, a marionette theater and high-wheel bikes. Weekday daytime suits families best; evenings and weekends get packed.
Fresh air, room to run and something going on: these are the open-air family events coming up next, from street festivals and Dult funfairs to zoo days and bike parades. The list updates itself as new events land and old ones finish, so check back before the weekend and look at the forecast before you head out.
A night watchman leads kids along Munich's old city wall on his evening rounds, telling them how the city lived in the Middle Ages. Kids help him watch for shady characters and lock the city gates, or just listen if they prefer. The stories get a little spooky but are chosen for children, and it's less gory than the adult tour. Stay after for a photo with him.
A St. Martin's lantern walk from a farm at Munich's eastern edge. The loop runs about 2 km along field paths from Reitsberger Hof to the old village of Baldham-Dorf and back, with stops that tell the story of St. Martin sharing his cloak.
Stands at the farm and in Baldham-Dorf serve hot apple juice, sausages, pretzels and roast goose, so it doubles as an early dinner.
A 750-square-meter open-air ice rink on Karlsplatz, the square locals call Stachus, at the edge of Munich's old town. Kids skate under Christmas lights to music, with themed evenings through the week.
Skates and helmets rent on site, so nobody needs their own gear. Between laps, the Schmankerl-Hütte and Glühwein-Alm huts serve hot food and drinks. It works for first-timers and confident skaters alike.
LUMAGICA turns the Showpalast grounds in Fröttmaning into a 1.5 km loop of glowing sculptures and light installations. This year's theme follows Phileas Fogg and Passepartout from Around the World in 80 Days, through light worlds for Asia, the Americas and Europe.
Kids can set off some of the installations themselves, pose at photo spots and catch a light and laser show along the way.
LUMAGICA is an outdoor light park, a walking loop of about 1.5 km through light installations after dark. This season's theme is Around the World in 80 Days.
It suits kids who are happy to walk a while on a cold winter evening. Younger kids who tire quickly may need a carrier or a ride on your shoulders for part of the loop.
A Christmas market inside the Kaiserhof, the grand courtyard of Munich's Residenz palace, just off Odeonsplatz. More than 50 stalls sell handmade crafts, old Bavarian nativity scenes, mulled wine and homemade eggnog.
For kids, the draw is the Märchenwald, a fairy-tale forest where scenes come to life at the push of a button. It suits preschool and early primary kids most.
A Christmas market set inside the English Garden, with wooden huts around the lit-up Chinese Tower pagoda. Kids ride a historic 1913 carousel and a small kids' train, take a horse-drawn carriage loop through the park, and try Bavarian ice stock, a curling-style game, on two lanes. Brass players perform from the tower. It suits families who want a calmer market than the crowded Old Town ones.
Munich's oldest Christmas market fills Marienplatz and nearby streets with stalls of ornaments, gingerbread hearts and roasted almonds, under a giant tree outside the New Town Hall. Kids can hear brass bands and choirs on the town hall balcony, browse a huge nativity-figure market by St. Peter's, and catch the Krampus run if they like a scare. About three million people visit each season, so expect crowds.
An Advent market set up as a medieval Munich market scene, with detailed stalls, crafts and market food. Much of it ties back to the city's own history, such as the monk on its first city seal who later turned into the Münchner Kindl.
It suits kids who like knights, castles and old stories, and grown-ups after a more atmospheric Christmas market than the usual.
Kasperl, the red-capped Bavarian hand puppet, teams up with Mucki, an Easter bunny who has lost his job. Together they cause chaos with slapstick, soap bubbles and plenty of Kasperl magic. Kids are invited to shout along and help the heroes, while the adults laugh at the same old jokes. The Kasperl speaks Bavarian, but the story is easy to follow.
Tollwood is Munich's alternative Christmas market, set up in big tents and open-air lanes on the Theresienwiese. Around 200 stalls sell crafts, clothing and gifts, much of it fair trade, and more than 50 stands cook certified organic food from many countries.
Walk-acts roam the grounds, a performance stage runs shows, and there is a kids' program. It suits families who want shows and food alongside the shopping.
Santa Claus, known here as Nikolaus, visits the zoo with his angels. Every child gets a moment to tell him their Christmas wishes, and a sweet surprise to take home. It all happens in front of the elephant house, with festive decorations around.
Around 300 Krampus and Perchten in shaggy fur and hand-carved wooden masks rattle, clang and roar through the Old Town's Christmas market streets. The groups come from across the Alps, keeping a 500-year-old tradition alive.
The figures play with the crowd, snatch a hat and hand it back, and stop for selfies. Fun for kids who like a good scare; not for a child afraid of masks.
Munich's official Fasching parade, the Faschingszug, is led by the Damische Ritter, a local carnival club. More than 50 groups wind through the Altstadt: brass bands, decorated floats, dance troupes, carnival societies and the city's Fasching prince and princess.
Thousands line the old-town streets to watch, many in costume, so kids get to see the floats up close from inside a crowd in fancy dress.
Once a year, the women who run the stalls at Munich's Viktualienmarkt trade their aprons for costumes and dance on a stage by the maypole. Each costume shows a stall, so kids can spot the baker, the butcher or the flower seller.
The Narrhalla guards and the Fasching prince and princess warm up the crowd first. It's a big outdoor crowd, so smaller kids see best from a parent's shoulders.
The Auer Dult is one of Munich's oldest traditions, a market fair that fills Mariahilfplatz in Au three times a year. The spring edition brings about 250 stalls selling pottery, antiques, toys and kitchen gadgets, plus a ride area with bumper cars, a 1919 chain swing carousel, a Ferris wheel and throwing booths. It suits kids who like a few rides and parents who like to browse.
Twice a year, Leopoldstraße in Schwabing closes to cars and becomes one long festival street between the Siegestor and Münchner Freiheit. Stages along the way run from swing and salsa to Bavarian dialect bands, cabaret and electronic music, with art, dance taster classes and football courts in between.
The Corso Leopoldino kids' area has easel painting, crafts and movement games, a good base while the grown-ups browse.
A medieval festival on the grounds of Schloss Kaltenberg, a Bavarian castle west of Munich. Jugglers and musicians play on five stages, and a craft market, camps and food stands fill the site. The centerpiece is a staged jousting show in the arena, with horse stunts, sword fights and fire effects. On Family Sundays, kids then take the arena themselves in a children's tournament and are knighted at the end.
Thousands of people in dirndls and lederhosen fill the beer garden around the Chinese Tower in the Englischer Garten and dance Bavarian folk dances at sunrise. A dance master calls and demonstrates every step from the stage, so beginners and kids join in.
The ball revives a tradition of the city's cooks and maids, who danced here before work in the 1880s. It suits early-rising families who like music and a crowd.
The Wiesn is Munich's giant folk festival on the Theresienwiese: beer tents, yes, but also a full fairground. Kids ride the Ferris wheel, chair swings, the Toboggan's conveyor belt and wooden slide, and the Teufelsrad spinning disc.
The Oide Wiesn at the south end is calmer, with historic carousels, a marionette theater and high-wheel bikes. Weekday daytime suits families best; evenings and weekends get packed.
