Munich Oktoberfest guide: our highlights + first timer tips
There is really no way to exactly describe what Oktoberfest is until you have seen it in person. It is part carnival, part concert, with a lot of food, and a whole lot of beer. It truly is a 16 day party in the heart of one of my favorite cities: Munich, Germany.
Nick and I have actually been to Munich twice: once in the summer and once in the fall for Oktoberfest. Munich is one of our favorite cities for the food (these are my top Munich food recommendations), shopping (here is a video of my Germany shopping haul), and the history. While the monuments and historical artifacts are not as old as they are in other parts of Europe, there are some amazing World War 2 sites that you absolutely need to see. So, if you are planning on making the trip to Oktoberfest, I highly recommend adding just a few days to the front of the trip so you can experience the city. Here is a recap of one of my days that included both sightseeing and beer drinking!
If you are thinking about planning a trip to Oktoberfest, here are some tips and pieces of information that will hopefully eliminate the stress and let you enjoy the party.
Where is Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest in Munich is part carnival, part concert, and a whole lot of Bavarian food and beer at Theresienwiese (the ‘Wiesn’). It’s a 16-day festival that feels like a city-wide party. Theresienwiese is a 42-hectare fairground just southwest of Munich’s city center, easy to reach by U-Bahn (Theresienwiese, Goetheplatz, or Poccistraße). Not only are there rides and games, including the Toboggan, which is a traditional ride that has been around since 1933, but there are also 17 big beer tents and 21 small tents. And when I say “big beer tents,” I mean big enough to hold thousands of people.
How much does it cost?
It is totally free to enter the fairgrounds and the beer tents. However, there is a fee for all of the rides, the food, and of course, the beer. Beer in the tents is sold by the liter (‘Maß’) and typically costs €14–€15 (prices vary by tent/year). All beer is sold in liters, so this is the price per liter. Make sure to bring cash! No credit cards allowed. Here is the official beer price list.
What if I don’t like beer?
You can definitely find other drinks out on the fairgrounds, but in the tents, it is all beer. However, I am not a huge beer drinker, so I stuck to the Radler, which is a mix of beer and lemonade and is very delicious.
What should I wear?
The majority of the people who attend Oktoberfest will be wearing the traditional lederhosen and dirndl. You don’t have to wear traditional clothing, but that is part of the fun! Most people will tell you to avoid places like Amazon to get your clothing, but I found this one that was modest and traditional and worked just fine. My husband did end up ordering his lederhosen from a more traditional site, but it is totally up to you!
I would also recommend comfortable shoes. These are the boots that I ended up wearing most days, but I also saw plenty of people in tennis shoes. Bag sizes are limited (max 20×15×10 cm). Rules change, so check the current policy before you go.
what is the weather typically like?
Fall in Europe can either be warm or rainy, and it really depends on when you visit. We were at Oktoberfest for the very last week and it was chilly and rainy most days. I always layered a cardigan over my dirndl and some days I also wore a rain jacket. My best advice is to have layers that you can swap in and out each day.
Does it cost to get into the beer tents?
Admission to the beer tents is completely free, but occupancy is limited. Tents typically open each day around 10 am. There is a mad dash to claim your spots as soon as the gate opens. You do not have to have reservations, and every beer tent has a reservation-free zone, but those areas are extremely packed. Most days, the people are shoulder to shoulder, and you can hardly move. You can, however, make reservations for the tables, but those sell out months in advance, and you need at least 10 other people to fill the reservation. The reservation itself is free, but to reserve a table, you are committing to buying at least 2 liters of beer and a half roast chicken for each person. So you could reserve an entire table for less than 10 people, but you would either be paired with others to complete the table or be on the hook for the money. Or, if you get lucky, one table will have an opening and you can join! If you are interested in making a reservation for Oktoberfest, check out this page for more information.
If you are going with just a few people, you definitely do not need reservations for any of the beer tents. Most days, we woke up, went for a run through the city, ate lunch, and then headed over to the fairgrounds early afternoon and ended up getting in with no issues. However, be aware of a national holiday that happens towards the end of Oktoberfest, Germany Unity Day, and the last few days, as those were the most packed.
