Everything You Need to Know About the Notorious Oktoberfest
If you’ve ever thought about visiting Germany, then no doubt celebrating Oktoberfest has crossed your mind. Oktoberfest is the world’s largest beer and folk festival where over 5 million travelers from across the globe gather every year for one of the biggest parties on the planet. This annual festival is a giant carnival, filled with tons of amusement rides, delicious food, and over 2 million gallons of beer! Oktoberfest is exactly the type of traditional German atmosphere worthy of crossing off your bucket list. Here’s everything you need to know to prepare for the world’s best beer festival!
Oktoberfest History
Oktoberfest originated on October 12th, 1810 as the wedding celebration for The Bavarian King Ludwig I and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Over the centuries, the festivities became larger and included the amusement rides and beer halls everyone recognizes today. The annual festival is held in Munich starting in the middle of September and ending at the beginning of October. The date was changed to accommodate for warmer weather and longer daylight hours.
Essential Oktoberfest Tips
- When is Oktoberfest? – Despite the misleading name, Oktoberfest is celebrated the 2nd half of September and ends the first weekend of October. 2023 festivities begin September 16th and run until October 3rd. Find the countdown and future dates here!
- Where is Oktoberfest? – The grand celebration is held in Munich, the capital of Bavaria, at the largest fair grounds in the city; Theresienwiese. If traveling by U-bahn, be sure to get off at the Theresienwiese station which is directly in front of the fair.
- Opening Ceremony – The celebration begins at 9am with a city wide parade at Josephspitalstraße and ending at the Theresienwiese. The party officially begins at noon, with the Mayor of Munich tapping the first keg and shouting “O’Zapft is!” (It is tapped!).
- Oktoberfest Tents – The first keg gets tapped in the Schottenhamel tent, the oldest and most traditional beer hall in Germany. It has a capacity of about 10,000 people so be prepared to get cozy with some new friends. The crowds inside the halls are massive, with an exhilarating atmosphere of live music and beer drinking all around. Each local brewery hosts their own unique tents with varying vibes.
- Closing Ceremony – Tuesday October 3rd marks the end of the celebrations at Hacker-Festzelt. Expect sparklers, singing, and a heartfelt goodbye as the count down to next year’s party begins.
- Crowds – The crowds at the fairgrounds can get insanely huge, especially on weekends and nights. It can get quite hectic with the debauchery of partygoers, so be prepared to see drunk people everywhere. The Opening and closing ceremonies are impossibly difficult to attend due to the high demand so arriving early is advised. For the best chance at getting into a tent and avoiding lines, go early on a weekday.
- Advanced Booking – As one of the world’s most popular festivals, little needs to be said about booking Hotels and airfare far in advance to secure the best rates. Expect the price of everything to be much higher than normal.
- Beer – Obviously the drink of choice is bier, served in 1 liter glass mugs called maß (mass) or half liter increments. The only beer served during Oktoberfest is the traditional Marzen-style lager made by Munich’s top 6 breweries. Thanks to the German purity laws, the 6% drink is simple, yet smooth and delicious. Each maß should be around $12 – $15 depending on where you go (Hofbräu seemed like the most expensive).
- Other Drinks – No need to despair for those who’ve had their fill of beer, there are other options. Like a Radler (my personal favorite), which is half lemon lime soda and beer. Some tents offer wine and liquor (Cafe kaiserschmarrn) and there are mixed drink stands around the carnival area.
- Food – It may be a bit pricey, but the traditional Bavarian cuisine served inside the Beer halls are delicious and generously portioned. Indulge in the gastronomic specialties of Southern Germany with some Schnitzel, giant pretzels, Schweinshaxe (pork knuckle, yes it’s delicious), and a multitude of wursts (sausages)! Outside you can find amazing street food and smaller snacks that are lighter and cheaper too.
- Weather – The temperature can be quite chilly during this season so I would advise bringing a thick jacket with a hood. The average temp is around 57 degrees F (14C), but German weather is quite unpredictable. It was very rainy for us last time, so be prepared for anything.
- Hours – The beer serving hours are from 10AM – 10:30PM. The fairgrounds attractions and stalls operate from 10AM to around 11:30PM and midnight on weekends.
- Cash – Many of the vendors inside only accept cash, so be sure to bring a lot of Euros. There are a very limited number of ATMs around the entrances, which you’ll have to go searching for and pay higher withdrawal fees on.
- Oide Wiesn – “Old Oktoberfest” is a separate festival that emphasizes the traditional character of the celebration with brass instruments and historical attractions. Oide Wiesn is located just south of Theresienwiese.
- Tips – The servers primarily rely on tipping as their income so make sure to pay 10 – 15% with each order. Especially if you want them to return with timely and quality service.
- Bags – Unfortunately, bags of any kind are not allowed inside the Oktoberfest area. You’ll have to drop them off at the security tent by the entrance. They charged us $7 for a small bag so definitely better to just leave it at home.
- Amusement Rides – Aside from drinking, Oktoberfest has tons of rides to enjoy! These include roller coasters, haunted houses, and a Ferris wheel! The daytime has a family-friendly vibe so even kids can enjoy it.
What to Wear for Oktoberfest?
The traditional outfits for the celebration are lederhosen for men and dirndl for the ladies. The garbs have become a synonymous symbol of Oktoberfest with about 80% of participants wearing the original trachten. Don’t worry there’s no strict dress code so you can wear whatever you like! But this can also be a chance to embrace the Oktoberfestin’ spirit and join in on the fun. Here’s three options to consider before suiting up:
- Buy Online – Preparing in advance can save you some money, of course you never really know how well it will fit or how good the quality is. This is a good option if you want to participate in the fun and have room to spare in your bag. Check out some good options here.
- Purchase in Munich – This can be the most expensive option, but it’s guaranteed quality and authenticity. You can get a perfectly fitted size and will make a great souvenir. However it is ridiculously expensive (we saw them for around $300-$600) so not for budget travelers.
- Rentals – This is the best option if you’re traveling light and want to save money. Lederhosen and dirndl rentals are about $50 each and include everything you’ll need for that genuine Oktoberfest look. Pick them up as early as 9am and return them before 11am the following day to avoid getting charged any late fees. Multi-day rentals are also available. This is a great option to save money and space in your backpack, but you’ll have to select from their options and won’t have a souvenir to bring home. Find the rentals here.
Reserving a Tent
Fortunately attending any of the Oktoberfest Tents/ Beer Halls is completely free. Unfortunately many of these tables are often reserved many months in advance. Reservations are typically made for 10 persons and require the prepayment of 2 beers and a half chicken per seat. This is a good option if you have a large group to attend the festival with, but is particularly difficult for lone travelers to get a dedicated seat. These tables are usually marked with a reserved sign, which starts at a specific time (usually around 3 or 4pm). Unreserved seats are still available but are on a first come first served basis. If you want to guarantee a spot, be sure to avoid weekends and nights. However, as long as you show up before 5pm it’s generally easy to get a seat with no issues. Check out the list of tents open for reservations or sign up for notification emails here.
*Don’t stand on the table and chug your beer! Security will kick you out within seconds.
Best Oktoberfest Tents
Theresienwiese boasts a plethora of beer halls, with 17 large tents and 21 small tents. With such a wide variety of unique atmospheres at each tent, choosing where to visit can be a daunting task. Luckily, no matter where you end up you are bound to have a good time. Each tent can satisfy a preference for different drinks, younger crowds, or musical ambiance. Here’s a few of our favorite tents you should experience. Check out this list for the full descriptions of all the halls at Oktoberfest.
- Augustiner Festhalle – Great for that traditional German vibe, with some of the best beer in Germany straight from wooden barrels.
- Hacker Festzelt – Elegant decorations gave this tent the name “Heavens of Bavaria”. The stupendous closing ceremony reaches its climax here on the final day. Find it in the traditional Oide Wiesn area.
- Hofbräu-Festzelt – One of the most popular and the 2nd largest tent in the fair with a vibrant party atmosphere and lively music. It holds up to 10,000 people and offers some great food and beer. A huge spot for international visitors.
- Café Kaiserschmarrn – One of the smaller tents, Café Kaiserschmarrn offers specialty cocktails like Caipirinhas and Aperol Spritz for those tired of drinking beer. The party atmosphere is awesome plus they have freshly prepared Kaiserschmarrn (a German like pancake).
Must Know German Phrases
Being around for a couple of centuries allows for the build up of tons of colloquialism. Here’s some of the most important phrases you’ll hear during your time at Oktoberfest:
- Prost! – If you only learn one German word, let it be Prost! If you hear cheers, clank your glass with someone and take drink. Make sure to make eye contact or else…
- Wiesn – This is the vernacular amongst the locals for Oktoberfest. If you hear Wiesn, you’ll know it just means the Oktoberfest celebration.
- Tracht – the traditional lederhosen and dirndl attire.
- Ein Maß – a liter of beer
- Noch ein Bier, bitte! – Another beer please
- Brezel/Brez’n – A pretzel
Oktoberfest Music
The sounds of Oktoberfest range from traditional live brass instrumental bands to classic American pop songs and everything in between. This polka, schlager, or volksmusic may not appeal to everyone at first, but definitely starts to grow on you. A few days into celebrating, and I was already singing along to my favorite songs. Here’s a few of the best melodies you’ll hear during the celebration plus a bunch you might already recognize:
- Ein Prosit – Ein Prosit Der Gemütlichkeit is your cue to drink. It seems to play almost every few minutes and essentially means, salute to our cozy friendship and the good times we’re having.
- Hulapalu – One of my personal favorites with an extremely catchy chorus. It’s just fun to join in the energetic karaoke when it comes on.
- Layla – Another super catchy song thats fun to sing along with. Just don’t look into the lyrics too much
- Fliegerlied – This ridiculous song comes with its own equally ridiculous dance everyone but you seems to know. Just join in for the la la las and you’ll be good.
- Hey Baby – An American classic which the crowds seem to love, you’ll hear everyone burtsing out chants of this song a lot.
- 99 luftballoons – Quite possibly the most famous song to come out of Germany.
- Bella Ciao – Not actually German, but made super popular by the Money Heist series.
- Sweet Caroline – Basic American bar songs make their debut as well.
- Cordula Grün – Her name is Cordula Green.
- Angels by Robbie Williams – People really ring their hearts out to this one and is usually the last song at the end of the festival on the last day.
Oktoberfest is one of those crazy celebrations that needs to be experienced at least once in a life time. The music, rollercoaster rides, food, and beer give it a distinguished party vibe like none other. It is a festival that can stand against the other greatest like Carnival in Rio, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, or St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland. So what are you waiting for? Go plan your next Oktoberfest trip and see it for yourself! For even more adventures through Germany, check out our German travel series. Thanks for reading and keep leveling up!
Here’s our Oktoberfest travel vlog!
