When you think of a trip to Germany, one of the first destinations that comes to mind is the Oktoberfest in Munich. The biggest beer festival in the world is rich in German folkloric tradition and serves more than 6 million liters of beer with lots of music and party.
Important, plan ahead: Oktoberfest 2024 in Munich will take place from Saturday, September 21, 2024 until Sunday, October 6, 2024!
For planning a trip to Germany, we have some publications that can help a lot:
- Berlin, Germany – Top 20 sights and things to do and visit
- The Best Christmas Markets in Germany
- The best region and the best hotel to stay in Cologne in Germany
We also write about 8 of the best attractions on the Romantic Road in Germany with up-to-date tips, be sure to check it out .
To help you plan for the best beer and fun party in the world, we’ve made a guide with the best Oktoberfest tips for your best trip.
General tips about the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany
Let’s start with some practical information and also some tips so you can make the most of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.
What is Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest is a festival in Munich, Germany that was created by Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to celebrate his 1810 marriage to Princess Teresa von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. In addition to a party with lots of music, food and beer, Oktoberfest is also a fair of products and entertainment for the whole family, from adults to children.
Has Oktoberfest always been known for being the beer party?
Although the festival has taken place since 1810, with breaks only during wars and epidemics, it was not until 1880 that the city government approved the sale of beer. Even in relation to the famous tents, the first large marquee (for 6000 people) was erected only in 1898. Before that, beer was served in small kiosks.
In 1910, the party celebrated its 100th anniversary and 12,000 hectoliters of beer were served. At Bräurosl, the biggest beer tent at the time, there was already room for 12,000 guests. Today, the 10,000-seat Hofbräu-Festhalle is the largest beer tent at the Oktoberfest.
Is it mandatory to wear traditional clothing at Oktoberfest?
It is not mandatory, but a very common practice, both for German and foreign visitors. For several years, there has been a trend towards traditional attire: many Oktoberfest visitors wear lederhosen or dirndls.
Festive blouses and aprons and leather pants combined with traditional shirts and jackets have become a fad for all those who want to visit the world famous Oktoberfest. Traditional attire can be traced back to the 19th century, when it was first used as clothing by farmers and workers.
You can look for the clothes either online (example on Amazon.de) or in stores around the city. A good quality Lederhosen for boys costs around 140-175 euros and Dirndls, the traditional clothes for girls, start at 100 euros. You can, of course, find cheaper clothes, but many are not very high quality, but it is always worth the research and testing.
Oktoberfest attracts millions of visitors every year, each time coming from abroad, mainly from Italy, USA, Japan and Australia. And many of them use this opportunity to wear local clothes.
Why is Oktoberfest also called Wiesn?
In the local language of the state of Bavaria, where the city of Munich is, the feast was called d’Wiesn, which is the colloquial way of referring to “fairgrounds”: Theresienwiese.< /p>
Since the 200th anniversary of the party in 2010, the “Oide Wiesn“, a traditional version, a mini Oktoberfest with a lot of nostalgia has taken place. And, interestingly, during the Oktoberfest period in Munich, there is a series of LGBTQI+ events known as Rosa Wiesn or “Gay Oktoberfest“.
Practical information (address, schedule, prices…)
“Wiesn” will take place again in 2022. The 187th Oktoberfest will take place from September 17 to October 3, 2022.
Yes, Oktoberfest starts in September but it’s not called Septemberfest!
On September 17, 2022, the stalls will open at 9 am and at 12 pm it will be time for the “O’zapft is!“, Oktoberfest is officially open!
From then on:
- Monday to Friday, stalls open at 10 am and close at 11:30 pm
- On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, beer is served from 9 am and the last beer tap closed at 11:30 pm.
The best way to go to the party is via public transport. The nearest metro stations are “Theresienwiese“, “Goetheplatz” and “Schwanthalerhöhe” and the S-Bahn station from where you can walk even the fastest Oktoberfest is “Hackerbrücke“.
Should I bring cash or card to Oktoberfest?
Bring cash. Only some tents accept cards and even so, not all attendants have the machines and the network may be occupied or the system may not work.
Therefore: bring cash.
To withdraw, you can find more than 10 ATMs belonging to different banks in the Oktoberfest area.
But of course you don’t want to get up from the table and lose your seat, so plan on how much you’ll spend.
Can I bring a backpack or bag into the tents?
Despite our suggestion to bring enough money for your Oktoberfest fun, we do not recommend that you bring too many other belongings, especially a backpack or large bag.
In addition to a possible risk of theft, if you bring a backpack or purse, you will likely douse them with beer or, depending on your alcohol content, you may have forgotten them somewhere.
Think about bringing a fanny pack or even taking advantage of your purse pockets. And yes, bring little, but don’t forget your ID.
Oh! Some things are prohibited, such as: aerosol cans with dangerous contents, substances that can irritate or stain people and other objects, and of course items that can be used as weapons, including glass bottles.
Munich attractions and guided tours, including Oktoberfest
There are several options for excursions and guided tours in the city of Munich and of course Oktoberfest also has some available.
Be sure to compare them and choose the best one:
Can I bring babies and toddlers to Oktoberfest?
Yes! There are several attractions options to enjoy Wiesn with children, such as carousels and other amusement park-style rides.
They can also enter the tents, beer tents, with some restrictions. Children under 6 years of age are not allowed after 8 pm and children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian from this time onwards.
Fun fact, in Germany, beer is allowed from 16 years old.
For babies and small children, the best tip is to go with small baby strollers (avoid taking too big ones). But don’t forget to take it with you, as the little ones get tired quickly and you can continue enjoying the party with them sleeping comfortably.
Take the opportunity to go with your family at times when Oktoberfest is not too crowded, like weekdays or even before 3 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Important: On Saturdays and October 3rd (German Unity Day) pushchairs are not allowed. And on all other Oktoberfest days, strollers are not allowed after 6pm.
Oh! Finally, for “pet parents”, animals are not allowed at the fair, with the exception of guide and support dogs.
Is food and drinks too expensive? How much will I spend on Oktoberfest? How to save?
Beer and food prices at Oktoberfest are actually much more expensive than what you normally find in Germany, even in very touristy cities.
To give you an idea inside the tents:
- Beers cost approximately €12
- Meals cost around €15
- Snacks cost €5
Beer is not sold outside the stalls, but there are other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks that cost ~8€, as well as bread and sausage for ~5€.
So, despite being free to enter the tents, you will spend a good chunk of your budget. That’s why it’s good to plan well and predict how much money it will take.
Where to stay for Oktoberfest?
The first tip, before indicating an area of Munich to stay, is to book your hotel, hostel or B&B as early as possible. Accommodations sell out very early. To give you an idea, some hostels make reservations up to a year in advance.
You can look for options like Airbnb or Couchsurf, but I personally prefer to book via Booking.com (the site support for any problem is very good).
Regarding the location, in fact, all of Munich has a very good public transport system, so you will always be within walking distance of the Oktoberfest venue.
Some suggestions for a good value and review hotel close to Theresienwiese:
- Hotel Mirabell by Maier Privathotels (8.5 – Very good from 1,323 reviews)
- Cocoon Hauptbahnhof (8.7 – Fabulous out of 3,752 reviews )
- Arthotel Munich (8.2 – Very good out of 10,715 reviews)
- Maison Schiller by DesignCity Hotels (8.3 – Very good out of 2,870 reviews)
- gambino hotel WERKSVIERTEL (8.4 – Very good out of 3,295 reviews )
Now some Hostel suggestions:
- CVJM Jugendhotel München (8.9 – Fabulous out of 491 reviews)
- Euro Youth Hotel Munich (8.6 – Fabulous out of 3,640 reviews)
- Wombat’s City Hostel Munich Werksviertel (8.4 – Very Good in 272 reviews)
- HI Munich Park Youth Hostel (8.2 – Very good out of 759 reviews) s)
- Jaeger´s Munich (8.0 – Very good from 3,347 reviews)
Anyway, be sure to check out other alternatives near the Oktoberf venue is.
Is it safe to go to Oktoberfest?
Yes, you could say it’s pretty safe to go to the party.
As we said, pickpockets or cell phone and purse thefts are not very common, but it is always good to pay close attention and be careful with belongings.
Entries to the party area and the tents are strictly controlled, with several police officers and security guards responsible for ensuring order and preventing the entry of hazardous materials (and their own drinks).
And speaking of drinks, of course the high alcohol content tends to favor fights and arguments, but the security of the party is very concerned about this and always acts quickly.
There is also concern about the harassment and safety of girls and women. Security posts are prepared to assist and assist in any situation. Any situation of danger, threat or insecurity will be treated with the utmost respect and attention.
And importantly: No means no!
Essential general tips for Oktoberfest in Munich
To finish, some general tips that are worth following so you can enjoy even more:
- Even if the prices are expensive, be sure to tip the person who serves you. For two reasons, the waiters and waitresses deserve it; and they might remember you and maybe pay special attention.
- Don’t drink too fast! Enjoy the party, alternate water between each mug and enjoy as much time as possible. Especially if you plan to stay until the end of the night.
- Wear the most comfortable shoes you have! You will be walking all day, and there is no guarantee that you will get a place to sit.
- But avoid flip-flops, sandals or open shoes. The risk of being stepped on or even spilling beer on your feet is too great.
- Plan to visit the Oktoberfest for more than one day, maybe 2 is ideal. In this way, you can go at a less crowded time. Visit the whole area calmly and also enjoy the crowd.
- And speaking of crowds, you will sit next to strangers, be sure to chat and meet new people.
- There are almost 40 tents of all sizes at Oktoberfest, the biggest and most suitable for visiting are:
- Hofbräu Festzelt (the most visited by tourists, usually very crowded)
- Armbrustschützen-Festhalle (one of the oldest and most popular)
- Hacker-Festhalle (famous for the painted ceiling imitating a sky)
- Schottenhamel (Oktoberf’s oldest tent est and has a capacity of over 10,000 people)
- Käfer’s Wies’n-Schänke (usually where the party ends every night)
- It is possible to reserve a table in some of the tents, but normally must have a minimum number of people (from 6 to 10).
Check the Oktoberfest official website for up-to-date information, including a counter of days to start the festivities.
Finally, learn the lyrics to “Ein Prosit”!
Regardless of which tent you choose to drink from, you’ll need to know the lyrics to “Ein Prosit”. This song will be played by the house band every 20 minutes and gives everyone a chance to drink to health and good luck to everyone sitting nearby.
Get up and toast with your peers, sing out loud and try to ignore the fact that you’ve heard the same song 50 times a day :
Ein Prosit (German)
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit,
Der Gemütlichkeit,
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit,
Der Gemütlichkeit.
Ein Prosit (English)
A toast, a toast,
To cheer up and good times,
A toast, a toast,
To cheer up and good times.
Our publications with tips and travel itineraries near Munich
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