Munich Now

Munich in October 2026: Long Night of Museums, Tram Anniversary and Auer Dult

One Saturday when three events start in the same few streets, then a week of old Munich market culture. Here is how I would plan the second half of October.

Theatinerkirche at Odeonsplatz.

Oktoberfest may be over, but Munich still has a few good reasons to go out this October. On Saturday, October 17, you can watch historic trams return to the streets, listen to music inside the Residenz and spend the evening exploring museums after dark. The nice part is that you can enjoy much of this without travelling across the city.

The tram parade starts on Theatinerstraße, the Residenz is next door, and the Long Night of Museums has its information tent on Odeonsplatz. Auer Dult, which opens the same day, is a separate trip to Mariahilfplatz.

01October 17: three events around Odeonsplatz

How the day runs: historic trams line up on Theatinerstraße from 9:45 a.m., speeches start at 10 a.m., and the parade then heads east, reaching the Einsteinstraße depot at about 11 a.m. Music plays in the Residenz from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. Free anniversary trams run from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The museum ticket tent opens at 1 p.m., and the Long Night runs from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Munich’s trams started in 1876, pulled by horses. For the anniversary, MVG brings its old vehicles back onto the streets. You cannot ride in the parade, so if you only have time for one thing, choose the afternoon rides.

From 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., parade trams and historic buses shuttle between the Einsteinstraße depot and Sendlinger Tor. You can board at any stop on the route without a ticket, as long as there is space. The route passes Marienplatz/Theatinerstraße and Lenbachplatz, so you can hop on right after the Residenz. On Sunday, October 18, the depot opens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can sit in a driver’s cab, look under a raised tram and watch workshop demonstrations. Take tram 19 to Vogelweideplatz or Einsteinstraße.

Two things for families: most historic vehicles have no level access, so strollers and bulky items are not allowed on board, and at the depot only bags up to A4 size are allowed. Details are on the MVG anniversary page.

If you have walked past the Residenz many times but never gone in, this weekend is a good reason. On October 17 and 18, small ensembles play at intervals in the Antiquarium (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and in the Kaisersaal (2 to 5 p.m.) while you walk through the rooms.

A tip worth knowing: any Residenz Week concert ticket also gives you one free visit during the festival to the Residenz Museum, the Treasury and the Cuvilliés Theatre, or to Schleißheim Palace instead. On October 17 at 7 p.m., the Bavarian Youth Baroque Orchestra plays in the Antiquarium, with tickets at €10 or €15. Bought separately, the Residenz Museum and Treasury already cost €15 together. See the concert programme and ticket conditions.

The Lange Nacht der Münchner Museen is less about seeing as much as possible and more about seeing familiar places differently: concerts in galleries, short tours, and workshops that only happen on this night. You cannot do 100 venues. Start with one performance you really want to see, then fill the time around it.

If you want a simple route, stay on Prinzregentenstraße. Haus der Kunst, Bayerisches Nationalmuseum and Villa Stuck are all on the same street and on shuttle tour 94. At the Nationalmuseum, the improvised opera “La Triviata” plays for 30 minutes at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 p.m., and a 10 p.m. tour looks at Elector Max Emanuel, the same figure Residenz Week is built around. Tram fans have one more option that night: as part of the Long Night, a historic shuttle bus runs from Odeonsplatz to the MVG Museum, a ride of about 30 minutes, where around 25 historic vehicles are on show. This is separate from the anniversary tram rides earlier in the day.

Which ticket?

• €20 Long Night ticket: evening entry from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., the afternoon children’s programme, and the shuttle buses 90 to 95. It covers one adult and up to four children aged 4 to 14.
• €5 children’s programme ticket: afternoon only, 2 to 6 p.m., for one adult and up to four children aged 4 to 14.
• Not included: regular buses, trams, U-Bahn and S-Bahn. You need a normal MVV ticket for those. There are no student or senior discounts, and museum annual passes are not valid that night.

Buy the €20 ticket at the Odeonsplatz tent from 1 p.m., at participating venues from 6 p.m., or in advance from München Ticket, which adds booking fees.

For October 17, my suggestion is one daytime activity, a break, and then the evening. Doing everything in one day sounds good on paper but is tiring, especially with children.

02Auer Dult: browsing old Munich, not bargain hunting

From October 17 to 25, Mariahilfplatz hosts the Kirchweihdult, the last of the three Auer Dult markets this year. If Oktoberfest is about beer tents, the Dult is about wandering: pottery, kitchen tools, antiques, food stalls and small rides for children. Its roots go back to 1310.

The fun is often in looking rather than buying. Prices are not especially low, so treat it as a walk through old Munich market culture first. If you are new to Germany, you may still find a souvenir that is more interesting than the usual ones.

Auer Dult in July 2026, not the October market.

• When: October 17–25, stalls from 10 a.m., rides from 10:30 a.m., everything closes at 7 p.m.
• Cost: free entry. You pay only for rides, food and what you buy.
• With children: go on Tuesday, October 20, Family Day, when rides are cheaper.
• Getting there: tram 18 or bus 52 to Mariahilfplatz, or walk from Fraunhoferstraße or Kolumbusplatz (U1/U2). There is no parking at the market, and district heating works nearby can change walking routes.

Bring cash, as many stalls prefer it. Current access details are on the Auer Dult information page.

03October 25: the clocks go back

At 3 a.m. on Sunday, October 25, the clocks go back to 2 a.m. If you have an early train, flight or a call with family abroad, check the time on your phone and your booking. It is also the last day of Auer Dult and Residenz Week.

04Two exhibitions for a quieter day

Not every October outing needs a crowd. These two are worth a visit on an ordinary day, when you can take your time.

Steina: Playback · Haus der Kunst · until December 7

This is the first retrospective in Germany for the Icelandic video artist Steina, with 21 video works and installations. If you are curious about how artists first used cameras and screens as instruments, it is a good choice. Admission is €10, reduced €8, or €5 for students aged 12 and over. It is free on Friday, October 30, from 4 to 10 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays. Some works have loud sound and flashing light.

Haus der Kunst with the Steina: Playback banner.

Krishna: religion, art and popular culture · until November 8

The easiest exhibition this month to visit with children: under-18s and school pupils go free, and adults pay €6, reduced €5. Museum Fünf Kontinente shows around 100 objects from its collection, following how the Hindu god Krishna appears in religious art and in popular culture. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

You do not need a packed schedule to enjoy Munich in October.