In the heart of Munich lies a feast for the eyes, nose and stomach: the Viktualienmarkt. Munich’s Viktualienmarkt is not only a tourist attraction, but a bountiful open-air market of food and drink to please even the toughest culinary travel critic.
The Viktualienmarkt, or Victuals Market in English, is located just a stone’s throw away from Munich’s central square, Marienplatz. Once you walk, drive or take public transit to the Marienplatz, the Viktualienmarkt is a just quick five-minute walk.
The Viktualienmarkt has been serving locals and travelers alike since 1807.
The name takes its origin from the word Viktualien, an old-world word for food. Thus, a market for food.The Viktualienmarkt was originally a farmer’s market that was housed in Marienplatz, but grew too large for that space. On May 2, 1807, King Maximillian decreed that the market should relocate to its current location. The market continued to expand to include additional gourmet food stalls and even small restaurants and a beer garden.
Today, the Viktualienmarkt holds 140 shops and stalls over 22,000 square meters. The market sells everything from a wide array of cheeses to locally produced honey to stunning flowers to delectable breads.
If walking around the Viktualienmarkt, eyeing culinary delights and smelling delicious foods makes you hungry, fear not; the market offers plenty of dining options. You can feast on soups, breads, seafood and of course, fare from the beer garden.
The Viktualienmarkt is open Monday through Saturday, and closed on Sundays and public holidays. Market vendors have their own hours of operations, but the market, as a whole, is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with many stores opening earlier at 7 a.m.
Tips for visiting the Viktualienmarkt:
Don’t miss the beautiful maypole in the center of the market. It’s not only classic and a great piece of Celtic culture, but a great place to use as a meeting point.- Remember: the market is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
- The streets surrounding the market are brimming with food and beverage shops as well. Make sure to visit these fabulous stores as well.
- Arrive in the morning to avoid the crowds. If you want to experience the energy of the market when busy, visit early afternoon.
- You can find four fountains around the market which are welcomed and much-visited on a hot summer’s day.
- A good number of stalls are closed on Mondays, so for the best selection, visit Tuesday through Saturday.
- Sample local Bavarian cuisine beyond beer and pretzels. Here you can find leberkäse (a liver-cheese loaf, sliced and served on a bread roll), bauern brot (Bavarian farmer bread), and locally produced Bayerischer
A few of our favorite stores:
- Gewuerzerei- A welcoming spice and vinegar shop with an extensive and diverse selection. Tip: try the beer vinegar- you won’t be disappointed!
- Teeschale- High quality, family owned and run tea shop with an extensive selection. For a fruity green tea to lift your spirits, try the Alles Wird Gut (Everything Will Be Fine) tea.
- Essendorfer- Dips, sauces, fruit spread and even BBQ sauce, this shop has it. Essendorfer vends flavorful food products that are convenient to bring back as gifts for friends, family, and yourself.
- Honighaus’l- Honey, honey, honey! This honey-focused shop carries locally-produced and international honeys, mead, and honey health and beauty products.
If you can’t travel to Munich right now, shop online for international products at RudiGourmand. RudiGourmand carries international foods such as Calissons from France, chocolates from Belgium, and much more.
For vendors at the Viktualienmarkt and other small-batch producers from around the world, you can easily sell and ship to US American customers using PriorNotify which automates US FDA prior notices, saving you time and money. Information about PriorNotify in German and French is available on our website, too.