Munich in November: What to Expect

Munich in November is the city catching its breath between Oktoberfest and Christmas. The city's enormous beer halls, which were heaving with international visitors six weeks earlier, are back to being essentially local. The Marienplatz is not yet festive. It's actually a rather excellent window to visit Munich as a city rather than as an event destination.

Weather

Temperatures range from 1°C to 7°C through November, with cloud cover, rain, and occasional early snowfall by the end of the month. Bavaria takes winter seriously and November is the start of it. Pack warm layers, a waterproof jacket, and solid shoes. The old town centre is walkable in any weather, and Munich's excellent U-Bahn and S-Bahn system means you're never far from shelter.

Crowds and Prices

Post-Oktoberfest and pre-Christmas, November is genuine low season. Hotels in the Altstadt and Maxvorstadt neighbourhoods are at their lowest prices. The Deutsches Museum, the Pinakothek museums, and the BMW Museum are all comfortable to visit without the summer crowd overhead. Accommodation within easy distance of the centre is very affordable.

What's On

The Munich Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz opens in late November (usually the last week) and is one of Germany's oldest and most traditional Christmas markets. The backdrop of the Rathaus-Glockenspiel and the Frauenkirche towers makes it one of the best-looking in the country.

The Tollwood Winter Festival at the Olympiapark also typically opens in late November, offering a more alternative, arts-focused market alongside the traditional Marienplatz event.

One Thing to Watch

The Hofbrauhaus and Munich's other famous beer halls are year-round institutions, but they require a different strategy in November than in October. Reserving a table in advance is not strictly necessary for most times and days, but weekend evenings can fill up with locals rather than tourists. Good luck getting in without a reservation on a Friday night at the Augustiner am Dom.