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Recommended Reviews - Oktoberfest
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Oktoberfest is basically a giant carnival mixed with the world's best beer party, and it's freaking awesome!!! For my fellow Americans or any first timers, here are some tips I wish I knew before going: 1.) If you decide to dress up, plan your outfit ahead of time. Order a dirndl (women) or lederhosen (men) online before your trip, you'll save money, time and stress. Shops in Munich offer authentic stunning traditional gear, but many charge €700-1000. Yes there are cheaper options, but styles are limited. It also REALLY sucks taking everything on & off in the fitting rooms. Don't waste your time abroad, just get it in your home country. Accessories like pins, feathered hats, or pretzel earrings are way cheaper to grab beforehand too. Trust me, you'll get hat envy once you're there!!! 2.) Bring cash. Many tents and food stands don't take cards. Waiters carrying ten steins at once won't pause for fumbling, have cash ready. €100-120 was more than enough for me 3.) Make reservations for tables ahead of time to sit in the beer tents!!!! Or get there early if you want a table. Once things get busy, finding space is almost impossible, especially for groups. Tent hopping is harder than it looks. 4.) Wear comfy shoes. You'll be walking a ton. Heels? I saw people survive them, but personally, I'd be done for. 5.) Consider booking a tour with a table reservation. We went through Fat Tire Tours and our guide, Mark, was fantastic. Having a reserved table made the day way easier. 6.) Bring a refillable water bottle. It has to be empty when you enter, but you can fill it up inside at the various watering stations. Buying water adds up fast (one tent was selling water for €10), so this is a lifesaver. We bought one outside for €3 at a convenience store, emptied it, and reused it all day. 7.) Layer smart. Bring a jacket you can tie around your waist or a packable puffer you can stash in a bag. It's chilly outside but warm in the tents. Tossing a jacket on the floor just means beer and boots will destroy it. 8.) Most stands outside the tents will charge you a deposit for plates, glasses, and mugs...make sure to return them when you're done eating to get your deposit back!!! 9.) you cannot bring food that you bought from the vendors outside into the tents. I had to drink my coffee and eat my tiramisu before heading back into the tent, and couldn't bring anything back for my friends. 10.) Try a radler!!! It's delicious. It's half beer, half lemon flavored soft drink. 11.) Looking for a bathroom? Look for the angel / cherubs sitting on a toilet with a bow and arrow pointing towards the toilets! See my photo. Also, carry some €0.50 or €1 coins for the bathrooms, you place it on the plates when going in. The whole vibe is pure joy: music blasting, strangers becoming friends in seconds, and the entire city celebrating together. Oktoberfest is a true bucket-list experience, you'll walk away with great memories, sore feet, and probably a funny souvenir you don't remember buying.
I will forever be in shock that my first international trip was to the work's largest beer festival. I've been to Oktoberfest knock-offs in the past but experiencing the real deal just hits different. There a group of us visited opening day and we managed to get a table without reservation. It's possible but hard since everyone else there is doing the same thing. They serve only one kind of beer but it is fantastic. It's very strong so one stein made me have a good time. If you're not a beer drinker, there is so much more to do. They have shops, rides and entertainment. You can easily spend a couple days here and not get bored.
Finally got to attend Oktoberfest in Munich! It wasn't in our itinerary at first but what can Mink do when I book everything that's non refundable before she can say no? Hehe. Some things I learned coming here: 1) Book a hotel early because this event is popular with about seven million people in attendance annually. We didn't book early and hotels were slim pickings. The prices were also outrageous. $100ish you're looking at camping. $150-$200 you're looking at a hostel. $200ish up you're looking at junk motel quality rooms if you can find one near festivities. Then it just jumps to several hundred a night. We heard from several people that some people book a year in advance. 2) Bring cash! To my knowledge, everyone accepted only cash and everything adds up. A beer is 15 Euro at the tents we went to and water was 6 Euros. Safe to bring a little more than less but there are ATM's everywhere. It's also good to have to tip your servers. 3) Learn some German because not everyone speaks English. It goes a long way and they make the effort if you do. Google Translate was very useful. 4) Pace yourself because we saw people passed out by noon! They offer half beer and half lemonade if you want to stretch out your drinking. 5) Do not bring a large bag to the event. You will have to check it into a locker if you do. It's not permitted inside. It'll be 5 Euro to check in your bag if you get turned away by security. We learned the hard way. 6) You can get Lederhosen and Dirndl at various shops all over. Some have huge sales so you don't have to bring any over. We weren't sure about sizing so we ordered and brought over just in case. 7) If you're budget conscious, pregame before you go in to save some money. It's definitely marked up for everything inside. No shame because you'll see lots of people doing it. This is a huge event and we were fortunate to come on the very last day. Since it was the last day, we went to the Bavaria Statue at noon for the closing ceremony and gun salute. Weather smiled upon us because the day we got into Munich, it was raining a lot. Fortunately it cleared up nicely on the following day and we got to enjoy the event without rain. After the event, Mink admitted that it was more fun than she anticipated and it was worth coming to. Another bucket list item checked off the list!
Made it to Oktoberfest. It is everything that it claims to be and more. I think most Americans only hear about the beer tents and the drinking, but there's so much more to the Oktoberfest. It's one of the largest fairs I've ever been to and they serve all the other alcohol, besides beer, throughout. There are rides, games, food, drinks and people watching. One of the best parties I have ever been to.
If you haven't been to Oktoberfest is truly a once in a lifetime experience. Even if you're not a beer lover you definitely reap the reward of experience something truly new, unique, yet alone special. This festival is like if Mardi Gras & Coachella had a beer festival baby. Plus, you get an excuse to dress up in lederhosens and dirndls. I'd recommend booking hotels 6 months in advance if not sooner and staying with walking distance of festival grounds. Cabs and Ubers are hard to get if you're a guy. I'd also recommend having cash on hand for each tent you visit as it's pretty much the only way to get food and drink. For food I'd recommend getting it at the stands, otherwise at tents it can get pretty pricey. If you're in a group of 4 or less then you can manage to get tables in tents without reservations. Otherwise, I'd recommend booking tables in advance if your party is larger. Nevertheless this festive truly festive and a big reason why people all over the world come here.
How could I not make *the* Oktoberfest experience my 1000th review? Well it's almost a year late but it's time for me to put thumb to phone screen. It took me 28+ years, 6000+ miles, and...a lot of money to come here for the 188th Oktoberfest last year, and it was such a cool experience. We were staying about an hour and a half away in Austria, so our day was a long one. A day full of drinking, sandwiched between two not-super-comfortable car rides--but the beer was crisp and the food was delectable. So for those who don't know, here's the lowdown: Unlike in the US, you don't pay to enter the event, you just pay by the item (unless you go into a special tent). There are 14 tents with different ~vibes~, from #localsonly after a day of work to those tents where everyone is yell-singing and standing on the benches, with a variety of beers and food spread throughout. The weekends are substantially more wild than the weekdays, but that doesn't mean weekdays are boring. Just know that if you go during a Friday or Saturday, you'll probably have a difficult time finding space in the more popular tents in the evening so come EARLY and expect to kinda stay in one spot for most of the day. I came with my immediate and some extended family, and we arrived in the morning on Friday. The crowd slowly picked up as the day went on, and as a group of nine, we only made it into three of the bigger tents before stopping in Haxnbraterei for some food. Then my extended family took off and my sister and I stayed for another couple steins at Hofbrauhaus. It took a while to find a spot in the Hofbrauhaus tent, even for just the two of us, and tbh there were a number of rude groups who had space next to them but weren't willing to let my sister and I sit with them. Judging by their behavior, I'm assuming it was because they thought we didn't look cute enough for them and they wanted to save the space for someones else, but that was one of only two negative things about this experience. Once we finally got seated, though, we met some great people and stayed a few more hours. Got to stand up and sing the songs and dance to the music, yadda yadda. Thankfully our parents were waiting in the car to drive us because we got, unsurprisingly, incredibly drunk, to the point where it was a miracle that we made our way to the front of the fest safely. The other part of the festival that wasn't so great was that my dad noticed there were a ton of creepy single guys standing around, seemingly to pick up people who are intoxicated. So my hot tips are: 1. Wear comfortable shoes, even if they don't match your dirndl 2. Bring cash (my friend had her credit card number stolen) 3. For every stein of beer, drink a stein of water 4. Eat!! 5. Buddy system whenever you're not in a tent 6. Beware of puke hill (unless you need to use it)
Something everyone should experience, I thought that I might be too old for the crowd, but there were babies to eighty year olds. I did the trip because I wanted to visit Germany, and it wasn't just for Oktoberfest. We spent our second day there, and went back for a few hours one evening, the evening is a much more ruckus crowd, I enjoyed the daytime atmosphere more, but I didn't see any real trouble, just a lot of very intoxicated people. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. We reserved seats at a table in the Hofbrauhaus tent, which came with a half chicken and two liters of very strong beer. Our table mates were from all over the world. We visited a couple of the other tents, I was surprised that besides the Bavarian music, there were a lot of American songs, the two most popular seamed to be Take me home country roads, and Sweet Caroline.
Oktoberfest is a must do once in your lifetime. I have been twice and it just seems to keep growing with a huge number of carnival rides, food, chocolate, and beer everywhere. We went on a Tuesday just after lunch time in order to ensure we could get into our top choice - the gourmet food lover's dream at the smaller Feinkost Kafer. Bands were already playing and people were dancing and we got the last two person table - snuggly located under the stairs. It might seem like an odd place to sit but it was great for people watching. The food did not disappoint. We tried two sampler plates of salads and meats and cheeses and everything was super fresh, decorated in edible flowers, fresh garnishes of radish and greens. The salad sampler had egg salad, crayfish salad and walnut slaw, while the Kafer Brettl sampler plate had fresh mozzarella tomato, beet hummus, eg, ham, radishes, smoked salmon, salmon salad, cheese. Lever pate and sausages - wow! We also poked into many of the large beer gardens, sampled chocolate covered bananas and enjoyed the decorated horse beer carts and watching the carnival games. On this second trip, it took quite some time to navigate the entrance and exit as you are funneled through one main central area. 7 years ago, I walked straight in. I guess it is a sign of the times with added security.
This was a major item on my bucket list. The number and size of the beer halls are breathtaking. Each one is a sea of tables that get filled to capacity within hours of opening each morning. If you have a large enough group, you can reserve a table online in advance. This is common for Germans and folks from neighboring countries. Harder to do if you're coming from further abroad, but worth it if you can pull it off by organizing such a caravan well in advance. For everyone else, a minority of the tables are first-come. So, each table that my friend and I sat at was shared with other folks, who you regularly prost with. Some could speak to us in English, and help educate us about life in Munich. It did rain a lot for the first two days we were there, so wear layers for warmth and bring an umbrella or rain coat. Yet, the outdoor tables remain full as people are too festive to be fazed by the intermittent showers. Oktoberfestbier is the standard style, as a one-liter serving in a stein. Some halls also offer an alcohol-free version. Wheat beer is sometimes available, but only in the outdoor section called the beer garden. Beer hall menus include food. There is also a plethora of food vendors along the walkways between the beer halls and in the carnival area. To my surprise, vegan options are universally available, as they are more widely adopted than in the United States. The same is true throughout Munich. The size and quality of carnival rides are better than any I've seen in the U.S. Lederhosen is the prevailing mode of dress for men; and the traditional dresses for women. I like that there is no admission fee, which allows you to spend all your money directly on beer, food, entertainment, and souvenirs.
One of a kind experience! Grab a table when you can and dive into the Bavarian culture! Definitely a must! Get your dirndls and lederhosen and get over here! Great food, great times! If you're coming into Munich, look into a train ride or two. Always a good way to see the city in a blip! If you like pork, I recommend the Scweinshaxe! DELICIOUS
Be forewarned that if you're in your twenties or early thirties, you may have far more fun than I'm about to summarize as a disappointment. Specifically, if you love to drink in crowded areas isolated just to tents and a few small stands then this is your place. Personally and having lived in Germany for two years, I expected more traditional Bavarian culture but instead I got the world's biggest "cheap"/cheesy carnival ($5-20 USD per ride). The rides are basic and you've seen them time and time again. You'll spend way more than you should to experience wild drunks, occasional open drug use, litter and horse sh*t everywhere. To get back to your place, you'll then have to navigate around broken beer bottles on the sidewalks (not a lot but some) along with a near constant array of aggressive shoulder checks from oblivious people which was one of the most annoying parts of visiting both Italy and Germany. Sound fun yet? This wasn't worth the time for me other than checking a box. People stress the lack of restrooms while visiting. Men will have an easier time but it wasn't an issue. The surprising lack of trash cans was what caught me off guard. Seems like a pretty obvious thing to have ready yet they have barely any and you can tell by the end of each night. Hmmmm, how could they ever reduce this problem? The biggest beer tents are a fun experience until the evening when they're overcrowded. There's a traditional section that is a scaled down version and better when the crowds get too big. Excuse the rambling but just save yourself from this overrated experience and go to one of the famous beer house restaurants since the beer is second to none. This is what I wish I had done. Also enjoy some of the most breathtaking countryside on the planet in Bavaria. Pictures don't do it justice and you'll think you've seen every shade of green. ...I'm willing to bet this review will be relevant to Oktoberfest beyond 2024.
If you live in US, the best way to describe Oktoberfest is the State Fair meets European Christmas/Easter market times 2 because it's all carnival games and rides like the Fair or even a mini amusement park. The vendors are equivalent to the Christmas/Easter market. We came second to last day an hour after they opened which was already packed. Just follow the people in the traditional attire around the city and in the subway and you're going the right direction. It's free to enter, they have security check your bags. I read that you could have a maximum of 20x15x10 cm for bags. When we were inside, I saw so many oversized bags like backpacks and female handbags. However, our friend met us up later and she said they gave her a ticket to check in her backpack and to downside. Bring cash. A few atms around. Some of the vendors take credit card but above 10€. The beer garden we were at was cash only. This was Paulaner. Restrooms are free. There's also a drinking fountain at one of the beer gardens. This place is massive, we spent all day. 1L of beer was 14€ standard everywhere. For food we got the Half chicken with potato salad and sausages. Took 45 minutes. The server said everything else would take two hours. We sat outdoors. Indoors will most likely need reservations. Later in the day, they had a line to enter each garden. You can purchase food outside of the garden which is cheaper but there are no seats. There are kiosks that sells wine so you're not limited to just beer. As far as dressing up, I would say 80% of the locals were dressed up.
FUN, FUN, FUN.... a must try at least once in a lifetime. It is a like a big fair with lots of food, music and beer. All beer sold here is from Bavaria, local wear the traditional outfits that you see at Oktoberfest during the year read more
6 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
Pretty cool and where in the world will it ever come close to this?! The sounds, sights, and flavors of Oktoberfest are just too cool and unique. Is it crowded? Yes. Will only English speakers feel a little out of place? Yes. Is it touristy. Yes. But come on, it's Oktoberfest. We booked our trips months and months in advance. We knew it was gonna be hard to find hotels. It was and the rates are clearly marked up. For the amazing hotel we staid at, see my review of the Bavaria Boutique. Anyway just know that weekends are terribly busy and weekdays are less. Also know that you are very likely to not find a place to sit and eat and drink after 3 pm. You can get lucky and sneak into an open table outside but inside the tents after 3pm will be a challenge. I recommend going at 10 to the tents you really want and during the week. You'll get right in. Also the app is super handy to gauge the tent capacity. Once in the tents, it a music and beer with decent German food. Super cool and like nothing else in the world. It's a game changer. The beer is so fresh and clean. It's just worth it. It's also filled with food vendors and carnival rides. German swag and Oktoberfest gear is in between all the tasty sweets and authentic foods. The big Ferris-wheel is a must. Nothing crazy but you can see the whole grounds. Do it, just do it. It's tough to plan but what an experience. And YES dress up and NO don't buy Halloween outfits. read more
PROST!!! OKTOBERFEST...it really does live up to the all the hype! Its FUCing amazing! *depends on who you're with... TIPS: 1) RESERVATION! Get in on someone's table reservation somehow, or organize one yourself...my wife's childhood friend organized a group of 20 on two tables. Thank gawd! The Lowenbrau Tent costs $40pp and came with 2 literes of beer and a half chicken. Don't be late to the reservation...they will kick you out if the table is not semi full within 30 minutes. 2) SMILE! If you don't have a reservation, and you're in group of 4+ people, y'all aren't gonna find a table. But 3 or less could smile, be friendly, and ask to join a partially empty table. With a couple of friendly smiles, the wife and I managed to slip into a table with some friendly local Germans. If you're 2-3 women, it will be probably be a lot easier... 3) DRESS UP! I hate people who show up costumeless to a Halloween party...just as equally as people who show up to Oktoberfest not in traditional German couture. Girls...buy a Dirndl dress(As low as 40 euro) ! Boys...buy Lederhosen(starts around 70ish, but you'll have it forever) Don't be an ugly tourist...leave your childish baseball caps, dorky North Face travel wear, and ugly New Balance sneakers at the hotel. 4) DRINK! DRINK! DRINK! Don't come with your shy, conservative, "I don't drink alcohol" friends and family. 5) DO NOT STAND/DANCE ON THE TABLE! You can stand on bench and dance, but they will kick you out if you stand on the table. You'll get one warning. After that security will escort you out the tent. 5) SPLURGE! You've probably spent $1000s on airfare and hotel to get here...now is not the time to be a cheapass. Sure those 1 liter beers are 10.50ish each...but its actually not a bad deal considering its like three 330ml bottles's worth of beer. 6) FUN HOUSE! Go...but only when you're drunk! That shit is crazy! WWwwwweeee!!!!! read more
10 years ago
When seeing the sign, Oktoberfest, the feeling of excitement was in me! I couldn't wait to get in! No entrance fee. I adore the gingerbread cookies frosted with words of your choosing from a varietal stack shaped as a heart and it's like a necklace to hang around yourself when strolling through this festival that is like an amusement park with rides! It's a great event for family and/or with friends! Their tents are fancy and grand! I was impressed and it was like a huge, communal beer hall, where everyone is having a jolly time! It wasn't a mess at all! During peak hours, it may be a bit difficult to find space to sit and there are reserve tables too. Live music added to the good vibes and it was pure enjoyment from the rowdiness! Fun gathering! That one liter of beer is humongous. There were the servers that can hold a bunch of those beer glasses filled when coming out of the kitchen and delivering the goods to the tables in a crowded tent! Kudos! This is beer lover's haven! I had a splendid time here! read more
Can't say this was the cherry on top for our trip... just so happened that we culminated our tour in Munich on the last weekend of Oktoberfest. Might as well be a part of the festivities even though I don't drink beer. Hubby just had to drag me to go with the group, I was dreading at first because I hate huge crowds but I was completely wrong. It was one of the biggest fairs I've been to with an obscene amount of stuff to do for non drinkers. While the rest of our group went in the beer gardens/tents and got hammered, hubby and I walked around. We spent the night enjoying food, desserts and people watching. There was also plenty of gut wrenching rides if you're into that stuff. But for the faint hearted and weak stomach like me, you'll get to enjoy your typical bumper cars, Ferris wheel and token games. If you're not wearing a dirndl, dress warm. It was definitely nippy. WC; water closets are also sparse, we only saw one sign and we walked quite a bit. They were so limited that men were pissing on the side of the street. read more
Lucky me! My company sent me for an annual group meeting in Munich this past September, and it just happen to be during the Oktoberfest. So after a couple of days of hard work, my boss and I decided to drop by and experience it for ourselves. This is my first trip to Germany. in fact, its my first trip to Europe. I have to say, this trip has be everything I imagined and more! I've read and heard a lot about Oktoberfest before, and wishing i could be part of it. Now that I am here, I couldn't have been more happier. i was warned the night before that what goes on in Oktoberfest is wild, and boy, they weren't kidding. it's a HUGE festival where people come here and celebrate beers (Yay!), and drink beers ALL DAY! Lots of beer breweries come here and set up their tents in this huge land. Its hard to imagine all the building looking tents are all temporarily, and they will will get taken down when the festival is over. So my boss and I started wondering around, trying to find this particular beer tent and meet up with his friend. I can't believe how big this place is. There were so many people!! There were music playing, people were singing and dancing, and everybody were having a great time. And of course, beers! There were so many beer vendors and its hard to pick just one. There were also food. Lots traditional Germany dishes its impossible to try them all. However, I did the best I could in the beer tent where my boss's friend managed to reserved a couple of seat for us. The whole experience has been so incredible, I am hoping to come back again. read more
For my 1000th review, I wanted to review something very special. Oktoberfest is very special. I can't begin to describe what a wonderful time I had here. This is a huge festival and it's very well organized. Even if you're not in a beer tent, there is a lot to see and do and eat and drink. It's super crowded but people are generally nice and the vibe is laid back because everyone just wants to have a good time. Most are dressed in traditional clothing which I love and that contributes to the festive atmosphere. Finding a free space to sit in the tents can be tough if you don't get there early, you just need to be persistent and keep asking when you see some empty spots. It's often easier to find a place in the beer garden and I had the time of my life with the new friends I made at the Lowenbrau garden. Bring your cash and be prepared to spend because things aren't super cheap but I will always cherish the memories I have of the warmth and friendliness I experienced at Oktoberfest. Well done, Munich. Well done, Germany. I hope to return another time! Prost! read more
So it's taken me a while to write this review as it's kind of hard to accurately convey what Oktoberfest is. It's like a combination of a big party, lots of booze, culture, pretzels, lederhosen, fair food, more booze, sing-a-longs, sizzling meats, sweets & candies, carousels, tilt-a-whirls, history, and even more beer. It's an all-around good time for almost anyone. We got there to see the parade that kind of kicked off Oktoberfest. It seemed to last forever but was really cool to see everyone dressed in dirndl and lederhosen and etc. It really is the biggest fair I've ever been to. You can get there earlier in the day and ride the rides and eat all the food around and take in the sights of the 'Fest. As the day drags on, more and more people come and the beer starts to flow even more. One thing I noticed is that even though there are about 15-20 beer halls of varying size, it's very orderly and there are police and medics very close by in the event of too much raucous or to help someone who didn't pace themselves with the alcohol. You really do get a sense that the German people have a sense of pride in this celebration which appears to be a long-running historical tradition. Of course there are a few that kind of ruin the vibe and try to turn it into the American equivalent of "Spring Break". I mean....be a little classy if you're a visiting tourist, because it gives the rest of us a bad name. I was a little scared at one point to see how some people can't hold their liquor. There was a lady that didn't get but 2 feet outside one of the halls and she collapsed and was literally blue in the face. The medics started heart compressions on her and her boyfriend looked beyond worried. I didn't want to stay and gawk but it would be a tragedy if you came to visit Munich to have a good time and even up in the hospital or worse. Have fun but drink responsibly. I would suggest you bring cash eventhough they have a ATM on the perimeter of the grounds. Also, taking the train in seems to be the best bet to get into the town as the streets are closed in some areas. Although most people come for the beer/drinks, it's still a nice place to just bring the entire family to ride the rides and eat good food. I really mean it when I say there is something for everyone. It is a lot of walking so you may want to take that into account. I also didn't see a lot of people there with strollers. It's really kind of crowded so every little space counts. I'm not sure how much the fair side of things represents German culture but the beer halls and and sense of community and comradery that people have is bar-none. . read more
8 years ago
I have attended the Wiesn (München's Oktoberfest) a total of 20 times since 2014! This is without a doubt one of my favorite festivals in the world. Whether you are outside a tent in a Biergarten, queueing up to enter the festzelt, or at a table with a Litre of German Lager or Dunkleweiss in each hand, you are bound to make new friends and memories. I enjoy the feelings you get while in each tent from the different music/band, to people, to beer, to smiles, and of course kisses. If you are a beer drinker, this is an event you cannot miss! My new goal is to spend an evening in each and every Festzelt (Tent). I am currently at 9 and will look forward to enjoying Oktoberfest in 2020! In the 2015, I had to pleasure of attending their Closing Ceremony including a special song and dance which everyone chimes in on. This ceremony definitely gives you the chills and an emotional one! I hope to see you at München's Weisn in many years to come. read more
Oktoberfest was intriguing. It is a bit different than what I and perhaps many would expect from the United States. There is much more to do than just drink. In fact you can do anything without drinking. It is basically a giant Fair or Carnival with many vendors selling food, games with potential to win prizes and rides such as roller coasters. I can't imagine the amount of vomit they must have to clean up when many are drunk going on these rides. There are many foods to try and you can bring kids regardless of age. Most places will only accept cash and if you want to drink, for the most part you must remain within the beer gardens. Beer gardens are giant places that appear as barns with tables and dance floors. They'll have food and beer of course. I just wanted to try a brew, however, from what I can see they only have them in mugs served by the pint that seem as though they're pitchers. read more
8 years ago
Oktoberfest was a lot of fun!! Lots of rides and obviously beer. You get to sit and meet incredible people both local and visitors. The best way to meet people! I also had Nutella strawberry crepe with cream and coffee at a stand inside before getting started with the beer. If you're with a bunch of people (or even if you aren't), the cheapest (if you split with a group) in my opinion to slowly much on food is to share the cheese platter! There is variety on the plate, and a good way to pick at food (to avoid getting drunk too quickly). Let loose and have so much fun!! read more
Amazing experience. Getting to Oktoberfest using local transportation was super easy. Recommend taking lots of cash as that is the only way you can buy beer. We made lots of friends everyone for the most part is real friendly. If your going to chug make sure you represent if not you'll get an ear full and stuff thrown at you. Go to different tents as each one gives you a unique experience. read more
Had an amazing time at Oktoberfest 2018. Came on a Monday in the late afternoon and it was packed. We didn't have tickets so we walked through beer hall after beer hall to find some seats. On our third beer hall, I saw an opening and snagged two spots - right between a group of Germans and a group of Australians. We stayed for about 3 hours and had an absolute blast. The hall was filled with probably 6,000 boisterously drunk people from around the world. The music was blaring. The beer was flowing. The food was great. And we met some really great people. I will absolutely be back again. read more
7 years ago
6 years ago
The best German food and bier. Probst!! It is a must see and to do when in Germany during September/October. 2019 pics read more
7 years ago
Day 1 and 2 were so much fun! The beers come out really fast to your table. For food, definitely get pretzels. If you still have an appetite, order the chicken which is very good and filing. For the first day, make sure to arrive very early in the morning, as a long line forms. We waited an hour in line to go in. If you're going in the morning, hopefully, you had a good and big breakfast because those beers can sneak up on you. If not, there is a nearby McDonald's before waiting in line to go in. Or just wait to go inside and order food. Once you are in, run to the nearest tent to grab a table if you do not have reservations. But you can also enjoy the festival rides and shop for souvenirs before having a couple of beers. Keep in mind to bring a raincoat or umbrella, because on our second day it was raining all day. For the restrooms, they are also quick since there are a lot of stalls available. Remember to take money to tip those who keep them clean. Also, ladies can bring in a small purse. Overall, it is an awesome, fun experience that you can check off your bucket list. And you are already prepared for next year's festivities. read more
Definitely fun, like a giant fair with lots of beer! It's free admission but all the rides cost money. The beers are huge! $11 for a liter, definitely not over priced! You definitely want to reserve tables ahead of time! Without reservation after about 4pm you can't sit anywhere. And it doesn't matter what day or the week you go, they are crazy busy everyday! If our opinion the food stands outside the tents had better food at better prices than inside the tents. read more
8 years ago
#44 am meisten Spaß zwei Wochen meines Lebens I had no idea what to expect, maybe: BIG beers Lederhosen Sausages with mustard Okay, so that's partially correct... Buuuuuut, wow! Not only did I learn how much stronger beer is in Deutschland, but it really gets you drunk--and I DO NOT DRINK BEER. So, this was a surprise. I also do not eat meat; however, drunk on that crazy beer, wearing my Oktoberfest hat, running the streets of München I guess you gotta bend so you don't break, huh? I ate crazy Bratwurst and yummy mustard sandwich, I ate so many pretzels AGAIN, with mustard, and drank more beer than a high school senior. We don't have to mention the hangovers ;( They have tons of rides and games--it's more like a huge carnival with BIG beer and tons of boobs popping out of drindl dresses. We saw plenty of people passed out on the sidewalks, in front of the bathrooms and by the tents. It's good to have a plan. Know what tent(s) you want to visit. Know when they get crazy busy and know how to snag a table even if there isn't one. Bring only cash/Euros because the Oktoberfest is anti-credit--actually, most of Germany is anti-credit. Also, have a meeting place when you get separated from your friend(s) because I PROMISE it will happen. And lastly, eat a super greasy fattening meal after the festival so you might combat that hangover tomorrow morning ;) See you next year at Oktoberfest! read more
Finally, did I have the phenomenal experience to check Wies'n off of my bucket list (twice!) of things to see. Always welcoming new cultural traditions in my life, I could not wait to see what Wies'n was about and for all the guests who come to Munich every September for this 200+ year old celebration. To get to the festival is quite easy, however, keep in mind that the metros are quite packed now at any time of the day. Entrance is free, but no large purses are allowed. Just like an amusement park filled with carnival rides and festival foods, they had traditional German goods such as carnival size Brezen for 5€, Hendl, Germknödl in vanilla reduction, and of course, the heart shaped necklaces made of gingerbread with various notes on them. If you're lucky, a special someone will purchase a very special one for you to keep as a memory! Left and right you will find beer halls and the infamous tents, and if you're can wait long enough, you will be able to find seating, but do be aware you will be bumping elbow and back with them as well. Take advantage of riding the ferris wheel to view the city during the day or night; it is quite a wonder if you ask me. Be aware that the guests at Oktoberfest are loud, intoxicated, and repulsively incoherent. There were plenty of things I wish to un-see that are forever embedded into my head, but as the tradition of Wies'n goes, it was laughable. Although I was not able to wear a pretty Dirndl this year, I look forward to wear one upon my next visit to celebrate another year x read more
13 years ago
So what can a teetotaler (me!) have to say about attending Oktoberfest, courtesy of my good Yelp buddy Andrew M's invite? 1. Despite the copious amount of alcohol being consumed, they're aiming for a family friendly atmosphere, meaning that the atmosphere remains merry rather than intimidatingly raucous. Perhaps a little jarring to British eyes but you'll see young kids and even babies in the beer tents 2. It's possible to have fun in the beer tents even if you don't drink beer! The music, the dancing, the company, the food all conspire to make it a fun event 3. In the beer tents, drinking the limited choice of soft drinks is as expensive as drinking beer 4. Everything is fizzy. Even the apple juice 5. Security will search your bag at entry and confiscate any bottles, so you can't bring in your own soft drinks 6. German food is hearty, in your face and fills you up. Subtle it is not 7. They will over-salt everything to get you to buy more beer 8. The rides at the funfair are great, especially for a traveling fair. Even more fun to ride them with drunk friends when you're sober. Nice to feel smug :-) 9. Buying traditional German dress near the main Oktoberfest area is very expensive. Our group found cheaper alternatives a little walk away 10. It's fun but a weekend was enough for our group to survive! read more
We're in Munich, Oktoberfest is still happening and we CAN'T miss out on that, now can we? Nicht nein können wir! We pile into the car and our Munich native friend drives us. I have no idea what to expect, but we arrive and it reminds me going to the LA or Orange County fair, except no animals and Vieles Bier (LOTS of beer). Lots of people, http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/DNzFXk0-AoBAfKlQJ1Jmzg?userid=Jcbj338NjXtSiqvK3LYghQ#L4nzG9DavzVtOnDIoJST0A food venders, booths selling all kinds of stuff, a roller coaster, other rides and the most important.... the bier tents! Oh My Gawd, this is a bier tent? It looks more like a frikkin warehouse, these things are humongous! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/DNzFXk0-AoBAfKlQJ1Jmzg?userid=Jcbj338NjXtSiqvK3LYghQ#EaGA2SBTqEzMQ6wsAp2Hnw We walk around a little and Sasha says we should find and a bier tent and go in. We try one, but it's full. We try another and it's full. We try the Paulaner tent, it's nearly full but we can get in! We start looking for a table with enough room for the 6 of us. After 5 - 10 minutes we see a group getting up but one guy is still sitting there, he invites us to join him. We order a round of biers and Sasha orders a half bier and half lemonade for me. PROST! It's surprisingly good and VERY easy to drink, too easy in fact! LOL I can't get over how many of these large bier mugs the bier wenches can carry in one shot! Damn! I think I counted one wench with ten, Scheiße! We're there for a couple hours, drinking, chatting, drinking, singing, drinking and enjoying the live band playing German drinking songs. It was a lot of fun! I'm really pleased we were able experience the original Oktoberfest in Munich! Bis zum nächsten Mal read more
Massive Adult Festival! Sure it's kid friendly during the days but there are always things to do for adults. I took advantage of a few tents for the food they specialized in. That's something you don't hear about .. all you expect is beer! But the food is just as great if not better. Each tent specializes in something like dumplings, fish, meat etc.. the decorations in the tents from the smaller ones to the larger ones are really grand! There's always live music and a fun atmosphere. Service is on point and they will make it known to tip.. read more
Definitely a must on everyone's bucket list. It's a giant festival/carnival focused on beer and delicious Bavarian food! My friends and I were stoked and had read many a cautionary tale warning us to come early so we doorbusted the Hacker tent and queued up at 9AM (doors open at 10AM). FYI, everyone shows up in leiderhosen and dirndles so if you like dressing up at all, I highly recommend you do so. It's tons of fun and my male friends felt left out so they left midday to buy some leiderhosen. I was surprised by the number of older people who participated in the festivities as well. The Hacker tent is supposed to be the young party tent, which is why we picked it. Once we were in, they started serving beer immediately (contrary to certain reviews we'd read online which said that they didn't serve alcohol until noon). The tent did not fill up until the early afternoon but since we were a party of six and didn't want to risk not having a table (and also because we wanted the entire Oktoberfest experience), it was a good thing we came in the morning. If you can, you should try to reserve a table as the majority of the tables in the hall are reserved. Tip your waiter and they will be good to you and check in on you regularly. The food here is delicious; the goulash was so good and the fried chicken is a must-get. We left our tent after 10 solid hours of drinking and went to wander around the carnival area. We went on the ferris wheel and the swings and also the little carousel bar. Most of the people we met were extremely friendly although there were a couple outliers. All in all, Oktoberfest is an experience that you should definitely check out at least once in your life. read more
10 years ago
15 years ago
Helpful phrase Willkommen zum Oktoberfest! -Welcome to Oktoberfest! Another helpful term you may be called... Noagerlzuzla! -person who drinks the last remainders from abandoned glasses -also used as a cuss. hahahahaha! What is there to say that hasnt been said yet? Rony M. summed a lot of it up already. On the flip side, it is my understanding that for the locals by far and large Oktoberfest is a gathering of family to celebrate German history and culture.. though I admit to being apart of another group of tourists that took the beer drinking a lil further than a family unit would normally. Either which way... come to Munich and experience yourself! Expect to get a table in a tent to drink... eat.... sing.... dance... meet new people... and have a great time! Get some memories, buy some gifts, forget who you are, and ride some rides. Its worth it! ;D read more
Such a fun place. Beers are super strong and big and taste great. Would definitely recommend taking a bus here! I was in the Hofbrau tent, which is where tourists typically go! Basically this is Disneyland for Adults! Spent about 60€ on food and 4 beers (11€ each). I believe radlers are a bit cheaper, which they also offer! read more
Oktoberfest 2013~ in Munich, Germanyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!! Think about all the raves, EDM events, parties , bdays, bonfire, raves, beer tents, beer fest, alcohol-driven fest you've ever been in your life. Now multiply that by 100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW. I love everything crazy, wild and over the top. I mean, if you are going to do something, might as well go all out! Right????! Came here after a month of traveling around Europe back in August-September. Came here right after my fav Roma. First off: Munich is cold as ice! Nobody told you that part. Mm hmmm. I arrived to bustling crazy city of Munich via train from Roma on a fine Friday morning in what else: my mini skirt. And nearly died! But worried not. The best has yet to come. Went to the hotel, got situated. Drank enough mulled wine and ate enough MEAT to warm myself up for the next day. And off we go for the opening ceremony of Oktoberfest 2013 on a Saturday morning. Took a train from Marien Platz- right down town Munich with hundreds of others. Walked a few blocks and viola. Welcome to crazy wonderland. At first glance: it looks a lot like a crowded fairground. Lots of fish roasting on the open fire ( Yummmmmmmmm: get that), chicken huts, pork knuckle huts, donuts and amazing pastry huts! And of course: The beer teeeentsss! Off we go to our first beer tent- Paulaner tent. Just google that hot mess. Omg- came in to see several thousands happy drunks. White and green tent, people singing, full tables. One liter of beer glasses being carried by well endowed German woman! Holy shit!!!!! To get/sit at the tables, you need reservation. We didn't get any because it was $$$$$$ as hell. But a very friendly group of German people offered to let us two girls sit at their table with our 3 other friends. The only way you can order a drink is at the table. One- I don't drink beer. Two- I don't like beer Three- I had beer in Oktoberfest!!! Yea that was pretty much it. Made friends with the Germans, Italians (kept taking my pics ...pervs). Italians bought me beer! We cheered every 2 minutes. One person start the cheers, it goes around an entire tent of maybe 20,000 people?? Holy epicness. There was an 85 year old grandma dancing on the table. She's hardcore. After an hour, we left to go to the other tents on this massive 40 acre play ground. Within seconds: lost 3 of our friends!! OMG! KIDDING ME?? It's not like hundred thousands of people are here. So we did what a sensible adult would do in such situation. Got some roasted chicken, salty fish and went back inside the tents to drink some more till the sun goes down. Have you ever got hungover @ 4 pm?? After 5 hours of drinking? We are still singing that German song in our tent. Waited in very long yet efficient lines to the bathroom. Even had some amazing German donuts cause alcohol demands sweet! Overall- didn't expect to have this much fun!!! ANd OMG~ this place is made for bunniessssss like me. Party @ 200 percent all day every day! WHAAAAT? There was no toning it down. People are so nice, there were catfights ( damn american chicks!!! giving us bad names) but people were nice. I loved every second of this crazy, wild and outrageous adventure. I might just be going back again for 2014! But probably stick to wine or bring some liquor with me so I can get as drunk as all these other fools were :) read more
7 years ago
It's Oktoberfest what can I say. It's like Mardi Gras, the Super Bowl, and 50 other events all smashed into one big party. Lots of goofballs that are super hammered But that's kind of the point. It's definitely quite entertaining. A must at least once in your life! Definitely go with friends! Make sure to sample the beers and lots of tasty food and be sure to take a few days out to exploring Munich. It's a really cool city! You will never look at local American Oktoberfest celebrations to the same again. Especially since they usually happen after the real Oktoberfest ends :-) Prost! read more
What an unforgettable experience that is well worth the trip out to Munich! PRE-LOGISTICS: - Le bf and I were visiting family in Cologne so we decided to take the DB train to Munich (~6 hour trip). From the Munich hbf, it should be easy to get to your hotel/Air Bnb. - BUY LEDERHOSEN & DIRNDL as most attendees will be wearing them. You can rent original leather ones at the festival for about 60 euros or buy one for upwards of $200. But we bought ours on Amazon and they blended in well with the crowd. DAY OF: - We read on Reddit to line up EARLY if we want seating in a tent without a reservation. Otherwise, you can go in and still drink standing up. In reality, we lined up at 8:50 on a Sunday for a 9 am opening. I was a little nervous about not getting seats, but perhaps the damp morning deterred most people from showing up too early because we easily got seats with visitors from America and from Australia. - There will be broken beer glasses (more so from attendees challenging each other to break them) as well as vomit. This is another reason why you should wear lederhosen/dirndl so you don't get your normal clothes so stinky. - We spent 5 hours at Lowenbrau. The mood is SO fun! The band starts playing every 10 minutes from about 11, including little cheers to prompt you to keep drinking (as if you need any!) Even if you don't speak German, you will quickly learn the cheers. - We then walked around the festival grounds for more food and to look at the rides. Honestly though, I don't know how anyone can ride the rides after all that beer without it sloshing around in you. FOOD: - Full kitchen service from 11 am, but you can get sausages, potato salad, and pretzels until then. - We split white sausages, a potato salad, sauerkraut, 1/2 grilled chicken, a pretzel, apple strudel, currywurst, and 5 beers throughout 6 hours. Needless to say, we left QUITE stuffed and out of 130 euros but so well worth it for tasting through good solid Bavarian dishes. - Remember to tip your servers 10-15% otherwise they won't come back to your seats! read more
"Work is the curse of the drinking classes." ~Oscar Wilde Oktoberfest happens mostly in September, and I am writing this review in December. That's about how long it takes to recover from Oktoberfest. It is the biggest party on the planet - 7.2 million people over the course of the event drinking 6.9 million liters of beer and another 120k liters of wine. There are 878 meters of urinals. There are 14 large tents and another 20 small tents which are actually wooden buildings that are constructed each year in an enormous park, and then torn down after the event to be used the following year. When I say a large tent, I mean a large building that holds up to 10,000 boisterous revelers drinking their body weight in beer in a day. Difficult to describe, it's about 70% drinking, 10% eating, 10% music, 5% carnival rides and 5% shopping. There's really nothing like getting tipsy on some of the best beer you've ever had and then eating the best food you've ever had, followed by getting on a ride that spins you around at about 3 Gs in the middle of the night with lots of flashing lights and deafening music while you're wearing a Dirndl or Lederhosen. It's something you have to do once in your lifetime. The photo ops are everywhere with barmaids carrying 50 lbs. of glass and beer in their bare hands, Clydesdale horse teams dragging wagons of beer barrels through the streets, pretzels for sale that are so big they look more like hula-hoops, traditional trachten, 20-somethings climbing on top of tables and downing a liter of beer in one breath. It's all very impressive and always to the accompaniment of bands loudly playing Ein Prosit with a gladdening accordion flair. read more
My general belief is that the best moments of your life will come when a few simple things combine perfectly - food, music, and people. Beer, at least in my opinion, totally satisfies that food requirement. And with that, we have one of the greatest moments of my life. The thing about Oktoberfest is that it is rooted in something fairly simple - beer. And enjoying it with other humans who also like beer. And celebrating culture, with beer. That's it. In an age where we're used to festivals that throw lights and gadgets and electronics in our faces, a step back to such simple pleasures was refreshing and absolutely brilliant. It was October 2013 when I went to Oktoberfest, on a weekend trip during my time living in Rome. A vacation from a vacation. On that Saturday morning I stood atop a table with a stein in my hand, with Germans and Egyptians and Americans and more, arms wrapped around strangers. We sang at the top of our lungs to each other, clinked glasses in celebration, and laughed like never before. Overall, there are many a stories that could come from that weekend. We drunkenly road drop zone rides with a view of thousands of folks roaming the grounds. We made up drinking games (like we needed them) that meant cheers-ing every time we saw a weird hat, nice boobs, or the PRETZELLLL MAN. (P.S. the pretzels he has are large and delicious). We got covered in mud trying to make our way up a hill in the rain. All of it comes together to make for a weekend of amazingly joyous energy and celebration. Definitely one of my favorite festivals to date, and I would highly suggest adding it to your bucket list. And here's a little advice ... First off, get to the tents early. Groups have booked tables way ahead of time, and they get full REALLY fast. By 7 in the morning masses of people are already crammed in front of the tents hoping for a spot. You can probably get a table if you're there early enough, but they'll kick you out around noon when people with reservations come in. More than likely you'll already be drunk enough by that time, and there is plenty else to explore. Second, is to get this thing called Radler. It's half lemonade, half beer. Now I know you may come to Oktoberfest to down as much beer as possible, but the Radler is pretty tasty and a refreshing way to pace yourself a little. (Personal experience also shows it's a very good way to get yourself back in the game when you realize your hangover is setting in). Third, is to take a damn stein. It's against the rules and you have to be sneaky, so I probably shouldn't write this in the Yelp review, but I feel like it's almost tradition or something. Okay, so don't do that .... or yeah. Other little tips include to keep in mind it might start pouring rain in the middle of the day, so prepare to be happily drenched just in case. Also, respect and appreciate the mix of culture and humans around you. AND TRY THE FOOD. It's delicious. read more
I should have written my 300th review here! Oh well, we'll settle for 303. Since most people have summed Oktoberfest up I'll just say a few things that I would have liked to know before I came! You MUST reserve a spot in a tent. Preferably multiple tents throughout the day. You cannot order beer unless you're in a tent, and without a reservation you either have to be lucky or know how to get in the back way. If you're going for lunch I'd prefer to reserve a smaller tent, then move to a bigger tent in the afternoon. I love the big tents with the amazing music! The food is very very good. I'd recommend the chicken. It's juicy and amazing and the skin is so crispy and heavenly! One Mass (the big mug) is 10 Euros, and they're amazing. And I actually really want one right now!!!! Yes it's a short review but I feel like everyone sums up Oktoberfest pretty well! And you better dress up cause otherwise you're a LOSER! Also, I definitely plan to go again. It was fantastic! PROST!!! Trink! Resierv einen Zelt! Bestell das Hahnchen! Bring mir! PROST! read more
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Oktoberfest - funfair - Updated July 2026
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