Munich Christmas Markets by Valerie Streif, Munich, Germany

Last weekend, my friend Alex and I landed in Munich, Germany, to get our fill of charming German Christmas markets, drink all the glühwein and beer that we could handle as well as consume as much hearty German food as our arteries would allow. We had three full days to make the most of our time in beautiful Bavaria, just in time to spark up the holiday spirit.

This is the main square in Munich. It is also the location of a massive Christmas market, which sprawls out through the square and down the side-streets. All of the vendors have beautifully decorated stalls, selling everything from decorations to candles to a wide variety of German foods. The building pictured above also has the glockenspiel, a “tourist attraction” that chimes everyday at 11AM.

Located right in the Marienplatz main square, this is an excellent way to spend 2 euros. Starting with a hefty hike up to the top of the church tower and ending with a beautiful 360° view of Munich that gave a glimpse of the outline of Alps in the distance. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).