St Patrick's Day in Munich

You can enjoy a St Patrick's Day parade and party even if you're in Munich!

St Patrick’s Day in Munich is next on: March 14, 2021

Yes, the worldwide celebration of all things jolly and Irish is also marked in Munich with gusto. Thousands of people in traditional, crazy and just plain green costumes make their way to the Münchner Freiheit just north of the city centre around midday, from where a parade kicks off down the grand boulevards of Leopold and Ludwig Strasse to Odeonsplatz. It lasts about 90 minutes.
There’s live music, dancing, flag throwing and of course plenty of beer!


The St Patrick's Day parade in Munich. Picture: David Purshouse

Irish I was in Munich

St Patrick’s Day is a fairly recent tradition in Munich - it started in 1996 when a parade of about 300 people was organised, and 3,000 people came along to join in instead!
Those figures boded pretty well for a successful event and the Paddy’s Day Parade became a permanent fixture on the Munich calendar.
These days more than 50 groups take part and you can see mobs of ‘Highlanders’, ‘Leprechauns’ and rugby players among the tumut of the parade..
Who doesn't love a good bagpipe solo? Part of the Munich St Patrick's Day parade. Picture: David Purshouse

Sham-rock on

Despite being a Sunday, it’s naturally one of the biggest days of the year in Munich’s Irish pubs, which all host St Paddy’s Day parties. The best of these is Kilians Irish Pub, which is right next to the Frauenkirche.
A couple of other decent options are Lokal Kennedys Bar and Restaurant, Molly Malone's, and the Irish Pub Dubliner, which is just near the Hofbräuhaus.

Above: Here's a handy map showing the Munich St Patrick's Day parade route, and the Irish pubs in the city which kick off afterwards.

Going green

Munich’s St Patrick’s Day party always takes place the Sunday before the Paddy’s official ‘death day’, March 17.
But on March 17, sites around the city including the Olympic Tower, BMW Welt and the Hofbräuhaus are all lit up bright emerald as part of a worldwide ‘global greening’ event that’s really taken off over the past couple of years.
So what do you think - would you like to be part of the St Patrick's Day celebrations in Munich? Add your thoughts to the comments section below.

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