Munich in winter

You have planned a trip to Munich in winter? Our Hostel Munich “Rent A Room” wants to equip you with some recommendations on where and how to spend a wonderful winter time in our lovely city. Spoiler alert: The following activities and locations are for both types of people – those enjoying the magical atmosphere winters do provide but also the people who would rather seek some coziness indoors.

Munich ’s winter tollwood

Munich’s winter tollwood is one of the absolute highlights that draws a lot of residents but also tourists to Munich`s Theresienwiese in the winter months. You will find culture in all its facets: Several huge tents and outdoor stalls offer exquisite and often hand-made craftwork as well as sustainable products. Your hunger can be satisfied thanks to a broad variety of delicious food that meets Tollwood’s standards of organic and high food quality. During your stay in Munich in the winter months you can simply stroll along those stalls or be entertained by one of the many amazing live acts. German bands and artists but also internationally known musicians like Lionel Richie or Sunrise Avenue make their way to Munich’s winter festival. But the winter Tollwood is also based on a good and very important cause: Its philosophy centers around the desire to create incentives for a sustainable future. This is mirrored in all areas from the products and food offered at the stalls to the recycling of the produced waste. This festival should be on your bucket list for activities to do in Munich in winter!

rocking the sledge

If Munich was lucky enough to be snow-covered, you might want to consider going tobogganing at one of the various hills and slopes. Amateurs will definitely enjoy the highest “mountain”-top that the Olympiaberg has to offer. With its dreamlike view over Munich and the famous Olympic tower in combination with its steep slope it is the most popular place for tobogganing.
Apart from this visual and action-related highlight you can also enjoy time on your sledge in West- and Ostpark, Messestadt, Luitpoldpark or on the Michaeli-hill in Berg am Laim.

For beginners the tiny hill next to the Monopteros in the famous English Garden might suit perfectly.

magical atmosphere in the English Garden

Besides, this location allows you a fairy-like winter scenery: The English Garden – being one of the largest urban parks in the world – can be explored during a relaxing walk in the tree-lined avenues. Your feet need a break? A romantic carriage ride through the snowy wood-like park area might make you fall in love with the snow-covered nature that this park in Munich presents in the winter months.

Our insider tip: Relax and warm up in a tiny cafè which surprises with a lovely and exceptional concept: Several seats are placed outdoors in which you can exclusively sit with your companions and drink some hot chocolate or hot mulled wine. A café worth visiting during your stay in Munich in cold winters!

local christmas markets

If your trip to Munich in winter happens to be in the pre-christmas time, you should absolutely not miss out on its famous Christmas markets. Whether traditional or unusual, huge and impressive or rather small and plain – with its variety of christmas market choices our city meets every desire. Spend your evenings surrounded by lovely decorated stalls offering delicious christmas pastries, hot mulled wine and craftwork. If you may be spending only one day in Munich in winter, you can easily integrate a visit in your busy sightseeing schedule.

ice skating in the Prinzregentenstadion

What would be a trip to Munich in winter without some ice-skating? Much less fun! The Prinzregentenstadion or Olympia Eisstadion (in the vicinity of the Olympic tower and hill) have several special ice-skating programmes you should consider. On the evenings of Friday, Saturday and Sunday you can ice skate to different music genres and under atmospheric floodlights.

If Munich was blessed with cold temperatures that made its lakes freeze completely, we definitely recommend you to go ice skating on the canal of Nymphenburg. If not possible, you will not regret visiting the Nymphenburg palace. This place in Munich looks magical in winter!

wellness during your trip in Munich in winter

Whoever longs for warmth, coziness and relaxation after a day of sightseeing, can indulge in Munich’s daily spas. What makes you warm up faster than a hot sauna session? A wide range of day spas offering every imaginable kind of massages, thermal baths, steam rooms and so much more. For sure one of the warmest things to do in Munich in winter!

botanic garden

Our suggestion for those looking to avoid the cold and all those longing for warmer temperatures on their trip to Munich in winter: The greenhouses of the Botanic Garden accommodate visitors in a tropical climate and on an impressive area of 4500 square metres. Outside may be the deepest snowfall imaginable – indoors a huge variety of blooming flowers and plants makes you completely forget about this.
The gardens’ special highlight is the butterfly exhibition, which allows visitors to take photographs of themselves amidst freely flying butterflies.

Of course the recommendations mentioned above only present a little selection of things you can do in Munich in winter. But as these suggestions already demonstrate, you will definitely find a huge variety of lovely winter activities that make your trip the perfect winter experience!

Have fun selecting your favorites of these recommendations and have lots of blissful moments on your trip to Munich in winter!