Oktoberfest in Munich: Our Tips from a Local

Oktoberfest in Munich: Is It Worth It?

• for fans of beer, brass music and Schlager
• for party lovers
• for families with kids
• for fans of Bavarian culture
• simply for the experience
• anyone who wants it quiet
• anyone who can’t stand crowds
• anyone who doesn’t like beer

Back in 1810, when Oktoberfest was invented, nobody could have imagined that this festival would become a bucket-list destination for people from all over the world. Rarely do you get the chance to share a beer with so many different cultures all in one place.

If beer isn’t really your thing, Oktoberfest probably isn’t your scene. Brass music and Schlager are played live and loud, and before long people are dancing exuberantly on the beer benches.

That said, Oktoberfest is actually a great time for families too: kids love the rides and colorful candy stands.

If you’re visiting Munich anyway, you should definitely take a stroll through the festival grounds. Alongside the classic things to do in Munich and exciting Munich hidden gems, a visit to the Wiesn is an experience in its own right — the atmosphere alone is worth a detour.

By the way, you can still experience genuine Bavarian culture at Oktoberfest — specifically at the Oide Wiesn. Traditional Schuhplattler and folk dance groups perform there, and the beer tents are considerably more laid-back.

Want to explore more of Munich while you’re there? Check out our article on city tours in Munich.

The Best Time to Visit Oktoberfest

If you want to experience Oktoberfest at its most relaxed, go on a weekday morning. That’s what the locals do too — in fact, a few years ago Oktoberfest was extended by one Monday specifically “for the people of Munich.”

Want the full Wiesn experience? The party atmosphere peaks during the middle weekend (known as the Italian Weekend) and on Anstich day — the first Saturday. Just keep in mind that on that day, beer isn’t served until after the tapping ceremony at noon.

Our tip: On the Oktoberfest Barometer website, you can check in real time how full the beer tents currently are.

Important: At Oktoberfest, last call is at 11:30 p.m. Only the Käfer-Schenke and Kufflers Weinzelt stay open until 1 a.m. There are, however, plenty of clubs nearby that host “After Wiesn” parties.

Accommodation Tips for Oktoberfest

One rule of thumb: book your Munich accommodation for Oktoberfest as early as possible. Just like the beer tent tables, places to sleep fill up fast.

Your best bet is to choose somewhere with subway or tram connections, as the S-Bahn isn’t always the most efficient option during the festival.

Another general rule: the further out you stay, the cheaper it gets. Here are a few areas to consider, along with some hotel recommendations.

Our budget tip: There’s also a campsite exclusively for Oktoberfest visitors. You’ll need to be pretty hardcore for that one though. Renting a tent costs 140 euros for two weekend nights.

Staying in Schwanthalerhöhe

• if you want to party late into the night
• for die-hard Oktoberfest fans
• if a short commute matters to you

Schwanthalerhöhe is right next to the Theresienwiese — you simply can’t stay any closer to Oktoberfest. Prices are of course sky-high: two nights here start at 600 euros. You should also expect the area to be extremely crowded and potentially noisy at night.

Bavaria Boutique Hotel — great decor, right next to the festival grounds

Hotel Augustin — especially good for families with kids, delicious breakfast

Staying in Lehel

• if you’re in Munich for more than just Oktoberfest
• if comfort and ambiance matter to you

Lehel is about 15 minutes from Oktoberfest by public transit. You’ll find lovely boutique hotels, hip cafés and restaurants here, and you’re just a short distance from Marienplatz. Prices start at 500 euros.

Unsöld’s Factory Hotel — a seriously stylish boutique hotel close to the subway

Hotel an der Oper — just around the corner from Marienplatz, super central

Staying in Dachau

• if you’re traveling on a tight budget
• if you prefer something quieter and less touristy

Dachau is a good distance outside Munich — you’ll need about 55 minutes by public transit to reach Oktoberfest. But if you don’t mind the longer commute, you can save a serious amount of money. Hotels here start at around 250 euros for a weekend.

Hotel Modi — quiet location, with spa and fitness center

Fresh Suites and Bar — affordable yet charming hotel

Tips for Dirndl and Lederhosen

If you want to celebrate in a Dirndl or Lederhosen like a true Bavarian, make sure you go for good quality. “Cheap traditional wear” is frowned upon. That said, you can find more affordable yet high-quality pieces at various outlets in Bavaria, such as the Angermaier traditional wear outlet.

Our budget tip: Just want to experience Oktoberfest once without splurging on expensive traditional wear? You can simply rent your outfit from Bavarian Outfitters. We think the concept is really cool!
Typical Oktoberfest outfit for men:

• Lederhosen
• Traditional shirt
• Calf warmers (Wadlschoner)
• Charivari (chain with silver charms, crystals, and animal teeth)
• Tyrolean hat
• Traditional shoes (never wear sneakers!)

Typical Oktoberfest outfit for women:

• Dirndl with apron (traditionally knee-length or longer)
• Blouse (absolutely no bare top or tank top!)
• Traditional shoes
• Braided hairstyle or headband
• Or: Lederhosen also work great

Important: If a woman ties her Dirndl bow on the right, she’s taken. On the left means she’s single and open to flirting. In the back signals widowhood — or that she’s working as a waitress at the Wiesn.

The Best Beer Tents at Oktoberfest

Here are our picks for the best beer tents at Oktoberfest for every occasion:

• Pschorr-Bräurosl: our personal favorite — relaxed and fun atmosphere
• Hacker Festzelt: visually the most stunning, with the “Heaven of Bavaria” ceiling
• Käferzelt und Schenke: a bit more refined and upscale
• Fischer Vroni: an absolute classic, with really great grilled fish on a stick
• Rischart’s Café Kaiserschmarrn: perfect for breakfast

You can reserve tables in the beer tents by purchasing food vouchers in advance — for example, two liters of beer and half a roast chicken per person. Reservations for all 17 tents open in April and you really need to act fast.

If the tables are all booked up, there’s still a portion of seats that can’t be reserved in advance. In that case, you should line up one to two hours before the tents open at 9 a.m.

As long as the tent entrances are open, you can get in — but to order anything inside, you need to find a seat. Usually, a friendly ask will get people to scoot over. During the day, however, it can happen that a tent closes due to overcrowding.

Oktoberfest Attractions

Classic Oktoberfest highlights include the Wilde Maus roller coaster, the Breakdancer, and the Geisterpalast ghost ride. You should also try your hand at the strength hammer or the shooting gallery at least once.

The Schichtl is also incredibly well known — it’s a traditional theater with its own tavern. The standout moment of the show is the guillotine act, where a real person appears to be beheaded on stage.

Another classic for your Oktoberfest bucket list is the Teufelsrad (Devil’s Wheel). What could be more fun than sitting on a spinning disk after a few beers? Exactly: watching other people do it.

Our tip: The traditional procession of the Wiesn hosts takes place on the first Saturday of the festival. The following day brings the traditional costume and marksmen’s parade. Both are absolutely worth watching.

Oktoberfest Beer and Food

Traditional Oktoberfest beer can only be served by six breweries: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Löwenbräu, Spatenbräu, Hofbräu, and Paulaner. Oktoberfest beer is a pale lager with a noticeably higher alcohol content than your average brew.

There is no Radler (shandy) available in the beer tents — but you can order a liter of beer and a liter of lemonade and mix them yourself.

Typical hearty dishes include pork knuckle with dumplings, a roast chicken, or a Brotzeitbrettl snack board loaded with bacon, cheese, Obazda, and pretzels. Still have room? The stands offer roasted almonds, gingerbread hearts, and chocolate-covered fruit.

Vegetarians are well catered for too. We recommend Käsespätzle (cheese noodles) or Rahmschwammerl (mushrooms in cream sauce). For vegans, some tents offer sauerkraut strudel, pan-fried tomato bread (“Paradeiser” bread), and the enormous Wiesn pretzels.

Oktoberfest Prices

At Oktoberfest, cash is king! There are a few ATMs on the grounds, but the lines are very long. A handful of beer tents do accept debit and credit cards, but you should check that ahead of time.

Let’s be upfront about it — Oktoberfest is an expensive affair. Here are a few price examples from 2022 to give you an idea.

• One-liter beer (Maß): 12.60 to 13.80 euros
• Ferris wheel: 10 euros (children 4 euros)
• Olympia Looping: 12 euros
• Other rides: 5 to 9 euros (children 1 to 5 euros)
• Pretzel: 2 to 3 euros
• Gingerbread heart: up to 6 euros
• Half roast chicken: approx. 14 euros
• Pork knuckle: approx. 24 euros
• Ox sandwich: 5 to 6 euros

Tips for Saving Money at Oktoberfest

All the rides at the Oide Wiesn cost just 1 euro each. The Oide Wiesn itself charges a 4-euro admission fee, but after 9 p.m. you can enter for free. Children under 14 always get in free. A liter of beer at the Oide Wiesn’s museum tent also costs 1 euro less.

Many attractions, stands, and beer tents also offer discounted lunch specials.

If you’re on a family trip to Munich with kids, mark your calendar for Tuesday. That’s always Family Day at Oktoberfest. Various tents offer discounts on children’s meals, and some rides join in too.

If you’re really watching your budget, you can of course pre-game — and bring your own snacks. This is actually standard practice at all the beer gardens of the brewpubs in Munich.

Safety at Oktoberfest

For security reasons, your bag may only hold three liters or be no larger than 20 cm x 15 cm x 10 cm. Bags are checked at the entrances, so expect some wait time there. Leave glass bottles at home.

On the grounds and even on public transit, always keep an eye on your valuables. Bring only as much cash as you think you’ll actually need.

If you’re coming with a stroller, check online in advance which days strollers are permitted.

The Aktion Sichere Wiesn (Safe Wiesn Initiative) provides help for all kinds of incidents — whether your bag gets stolen or you’re in danger of sexual assault. There is a Safe Space on the Theresienwiese that you can go to in an emergency.

There are also plenty of police officers patrolling the festival grounds. You can of course turn to them in emergencies as well.

Getting to Oktoberfest

You have several options for getting to Oktoberfest by public transit. Here’s an overview:

• Take the U3 or U6 from Marienplatz to Goetheplatz or Poccistraße
• Take the U4 from the main train station to Theresienwiese
• Take the S-Bahn main line to Hackerbrücke

Only the last two options bring you directly to the main entrance. The trade-off is that the trains are incredibly packed and you’ll end up walking the last stretch in a massive crowd. With the U3 and U6, you’re a few minutes’ walk from the south and east entrances.

Alternatively, you can walk from the main train station to Oktoberfest in about ten minutes. Your chances of catching a taxi at night are also much better at the main station than right outside the festival grounds.

We strongly advise against driving! Parking in Munich is extremely expensive, traffic and finding a spot during the Wiesn are a nightmare, and you can barely drink anything (there are especially frequent traffic checks during Oktoberfest).

Looking for more info on the best ways to get around Munich? Check out our Munich tips.