As United's hub, Germany - where Christmas markets originated - is the starting point of our journey. Originally I was trying to get us to Cologne for its popular Christmas Market; however, the cheap flight into Frankfurt was booked. Instead we had a direct flight to Munich and I wasn't about to ruin a rare (for us) nonstop flight by hopping on a 4-hour train after that. Munich has an abundance of Christmas markets to explore!
A very unexpected treat on our flight was personally knowing our flight attendant, Mariana. Giving us first-class service, she made sure we had drinks in our hands shortly after take-off! She repeatedly checked in on us, making sure we had everything we needed.
After dropping off our bags at the hotel at noon, we headed straight for the Christmas markets.
We have arrived to Munich's Christmas market!
We were so hungry we stopped at the first food booth we saw and bought the biggest wursts they had.
Well over 12" long, Chris' bratwurst was served broken. (It is doubled-over in the picture.) Still so delicious!
Dressed in layers of winter clothing and beanies, we all blend into the sea of similarly dressed people. I quickly realized how difficult it is going to be to keep track of each other. At one point Greg and I turned around and no one from our group was behind us.
The Christkindlmarkt in Marienplatz square is a traditional market considered to be Munich's oldest. With the neo-Gothic town hall as its backdrop, it is even more special.
We each bought an ornament to take home with us.
Next we went to nearby Residenz Christmas Village.
Jeremy particularly liked the market nestled in the palace's courtyard because it blocked the wind. "I feel surprisingly cold," said Chris. Although 37 degrees, the "feels like" temp was 27.
I had read that the Residenz Christmas Village has a variety of food options to warm our bellies.
We all voted kasspatzn as best food of the day. It is spätzle with cheese and topped with crunchy fried onions, so Greg kept calling it mac n cheese.
Chris tried the pizza-like flatbread here. It has several different names, one being flammbrot.
Our next Christmas market, Mittelaltermarkt, was just around the corner. Advent markets in Munich date back to the year 1320 and this market is said to make for an accurate representation.
The medieval Christmas market at Wittelsbacherplatz is a reproduction of a typical medieval market scene from old Munich's Middle Ages.
Our goal at this market was to finally have what the markets are best known for: Glühwein (hot, mulled wine). At this market you particularly have to try their Feuerzangenbowle - a mulled wine with a cube of sugar soaked in rum and lit on fire. The caramelized sugar melts into the wine giving it its special flavor.
Our four glasses of wine punch (.25l) came with a high price tag €92! Many countries charge a "pfand" (cup deposit), which normally sets you back €5. However, the fancy clay goblets at the Medieval market cost €15 each - which you get back when you return the glasses.
Prost! Having a fantastic time!
Kate was not a fan of the rum-laced Feuerzangenbowle!
It started snowing while we were drinking our wine! The Christmas markets are fun to visit but it was at this point, while sipping my hot wine, that I decided this is my favorite part about the markets.
Some other things we realized about the Christmas markets:
- You don't really feel the cold until you stay in one place for too long. Keep moving!
- There's nowhere to sit down at the Munich markets.
Next we mixed in a bit of tourism by climbing up a church tower. The viewing platform is 184 feet high and offers a great view in all directions. As the church is free to enter, it's a good place to go to rest your legs and escape the cold. (Though warmer inside the church, we could see our breath!)
Munich's oldest parish church from the 12th century, Peterskirche offers a nice birds-eye view over the Christmas markets in the Marienplatz.
For dinner we went to one of Munich's most popular restaurants for schnitzel: Andy's Krablergarten. The servings are monstrous and easily sharable.
As it was Vivian's first-time traveling with us, she was given fair warning that anything she says could make the blog. "Oh shit, oh my God," she responded with a bit of attorney flare. After dinner and stating it was a 'good restaurant choice', she asked, "Is that making it into the blog?" Jeremy replied, "No, but that is." He was right.
It was snowing on our walk back to the hotel. If we had the energy of the energizer bunny, we would've gone back to enjoy the Christmas markets at night. Having already been a very long day, it was not in the cards. Tomorrow would be a very early morning for us. We will be on our way to France! Though our stay was brief, Germany is one of my favorite countries of the world and I'll continue to return as often as I can. It was sweet that Gesa, Kate's German second-cousin once removed, commented on her Glühwein post. We hope to be back to see them this coming July!
Watch Christopher's tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8NgWxtP/
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