It's that time of the year again for millions on millions of litres of beer, giant pretzels and fun. Yep, that's right Oktoberfest 2023 is just around the corner!
I went to Oktoberfest in Munich for the first time last year from all the way from Australia so here's everything I wish I had known before I went:
What is Oktoberfest?
In case you've never heard of Oktoberfest before, it's officially the biggest folk festival in the world. Oktoberfest takes place in a meadow in Munich, Germany and there's heaps of music, fun, and traditional dancing to celebrate Bavarian culture, and did we mention beer?
What are the dates for Oktoberfest 2023?
This year, the Oktoberfest will kick off on September 16 with traditional Wiesn tapping at noon. It'll last for two weeks til October 3.
What is the best time to go to Oktoberfest?
Anytime during the two weeks of Oktoberfest is an awesome time to go. But according to some locals, the best time to go to Oktoberfest is the first weekend or the closing weekend.
During the first weekend, you can experience the opening ceremony. And during the first week, there are usually fewer crowds during the festival. I went during the first weekend last year and it was a great time to go.
It kicks off with the parade of the landlords starting from Josephspitalstraße to Wirtsbudenstraße followed by the tapping of the first barrel of Oktoberfest beer by the Lord Mayor in the Schottenhamel tent. After tapping, 12 gun salutes are fired in front of the Bavaria statue to get the beer flowing: “O’zapft is! To a peaceful Wiesn!"
The last weekend can also be a good option as it coincides with German Reunification Day when numbers swell as Germans from all throughout the country flock to Oktoberfest to commemorate the national festival.
Oktoberfest typically ends with traditional gun salutes fired by 60 male and female gunners in front of the Bavaria statue on the last day at noon accompanied by a brass band. What is the best time to go to Oktoberfest?
Do I need tickets to go to Oktoberfest?
No, entry to Oktoberfest is free. You can access the festival, parades, beer gardens, carnival rides and food stalls without a ticket.
Where are the Oktoberfest grounds in Munich?
Oktoberfest takes place in central Munich in Theresienwiese.
How can I get to Oktoberfest in Munich?
Unless you're a local, most visitors travel to Oktoberfest by train.
Both intercity trains and regional trains stop at Munich Hauptbahnhof. Getting local trains is super easy during Oktoberfest season as Munich S-Bahns come almost every minute. Prices, times and journey planners for the S Bahn can be found here. After you get off Munich Hauptbahnhof, it takes around 15 minutes to walk to Theresienwiese.
If you're travelling to Munich from other cities in Germany like Berlin, you might want to consider a German Rail Pass or Eurail Pass for unlimited train rides.
Where should I stay at Oktoberfest in Munich?
There are loads of options for Oktoberfest accommodation around Munich.
Hostels are a great option as they're close to the fairgrounds, cheaper than hotels and a great place to socialise especially if you're travelling solo. I stayed at Wombat City Hostel which is one of the closest hostels. Other hostels that are also great include Jaeger's Munich and Euro Youth Hotel.
If you wanna be a bit more bougie, you can opt for a hotel like Platzl Hotel or Hotel Cocoon. On the other side, there are also camping options whether you want to come with a tent, car or RV.
Oktoberfest accommodation can be pricey so it's best to book early.
What are the different Oktoberfest beer tents and which ones should I go to?
Calling them "tents" is an understatement, I was shocked when I first walked in that the tents are actually wooden beer halls that fit 10,000 people.
There are 17 large and 21 small tents at Oktoberfest and each tent has a slightly different vibe. Schottenhamel is the most well-known tent. The rowdiest tents which have a younger crowd are Lowenbrau, Hacker-Pschorr and Hofbräu while Armbrustschützenzelt is the quietest and most traditional.
Schottenhamel
Known for being the tent that hosts the mayor of Munich tapping the first keg, this old tent that first opened in 1867 has a surprisingly young crowd with Bavarian brass music being played throughout the day.
Augustiner-Festhalle
The tent of Munich's oldest brewery, Augustiner-Bräu, is by far the most traditional tent at Oktoberfest with oak barrels and traditional music.
Löwenbräu-Festzelt
On the other hand, Löwenbräu-Festzelt is one of the most-touristy tents at Oktoberfest. It's packed with international tourists partying every night and plays mainly English cult-classic party songs. You'll probably hear Country Roads and Sweet Caroline belted at least once while you're there.
Hofbräu-Festzelt
This tent is also popular with tourists at Oktoberfest as it's the only one with room to stand and dance even though it has a whopping capacity of 10 040. It serves Staatliches Hofbräuhaus beer.
Hacker-Pschorr
Hacker-Pschorr is an Oktoberfest beer tent that's popular amongst both tourists and locals. Run by the Hacker-Pschorr Brewery it's well known for its fantastic beer and pretty painted murals that portray old-world Munich set against an idyllic blue sky with puffy white clouds.
Schützen Feszelt
Also known as the Shooter's Tent, Schützen Feszelt is one of the best tents for live music at Oktoberfest. Founded by Walter Bankhammer in 1985, the big band at Schutzen still carries on the legacy of being the "Best Oktoberfest Band" playing rock and pop tunes from day to night. It's also the only beer tent that serves suckling pigs.
Hacker-Festzelt
The "Heaven of Bavarians" is one of the most popular tents at Oktoberfest. The central aisle is packed with young people at lunch. It serves Hacker-Pschorr beer.
What time do Oktoberfest beer tents open?
The big tents at Oktoberfest, including the Oide Wiesn, are open from 10 a.m. until 11.30 p.m. during the week. On weekends, the tents open at 9 a.m.
Do I need to book a table inside the beer tents before I go?
Table reservations in any beer tent are recommended but optional.
Most tables during the lunch sessions from morning to early afternoon are unreserved so you can sit at any table that's free. They start clearing tables to prep for the night session around 5 pm which means that if you're sitting at a reserved table, you'll need to relocate.
However, unreserved tables are in far higher popular demand at night. Your best bet is to ask a waitress where the free spots are or befriend some friendly Germans who have already booked a table.
What to wear to Oktoberfest
Traditional clothing is not required but can be a really fun part of the Oktoberfest experience. And who doesn't enjoy dressing up?
If you're unfamiliar with traditional Bavarian dress there's mainly two terms you need to know: dirndls and lederhosen. Lederhosen are traditionally worn by men, whereas the dirndl is worn by women.
Dirndls consists of a skirt, apron, a bow and a blouse. Traditional dirndls tend to be at knee-level or longer. Did know that bow placement for ladies actually matter? The side it's placed on reflects your relationship status. It's placed on left side if you’re single, right side if you’re taken or married, in the middle if you are either a child or in the back if you're a widow.
Lederhosen is the name of Bavarian-style leather shorts which is a key part of men's Oktoberfest outfits. A typical Oktoberfest attire for men includes a button-up shirt (either white or checkered), leather Lederhosen shorts with braces, an Alpine hat, classic socks and strong Bavarian shoes.
Make sure you wear comfy shoes cos you'll be doing lots of walking and dancing while you're at Oktoberfest.
Where can I buy traditional costumes?
Locals spend (up to) thousands of euros on traditional Bavarian attire. But if for visitors you can also get inexpensive apparel in various shops in Munich, or buy in advance online. But you might want to avoid ones from normal costume stores as they can look tacky.
Beers, beers, get on the beers!
All of the beer served at Oktoberfest is produced solely by Munich brewers. Most people prefer lagers, such as Helles beer, which goes down well. The key to making the most of Oktoberfest is remembering to pace yourself - it's a marathon, not a sprint!
Not your stein of beer? Request a Radler (lemonade beer) or visit the Weinzelt, a wine tent where you may sample over 15 different varieties of wine, including sparkling and champagne.
How much does beer cost at Oktoberfest?
A litre of beer at Oktoberfest this year will cost roughly €12.60 to €14.90. Here's the full breakdown of the beer prices in the main tents:
- Armbrustschützen-Festzelt: 14,40 Euro
- Augustiner-Festhalle: 13,50 Euro
- Bräurosl: 14,30 Euro
- Fischer-Vroni: 13,70 Euro
- Hacker-Festzelt: 14,40 Euro
- Hofbräuhaus-Festzelt: 14,50 Euro
- Käfer Wiesn-Schänke: 14,50 Euro
- Löwenbräu-Festzelt: 14,50 Euro
- Marstall: 14,50 Euro
- Ochsenbraterei: 14,50 Euro
- Paulaner-Festzelt: 14,50 Euro
- Schottenhamel-Festhalle: 13,60 Euro
- Schützen-Festzelt: 14,50 Euro
- Weinzelt (Weißbier): 17,40 Euro
What food should I not miss out on at Oktoberfest?
Just like beer, there is also an abundant amount of German food at Oktoberfest.
Some of the most iconic dishes to try at Oktoberfest include roast chicken, roast pork knuckle and wursts (Knacker Wurst, Halb Meter Wurst, Nürnbergers or Feuer Wursts).
A lot of sweet treats are actually considered main dishes and not desserts such as Kaiserschmarrn (caramelised pancake), German dumplings (Dampnudel, Rohrnudel, Germknödel, or Marillenknödel), battered fried apple rings (Apfelkücherl), or apple strudel (Apfelstrudel).
Although most of these iconic Oktoberfest dishes are served inside most of the beer halls, there are also a lot of mouthwatering food options outside the tents.
My favourite was the Käsespätzle which is like a gourmet German mac and cheese. You'll also see Wiesn hearts hanging around souvenir stores. These gingerbread hearts are brightly iced and decorated with messages which makes than better souvenirs than snacks. Some of my favourite Oktoberfest snacks include Gebrannte Mandeln (sugary roasted almonds) and pretzels.
Make sure you check out some of the smaller tents as they also dish out delicious food like pork knuckles at Hochreiters Haxnbraterei and seafood at Fisch-Bäda.
Is Oktoberfest family-friendly?
Aside from its boozy rep, Oktoberfest is also fun for families. With a great family carnival with roller coasters and amusement rides, visitors of all ages can enjoy Oktoberfest.
At the carnival inside Oktoberfest, you can expect carnival games, fun houses and iconic rollercoasters like Olympia looping.
There are lots of souvenir and trinket stores selling helium balloons, funny hats, magnets, and gingerbread hearts that kids will enjoy.
There is fun for the whole family at Oktoberfest.
Can I go to Oktoberfest alone?
Yes!
Although Oktoberfest typically looks like a festival you'll attend with a big group of friends, your family or significant other, it can be just as fun going alone,
I went to Munich as a solo traveller and found it very easy to make new friends. I met a bunch of people at my hostel who were also going to Oktoberfest for the first time, and at the actual festival itself we also met a few Munich locals who where more than happy to show us around.
Despite their reputation, there are lots of friendly Munich locals who are happy to adopt you into their drinking crew.
How long do I need for Oktoberfest?
Most people take a day or two at Oktoberfest. This is more than enough time to experience the different beer tents, food and amusements available at Oktoberfest.
I spent one full day at Oktoberfest where we went all out and two evenings on either side just to chill out and drink a few beers.
What phrases do I need to know before I go?
Here are some German and Bavarian phrases to learn before you go to Oktoberfest that will make your life easier:
- Prost! Cheers!
- Darf ich mich zu dir sitzen? Can I sit here?
- Ein Ma, bitte! A beer please!
- Danke Thank you
- Entschuldigung Excuse me
- Wie heißt du? Ich heiße What’s your name? My name is...
- Woher kommst du? Where are you from?
What else should I know about going to Oktoberfest?
Here's some other handy things to know:
- Go early. I headed in around noon and had few issues with queues and tables.
- Take cash. Most places don't take cards and queues for ATMs will take forever since there are only a few of them around
- Tip the waiters and waitresses
- Don't be afraid to mingle with your table neighbours.
- Ein Prosit is like the theme song of Oktoberfest, as it is played every 15 minutes in the beer tents like clockwork. It roughly translates to "I salute to our cozy friendship and good times we’re having together"
- Fliegerlied is another song you'll hear a lot at Oktoberfest. Originally a children's song, this tune will have you waving your arms in the form of animal gestures
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