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- 3-2-1- It’s time to unwrap Munich’s best-kept Christmas secrets
3-2-1- It’s time to unwrap Munich’s best-kept Christmas secrets
Join the 2025 Advent calendar and win daily prizes: from rickshaw tours to rooftop views
Sana Ahmad
December 04, 2025
Servus an Alle!
Welcome back to the Munich Post! The purpose of this newsletter is to share: 3 bits of news, 2 upcoming events, and 1 amazing restaurant/café for expats living in and around Munich. This way, you have a pulse on what’s going on without scrolling through thousands of pages.
Hey there! Did a friend pass along this awesome newsletter to you? Well, guess what? You can easily subscribe below and get all the latest news and events from us every Thursday. Join our amazing community of over 12,600 Munich lovers with just one click!
Here’s what we’ve got for you this week:
We’ve got two big transport updates: one good, one… less good.
The good: starting December 14, a brand-new and daily EuroNight train will let you fall asleep in Munich and wake up in Poland. Four countries, 16 hours, one cozy overnight adventure without airport queues.
The less good: the S1 will be partially shut down from December 1–12 due to construction near Neufahrn. Instead there will be replacement buses, express shuttles, and a bit of platform chaos between Munich, Freising, and Landshut. If this is your line, consider this your early reminder to pack your patience.
Heads up: The Munich Post team will be taking a break starting on 12th December. This means 11th December will be our last issue for this year.
3 bits of news
A building taller than the Frauenkirche in Munich?!
Munich’s skyline might soon look very different. The city council has approved two 155-meter towers for the new PaketPost Quarter. Making them the tallest buildings in the city and officially breaking Munich’s 100-meter comfort zone. But the decision hasn’t ended the fight. Not even close.
The project circles the historic parcel post hall (a.k.a. Pineapple Park) and includes around 1,200 apartments, 3,000 jobs, retail, cultural spaces, a senior center, and 8,500m² of green space. About half the apartments are planned as subsidized or rent-controlled – the main reason council members said yes, despite two decades of resistance to skyscrapers.
Opponents argue the towers will permanently change the cityscape, aren’t ecological to build or maintain, and squeeze too much density into too little open space. The HochhausSTOP initiative even tried to force a referendum, but the request was rejected as legally inadmissible. They’ve now taken the case to the Bavarian Administrative Court.
And here’s the catch: even though the plan is approved, it won’t become legally binding until the court rules on the appeal. That decision is expected in the coming weeks.
So while Munich said yes, the question remains: will the towers actually rise? How do you feel about potentially having a building taller than the Frauenkirche in Munich soon?
The former Sendlinger Tor cinema gets a revival
Munich’s cultural scene is getting a major plot twist: the long-quiet Sendlinger Tor cinema, recently turned into a Plex café, is coming back to life. Not with blockbusters, but with D ING: a new three-month cultural takeover bringing art, film, music, theater, and performance back into the historic halls starting January 2026.
The name D ING comes from the iconic neon sign above the cinema, and the plan is just as nostalgic-meets-experimental. Basically, high culture meets subculture, light meets sound, film meets performance, all under one roof.
The trio behind the revival includes:
behind the tree – the arthouse film hub founded by actors Frederick Lau and Nico Solar Lozier, bringing talks, screenings, and indie cinema energy back into the space.
Broke. Today. – the Munich art collective, known for turning empty hotels and condemned buildings into surreal art labyrinths. Their last exhibitions drew more than 20,000 visitors.
Event impresario Matthias Schlick – whose decades-long career includes turning Bavarian castles and industrial ruins into party venues – meaning corporate events might also pop up in the old screening rooms.
The interim use is planned for three months, but an extension isn’t off the table. If Munich embraces it (and let’s be honest, it will), we might get more than just a limited cultural cameo.
Find more information here (in German).
24 days, 24 surprises: Munich’s big Advent giveaway starts now
Munich Tourism is spreading cheer with their Advent calendar and the lineup is basically a December-long goodie bag of tours, tickets, and cultural treats. Behind each of the 24 doors are experiences you can actually use, not dusty leftover merch. Think exclusive city tours, stage shows, rickshaw rides, and even a guided Christmas market walk to fully unlock your inner festive self.
Daily prizes range from vouchers for tours of the neuer Rathaus, Neighborhood Love walks through Munich’s quarters, and rickshaw rides. There’s also a drag-led city tour with Margott Dick-Adenz, which is equal parts glitter and gossip.
Stage lovers get their share too: tickets to the GOP Varieté Theatre, fairy-tale nights at the Prinzregententheater, and the full nostalgia hit with Absolute90s. Plus: the Viertelliebe; a coffee table book for anyone who loves Munich neighborhoods.
The best part? Some gifts include bringing the whole crew: family and friends for extra fun. All you need to do is participate daily for a chance to win. Just register and participate once for each door.
Find more information here (in German).
Bonus:
In Partnership with Feather Insurance
It is our desire to bring our readers the best information about Munich — at zero cost to you. In keeping with this theme, we thank our partners for today’s newsletter. By just clicking the link below, you’ll support The Munich Post.
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2 upcoming events
Steam train ride around Munich (with St. Nicholas onboard!)
All aboard for one of Munich’s most charming Advent traditions. Only one more weekend (Dec 7 & 8) is left of the Bavarian Railway Museum bringing back its nostalgic steam train ride. It’s a one-hour loop around the city starting from München Ost that promises all things merry.
Expect historic carriages, a real steam locomotive, and yes… St. Nicholas himself who will be handing out gifts to kids. A special highlight: On December 8, two steam trains will run in opposite directions, creating a rare and very photogenic train encounter on the route.
The experience is perfect for families, rail fans, and anyone who wants some vintage Advent magic. No reservations are needed, you can just buy tickets on the platform or onboard. Make sure to take along cash as card payments are not accepted.
Find more information here (in German).
General information:
📍 Departs from München Ost
⏰ Sunday, December 7–Monday, December 8, at approx: 10am, 11:30am, 1:30pm & 3pm
🎟️ Adults €20, kids (5–14) €12, under 5 are FREE
Krampus Run: Spooky fun in Munich’s Old Town
Get ready for some harmless chaos in the city center! On Sunday, December 14, the traditional Munich Krampus Run parades from Augustinerstraße through the pedestrian zone, Färbergraben, Rosental, Viktualienmarkt, and ends at the alter Rathaus.
Munich’s Krampus tradition dates back 500 years, documented locally since 1740. Around 300 participants in elaborate Krampus, Perchten, and Klause costumes will rattle, roar, and jingle their way past thousands of spectators. St. Nicholas joins in too, keeping things festive and friendly. Don’t worry, these Alpine devils may look fearsome, but they’re all about fun, selfies, and playful mischief.
General information:
📍 München City Center
⏰ Sunday, December 14, 3–5pm
🎟️ FREE for all
Bonus:
We’d like to thank our second sponsor, finbird.
You told us you want the basics done right: the buying process and how financing works. On December 16 (6 PM), Daniela from finbird will walk through the German home-buying journey in plain English: from first viewing to notary, land register, and handover.
We’ll cover what banks in Munich typically ask for (employment status, residence permit, payslips, equity), how down payments are thought about, and what extra costs to plan for in Bavaria (notary, land register, property transfer tax).
We’ll also highlight local quirks we keep seeing: tightly contested inner-city districts like Schwabing or Glockenbach, better value in family areas such as Pasing, Trudering or Gauting, and why older properties around the suburbs can stall if seller documents are incomplete.
1 new restaurant/café to try
Palais Keller
After five long years, Palais Keller at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof reopened its doors on December 2. This historic cellar, dating back to 1443, has seen it all, from salt storage to political upheaval – and now returns as a temple of modern Bavarian cuisine.
Head Chef Michael Konietzny leads the kitchen, focusing on local, seasonal ingredients and offering creative takes on Bavarian classics. Watch the magic happen in the open kitchen, and don’t skip the complimentary fresh bread basket, a Palais Keller tradition.
The beautifully renovated vaulted cellar, redesigned by art collector Axel Vervoordt, seats 196 guests and perfectly blends history with a calm, elegant atmosphere. It’s the perfect spot for a relaxing dinner, a special occasion, or simply soaking in a slice of Munich’s culinary and architectural heritage.
General information:
📍 Promenadeplatz 2, 80333 München
🥘 Bavarian
⏰ Tuesday–Saturday, 6pm–Midnight
Sunday & Monday closed
Visit Palais Keller
We’d like to thank our third sponsor.
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Meme of the week 😂
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Aazar, Christina, Heidi and Sana
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