A Guide To Oktoberfest in Munich 🍻
✅ The Basics
Oktoberfest Grounds
Oktoberfest takes place on the Theresienwiese grounds, a large open space just south-west of the central station and old town.
Dates
Despite the name, the majority of Oktoberfest takes place during september. Annually the festival runs from the 3rd week in September, until the first Sunday in October.
For 2025, this will be Sept 25th to Oct 5th.
Terminology
Wiesn - The local way of saying Oktoberfest, as the locals 'go to the wiesen'.
Servus - Informal Bavarian greeting.
Prost - You'll hear this a lot as this is 'Cheers!'
Oans, zwoa, drei, g’suffa! - You'll hear this often as it translates as 'One, Two, Three Drink!'
Die Maß (Mass) - Is the name of the 1 litre beer mugs.
Buam & Madln - Boys & Girls, especially useful when finding the bathroom.
Clothing
While not necessary, dressing in Dirndl and Lederhosen is still a must when attending Oktoberfest. Plus, it makes for a fun souvenir to take home with you. Remember that Dirndl for women, Lederhosen for men.
Local stores:
Traditional retailers:
Transportation
Munich Airport is one of the best in Europe, with its timeliness, amenities, and connections.
Getting to and from can be done in about 40 minutes using the S-Bahn system; S1 & S8 which depart every 10-minutes.
Local transportation in Munich, similar to other German cities is split between the U-Bahn and the S-Bahn. Tickets can be purchased either in stations or online via the website or app.
The U-Bahn is the underground metro that covers most of the city proper. Around Theresienwiese there are U-Bahn stops in every direction, connecting to U4 and U5 to the north and western sides of the grounds, and the U3 and U6 to the south and east.
The S-Bahn is a regional rail, stretching far outside the city, but for most lines near central Munich, it can act as a subway. Trains every 20 minutes per line, all intersecting through the heart of Munich, offering constant train service. The nearest station to Theresienwiese would be Hackerbruke a 10-minute walk north.
Money
Germany still prefers cash, but while cards can be used around Munich, that can't be further from the truth at Oktoberfest, where cash is king.
A mass of beer is roughly €8-10, so have plenty of cash on hand. There will be ATMs at every tent but try to avoid large ATM fees by either bringing cash with you or withdrawing beforehand at a German bank.
Expect to spend anywhere from €75-100eu for a full day at the festival.
Safety
Oktoberfest is highly protected, with security at every entrance. Large bags are prohibited (however they can be stored for a fee) and normal measures such as no sharp objects or sprays are permitted.
Munich is a very safe city. However, the draw of Oktoberfest does bring more issues. Pickpockets also come to the city for 'work', so take normal precautions while in busy areas like Marienplatz. Drunk people can be rowdy and start fights, just do your best to not engage with them, and if it happens on Theresienwiese grounds, security will be quick to act.
One last tip - Pace yourself, eat food, and drink lots of water. You don't want to ruin the evening by getting drunk in the afternoon.
🏨 Accommodations
Accommodations in Munich during Oktoberfest will certainly be a larger expense than normal. Prices for hostels and hotels can be astronomical, especially near the site. I've picked a bunch below of varying prices that can be booked year-round.
You might also find more apartment-type accommodations closer to September, as it's popular for residents to rent out their homes and go on holiday during this time.
Hostels
Hotels
🎪 Tents, Rides, and Games
Tents
There's no bad tent at Oktoberfest, any tent you can get a seat and a beer at will guarantee a good time.
There are 17 big tents at Oktoberfest, each holding around 10,000 people and represented by famous breweries like Augustiner and Paulaner, each decorated with their own festive themes and tent-hopping for both the beer and the decor is part of the experience!
Six breweries dominate the Munich beer scene and thus, have their own tents, serving their own beer, these are: Augustiner Paulaner, Hofbräuhaus, Löwenbräu, Hacker-Pschorr, and Spaten-Franziskaner.
Walk into an Augustiner tent, and you’ll only get poured Augustiner. Walk into a Paulaner tent, and you’ll get Paulaner... etc... etc.
There is a price difference in tents but no more than a euro.
Since 2023 you can book reservations through an online portal. Reservations are free, but there is an expectation of purchasing two mass' and a food item per reservation. You can find all the booking information at the portal below:
If you don't have a reservation, do not worry. Plan to go earlier and on weekdays if possible, it will give you the best chances at a seat.
There are also over 20 smaller tents that are absolutely worth checking out. Not all serve beer, most actually have a focus on food, mostly traditional foods and desserts like donuts, weisswurst, veal, or roast chicken.
Rides and Games
There are over 80 rides and games at Oktoberfest. The swingset (Hexenschaukel), is the original, which first opened in 1894. Other original rides are: the Giant Ferris Wheel, Feldl’s Teufelsra, Toboggan Ride, Geisterbahn, Bayerntower, Krinoline.
Very few rides are free, with prices ranging from €5-10 per adult, kids are cheaper. Most of the rides will have a decent queue, but they will move quickly.
Obviously its recommended to enjoy the rides sober before enjoying the beer tents.
If you are looking for souvenirs, there are specific tents that offer them. You won't get scammed but the prices are expectedly high, so if you feel it's worth it, buy it.
🍻 Munich Beer Halls
There's plenty of beer history in Munich, while Oktoberfest will draw the majority of the attention, here are the other famous breweries to grab a drink at:
👣 Must-See Attractions
Take a break from the beer and explore the incredible parks, museums and attractions that Munich has to offer!
🗺️ Google Maps Guide
For a full list of everything Munich, check out my complete Google Maps guide, or the Guide 'Munich, Germany. Travel Guide: Sights, Drinks & Eats.' at the bottom of the page!
🎟️ Recommended Tours
📍 Check Out Our Other Guides
The home for unique & authentic travel
