Oktoberfest in Germany ? Oktoberfest is the world’s largest celebration of Bavarian culture ? the Bavarian region is the southeastern corner of Germany famous for its beer. Millions of visitors travel thousands of miles to Munich each year to experience their part of the two-week festival.
If this upcoming festival is your first, then you’ve come to the right place to get all the information you need to get started. If you’ve been to an Oktoberfest before, then you’ve come to the perfect place to get all the information you need AGAIN because you’ll forget everything the moment that beer hits your lips.
This complete guide to Oktoberfest in Germany covers everything you need to know about attending Oktoberfest in Munich and a whole bunch of stuff you didn’t even know you needed to know.
Oktoberfest in Germany: The Essentials
Where is Oktoberfest held in Germany?
Let’s get this straight for the newbies: Oktoberfest takes place in Munich, Germany. That’s in Europe.
The Oktoberfest in Germany takes place on the Theresienwiese as it has for over 200 glorious years. The Theresienwiese is the vast field where the first Oktoberfest ? aka the wedding celebration between Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese took place. Theresienwiese literally means “Therese’s Meadow” and is named after the bride herself. It is located just southwest of the city centre and is easily accessible via its own stop on the Munich U-Bahn.
Oktoberfest Munich attracts millions of visitors every year.
When is Oktoberfest in Germany?
It’s called an Oktoberfest, but it doesn’t actually start in October! Munich’s Oktoberfest takes place in late September and lasts for 16-18 days, depending on the year. It usually ends on the first Sunday in October, but if the 16th day of the festival falls before January 3, the party will continue until then – which we’re 100% okay with. October 3 is a national holiday called German Unity Day, which commemorates the reunification of Germany in 1990.
Oktoberfest Day
Because Oktoberfest in Germany is based on a day rather than a month, the exact time of Oktoberfest is different every year. As far as the specific dates of Oktoberfest are concerned:
Oktoberfest 2021: Canceled Oktoberfest 2022: Saturday, September 17 – Monday, October 3 Oktoberfest 2023: Saturday, September 16 – Tuesday, October 3
And if you’re planning on going any further than that, you should probably relax a bit with a beer because WHOA.
Beer tent opening hours
On the first day of Oktoberfest in Germany (remember in September) it starts right at noon but only after the Mayor of Munich taps the first barrel and shouts, Ozapft is! (“It has been tapped!”) From then on, Oktoberfest usually runs from 10am, 11:30pm on weekdays and from 9am, midnight on weekends (about half an hour). But isn’t Oktoberfest always in our hearts?
BEER TENT OPENING HOURS
Open days: 12:00 noon to 10:30 pm Weekdays: 10:00am to 10:30pm Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 09:00 am to 10:30 pm Daily closing time: 11:30pm “Käfer Wiesn-Schänke” and “Weinzelt” are open until 1am. Last call is at 12:15 am.
SHOW HOURS
Opening hours: 12:00 noon to 12:00 am Monday to Thursday: 10:00am to 11:30pm Friday: 10:00am to 12:00am Saturday: 9:00am to 12:00am Sunday: 9:00am to 11:00pm :30pm
FAIR ATTRACTIONS & PERFORMANCES
Opening hours: 12:00 noon to 12:00 am Monday to Thursday: 10:00 am to 11:30 pm Friday & Saturday: 10:00am to 12:00am Sunday: 10:00am to 11:30am
Oktoberfest beer tent in Germany
A long, long time ago in a faraway Wiesn, beer tents weren’t even a thing. Some of the earliest Oktoberfests used only small beer pavilions—which, you can see, drew crowds nowhere near the millions of people that today’s festivals do. Compared to the size of the beer pavilions of yore, today’s Oktoberfest tents are simply laughable—they can accommodate anywhere from 5,000 to 11,000 festival-goers!
While the carnival rides are fun, it’s inside the beer tents where the real action happens. And by ?action?, we mean whatever’s going on that leads to you downing big, fat glasses of beer.
There are 14 large beer tents at Oktoberfest, each with its own interesting personality and branding. They are either owned by one of the 6 major breweries themselves or by private owners. There are also over 20 “small” beer tents, each with their own theme such as dumplings, seafood, poultry, cheese, etc. Yes, there is a beer tent centered around CHEESE. These “small” tents can accommodate anywhere from 60-900 people.
Tickets and reservations
It all depends on your level of planning, determination, and beer-drinking tendencies. There are a number of ways to go about it, and if done correctly, you should have no problem getting your butt on the bench.
The first thing you should know is that to get a beer at Oktoberfest, you need a seat. And with around 6 million visitors each year and only a fraction of those getting seats, you’ll have to be smart!
For the advance planner
Booking an Oktoberfest beer tent is where you need to go. Each of the major beer tents offers their own tables for two sessions (one in the morning and one in the evening). Getting these is a lengthy, but not impossible, process that should be started earlier than you think. No, earlier than that.
There are rules set in place like how many seats you have to reserve, what you have to buy, etc. Each tent has the right to their own seats and therefore, comes up with their own crazy rules.
For the quick traveler
You can absolutely just *show up* to a beer tent and grab a seat. This is easiest to do in the morning when the tent opens and on weekdays versus Fridays and weekends. Be the first to quench your thirst!
For the Rebel
Oh, so you just want to show up on Saturday night and party with dumplings? Well, let’s just say one of those charming servers won’t hurt your career.
Beer at Oktoberfest in Germany
By law, the only beer served at Munich’s Oktoberfest in Germany must be brewed within the city limits. Today, that means only beer from Munich’s Big 6—Hacker Pschorr, Spaten, Hofbräu, Augustiner, Paulaner, and Löwenbräu—and it doesn’t get much better.
The beer served in the Oktoberfest beer tents is a traditional Marzen-style lager, the style of which is actually called “Oktoberfest”. It is brewed exclusively for the festival and strictly adheres to the Reinheitsgebot Purity Law. Each of the six breweries brews its own beer, and each tent serves only one type. In the Hofbräu tent, it is Oktoberfest Hofbräu. In the Paulaner tent, it is Oktoberfest Paulaner. Easy, right?
Oktoberfest beers are sold exclusively by the liter in mugs called maß (or volume). They’re big; they’re heavy; and, with Oktoberfest beers clocking in at 6% ABV, they pack a lot more alcohol than you might think. Don’t let that light color and smooth drinkability fool you!
In addition to beer you can also find radlers (1/2 beer, 1/2 lemon-lime soda, like a shandy), wine, sodas and other non-alcoholic drinks, and mixed drinks in some tents.
Oktoberfest in Germany
The food at Oktoberfest is… well, it’s almost indescribably delicious. The Oktoberfest beer tents are packed with traditional Bavarian cuisine, and it’s some of the best food you’ll ever eat.
Some of the best sellers are half a roast chicken (H endl), pork leg (Schweinshaxe), beef and sausages of all kinds (just put whatever word you want in front of it – wurst), all served with the best sides—sauerkraut, red cabbage, potato dumplings, potato salad. And you can’t forget the most popular Oktoberfest treat—a soft Bavarian pretzel the size of your face.
But the most important thing to remember about Oktoberfest food is… you need to eat! Remember what we said about drinking a pint of 6% alcohol beer?
What to Wear to Oktoberfest in Germany
Traditional Bavarian clothing is always welcome and appreciated, no matter how German you are. We’re pretty sure wearing these makes you German. We know how to drink beer.
For the ladies: A dirndl is what you can choose. A dirndl consists of a long skirt over a white blouse and an apron, tied appropriately. Dirndls come in all colors, patterns, styles, cup sizes and look great on every body type.
Oktoberfest in Germany?
For gentlemen: The favorite garment was lederhosen or “leather breeches” which could be shorts or knee-length and were attached to suspenders across the chest. They were worn over a nice button-down shirt, striped or otherwise, and paired with some knee-length socks and simple loafers.
Now, there’s a lot more to know about dressing for Oktoberfest: where to tie your apron bow, what shoes to wear, how to accessorize, what’s appropriate and what’s awkward for all parties involved, etc.
Let’s take a look at this article! —-
Oktoberfest in Germany
Wait a minute – you didn’t think Oktoberfest was all about beer, pretzels, and polkas, did you? Oh no, there’s a lot more to Oktoberfest than that (but mostly beer, pretzels, and polkas). Turns out, there’s a lot more to it than just parades, celebrations, and gunfire.
While you’re at the October Festival, don’t miss any of these special events:
Oktoberfest opening and closing ceremonies
These take place on the first and last days of the Oktoberfest. The opening ceremony takes place inside the Schottenhamel tent and features a barrel, the Mayor of Munich, and the most important phrase uttered at the Oktoberfest: O?Zapft Is!
The closing ceremony takes place right before closing time on the last night of Oktoberfest inside the Hacker-Pschorr tent. Sing along with 10,000 of your closest friends, wave sparklers around the dark tent, and just go ahead and start the countdown to next year.
Oktoberfest Family Day
Yes, of course there is fun for the whole family here! In fact, there are two family days at Oktoberfest, where all the rides and shows are discounted.
Parades and more parades
At its core, Oktoberfest is a celebration of Bavarian life and history, and there’s no better way to be reminded of this than by experiencing one of the festival’s parades. There’s the opening day parade featuring the famous horse-drawn beer wagons led by the Münchner Kindl, and the traditional costume parade with over 10,000 participants.
Gay Sunday
The first Sunday of Oktoberfest is designated Gay Sunday with festivities taking place in the Pschorr-Bräurosl tent.
Concert and gun party
Don’t miss the grand open-air concert by traditional brass and alphonse bands at the foot of the Bavarian statue. And especially don’t miss the gun salute that concludes the Oktoberfest with the winners of the Oktoberfest crossbow competition.
Guide to Oktoberfest in Germany: How to Get There and Get Around
To Munich
By air
Munich has two major airports—the main airport (Flughafen München) and the cheaper, more distant but still accessible airport (Allgäu-Memmingen Airport).
From Munich’s main airport, you can easily catch a direct train into the city centre on the S1 and S8 S-Bahn trains. The journey takes around 45 minutes with trains departing every 20 minutes.
From Memmingen airport, there is a shuttle bus to Munich’s main train station (Hauptbahnhof) several times a day, adjusted to coincide with arriving flights. This direct trip takes 1 hour 20 minutes each way.
By road
As with most major European cities, Munich can be reached by a variety of trains and buses from almost anywhere on the continent. When booking trains, look for the final stop at Munich’s Hauptbahnhof. When booking buses, look for the final stop at Munich’s main bus station, ZOB,
Getting around Munich
Munich, Germany has some of the best public transportation in the world. There is no need to rent a car here as public transportation is fast, reliable, affordable, and sometimes covered with beer advertisements from the Hofbrauhaus.
Munich’s public transportation network includes underground trains (U-Bahn), trains that go out to the ?burbs (S-Bahn, S standing for suburbs), overground trams (just called trams, meh), and intercity buses. If you’re curious about the horse-drawn beer wagons—no, they won’t take you all over town.
No matter what form of public transport you take when you get to town for Oktoberfest, rest assured that it will be fast, on time, cheap, well-lit, air-conditioned, easy to find and well-directed. You can buy group tickets if you’re not traveling alone, day tickets for all the times you get lost, and multi-day tickets because you can’t just visit Oktoberfest once.
In addition to the transport options listed above, taxis and rickshaws are always available, you can go on your own two feet if you are close enough to the Wiesn.
Oktoberfest Accommodation in Germany
Without a doubt, the first thing to decide, after deciding to attend in the first place, is where to stay in Munich for the Oktoberfest. During this two-week period, hotels in Munich book up a year in advance in some places.
Oktoberfest in Germany?
When booking a hotel for Oktoberfest, you want to look for:
Hotels as close to Theresienwiese as possible
Within walking distance to U-Bahn, S-bahn, tram or bus station as possible
Hotel includes breakfast
But most importantly, the hotels have available rooms.
Some recommended Oktoberfest hotels in Munich include:
Four Points by Sheraton
Senator Hotel
Mirabell Hotel
The Meridian
Aside from the usual old hotels, Munich offers a wide range of alternative accommodation. You’ve got Airbnbs, hostels, surf and house rental communities to join, and there’s even a campsite near the Wiesn if tenting and “roughing it” is your thing.
October Festival Music in Germany
The Oktoberfest you’ll experience today is a lot different than the Oktoberfests of yore. Instead of horse races, you’ll find horse-drawn carriages hauling beer through town. Instead of swings, you’ll find plenty of roller coasters and other carnival-style rides to enjoy before the drinking begins.
Instead of competing with your friends in bowling alleys, you will do this where you stand on your bench and try to drink a whole pint of beer. It is really a big celebration.
There are parades, traditional Bavarian concerts, men with whips and air rifles. You’ll see all the highlights as the mayor of Munich bangs the first barrel and shouts, ?O?Zapft Is!? to the closing ceremony in the Hacker-Pschorr tent.
You’ll dance to all kinds of music, from traditional Bavarian to modern. You’ll party in beer tents big enough to fit you and 10,000 of your closest friends. And to top it all off, you’ll drink the best beer and eat the best food you’ve ever had.
Guide to Oktoberfest in Germany: Money & Costs
We’ll start with the good news: Oktoberfest is free! Entry to the Oktoberfest park is 100% free, as is entry to the beer tent. The bad news? They won’t let you sleep in the beer tent.
Motel
Finding a place to rest your head will be the most expensive part of attending Oktoberfest. The closer you get to Theresienwiese, the more you’ll pay. The longer you wait to book a room, the more you’ll pay. The key? Book early and maybe take a U-bahn stop or two.
Standard hotel rooms (such as those with a hairdryer and TV) will cost up to €500 per night during Oktoberfest, with hostels offering dorm beds for half that price. There are camping options if you want to sleep in a tent during the German autumn.
Carriage
To Munich
Munich has the advantage of being served by two airports—the main one (Flughafen München) and the cheaper one further away (Allgäu-Memmingen Airport). Via the main line, you can easily catch a train into the city center for around €11 each way. From Memmingen, express shuttles to central Munich start at €15 each way.
In Europe, there are countless trains and buses to get you to Munich from almost anywhere. Just make sure to factor the “getting to Munich in the first place” factor into your Oktoberfest budget planning?
In Munich
Munich has some of the best public transport in the world, so do your best to leave the phrase “rent a car” out of your Oktoberfest equation. Munich’s extensive public transport network includes subways, suburban rail, overground trams and buses.
Getting around within Munich city limits won’t cost more than a few euros for a one-way ticket on any form of public transport. Know that you can also buy group tickets, day passes, multi-day passes, etc. all of which are economical.
Food and drink
Beer at Oktoberfest is served by the litre (some strong, some thirst quenching) and although prices vary from tent to tent, the average beer is around €11 before tip.
This following is for inclusion purposes only and does not reflect our beliefs in any way… Non-alcoholic drinks. At Oktoberfest. Whatever, you can get it. In the beer tent, you can order soft drinks, water, and juice. These are available by the half liter and cost around €5. Non-alcoholic drinks at Oktoberfest are even more expensive than if you just ordered a drink.
Oktoberfest in Germany?
Meals inside the tents also vary but can range from €5 for a small snack to €30 for the Bavarian meal of your life.
To give you a better budget idea, the most popular meal at Oktoberfest is ½ chicken which will cost you around €10-12.
Outside the Wiesn you can find snacks, meals, desserts, half-meter long sausages and countless other food options. You can enjoy crepes, sandwiches, fried fish, roasted nuts and a variety of bratwurst stuffed with nutella and more. Food prices outside the tents are much lower than inside the tents. Expect to pay between €5-10 for each delicious dish.
Entertainment
Let’s be real here: the best entertainment at Oktoberfest is people-watching, and that business is completely free.
But if you want to ride some of the rides, fall down some fun houses, cuddle up with four other couples on that giant Ferris wheel, you’re going to have to pay. And it won’t be cheap. Oktoberfest rides will cost you anything up to around €12 – plus a little of your dignity depending on what time of day you go.
Every Tuesday and Thursday of Oktoberfest is Family Day when rides are half price, so if you’ve had your eye on that Chairoplane, make it a family day out.
Oktoberfest Costumes in Germany
Dressing up for the party at Oktoberfest in Germany is half the fun! However, decking out yourself in your fancy new dirndl and LED jacket isn’t cheap. Unless you want it to be.
Lederhosen and dirndls are everywhere—you can buy them online, in stores all over Munich, even at the train station—and prices vary widely. You can pick up some high-quality appliances that will last you a lifetime for hundreds and hundreds of dollars, and buy something online for less than the price of a new toaster.
Picking up lederhosen and dirndls (collectively called trachten ) in Munich during Oktoberfest will cost more than at other times of the year. However, buying some at the end of the festival in October (because you’ll be back next year, right?) will net you some great deals.
So really, the cost of your trachea largely depends on how much you want. Set yourself a budget and shop accordingly.
History of Oktoberfest in Germany
Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany began on October 12, 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Being generous people, they invited the citizens of Munich to a celebration on the field outside the city gates ? what we now call the Theresienwiese ? and the rest is Oktoberfest history.
The five-day wedding celebration was all about a horse race. The following year (and every year after that) there were so many requests to repeat the celebration that Therese, now Queen of Bavaria, stepped out onto her balcony and said, “Let them drink beer!”
Since then, Oktoberfest in Germany has only gotten bigger. They’ve added horse races, agricultural shows, bowling alleys, carnival booths, parades, and swings. Are those ladies and gentlemen ready to PAR-TAY!? Oktoberfest in Germany has been going strong for over 200 years and has only missed 25 times. Thanksgiving, war, and disease.
As the years passed and the celebrations continued (and grew), the decision was made to move the festival to start in September to allow for more favorable weather conditions. Biergarten in September > biergarten in October. Even though the beer and pretzel festival moved several months, the name stuck.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Question: When is Oktoberfest in Germany?
It’s called an Oktoberfest, but it doesn’t actually start in October! Munich’s Oktoberfest takes place in late September and lasts for 16-18 days, depending on the year. It usually ends on the first Sunday in October, but if the 16th day of the festival falls before January 3, the party will continue until then – which we’re 100% okay with. October 3 is a national holiday called German Unity Day, which commemorates the reunification of Germany in 1990.
