Munich’s Oktoberfest started a long time ago; in 1810 to be exact- in the form of a horse race to celebrate the royal wedding of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The citizens of Munich were invited to the event and most of them ignored the races and took advantage of all of the drinks and food that was available. The following years they started including agricultural shows, carnival booths, parades, etc, and the horse races were soon history. Fortunately, they’ve conserved the best part of the festival! Every year, around 7 million people visit Munich to celebrate “Wiesn”, the world’s biggest party.
When to go
The name is very misleading because most of the festival is in September. This year’s Oktoberfest is from September 19 to October 4. Be sure to be there on Saturday (September 19) and visit the Schottenhamel tent to catch the official opening ceremonies. At noon, the mayor of Munich will tap the first keg of beer to mark the beginning of the festival.
Beer Serving Hours:
- On the opening day, beers will be served from 12:00 noon – 10:30 pm.
- On weekdays, beers will be served from 10:00 am – 10:30 pm
- On weekends and holidays from 09:00 am – 10:30 pm
Stalls Opening hours:
- On the opening day, they will be open from 12:00 noon – 12:00 midnight.
- Monday – Thursday from 10:00 am – 11:30 pm
- Fridays from 10:00 am – 12:00 midnight
- Saturdays from 9:00 am – 12:00 midnight
- Sundays from 9:00 am – 11:30 pm
Attractions & sideshows:
- On the opening day, there will be attractions going on from 12:00 noon – 12:00 midnight.
- Monday – Thursday from 10:00 am – 11:30 pm
- Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 am – 12:00 midnight
- Sundays from 10:00 am – 11:30 pm
They celebrate this festival in other countries like Brazil, Ireland and many more! Who knows, you may have an Oktoberfest in your city and you have no idea! Find out how they celebrate it here: https://www.edreams.com/blog/oktoberfest-beers-which-is-the-one-for-you/
Which tent to pick
Although you can drink in any of the 14 “tents” (wooden halls) and you don’t have to pay an entrance fee, be sure to book a table before heading to the festival. If you don’t end up booking, you’ll have to be there very early because tents fill up quickly and they close when full. On weekends, tents usually close before 11 am.
We recommend to book with First Festival Travel, the only UK Festival Tour Operator that offers this service at the traditional Schottenhamel Beer Tent (where the mayor taps the keg).
Where to stay
The cheapest place to stay is around the Munich-Thalkirchen Camping Ground. There are also a handful of good hostels near the festival.
We’d recommend to try to get a closed package that includes the hotel and transport to the tents.
What to wear
Anything, really! But if you really want to experience the festival like a local:
Men wear
Grab a pair of Lederhosen leather shorts and strap them on!
Women wear
Get a traditional Dirndl dress. Be careful on how you wear them though! If you place a bow on the right, you’re telling everyone that you’re not single; if you place a bow on the left side, it means that you’re single and a bow on the front means you’re a virgin.
What to eat and drink
Beer, of course! It’s served exclusively in one-litre mugs and cost about 8€. The beer is slowly brewed through the summer and packs a 6% alcoholic punch. If you want to drink something else, you can also get a beer with a lemonade twist called Radler and some wine.
We’ve prepared a guide where you can find the perfect beer for you: https://www.edreams.com/blog/oktoberfest-beers-which-is-the-one-for-you/
You don’t have to move around to find food because it’s everywhere and there are a lot of things to eat: From dried fish to cheese. Here’s a guide of the best dishes you’ll find in the tents: https://www.edreams.com/blog/oktoberfest-beers-which-is-the-one-for-you/
How to make the most of the festival
Imagine you have flights, hotel reservations and transportation in one pack. We’re giving away 2 flights to Munich and the “Just Beerfest Hotel” 4-day tour package of First Festival Travel.
