Germany - Christmas day (Sunday) in Munich

We will be connecting through Munich on December 25 this year. Will there be anything to see or do if we decide to leave the airport? We will have about 12 hours. I was thinking of renting a car and just driving around to see whatever we can, but I'm concerned about not being able to find an open restaurant or coffee shop.

We will be connecting through Munich on December 25 this year. Will there be anything to see or do if we decide to leave the airport? We will have about 12 hours. I was thinking of renting a car and just driving around to see whatever we can, but I'm concerned about not being able to find an open restaurant or coffee shop.

Do not rent a car, take the S-Bahn to Marienplatz and stroll around. It will be a quite day, however, December 24 is THE Christmas day (evening) in Germany so you will certainly find open locations on the 25th.

And remember: There is a miracle function on FT calles SEARCH. Using this would have brought up useful threads like this one:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/germany/896322-christmas-eve-christmas-day-munich.html

there will be loads of very traditional Christmas markets around in Munich.
One of them (not so traditional though, but still quite nice) directly at the airport between T1 and T2.
You´ll also find a ice skating rink here with skates to rent.

there will be loads of very traditional Christmas markets around in Munich.
One of them (not so traditional though, but still quite nice) directly at the airport between T1 and T2.
You´ll also find a ice skating rink here with skates to rent.

Christmas markets usually finish on Christmas Eve.

Christmas markets usually finish on Christmas Eve or even earlier, and those few that continue beyond the holidays have to stay closed on Christmas Day.

Christmas markets usually finish on Christmas Eve or even earlier, and those few that continue beyond the holidays have to stay closed on Christmas Day.

ok, you´re right.
The one at MUC airport is open during hollidays, as I can report from my own experience, as we were ice skating last year here on the 25th Dec.

Take public transport - they are right below the terminals at MUC, very convenient and fast (40 mins and you'll be at Marienplatz). It's beautiful both in summer and snowing. If you are too tired to go into Munich you can visit the town Freising which is 15 mins away from MUC. Freising would be really dead on the 25th. If you want to see people then MUC would be a good place to go, or if you want to see shops inside the city get to one of the major railway stations in Munich because the shops insides are open almost every day.

Just a general warning: While I agree that you should take the train S-Bahn to Munich centre, be aware that 12/25 might be the most quiet day of the year. Definitely, all shops (apart from airport / train station) closed and most people are with their families.

Just a general warning: While I agree that you should take the train S-Bahn to Munich centre, be aware that 12/25 might be the most quiet day of the year. Definitely, all shops (apart from airport / train station) closed and most people are with their families.

The serenity and sort of melancholy that one might encounter on that day is also an experience, at least to myself. And some of the Turkish restaurants could be expected to remain open perhaps?

Unfortunately, Mag is right. December 25th and 26th are two national holidays.

December 25th is the worst day of the year to visit Munich.

Almost all shops close very early on 24th afternoon, all department stores (like Karstadt, Kaufhof) close at noon !
After 8 PM on Christmas eve you will see almost no people in the streets.

On 25th the city is quiet like a cemeterry : nobody in the streets, almost all shops, supermarkets, department stores and most restaurants are closed ... except maybe McDonalds :rolleyes:

Unfortunately, [b]
On 25th the city is quiet like a cemeterry : nobody in the streets, almost all shops, supermarkets, department stores and most restaurants are closed ... except maybe McDonalds :rolleyes:

But churches should be open to visit? And surely you can get at least a doner kebab somewhere as the Turkish proprietors and customers do not celebrate Christmas?

Churches are busy with services at Christmas. If you want to join mass or a service, you'll have plenty of options in the morning (10 a.m. is a typical hour). In catholic churches there might be an evening mass, too. However, the main holiday is Christmas Eve, the big festive services happen in the afternoon and evening of Dec 24. Tourist visits are not possible when a service is on. Oustide mass hours the big churches might be open - not sure about that, though.

The Munich Airport xmas market ends on 30 DEC this year:

http://www.munich-airport.de/de/consumer/erlebnis/events/mac/wintermarkt/index.jsp

Thanks OP for starting this thread as I've been wondering the same (what to do during long layover). I'll be in MUC on 24th morning at 9am from IAD and connecting flight is at 9pm in the evening. Shall I expect pretty much everything to be closed on that day too? I would like to have a proper local meal and beer for lunch and possibly early dinner in town before heading back to the airport.

Thanks OP for starting this thread as I've been wondering the same (what to do during long layover). I'll be in MUC on 24th morning at 9am from IAD and connecting flight is at 9pm in the evening. Shall I expect pretty much everything to be closed on that day too? I would like to have a proper local meal and beer for lunch and possibly early dinner in town before heading back to the airport.

Things will be open in the morning - but the afternoon/evening of Christmas Eve is the one time in the year when Germany more or less shuts down.

Hopefully, Ratskeller by Marienplatz will open for lunch. I have 12 hours layover (Arrive at 9:20am and leave at 9:50pm) this Saturday and would like to go in town and have a lunch.

Also, does anyone know if the trains to the airport, S1 and S8, will still be running in the evening? I would like to know how soon I'll have to head back to the airport. My flight will leave at 10pm.

Hopefully, Ratskeller by Marienplatz will open for lunch. I have 12 hours layover (Arrive at 9:20am and leave at 9:50pm) this Saturday and would like to go in town and have a lunch.

Also, does anyone know if the trains to the airport, S1 and S8, will still be running in the evening? I would like to know how soon I'll have to head back to the airport. My flight will leave at 10pm.

It's the S-Bahn, so it it should be running on a "Sonntag/Feiertag" schedule. I was in Munich on Tuesday, and it was so packed with tourists, you could hardly pass through the crowds. However, on Christmas Eve, just about everything (stores and such) shuts down by 2pm.

Also, does anyone know if the trains to the airport, S1 and S8, will still be running in the evening? I would like to know how soon I'll have to head back to the airport. My flight will leave at 10pm.Yes, all public transportation, especially to the airport, will run pretty much regularly. (Really the only difference is that out the suburbs, but not to the airport, they skip every other train from about 10:30PM on).