Visit the viktualienmarkt in Munich

Wondering what to see and do in Munich? The answer is a stroll around the Viktualienmarkt. This vibrant market should be at the top of your list. It is the most popular meeting place in the Bavarian capital and one of the busiest stops for tourists and locals alike.

This vast space, located in Munich's Old Town, has been in operation for over two centuries and houses hundreds of stands with locally grown food, crafts, hotels, florists, juices and of course the main protagonists of the place: the breweries. In this post you will find out the best way to visit it, tips, opening hours... a guide to enter the Viktualienmarkt through the front door.

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Munich Food Tour

Secure your guided tour + tasting at Viktualienmarkt

This guided tour will allow you to see the highlights among the more than 100 stalls on the Viktualienmarkt, while tasting seasonal delicacies and learning about the history of the Viktualienmarkt.

From £41 at Hellotickets

What does the tour offer you? The company of an expert who will accompany you from the Old Town through the surroundings of the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, the Munich Stadtmuseum and the Viktualienmarkt to the end of the Viktualienmarkt.

While walking and enjoying the best of German food, you will hear the history of the place in detail. For now, I'll tell you that its current name is the result of the Latinisation of the German titles that originated in the 19th century. You can find out more about the curiosities of the place during the tour when you taste exotic fruits, a selection of cheeses, sweets and sausages.

Recommended if... you are interested in tasting the best seasonal tapas as the Germans do, guided by a local expert who shares interesting details about the gastronomy and the place. The tour lasts about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

At the Viktualienmarkt, you pay only for the food and products you buy, the entrance fee is free. However, we recommend a guided tour. Have you seen the size of the place?

It's half the size of a football pitch, full of fixed and itinerant stalls with seasonal variations. Although you can visit on your own, ideally - at least the first time you visit - you should have a local expert guide you.

Yes, of course you can include this tour among the things to do in Munich with children. However, due to the long walks and few attractions for children, the Viktualienmarkt is usually recommended for adults.

I recommend a visit with children if you are going to combine the walk with a visit to the Spielzeugmuseum or Munich Toy Museum, so you will have a special attraction for the little ones.

You can visit the Viktualienmarkt:

• Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• Saturdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
• Closedon Sundays.

Carla's Tip

Despite the official opening hours, some of the stands are closed on Mondays. If you want to see the place in all its splendour, I recommend a visit between Tuesday and Saturday.

Normally, it takes 2-3 hours to visit the Viktualienmarkt when you have an expert to guide the way. However, it takes half a day to shop to your heart's content.

Remember that there are more than a hundred stands with souvenir shops, florists, delicatessens, taverns, fishmongers and food outlets waiting for you. It depends on your time available, but I recommend that you set aside half a day of your Munich holiday to explore this market.

Although this is a permanent open-air market, there is always a better time to visit the Viktualienmarkt.

The Viktualienmarkt serves beer from all six Munich companies in turn. Considering that this is one of the most sought-after products in the area, the mild temperature and the festive atmosphere, the best time to visit the Viktualienmarkt is October.

Along the market you will find the 6 most popular beer gardens in Munich. In fact, the presence of the central monument, the Maypole, also known as the Maibaum or Maypole, is due to a donation made by the Bavarian breweries.

Along with booking your tickets for the Oktoberfest in Munich, you should ideally include a visit to the Viktualienmarkt among your things to see and do in autumn in Germany. After all, the official event takes place just a couple of streets away from the market.

Best time to visit the Viktualienmarkt

Let's be honest, you'll find everything at this market, but most visitors come for 3 reasons:

• The freshness of the food. Fruits, vegetables and greens are grown in local fields and go straight to the market.
• The food places. With such good raw materials, it is not surprising to find good food, and let's not forget the importance of Munich's culinary tradition, which says "present! In the heart of the Old Town and concentrated on the Viktualienmarkt.
• Last but not least, beer. Yes, it is easy to find breweries on German soil, but knowing that you have 6 breweries, the best in the area in one place, is an attraction.

With these focal points, it's no wonder that the best time to visit the Viktualienmarkt is between 2-3pm, when lunch beckons.

This market is located at Viktualienmarkt 3 . From the central station you can go:

• Walking: it will take you 6-7 minutes along Prielmayerstraße.
• By public transport: you can choose between S-Bahn lines 1-8, U3 or U6 or bus 52 to Marienplatz. Once you arrive at the square, you only have to walk 3 streets to the market, just behind St. Peter's Church.
• By car: it will take you about 9 minutes and via Prälat-Zistl-Straße 3 you can park 24 hours at Parkgarage Schrannenhalle.

Another option: the Hop On - Hop Off Bus

As in almost all European cities, you can take the tourist bus and visit the Viktualienmarkt and many other places of interest in the city -I advise you to choose one that combines the Marienplatz and Olympiapark, it is one of the most beautiful areas of the city-.

Munich's best sightseeing buses offer this route and prices start at €18, which is not to be sniffed at.

Located in the heart of the Old Town, the Viktualienmarkt tour offers an immersive experience of German culture.

It opened its doors in 1807 as a farmers' market and has evolved to become part of the city's cultural heritage, a must-see among the best food and beer tours in Munich.

At the Viktualienmarkt you'll find everything you could dream of and more of Bavaria's own traditions. The Viktualienmarkt's almost 20,000 square metres of space are divided into three areas:

• The market stalls. There are about 140 stands with souvenirs, ice cream, bread, wine, fruit, vegetables, spices, delicatessen, good cuts of meat perfect to accompany the German star: beer, which brings us to the second point.
• The eating and drinking places. Whether you're looking for a tavern or street food stalls, the market has everything at your fingertips. Here you can treat yourself to a full banquet at affordable prices. There are many food stalls, cafes, bars and restaurants, hotels and hostels. The Viktualienmarkt doesn't miss a thing.
• The sites of historical interest. After more than 200 years of existence, German traditions have a stamp on some of the city's landmarks. And in the midst of this market, several of them come together, such as the observation tower at St. Peter's Church or the Munich City Hall. This is a colourful place with curiosities around every corner.

For its size and history, the Viktualienmarkt should be an absolute must on your travel itinerary. And among its cultural offerings you should not miss it:

Maypole

The famous Maypole or Maypole is the focal point of the market and as such, you will find it in the centre of the market premises. The Maypole -common in Celtic culture- represents the communion of trades that form part of the traditions of a town or municipality.

Among the figures that decorate it are craftsmen, tavern keepers, street vendors, fairs, dancers, singers and even the two patron saints of beer: Saint Boniface and Saint Florian.

The history of the city is represented in this 36-metre high landmark.

Monuments to Munich's legends

The local Germans have built a number of fountains with statues to commemorate popular singers and comedians such as Roider Jackl, Weiss Ferdl, Elisa Aulinger, Liesl Karlstadt and Karl Valentin among others.

Heiliggeistkirche

The Catholic Heiliggeistkirche(Heilig Geist) is a Gothic church dating from the 14th century, when it was incorporated into the Hospice of the Holy Spirit. Later, around the 17th century, the architect Cosmas Damian Asam designed its remodelling, and not for the last time. Damage caused by the wars led to the remodelling of the temple in 1991.

The result is an exquisite work of art worthy of admiration, which is why it is one of the best World War II tours in Munich.

The parties are non-stop at this market, and while you're bound to find more events, this quintet is a special one:

Carnival

This market does not escape the winter closure. Specifically on Shrove Tuesday, the ladies of the stalls come together to present their dances and animations to infect the public with the energy of the season. The event is known as the Market Women's Ball or Tanz der Marktweiber.

The event - according to German authorities - attracts around 10,000 people annually. Get there early and secure your place if you want to enjoy the best views.

Asparagus celebration

Early spring is the start of the asparagus season in Munich and the celebration is big.

As well as electing an asparagus queen and the whole event organised by the City Council, asparagus specialists at the Viktualienmarkt offer tips, recommendations and delicious preparations of German asparagus in white or green.

Fountain Festival

One of the must-sees of the Viktualienmarkt are the fountains in honour of various artists representing the Bavarian capital. On the first Friday in August, the fountains are decorated with vibrant multicoloured flowers and the Town Hall organises street theatre performances and free shows. Find out all the details of this event and join the summer party.

Oktoberfest

Every year millions of visitors flock to the Theresienwiese to celebrate Oktoberfest, and just a few streets away you'll find the Viktualienmarkt, where the party also takes shape. The beer gardens in the Old Town host special events to continue the city's atmosphere.

In 2021, for example, the Munich Brewery Association presented its beer mug of the year alongside its kegs of the coveted brew while the brewery teams danced to the music of the Munich Kindl Viktoria Ostler.

Winter Magic

Winter Magic is the name given to the special season in December and if you are looking for what to see and do in Munich at Christmas, the Viktualienmarkt is one of the most comprehensive markets.

In addition to the hundred or so stands, from mid-November until the first week of January there are between 15 and 20 special areas with ornaments, trees, seasonal delicacies, wine, gingerbread and handicrafts.

Even just to walk around, this market is worth a stroll. Make a note of this activity to do in Munich in winter, you might find St. Nicholas on a street corner.

• Transportation. I recommend that you make your visit on foot. Public transport is just a few streets away at Marienplatz square, a space flanked by St. Peter's Church, the Munich Stadtmuseum -please stop by, it's a delightful space-, the MUCA (Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art) and other sights such as the Sendlinger Tower. The walk is pleasant and will allow you to get to know the city.

• Buy your CityTourCard Munich. Especially if you follow my advice and use public transport. In addition, the card offers special discounts at some sights such as the Nymphenburg Palace and if you are accompanied, the discounts are increased.

• What to wear. Choose comfortable attire, especially if you're visiting Munich in summer. Ideally, keep an eye on the weather conditions, which brings us to the next recommendation.

• Check the weather forecast. It sounds obvious but sometimes overlooked, keep an eye on the weather news.

• Sign up for a tour. Holidays are wonderful but time is limited, so if you want to know the perfect itinerary to make the best use of your time and cover activities such as what to see and do in Munich in two days, it's best to get advice from an expert guide.