Marienplatz

Marienplatz is the central square of Munich and the best place to start exploring the Bavarian capital. Framed by the ornate neo-Gothic New Town Hall, the Old Town Hall and the golden Column of the Virgin Mary, it has been the heart of the city since its founding in the 12th century. Come for the famous Glockenspiel, stay for the views from the town hall tower, then walk on to the cathedral, the Viktualienmarkt and the shopping streets.

How to get to Marienplatz

Getting here could not be easier. Marienplatz has its own underground station, served by all S-Bahn lines on the central trunk route and by subway lines U3 and U6. From Munich Hauptbahnhof (main station) it is just a few minutes by S-Bahn, and from Munich Airport there is a direct S-Bahn connection to the square, taking around 40 minutes. If you arrive by long-distance train, the Deutschlandticket covers the local S-Bahn and U-Bahn. Avoid driving into the old town; the square has been a car-free pedestrian zone since 1972.

A short history

Munich was founded in 1158, and this square was its marketplace from the start. Later it served as the grain market before being renamed Marienplatz on October 9, 1854, following a cholera outbreak. The Mariensäule (Column of the Virgin Mary) dates from 1638: Elector Maximilian I put it up to give thanks that Munich had been spared during the Swedish occupation in the Thirty Years' War.

Things to see on the square

• New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus): built in stages between 1867 and 1909 by Georg von Hauberrisser; its courtyard is free to enter
• Glockenspiel: 43 bells and life-size figures reenact a 1568 royal wedding and jousting tournament, followed by the coopers' dance
• Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus): a Gothic building from 1470–1480 with a tower rebuilt after World War II
• Fish Fountain (Fischbrunnen): marking the spot of the old fish market

Glockenspiel times, tower tickets and hours

As of October 2026, according to the official city portal muenchen.de:

• The Glockenspiel plays daily at 11 a.m. and noon, plus 5 p.m. from March to October. It is silent on Good Friday. Watching is free.
• The town hall tower is open daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (last ascent 7:40 p.m.). Tickets start at 7 EUR for a 20-minute time slot, and two elevators take you up to 85 meters (279 feet).
• Guided town hall tours start at 28 EUR and run Friday to Sunday.

Only 30 people fit on the tower platform at once, so book online during busy periods.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, and you will almost certainly pass through anyway. The 11 a.m. Glockenspiel draws large crowds in summer, so the 5 p.m. show is more relaxed. Arrive a few minutes early to find a good spot facing the tower. On clear days with a warm foehn wind, you can see the Alps from the tower. During Advent, the square hosts Munich's main Christmas market, which runs until Christmas Eve. The square is flat and easy for wheelchairs and strollers, and kids usually love the jousting knights of the Glockenspiel. Within a short walk you will find the Frauenkirche cathedral, the Viktualienmarkt food market, the Hofbräuhaus and the Residenz palace, making Marienplatz the natural first stop on any list of things to do in Munich.

Christmas market 2026

In 2026 the city's Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz starts for the first time on the Friday before the Sunday of the Dead, running from 20 November to 24 December 2026. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday 10 am to 9 pm, Sunday 10 am to 8 pm and 10 am to 2 pm on Christmas Eve. There are 137 stalls, Advent music from the town hall balcony from Sunday to Thursday, and a nativity-figure market in front of St. Peter's church. More Munich markets are in our guide Munich Christmas market 2026.