Oktoberfest, Munich
Updated: 7 hours ago
That event that has been in your bucket list for way too long. Every end of September your algorithm starts delivering images of thousands of tables filled with people inside this huge tents of high ceilings and waiters carrying six litters of beer at a time with each hand. You don't know how to start planning this trip to Oktoberfest. What are the best dates, how does the tent table reservation work, prices, where to get your attire. Here I'll walk you step by step through this whole process and make it as easy-and stress free-as possible.
Oktoberfest Dates
The starting date is typically the first weekend after September 15th on a Saturday and usually finalizes the first weekend of October on Sunday. The first weekend of Oktoberfest is the most traditional and local one, by the end it becomes more touristy. The last week of Oktoberfest is well known for being the one in which people get sick because the tent has been occupied by thousands and thousands of people from all over the world and germs are all over it. It is an actual thing. If youwant to eperience an authentic experience the first weekend is the best. The open ceremony consist in a parade with carriages decorated with beautiful flowers and greenery, pulled by very well taken care horses and of course lederhosens and dirndls worn everywhere. The carriages represent the local breweries.
Locals reserve a spot at the cafe that first day to watch the parade and start drinking beer at 9 a.m. Here are the two main streets where carriages gather to start: Herzog-Wilhelm-Straße and Kreuzstraße. Cafe Woerner's is the best spot to watch.
The parade goes through the city to the fair grounds (20 min walk). On the fair grounds the mayor of Munich taps the first keg at the Schottenhamel Festhalle tent officially initiating Oktoberfest with a "O'zapft is." (It's tapped).
There are bands that proceed with the parade and enter the tents playing music, wearing different attires that represent them.
The energy the first weekend of Oktoberfest is unlike the rest of the weeks that this celebation lasts. There is electricity in the air, an incredible energy in the atmosphere. All the local life turned around it.
Do I need to reserve a table for Oktoberfest? How to reserve a table at Oktoberfest?
You've probably also seen these videos of people running through a field the first day of Oktoberfest to be able to sit at a table. There are a few facts to why this happens and why luckily this won't apply to you. First, who are running and fighting their lives for a table are kids in a student age who can't afford to pay for a table, hence they don't have reservations. Second, there are tents that do not allow reservations on the first weekend of Oktoberfest or during certain times of the day, so if you want to sit at that specific tent, yes you are running there.
That said if you can afford to reserve a table, or prefer to go during the week instead of the weekend, you don't have to worry about running, that won't happen to you.
The first rule of Oktoberfest is, when at a tent if you are not sat at a table, they won't serve you absolutely anything. Yes, you can even ask a stranger if you can sit for two seconds to order a beer and once your beer arrives you move, but you can't order if your bottoms are not on the bench by a table.
The tents have outdoor tables where there are no reservations, you can walk in and sit if there is space. People outside is usually very friendly about it, especially older people. Teenagers not so much. Tents close at midnight, some of them a bit earlier.
The system to reserve tables is a bit tricky and you need to have patience. The first thing you need to know is that they prioritize locals. First Munchen people, then German people, and you will be at last. When you reserve a table on certain area, they will give the best table in that area to locals first. Some specific tents have certain days where they only allow tables to be reserved by locals.
Each tent has a different date in which they open for reservations. Make a list of your favorite five tents and make sure to check regularly when they open and what are the rules. As I said, some of them won't allow you to reserve on specific dates unless you are a local, some others don't even reserve at all during weekends, they are on a first come first serve basis. You go to the website, make sure to use the browser in your computer and be patient with the translation. Have the google translator in another tab opened because some websites are only in German. Create your account on the wbesite of that tent. So now, even if you are able to reserve a table, because the prices for Oktoberfest are determined by Munich during the summer (two months before Oktoberfest starts) you can't pay just yet. You will receive an email stating prices and a link to pay. Once you pay, the table is yours. If you don't pay within the timeframe specified in that email your reservation is automatically cancelled. The only money they keep is the fee for reserving a table that is about two bucks per person or so. So yes, you can make as many reservations as you want on each tent only loosing a few bucks and then keep the tent of preference. I have to say that even getting a table at all is hard and they get sold sometimes within hours, so it will be a bit challenging to even have multiple reservations.
On the day of your reservations the general rule is that you can be about 30 to 45 min late to your table, if you don't arrive by then, they give your table away even if you paid to reserve it. Of course always make sure because depends on each tent.
Go during the week if you dont wan't to make reservations, it is easier and less crowded. With determination you will be able to sit in a tent. The larger your group the more difficult this will be.
The Oktoberfest prices are something between $100 and $130 per person, and besides the table this will include four litters of beer per person plus half a chicken and additional food. All this comes in vouchers that look like this and you can use them towards anything on the menu but make sure to calculate in your favor cause they don't give you change when using them. Some tents have a minium of people per table, which means that if you are four and the minimum is six people you will have to pay for six, though you will be able to use all the vouchers anyways.
What's the best tent in Oktoberfest? List of Oktoberfest tents
This is entirely up to your preference. Are you okay with huge tents that hold thousands of people at a time and for which you will have to line up to go to the bathroom or are you looking for a smaller tent that is not too crazy.
Do you like beer? There is the famous wine tent for those who prefer sipping a botlle of grapes.
Here is the official website to Oktoberfest and this link will take you to a list of every single tent which is also linked to their respective websites.
Oktoberfest Fairgrounds and Rides
The access to the grounds is completely for free. There are many bars across the entire site and you will be able to drink even if you are not inside the big tents.
The grounds get super crowded at noon. Make sure to do the rides early inthe morning about 10 a.m. or late at night. Othewise long lines will waste your time.
Three popular rides I recommend:
The Devil's wheel: This is the floor that spins around. You sit, spin, and get tossed to the side. In order to sit on the wheel you have to listen carefully to the host of the game to call your category, this could be an age, gender, profession, whatever he comes up with. It is all said in German so it's good if you ask someone to translate for you.
The Toboggan: An electric belt will pull you up, and then you come down using a very long slide in the form of a spiral.
The Wellenflug: This carrousel that elevates high up and starts spining. It is very fun, keep in mind once you are up there it feels faster than it looks from the ground.
Bavarian Attire for Oktoberfest
For a typical dirndl I would resource to Poshmark. Now if you have time, in the city of Munich at the store Vintage Revivals they have the most beautiful dirndls at an amazing price, a variety of gorgeous white tops that go with it too. For men is a bit trickier because is generally way more expensive, while I got my attire for a total cost of $50 (top and dress bought separated) for men only the whool vest could cost about $200. The entire lederhosen could be easily with pants, shirt, and socks $500. I recommend to rent them at Bavarian Outfitters, a chain that works in the city of Munich with multiple locations. You can pick up in the morning during opening hours and there is a 24/7 drop off system to return. Go to their website, book your time slot, go twenty minutes earlier because there will be a line, try on your size, and that's pretty much it.
Oktoberfest Tips
They only use cash. Make sure you have Euros.
When you tie the bow on your dirndl the position determines your relationship status: Right is taken, left is available.
During the day time slot the tents are more families and a bit more calm, during the night, after nine p.m the tents literally become nightclubs. Lights off, sometimes disco balls, or colorful lights and electronic music and dj's. Looooots of teenagers at this time, depending on tent, which at least is not my favorite environment so I prefered the daytime slot.
Now that I have experienced it and since the grounds are for free, I recommend to dedicate an entire weekend to it. One day yo go to the tent and enjoy your table. The next day you walk the grounds and do all the rides you want with plenty of time.
Book everything in advance, this is the most crowded moment of the year in Munich.
It gets really hot inside the tents unless is extremely cold outside, a jacket is pointless if you will be inside.
Where to stay during Oktoberfest?
Hotel Du Train is perfect, located right where all the parade gathers to commence, and the whole aesthetic is a luxurious fancy train. Everything looks as if you were in the beautiful Polar Express.
Now you are all clear to enjoy one of the biggest festivities sin the world. Prost!
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