Hi, it’s me- the first timer.
I visited Oktoberfest for the very first time in 2024. I researched a lot before I went and I had a blast during my visit, but I am by no means an expert on Oktoberfest.
Instead I aim to provide a guide about things that I wish I’d known before arriving to Munich- things that expert Oktoberfest-enjoyer’s may have forgotten about since it’s become so second nature to them.
What is Oktoberfest
The first instance of Oktoberfest was a celebration of marriage between Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese in 1810. The wedding bash was so popular that it became an annual event and has spread throughout the globe! It’s become a fun two-ish week festival of beer and traditional German food.
Where Does it Take Place
Although Oktoberfest celebrations take place all over the world, the original festival is in Munich, Germany in a field called Theresienwiese (Therese’s Meadow). The name of the field honors the bride from the original wedding festivities to this day.
Theresienwiese is a huge field, mostly paved for ease of movement. No need to fear sinking in the mud here!
The area is more or less divided into two “streets”. One street is dedicated to the beer tents, while the other has carnival rides! Both sections typically have vendors selling souvenirs and snacks.
When is Oktoberfest?
Contrary to popular belief, the majority of the two week event takes place in September! Munich’s Oktoberfest typically runs for two weeks from mid-September to the first Sunday in October (though there are some variations if Germany’s Unity Day- October 3rd- is after that first Sunday. Might as well keep the party going, right?).
Make sure to check the dates before booking your trip, and definitely don’t show up to Munich in October looking to party!
Food and Activities
While the beer tents do serve full meals, it seems more common to subsist on fair food during Oktoberfest. You’ll find servers walking around the beer tents with giant pretzels and sweet treats. I even saw someone order a huge radish that he covered in salt. I thought it was a blooming onion at first and although he kindly let me try a piece, it was far too salty for me.
Outside of the tents, vendors sell a variety of street food. I’m a huge currywurst fan, so obviously I usually got that, but a Nutella crepe was my go-to at the end of the night.
The carnival section was fun to walk around- I swear the giant swings in Europe are way higher than anything we have in the United States. I was getting vertigo just looking at them!
I highly recommend stopping into the traditional Teufelsrad, where riders compete to be the last person remaining on a giant spinning disk. It costs 5€ to enter, but it was one of my favorite memories of the whole trip- especially after a beer or two! It is difficult to participate yourself if you don’t speak German as players are called out in German (they call out things like “everyone who’s a teacher”, “anyone under 15”, etc), but I had enough fun just watching.
Beer Tents
Oktoberfest hosts 14 large beer tents, all individually decorated to the nines. Although the six Munich breweries each have their own tents, every tent in Oktoberfest is compelled to sell beer from one of these breweries.
Each tent is lined with huge wooden tables that fit about a dozen people and the tents have a maximum capacity of 7000-10000 people, depending on the tent.
Try to see each of the tents during your visit- the decorations are so fun to see! I particularly liked Hacker-Pschorrs’ famous blue-sky tent and the Art Nouveau Marstall tent.
Although I was expecting to see a lot of Americans during this visit, I noticed that most of the people I spoke to were German and Italian. Hofbräu-Festzelt was the exception, with a ton of people from the US and the UK- probably due to Hofbräu beer’s popularity in those countries!
While the tent seemed super loud and fun, I felt pretty uncomfortable with the rowdy crowds when I was actually inside. Better off just popping in for a view and checking out Hofbräuhaus München for a better experience, in my opinion.
Each beer tent often had an exterior area with tables to sit outside- though it was quite rainy during my visit so they didn’t see a lot of use.
While the tents have a massive capacity, Munich’s Oktoberfest sees nearly 7 million visitors each year- those tents can fill up, especially at night! If the tents are full, security closes the doors and a line begins to form outside the tents. I waited on one and it took me about 30 minute to enter, though times can vary. Don’t worry, someone comes around to sell beers to those waiting on line.
Horses
Of course the confirmed horse girl has to mention the horses!
Since cars are not allowed within Theresienwiese, each tent receives beer deliveries via their own team of horses. I typically noticed these deliveries early in the morning before opening, and a little before noon.
The carts do stop in the fairgrounds for visitors to take photos, which I definitely appreciated!
Beers
Each of these breweries have their own tents, brilliantly decorated, and sell only their brand of beer. You’ll notice that there are more than six beer tents at Theresienwiese, but those tents will be selling one of the six breweries.
Beers are sold by the liter, but they are brewed in a style known as “festbier”, which makes them easier to drink. They are typically around 6% or so, but I swear they were watered down! Festbier or not, I was putting away 4 liters of beer a day and still standing. Has anyone else had this experience?
Beers will typically run you about 15€ + change.
The Bathrooms
With all of this beer, bathrooms are key! I never had an issue finding a bathroom and they are typically quite clean. There are bathroom attendants in every bathroom and it’s nice to tip them a euro or two in thanks for keeping everything so clean! I can’t imagine how awful it would be without them!
The bathrooms all had plenty of stalls so despite long lines, it never too long to get to a toilet. Still, I’d recommend getting in line the moment you think you may have to go- just in case.
Toilets are usually within each tent and exterior beer garden, but you can keep an eye out for a little cherub sitting on a pot with a bow and arrow. I am not kidding. Their arrows point towards the nearest bathrooms!
The Outfits
The traditional style of dress for women is called a dirndl. A dirndl typically has a laced up bodice on an a-line skirt, an apron, and a short sleeved blouse.
Don’t be fooled by the sexy Halloween costumes- dirndls are pretty classy and are typically knee length or longer. If you see something labeled as a mini, just avoid it. Midis are the most popular length, and maxis tend to be a little more matronly.
Be aware of which side you tie your apron on- a left-sided knot means you’re available, and a right-sided knot means you’re taken!
Men are typically found wearing lederhosen- leather breeches that extend to knee length. These lederhosen are often worn with suspenders and a collared shirt.
Although visitors are not required to wear traditional outfits, the one day I wore a modern dress I got a lot of people questioning why I wasn’t wearing a dirndl- especially since my companion was wearing one.
If you’d like to participate in the spirit of Oktoberfest, there are plenty of places in Munich where you can purchase or even rent your outfits!
My friend had purchased her dirndls on Amazon and we got a ton of compliments on them. She was kind enough to let me borrow her dresses and I found that I really enjoyed the experience of dressing up.
Hot Tips
- Bring cash! Most of Oktoberfest is a cash-only affair, so come prepared. There are simply too many people to manage a digital card payment system when the waitstaff are super quick with their change. They don’t typically give small change back, so don’t expect your 60 cents back after buying a beer.
- When you hear the song Ein Prosit, be prepared to stand up and sing! This is a cheerful drinking song and it’s always a fun excuse to take a drink. This is the most popular song of the fest, so be prepared to hear it again and again and again….and again.
- Although it’s common for people to be standing on the benches for songs, don’t stand on the tables themselves- god forbid you knock over someone’s drink!
- “Prost” is German for cheers. If someone goes in to prost, you’re required to join them no matter how much you have left in your glass. Make sure to hold eye contact with someone for your first drink or it’s bad luck!
- For some reason Americans LOVE the idea of radlers- a half lemonade, half beer drink. We have them here and it’s called shandy! If you’re looking to try this during your visit, I’m told the best radler is found at the Marstall Festzelt
- The heart shaped cookies are more for decoration than for eating. I’m told they are technically edible, but they’re too hard to be worth trying.
- There are no tickets for Oktoberfest! This is a super common scam, so be aware that it is free to enter the park and the beer tents. Some large groups reserve tables but for the most part you can just find a seat yourself.
- If you see space at a table, feel free to ask if anyone is sitting there and pop a squat if the space is free. Sometimes your new table mates will keep to themselves, but at event like this you’re likely to make a few new friends.
- Make sure not to save seats, though. If your companion is in the bathroom thats one thing, but saving a seat for someone who’s not even in the park is simply not done.
- Be smart! You may be on vacation but the world didn’t suddenly become Disneyland! Keep an eye on your personal items and don’t leave them unattended.
- There’s a lot of alcohol involved in this event and between that and the crowds, tension can run high. Security is usually great at keeping everything calm, but make sure not to drink more than you can handle.
- Although expensive, I found it absolutely worth the inflated cost to stay in a hotel close to Theresienwiese. It was such a luxury to be able to hop back and forth between the festival grounds and the hotel room as much as we wished. Watching the poor suckers head to the train at the end of the night, my companion and I agreed that staying walking distance from Theresienwiese was one of the best decisions we made.
For even more detailed Oktoberfest posting by an expert, I recommend checking out My Wanderlusty Life, who was an excellent resource for my own trip planning.
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