Viktualienmarkt

The Viktualienmarkt in Munich is the city's famous open-air food market, set right in the Old Town just a few minutes' walk from Marienplatz. For more than 200 years, locals have shopped here for fruit, vegetables, cheese, meat and flowers, and visitors come for the atmosphere, the maypole and a beer in the market's own beer garden. It is free to enter and one of the easiest, most authentic things to do in Munich.

A Little History

On May 2, 1807, King Max I Joseph ordered the city's market moved from what is now Marienplatz, which had grown too cramped, to its current site. Originally called simply the "green market," it took the name Viktualienmarkt (from an old word for provisions) in the 19th century and reached its present size by 1890. Damaged in World War II and rebuilt afterward, it became a pedestrian zone in 1975. Since 2014 its market tradition has been listed as Bavarian intangible cultural heritage.

What to See and Eat

The market covers more than 18,000 square meters with over 100 vendors in green-roofed stalls. Look out for:

• The maypole: the blue-and-white pole at the center, first raised on May 4, 1962, sponsored by Munich's six big breweries.
• The beer garden: about 1,000 seats at the heart of the market. The beer rotates every five to six weeks among the six major Munich breweries. You may bring your own food, but drinks must be bought on site.
• The fountains: six figure fountains honor beloved Munich entertainers, including comedian Karl Valentin and his partner Liesl Karlstadt.
• The butchers' row, cheese counters, spice and honey stalls, and plenty of fresh fruit.

Opening Hours and Tips

The market is open Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays and public holidays. Each vendor sets their own hours: most stalls open around 8 a.m., many close in the afternoon on Saturdays, and some are closed on Mondays (as of October 2026). Weekday mornings are the most relaxed; lunchtime and Saturdays get busy. Allow one to two hours for browsing and a snack.

Seasonal highlights include the market women's dance on Shrove Tuesday, the flower-decorated fountains on the first Friday in August, and festive lights during Advent.

How to Get There

Take the S-Bahn or U3/U6 to Marienplatz and walk a few minutes south. From Munich Airport, the S1 or S8 reaches Marienplatz in about 40 minutes, and Munich Hauptbahnhof is just one or two stops away. The Deutschlandticket covers all local transit. Parking in the Old Town is very limited, so skip the car. The market is flat and paved, and leashed dogs are welcome.

Is It Worth Visiting?

Yes, especially at lunchtime when you can sample Bavarian food in the beer garden. Combine it with the neighboring Heilig-Geist-Kirche, climb St. Peter's Church tower for a view over the stalls, then continue to Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche or the Hofbräuhaus, each within about ten minutes on foot.