The first Christmas markets open in Munich in November, such as the Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz and the Winter Tollwood. The “Münchner Bücherschau“ (Munich Book Show) or a concert in the Olympiahalle can also help against rainy days.
- Typically Munich
- More Great Events in November 2024
- International Fairs
- What else happens
The Münchner Bücherschau is the largest regional book exhibition. Here, visitors can browse through all genres for 15 hours a day and meet the authors.
Münchner Bücherschau, 14 November to 1 December 2024, Literaturhaus, Gasteig and other venues
The literary search for clues has been taking place in Munich since 2003 - and has already attracted international bestselling authors such as Stephen King, Don Winslow, Karen Slaughter, Donna Leon and many more. This year's guests include Zoë Beck, Arne Dahl, Nele Neuhaus and Friedrich Ani, while a few programme highlights include the crime night at BMW Welt, the crime boat on Lake Starnberg and readings at the Pathological Institute.
Münchner Krimifestival, runs until 29 November 2024, various venues
Munich loves the autumn. And as the light gets warmer and the colours intensify, this is the time of year when Munich’s residents really get adventurous.
Elle & Kappelle tell the special story of chocolate in their songs. After all, chocolate can do almost anything: we humans have loved chocolate dearly for over 6,000 years! But did you know that it is traded on the stock exchange as an object of speculation? And that it is currently achieving record prices at dizzying heights - with fatal consequences for cocoa farmers and consumers? The high climate-related crop losses already indicate that the cocoa tree could be extinct in just a few decades. Or is chocolate, of all things, the cat's meow when it comes to whether the world can still be saved?
For the taste buds, there will be a tasting of selected fine chocolates as part of the performance.
Elle & Kapelle: Ciao Cacao, 24 November 2024, Lustspielhaus Munich
The classic among Munich's Christmas markets is the Christmas market around Marienplatz - the largest and most traditional in the city. Until Christmas Eve, there is Christmas music, high-quality arts and crafts, mulled wine, roast dessert and roasted almonds in front of the illuminated backdrop of the town hall, Munich Frauenkirche and St Peter's Church. And the giant Munich Christmas tree towers between the stalls.
Munich Christmas Market, 25 November to 24 December 2024, Marienplatz and parts of the pedestrian zone in the old town
From 26 November to 31 December 2024, the Tollwood Winter Festival enchants with its colourfully illuminated tent tops on the Theresienwiese. What makes this alternative Christmas market so special are its street theatre, artistic masterpieces, concerts, a children's programme, organic food and colourful handicrafts from all over the world. Most events are free of charge. In the multimedia tent of the “World Salon“, politicians, scientists and artists appear to discuss ecological and social issues with the audience.
Tollwood Winter Festival, presumably 26 November to 31 December 2024 (Market until 23 December 2024), Theresienwiese
On Sunday, November 3, 2024, the 2nd Dachshund Race will take place at Motorworld Munich. On an area of 1180 square meters, everything revolves around the Dachshund and his family, from racing fun to topics related to dog accessories, wellness and training. In addition to free activities such as dog yoga and trail demonstrations, there will be numerous stands and expert presentations. There will be trophies for the winners of the race and all participants will receive a certificate.
Dachshund Race, November 03, 2024, Motorworld
This winter, a magical light and music experience will transform from November 4, 2024 to January 5, 2025 the historic fountain courtyard of the Munich Residence into a breathtaking world of sound, light and history. The technical masterpiece with a state-of-the-art 360-degree projection, 20 powerful video projectors, LED lasers and Dolby Surround Sound will enchant the audience.
Solimans Dream, 07 November to 05 January 2025, Brunnenhof / Residenz München
The stage adaptation of the young adult novel of the same name, ‘Paradiessucher’, tells a tragicomic story based on true events from 1986 and is a subsidised theatre experiment in the context of cultural education on the subject of the Cold War, flight, mother-daughter relationships, integration, loss of home and 80s puberty.
Paradise Seekers, 8 to 17 November 2024, Mucca Halle
The MS-Bazaar will take place on Saturday, November 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, November 17, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event has been one of the largest volunteer-run charity bazaars in Germany for 50 years and supports MS sufferers and their families. Visitors can expect a wide range of second-hand clothing, donated brand-name fashion as well as jewelry, household goods and books. The proceeds go to the Bavarian regional association of the German Multiple Sclerosis Society.
MS Bazaar, November 16 and November 17, 2024, MVG Museum
The exhibition ‘Echoes of Natures. A Colourful Dialogue’ by artist Vicky Lardschneider features new, never-before-seen, predominantly large-format organic paintings, sculptures and an installation that explore the connection between man and nature in dialogue with science. The colours and structures consist of natural pigments, which were produced by hand from rocks collected by the artist himself.
Echoes of Nature. A Colourful Dialogue, 1 to 10 November 2024, Orangery in the English Garden
With the charity drag show ‘Munich Kyiv Cabaret’, the contact group ‘Munich Kyiv Queer’ wants to draw attention to the fate of queer people in Ukraine who are in need or on the run. Ten drag artists, burlesque artists and singers will be performing for this good cause. The audience can look forward to an extravagant show with drag, music, burlesque and comedy, featuring neo-burlesque performer Ruby Tuesday, Ukrainian drag queen Samantha Jackson and Munich drag queen Vicky Voyage, as well as other artists from Germany, Belgium, France and Ukraine.
Munich Kyiv Cabaret, 2 November 2024, Theater Drehleiter
In the open Christmas workshop, families and children aged five and over can design mini Advent calendars, print their own wrapping paper and gift tags and create 3D Christmas cards.
Christmas Workshop, 30 November 2024, Sudetendeutsches Museum
In autumn 2024, the Austrian rock band Wanda will be touring nine German cities. On 9 November, they will give their concert in the Olympic Hall in Munich.
Wanda: Ende-Nie-Tour 2024, 9 November 2024, Olympiahalle Munich
On her international tour at the end of 2024, the Italian rock singer will also be stopping off at Munich's Olympic Hall.
Gianna Nannini in concert, 28 November 2024, Olympiahalle Munich
Christoph Goldstein (violin/viola) and Johannes Beham (piano) will perform Franz Schubert's Violin Sonata in G minor D 408, the Viola Sonata in E flat major by the ‘Czech Mozart’ Johann Baptist Vaňhal (1739-1813), the famous Arpeggione Sonata for viola and piano by Franz Schubert and violin works by the Romanian composer Grigoraș Dinicu and the Spanish composer Pablo Sarasate in the Johannissaal at Nymphenburg Palace on 28 November 2024.
Moderated concert Beethoven, Vaňhal, Schubert, Sarasate, 28 November 2024, Schloss Nymphenburg
The Munich Residence Soloists present Pyotr Tchaikovsky's ‘String Serenade in C Major’, ‘Autumn’ and ‘Winter’ from ‘The Four Seasons’ by Antonio Vivaldi as well as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Serenade ‘Eine kleine Nachtmusik’ and Johannes Brahms' “Hungarian Dance No. 6” in the Max-Joseph-Saal of the Residence.
Winter Master Concert, 30 November 2024, Residenz Max-Joseph-Saal
You can find a well-curated selection of concerts on Munich - City of Music.
This is about style, about furnishing and the question: Are you still living or are you already living? The “Heim + Handwerk“ trade fair at the exhibition centre is the largest of its kind in southern Germany and is expected to attract around 100,000 visitors with a good thousand exhibitors. They will find inspiration in the fields of furniture, crafts and the latest ideas of young designers. Experts will be on hand to provide advice on topics such as “Tiny Houses“ or children's rooms that grow with their age.
Heim + Handwerk, 27 November to 1 December 2024, Munich Trade Fair Centre
What's a real Bavarian restaurant has a hold on its Martinsgans. This speciality is available around St. Martin's Day on 11 November. In the past, the farming business year ended on this day: farmhands and maids were dismissed or hired, farmers paid their landlords a tithe. This was often done in the form of geese – which were promptly strangled to celebrate the day. Nowadays, the landlords usually announce their St. Martin's Goose dinner with notices or on the Internet - in case of doubt, ask more in advance. The Pauliwirt country inn near Mühldorf (Neuhäusl 1, 84513 Erharting) is worth a visit. On the way you can take a detour to the old town of Mühldorf. The town houses there are built in the so-called Inn-Salzach style: high, mighty looking facades that block the view of the roof.
When the autumn wind blows, kite lovers are driven out into Munich's parks. A popular hotspot is the Olympiaberg, popularly called Schuttberg (mountain of debris), because it consists largely of building rubble from the period of reconstruction after the Second World War. At the top of the Olympiaberg one has best wind conditions and a beautiful view over Munich. The Hirschgarten with its large meadows offers a lot of space. It is easy to reach with the S-Bahn (stops Hirschgarten and Laim). If you are careful and pay attention to traffic and passers-by, you can also try the large green spaces on Königsplatz. Wind speeds of around 17 or 18 kilometres per hour are usually enough to fly a kite, which corresponds to wind force three in the weather forecast. If you don't own a kite and want to build one yourself, the best place to look is the “Kunst und Spiel“ (Art and Play) at Leopoldstrasse 48. The handicraft supplies in Schwabing have everything you need.
You can find a detailed calendar of events here.
More on this topic: Munich's stages are legendary – and diverse. We explain the Munich opera and theatre scene by answering a few questions
