October 29 to November 2, 2025: Winter Magic at Herrenhausen Palace in Hanover

Romantic Getaway Tip: October 29 to November 2, 2025 - Winter Magic at Herrenhausen Palace in Hanover, the capital of Lower Saxony

A romantic getaway for Christmas enthusiasts: Winter Magic at Herrenhausen - pre-Christmas stalls between the Gallery and Orangery, a nostalgic carousel, and stilt walkers

October 29 to November 2 - Winter Magic invites you to stroll and enjoy the Herrenhausen Gardens again in 2025 (English, Nederlands, Deutsch)

Hanover. Christmas is in the air when the Courtyard of Honor at Herrenhausen Palace in Hanover is illuminated for Winter Magic. Strings of lights and decorated Christmas trees are everywhere, even at the end of October. Yes, you heard right! If you can't wait any longer, hop on the ICE train and head to Hanover to enjoy the aroma of gingerbread and hot punch at Herrenhausen Palace, the adjacent Gallery, and the avenue. The train from Munich takes just over 4 hours. The gallery and the orangery provide a magical backdrop for the pre-Christmas stalls. The nostalgic carousel and several stilt walkers will delight young and old alike.

Photo of the flyer announcing the Winter Magic event at Herrenhausen Palace in Hanover, photo of the organizer's flyer: Helga Waess

Starting Wednesday, October 19, 2025, around 130 exhibitors will be welcoming visitors.

Winter Magic promises delights and a fantastic culinary selection in front of the castle:

• finest almond nougat,
• winter stollen,
• doughnuts,
• fresh Baumkuchen (tree cake),
• roasted chestnuts,
• delicious wild boar burgers,
• raclette specialties,
• Finnish flame-grilled salmon,
• mulled wine,
• apple punch, coffee, hot chocolate, and teas are all available.

The wait for Christmas is already getting romantic in Hanover

The castle's courtyard, the gallery, and the magnificent avenue will be transformed into a fairytale setting for a pre-Christmas market.

Everything that warms and delights body and soul during the cold season will be offered here starting October 29:

• mulled wine, cookies, handicrafts, Christmas decorations, and wonderful gifts for a cozy home.

As a special highlight, the Great Garden will be open free of charge

•  from 4:30 pm for all Winter Magic visitors with a Winter Magic ticket.

In the evening twilight, which, thanks to the time change, now falls as early as 5 pm, the Great Baroque Garden will be romantically illuminated.

... Winter Magic at Herrenhausen Palace in Hanover

Location

Herrenhäuser Str. 3

30419 Hanover

• www.gartenfestivals.de

• Tickets are available on-site at the box office every day
• or online in advance - available on the organizer's website

Winter Magic Opening Hours in the Palace Courtyard and Gallery of Herrenhausen Palace

• October 29, 2025 - 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM
• October 30, 2025 - 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
• October 31, 2025 - November 1, 2025 - 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• November 2, 2025 - 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Winter Magic is also open on the public holiday, October 31!

                

Opernhaus, Hannover - Foto: Helga Waess

July 5-20, Folk Festival in the Hirschgarten in Munich

Holiday tip: July 5th to 20th, 2025 - Folk Festival in the Nymphenburg Hirschgarten

Event tip: Magdalenenfest - Munich Folk Festival in the Hirschgarten, right next to the world's largest beer garden

Beer garden recommendation and Munich Folk Festival with its cozy atmosphere near Nymphenburg Palace (Deutsch, Italiano, English, Français)

Munich. Nymphenburg. The Magdalenenfest in the Hirschgarten is currently enjoying the summer weather. This small Munich folk festival with its cozy atmosphere near Nymphenburg Palace has been celebrated since July 5th and will continue until July 20th, 2025. Families love this festival, which celebrates Family Day on Wednesday, July 16th: there are reduced prices for children. The history of the folk festival began almost 300 years ago (the Magdalenenfest was first mentioned in 1728). At that time, a festival was held in the Nymphenburg Palace Park to celebrate the inauguration of the Magdalenenklause (Magdalene Hermitage). Over the centuries, this evolved into a fair dedicated to July 22nd, the feast day of Saint Mary Magdalene. This year, that is, since 1958, the festival has been celebrated in the Royal Hirschgarten, the park in northwest Munich. This beer garden is a must-see in Munich!!!

 

Summer flower in Munich - Photo: Helga Waess (press photo archive)

The Magdalenenfest - A folk festival in the royal Nymphenburg Hirschgarten

The Hirschgarten is located between the Laim and Nymphenburg districts and covers an area of approximately 40 hectares. Here, the folk festival actually takes place on a meadow, right next to the famous beer garden. Shooting and throwing booths and the nostalgic swing carousel at the stalls in the Hirschgarten will delight all generations. There are also rides for small children and food and drink: Bavarian delicacies and well-chilled beer. The stalls offer toys, cookware, and even wickerwork, so you can also find a souvenir.

Everything about the Magdalene Festival at a glance

When: July 5-20, 2025, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: In the Hirschgarten, right next to the beer garden

Address: Hirschgarten 1, 80639 Munich

What's on offer:

• 23 showmen with rides and stalls
• as well as market vendors

Family Day:

• and Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Food & Drink: Food at numerous stalls
Admission: Free
How to get there: Hirschgarten S-Bahn, trams 16, 17, and 12 to Romanplatz
Organizers: Munich Market Merchants and Showmen in the BLV

The Royal Deer Garden in Munich

The Royal Deer Garden is worth a visit at any time of year. In historical times, the Bavarian nobility found a hunting ground close to the city here. Today, the 40-hectare park is home to a huge beer garden with almost 8,000 seats, playgrounds (including a very popular water playground and elephant slide in summer), a large game reserve with fallow deer and mouflon, numerous walking paths, and good running routes. There is a small skate park, play and relaxation meadows with barbecue areas in summer, and even a hill for sledding in winter.

The festival in the popular Deer Garden has a tradition dating back to the 18th century.

In 1780, Elector Carl Theodor had the fenced-in "Tiergarten" created and brought fallow deer and red deer here.

The forerunner of today's beer garden was, incidentally, the popular Jägerhaus.