It gets dark pretty early in Munich, so we usually stayed out as long as we could stand the cold to take photos of the beautiful markets and holiday lights.

retail shops along Kaufingerstrasse

Eric being covered in snow in Karlsplatz

sipping on glühwein to stay warm!

The old town hall in Marienplatz was lovely at night, but I still think Vienna took the cake in terms of decorating for a Christkindlmarkt.

One odd thing was that the markets in the city center all shut down by 8pm. In fact, we saw people trying to purchase last minute gifts and food while shop owners around them just started shutting down their carts. This resulted in a mass exodus to Tollwood, which stayed open very late and happened to be located about three blocks from our hotel near the train station.

The vibe was much more lively here, with heated tents for sitting and eating (and drinking).

The proximity to our hotel also meant that Eric could drag out the tripod for some long exposure shots. Then, when our hands were frozen, we headed back into the warmth of our hotel!