Munich Residence: Kaiserhof Christmas Village
In the Kaiserhof Christmas Village of the Munich Residence, the elk sings amidst traditional Bavarian music and mulled wine.
Monday, November 17, 2025 to Monday, December 22, 2025, daily from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Deutsch, Italiano, English, Français)
Munich. On Monday, November 17, you should enter the Kaiserhof of the Residence and experience the romance of the "Christmas Village" with its fairytale forest. We remember previous years: Through the archway, you can catch a glimpse of the stage from afar, where traditionally dressed musicians and singers perform Upper Bavarian Christmas carols. The Kaiserhof, with its elegant facade, creates a truly festive atmosphere, and the aroma of roasted food and all sorts of sweets evokes memories of bygone days.Memories of bygone eras are awakened, as an elderly lady who was there with her grandchildren confirmed: "I come here every year. It's just like it used to be." This kind of romance is hardly found today. So, if you're looking for that Christmas romance of yesteryear in Munich: Look no further than the Kaiserhof of the Residenz, where the Munich Highlights art fair also takes place every October (when the entire courtyard is covered).
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| Munich Residence - in the Christmas Village, Photo: Helga Waess |
Take the subway and tram to mulled wine, mulled beer, Feuerzangenbowle, and more
At the first corner, the air is filled with the aroma of coffee and crepes with chocolate spread, and at the next, the scent of mulled wine—which this year is also available in white. One stall is even serving mulled beer. Anyone wanting to try Feuerzangenbowle should definitely take the tram or subway, as high-proof alcohol not only warms you up, but a driver's license is also expensive.
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| Munich Residence - in the Christmas Village, Photo: Helga Waess |
All that's missing from the weekend onwards is the snow.
A bag of hot roasted chestnuts also brings back memories for us.
What was it like back then, as a child, when you entered the Christmas market for the first time each year? A feeling of inner joy, indescribable today, would wash over you. The Christmas season was exciting. Here and now, children with wide, shining eyes are drawn to the fairytale forest in the Kaiserhof.
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| Munich Fairytale Forest in the Kaiserhof, photo: Helga Waess |
Munich Fairytale Forest in the Kaiserhof
The little ones can't get enough of the sights and sounds.
Yes, listen too, because the moose moves its head and talks.
And there's so much going on here in the fairytale forest. The wolf and the witch are all there, telling their fairytales. And there:
From out of the woods he comes and wants to tell us:
"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!"
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| Residenz München: Elch im Weihnachtsdorf-Märchenwald, Foto: Helga Waess |
There stands Santa Claus in the fir forest:
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| Residenz München Weihnachtsmann im Märchenwald, Weihnachtsdorf, Foto: Helga Waess |
Alphorn players and brass band music
From afar, you can hear an alphorn player and the brass band playing Christmas carols. Yes, this is a lovely, manageable Christmas market where many an office group is celebrating the end of the workday, grandmothers are taking a quick photo with their grandchildren in Santa's sleigh, and the organic mulled wine is warming young and old alike.
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| Residenz München: Märchen im Weihnachtsdorf, Foto: Helga Waess |
Back on Residenzstrasse
In the background, we can still hear the men's choir. Children are dragging their parents toward the puppet theater.
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| Munich Residence, entrance to the Kaiserhof, Photo: Helga Waess |
Christmas Village at the Residence until
December 22 – open daily from 11 a.m.
The program changes daily, is thoughtfully designed in a traditional Bavarian style, puts young and old in a pre-Christmas mood, and invites visitors to relax away from the hustle and bustle.
Incidentally, it's also a great place to meet up, as three students tell us:
"We always meet at the Elk!"
Only those in the know are aware of where that is!
We highly recommend a visit.
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| Munich Residence, Christmas Village in the Kaiserhof, Photo: Helga Waess |
Text and photos (press photo archive) by Helga Waess
