How To Travel Oktoberfest
Updated: 1/5/2019 | Jan 5th, 2019
“How many days are you lot at the Wiesn (Oktoberfest) for?” the German linguistic communication daughter wearing her Bavarian dirndl across the tabular array asked me.
“We’re hither for 5 days,” I replied, putting downwards my umpteenth stein of beer.
Her confront became a mix of shock, disbelief, in addition to horror.
“Five days! That is crazy! You’re a chip insane, huh?” she said. “You exclusively demand ane twenty-four hours for the Weisen. I promise you lot survive.”
And she was right. My friends in addition to I were a chip insane to remember 5 days wasn’t that long at Oktoberfest. We apace learned that most Germans come upwards for a twenty-four hours because that genuinely is “enough fourth dimension at the Wiesn.”
It’s the tourists who remain longer.
Five days at Oktoberfest was something I wouldn’t create again. It was pure overkill. Even the grouping I was with, filled amongst able-bodied, hardened drinkers, was exhausted yesteryear twenty-four hours three in addition to uninterested yesteryear twenty-four hours 5.
By the end, I never wanted to reckon a beer again.
But I survived the sense – in addition to inwards the procedure had a nifty time, made a lot of novel friends, hardened my liver, met some other cool move bloggers, in addition to learned precisely how to invention the perfect Oktoberfest trip.
Planning your Oktoberfest visit
- What is Oktoberfest?
- What to Expect at Oktoberfest
- How Much Does Oktoberfest Cost?
- A List of Oktoberfest Tents
- How to Make Table Reservations at Oktoberfest
- Booking Accommodation at Oktoberfest
- How to Get Your Oktoberfest Outfit
- General Oktoberfest Survival Tips
- How to Visit Oktoberfest inwards 2019
What is Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest was ane of the best festivals I’ve ever attended. It’s a 16–18-day beer festival held annually inwards Munich, Germany, running from belatedly September to the get-go weekend inwards October. It all began when Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese on Oct 12, 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields inwards front end of the city, which the locals telephone phone “Wies’n” (which agency grass, in addition to why Oktoberfest is nicknamed Wiesn inwards Germany). Ever since then, it has acquire a major event, peculiarly inwards the finally few decades equally to a greater extent than in addition to to a greater extent than international travelers receive got been attracted to the festival thank you lot to tours, inexpensive flights, in addition to improve accommodation options. It’s such a large thing that you’ll discovery Oktoberfest activities inwards cities around the footing (though nada beats the original).
What to Expect at Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is a wild, wild time. An estimated vii 1000000 people catch every year, amongst the bulk of those Germans (they stand upwards for 85% of attendees)! You’ll reckon precisely virtually everyone dressed upwards inwards traditional Bavarian clothes (lederhosen for guys, dirndls for girls), having a skilful time, in addition to drinking lots in addition to lots of beer. These pictures in addition to video volition aid pigment the scene for you:
You acquire a lot of people chugging beer….
….and a lot of people who neglect at it….
….but no affair what, there’s a lot of singing.
Outside the beer tents, you’ll discovery a carnival atmosphere. Literally. The grounds incorporate a carnival amongst games, rides, in addition to fifty-fifty haunted houses. It is similar a subject commons inwards Anywhere, USA. If it wasn’t for people dressed up, you lot wouldn’t receive got known you lot were inwards Germany. (This is also where you’ll discovery everyone passed out from equally good much beer!)
Inside the tents is where you lot discovery the traditional Oktoberfest you’ve come upwards for: lots of hearty food, traditional music, large decorated tents, friendly people, large steins of beer, in addition to communal happy atmosphere that breeds friendship in addition to joy! Everyone is hither for a skilful fourth dimension in addition to inwards high spirits!
How Much Does Oktoberfest Cost?
All the tents are complimentary to enter. Beer is typically around xi EUR in addition to most sum meals are 12–15 EUR. You tin acquire snacks in addition to modest meals for around 5 EUR. You tin also purchase alcohol exterior the tents (but non beer), in addition to the drinks cost around 8 EUR. You’ll also receive got to set a 2 EUR deposit downwards on the drinking glass they give you. You’ll discovery tons of stands everywhere amongst sausage in addition to wurst for 4 EUR too. Reserving a tabular array is technically free, however, a reservation requires you lot to guild nutrient in addition to drinks. Usually, this is the equivalent to 2 beers in addition to one-half a chicken (which is around thirty EUR per person). So a tabular array for 10 volition live around 300 EUR, depending on the tent.
It’s virtually impossible to create this number on a tight budget. You tin purchase beer or nutrient exterior the number grounds, which volition lower your costs (get drunkard in addition to sum before) but if you’re purchasing anything inwards the tents, await to pay!
How to Make Table Reservations at Oktoberfest
All the tents are complimentary throughout the twenty-four hours in addition to all receive got complimentary tables equally good equally reserved tables for people eating meals (these are also prime number seats inwards the oculus of the tent). If you lot desire to consume or guarantee that a tabular array (and non acquire by for all the complimentary tables), you’ll demand to construct a reservation. We had a tabular array reservation every twenty-four hours because my friends in addition to I wanted to construct certain nosotros had a identify to sit. To construct a reservation you’ll demand to contact the tent straight via email, phone, or fax (yes, they soundless receive got faxes!). This is typically done at the start of the twelvemonth betwixt Jan in addition to April. Tables at the best tents fill upwards up quickly.
If you lot create volume at ane of the tents, live aware that most tables spot 6-10 people in addition to cost virtually 300 EUR (about thirty EUR per person). You’re required to volume a whole table, thus fifty-fifty if it’s precisely ane of you lot going, you lot reserve the tabular array equally though you lot are going fill upwards it. While you’re supposed to receive got a sum tabular array when you lot sit down down, nosotros showed upwards minus a few people in addition to they didn’t seem to care. This reservation includes some beer in addition to food.
Personally, I’m non thus certain I’d reserve tables again. It’s squeamish to know you lot receive got a identify to sit down down, but other than on weekends or at night, it seemed similar you lot could e'er discovery an opened upwards seat, fifty-fifty if you lot had to stand upwards for a while. If I booked a tabular array again, I would exclusively create it for the nighttime hours, when tables are harder to get, you’ll desire a identify to eat, in addition to you lot mightiness non desire to stand upwards around waiting.
Keep inwards heed weekends, when the Germans aren’t working, are incredibly busy in addition to it’s much harder to acquire a reservation equally good equally discovery complimentary tables. If you lot don’t receive got a reservation, acquire at that spot early!
A List of the Best Oktoberfest Tents
There are 14 chief beer tents at Oktoberfest in addition to each ane has its ain personality. Some tend to live heavy on Americans, other Australians, others older Germans, other rich celebrities, patch others are precisely everyone nether the sun. Here are the 14 major tents in addition to some data virtually them:
- Marstall – This tent holds over 3,000 people in addition to is the newest improver to the event. It’s a chip to a greater extent than modern in addition to inventive (you tin genuinely acquire vegetarian nutrient here) in addition to caters to a younger, hipper crowd.
- Armbrustschützen-Festhalle – This comfortable tent has also been abode to a crossbow contest since 1895! It’s ane of the most popular.
- Hofbräu Festzelt – This is the most pop tent for international visitors, peculiarly Americans, in addition to is ane of the biggest in addition to most famous tents inwards the faregrounds. It gets busy but I loved it!
- Hacker-Festhalle – This tent is known for it’s painted bluish heaven in addition to white clouds on the ceiling that can, if the weather condition is nice, opened upwards up to genuinely present the bluish heaven above. It’s also ane of the to a greater extent than pop tents.
- Schottenhamel – This is the oldest tent at Oktoberfest in addition to hasthe capacity for over 10,000 people. It’s where the political party gets started in addition to is real pop amongst Germans.
- Winzerer Fähndl – This massive tent is the largest at Oktoberfest amongst room for 11,000 partygoers. You’ll live able to recognize it yesteryear the giant rotating beer glass.
- Schützen-Festzelt – This tent is located off the chief drag which agency you lot tin sometimes vanquish the crowds yesteryear heading here.
- Käfer’s Wies’n-Schänke – This tent is known to live a favorite of both local in addition to international celebrities equally good equally their belatedly nighttime ending time! Lots of people complete their nighttime here.
- Fischer Vroni – If you’re tired of all the pork (the chief dish inwards most tents) in addition to thus caput hither for something else: fish!
- Ochsenbraterei – This tent has been around since 1881 in addition to is known for its numerous ox dishes in addition to its large brass band.
- Augustiner-Festhalle – This tent is considered to live the most family-friendly option. It’s also the hardest tent to acquire a tabular array at equally many locals receive got reserved seats here.
- Pschorr-Bräurosl – The Heide identify unit of measurement has been running this tent since 1901 in addition to has their ain yodeler.
- Löwenbräu-Festhalle – This tent, which has a giant 15-foot king of beasts at the entrance, has a chip to a greater extent than of an older crowd to it. It’s the favorite of local football game players.
- Weinzelt – This tent is some other to a greater extent than family-friendly choice, amongst less traditional offerings similar seafood, Thai food, in addition to fifty-fifty vino (something you lot don’t genuinely reckon ofttimes here).
Booking Accommodation at Oktoberfest
Simply put: Book your Oktoberfest room early. Accommodation fills upwards incredibly apace — in addition to some hotels in addition to hostels volume out upwards to a twelvemonth inwards advance. The closer you lot acquire to the festival grounds, the to a greater extent than expensive beds are in addition to the quicker everything fills up. I booked a room inwards Apr in addition to most places were already sold out. That room cost me 120 EUR per night, but it was unopen to the festival grounds. Hostel dorms ofttimes go for 60–80 EUR.
There’s non a lot of budget accommodation around but at that spot are a few options if you lot don’t desire to remain inwards the urban center oculus (or desire to salvage money):
- Stay at The Tent, a hostel (well, really, a massive tent) exterior the urban center for twoscore EUR per night.
- Couchsurf (which is hard, because locals acquire a lot of requests from people looking for a complimentary identify to stay) or receive got friends you lot tin remain with.
- Using Airbnb is some other skilful alternative equally long equally you lot volume inwards advance.
How to Get Your Traditional Oktoberfest Outfit
You can’t go to Oktoberfest without the traditional Bavarian outfit (it precisely wouldn’t live correct or equally fun), in addition to those are non cheap. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 skilful lederhosen outfit begins at around 140 EUR. Dirndls, the traditional outfit for girls, get around 100 EUR. (You can, of course, discovery cheaper outfits, though, if you lot aren’t looking for something of quality.) You tin guild them online earlier you lot go or discovery them inwards stores throughout the city. Stores precisely selling outfits boundary upwards precisely for the festival. We institute lederhosen the twenty-four hours nosotros arrived. You tin rent costumes for around twoscore EUR per twenty-four hours but that’s exclusively a skilful alternative if you lot are going for a twenty-four hours or two. If you’re going for longer, it’s cheaper to purchase an outfit.
General Oktoberfest Survival Tips
It’s a marathon, non a sprint — you’ll live drinking all day, thus there’s no demand to rush it. Too many people overstep out on the lawns yesteryear dinnertime. Pace yourself. Those liters of beer are strong.
- Hydrate: Drink a lot of H2O patch you’re there. I had Powerade in addition to H2O bottles lined upwards inwards my room for when I got abode in addition to when I woke up.
- Get to the Käfer tent early: Most of the tents unopen at 10:30pm. Käfer is the exclusively ane opened upwards until 1am, thus everyone rushes at that spot subsequently the others unopen down. Get at that spot a chip earlier 10:30pm thus you lot receive got a spot. Otherwise, you lot but won’t live able to acquire inwards or acquire served.
- Get a tabular array early: No reservation? Just winging it? If you lot aren’t at that spot yesteryear midday, your chances of finding a tabular array shrink greatly. Try to avoid the times when they switch reservations. All the people that got kicked out are at ane time looking for a complimentary table, in addition to contest is fierce.
- Eat exterior the number area: While all the tents receive got amazing rotisserie chicken, the nutrient within is but expensive. Just walk outside, purchase a inexpensive sausage for a few Euros, in addition to salvage your coin for the overpriced liters of beer.
- Set a meet-up point: The grounds are huge. If you’re at that spot amongst friends, laid a coming together signal inwards illustration you lot acquire separated (which is inevitable).
- The tents don’t genuinely matter: While everyone tent volition offering a unique experience, the differences won’t live that drastic. Every tent volition offering upwards a nifty time, thus there’s no demand to live picky. Find a tent you lot similar in addition to precisely remain there!
- Bring cash: Keep your life (and the life of your server) uncomplicated in addition to precisely stick to cash.
- Keep your materials safe: Pickpockets aren’t equally good much of a work but you lot mightiness acquire drunkard in addition to lose stuff. Only convey the essentials of what you lot demand in addition to live certain to hold them prophylactic inwards a zipped poach thus they don’t acquire moisture in addition to ruined!
How to Visit Oktoberfest inwards 2019
Oktoberfest begins on Saturday, September 22nd amongst the opening ceremony at the Schottenhamel tent. At noon, Munich’s Mayor volition tap the get-go keg in addition to boot off the celebration. The festival volition go until Oct 7th.
Oktoberfest Hours
Opening day: 12:00 – 10:30pm
Weekdays: 10:00am – 10:30pm
Weekends in addition to Holidays: 9:00am – 10:30pm
Tents Open late: Käfers in addition to Weinzelt opened upwards until 1:00am
Getting to Munich is tardily equally it’s accessible my rail from all major points inwards Europe in addition to has its ain major, international airports.
Oktoberfest takes identify on Theresienwiese. It walkable from the chief railway station (Hauptbahnhof) in addition to the closest U-Bahn is, aptly called, Theresienwiese. Just follow the bulk of crowds to the grounds. You can’t miss it!
Oktoberfest exclusively happens ane time a year, in addition to though it form of busted my European budget, I don’t regret whatsoever of the coin I spent. I’m genuinely glad subsequently years of imitation starts that I finally got to catch in addition to celebrate Oktoberfest. My friends in addition to I are already considering returning adjacent twelvemonth (though mayhap non for 5 days again).
Book Your Trip to Munich: Logistical Tips in addition to Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a inexpensive flying to Munich yesteryear using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my 2 favorite search engines. Start amongst Momondo.
Book Your Accommodation
For a inexpensive identify to stay, banking concern check out The Tent. To volume some other hostel inwards Munich, role Hostelworld. If you lot desire to remain elsewhere, role Booking.com equally they consistently provide the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance volition protect you lot against illness, injury, theft, in addition to cancellations. I never ever proceed a trip without it. I’ve been using World Nomads for x years. You should too.
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Want More Information on Munich?
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