Tollwood Festival is the summer event in Munich! For an entire month, Olympic Park transforms into a cultural hub, bursting with live music, captivating performances, mouthwatering food, and so much more. If you’re in Munich while it’s on, it’s an absolute must-visit – and best of all, entry is completely free! Keep reading to discover everything you need to know.
Live music from local and international artists, food from around the world, and a market packed with over 200 stalls selling handcrafted treasures – what’s not to love? Tollwood Festival has something for everyone, and I’ve got all the details you need right here!
Tollwood Festival 2025 (Summer) – Munich’s EPIC Festival | The Ultimate Guide
What you need to know
- What is Tollwood Summer Festival? Tollwood is an epic cultural festival held in Munich. It features plenty of live music, entertainment, shows and performances in addition to a huge handicraft market and a selection of international food stalls.
- Is Tollwood free? Tollwood is free to enter though there are a few ticketed events and performances you’ll have to pay for.
- What is the Tollwood Market of Ideas? The Market of Ideas is an incredible market with over 200 stalls featuring any kind of craft and handmade item you could want!
- Where is the Tollwood Festival? In Summer Tollwood Festival is held at Olympiapark München (Munich Olympic Park)
What is Tollwood?
Tollwood Festival takes over Munich twice a year – once in summer and again in winter – but each edition has its own unique charm. In this post, I’m focusing on the summer festival. Like any good festival, you’ll find no shortage of live music and great food to be had, but Tollwood also comes with the added bonus of an incredible handicraft market with over 200 stalls along with artistic performances and live shows.
The festival is well known for its strong commitment to sustainability and making culture accessible to all. With plenty of free performances, workshops, and activities, there’s always something to get involved in!
The festival first came to life in 1988 with its inaugural summer edition, and by 1991, the winter counterpart was added. Since then, it has only grown bigger and better, now drawing around a million visitors each summer!
Tollwood Festival 2025 dates
This year, the Tollwood Festival is being held on the following dates:
- June 19th – July 20th
Opening times
Tollwood Summer Festival 2025 has the following opening hours:
- Mon-Fri: Open from 2 pm onwards
- Sat-Sun & Public holidays: Open from 11 am onwards
Food and drink stands generally stay open till around 1 am while there’s demand, the Market of Ideas closes at 11:30 pm.
How to get to the Tollwood Festival
Tollwood Festival takes place in Olympiapark and is easy to reach. However, with over a million visitors attending throughout the festival, public transport is the best way to get there – especially since there’s no parking available on-site. Here’s how you can get to the festival:
- By U-Bahn: Take the U3 (Moosach) and get off at Olympiazentrum. It’s then around a 10-minute walk. Follow the crowds or look out for the Olympiaturm (Olympic Tower) and head towards that.
- By Bus: You can take the 177 or 178 bus to Petuelring. There’s also the 144 to Spiridon-Louis-Ring, Olympiasee or Olympiaberg. Additionally, you can get the 173 to Olympiazentrum, Olympia Ice Sports Centre or Petuelring.
- By tram: Take the number 20 or 21 tram to Olympiapark West or the number 27 to Petuelring.
These are some of the most direct routes, but for a full overview of nearby public transport options, check out the directions page on the Tollwood Festival website, where you’ll find a handy map of all the surrounding stops.
Admission to Tollwood
Entry to the festival grounds and the ‘Market of Ideas’ is completely free! Once inside, you can enjoy over 90% of events at no cost. However, a select few shows and performances do require tickets.
You can find all ticketed events – and purchase your tickets – right here
What to do
So you’ve made it to Tollwood Festival, now what? Don’t worry, there’s plenty to keep you entertained. Here are a few of the highlights:
Market of Ideas
The Market of Ideas is one of the biggest highlights of Tollwood Festival, featuring around 200 stalls packed with unique treasures and handcrafted goods. If you’re a fan of flea markets, you’ll be in your element here! This vibrant, international marketplace showcases artisan crafts from across the globe – think intricate glassblowing, beautifully carved woodwork, handmade jewellery, alpaca wool gifts, traditional clothing, and so much more.
Food and drink
A market isn’t complete without incredible street food, and Tollwood Festival certainly delivers! Renowned for its diverse culinary offerings, the festival has around 50 food stalls – all 100% organic. Just like the crafts, the food is a global affair, featuring everything from traditional Bavarian specialities and Korean fried chicken to Thai, Tibetan, Turkish, and African cuisine. You’ll also find French delicacies and plenty more to tempt your taste buds. And, of course, no festival is complete without a drink – there are plenty of bars to explore too!
S-Beach
Munich might be far from the coast, but you can still get that beachside feeling at Tollwood Festival! Head to S-Beach to kick back in a deckchair, toes in the sand, drink in hand and soak up the atmosphere with great music and good company.
Live music
Tollwood Festival is known for its fantastic lineup of musical acts, with performances taking place inside the Musik-Arena tent. The festival showcases both German-speaking and international artists, with past headliners including legends like Bob Dylan, Billy Idol, and Sting. You can check out the full Tollwood Festival 2025 lineup and all the details here.
While entry to Tollwood itself is free, the live performances inside the Musik-Arena are ticketed events that require payment. Tickets can be purchased online here.
Andechser Tent
If you’re after live music in a more laid-back setting, the Andechser Tent is the place to be. Showcasing both local and international musicians, it offers a relaxed atmosphere perfect for unwinding. Best of all, entry is completely free! Alternatively, you can head to Andechser Berg (Andechser Hill) next to the tent, where you can soak up the music while enjoying views of the festival.
Cultural programme
Tollwood Festival is so much more than incredible music and delicious food – it’s a vibrant cultural experience! Most events are free to enjoy, from circus performances and daring acrobats to open-air theatre and cabaret acts. True to its motto, “Culture for all,” the festival offers something for everyone to get involved in.
You can find more details on live performances here.
Environmental action
What truly sets Tollwood Festival apart is its strong commitment to sustainability. The festival runs on green energy from solar and wind sources, and every bite of food on offer is 100% organic. Visitors are encouraged to travel sustainably – whether by bike or shuttle bus – while all posters and flyers are printed on recycled paper. Even the items for sale follow ethical standards, with a focus on fair trade products.
Summary
Tollwood is exactly my kind of festival. If packed crowds and high-energy concerts aren’t your scene, no problem – you can simply wander through the market, soak up the atmosphere, and indulge in all the incredible food at your own pace! With such a diverse mix of experiences, there’s truly something for everyone. And since admission is completely free, there’s no reason not to check it out!
