Hello, I am Jonah and I am from Georgia. I’m here to make your experience at Oktoberfest much smoother and ultimately reduce the stress of traveling abroad.
Simply put I am a seasoned veteran of the world’s largest beer celebration- Oktoberfest in Munich Germany. For all of you who wish to partake in these festivities, I am here to help guide you to the most enjoyable Oktoberfest experience catered to your specific tastes. We will cover navigating the airport, transportation, food, activities, beer tents, and of course the most important – beer! Let’s start with a few basics about Munich, the German city that hosts Oktoberfest, which will be your home base during your visit.
I would recommend arriving in town a few days before the festival starts or plan to stay a few days after to take in some of the sites within and surrounding the city. There are many beautiful and historic sites in the area to enjoy. Do not worry if you do not speak German, because English is like a second language there. I have had the pleasure to spend several weeks there each year since 2013. The past few years, I stayed in an Airbnb rather than a hotel, so I could stretch out and have a kitchen available to me. If you’re traveling with friends or family, you will find it is very cost effective.
Step One: Navigating the Munich Airport during Oktoberfest
The Munich airport (MUC) is easy to navigate. There are two main terminals depending whether you fly directly international or have a connector flight somewhere within Europe. Compared to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, Ga, the Munich airport is rather small and therefore, easy to navigate.
I suggest using the S-Bahn train from the airport station “Flughafen München” to the city’s main train station “Hauptbahnhof” or taking a cab directly to your hotel. I’ve done both, and although a cab is more convenient, you’re looking at shelling out around 75 euros. On the other hand, the train is approximately 15 euros, departs every 10 minutes, and gets you to the city center quicker–about a 45 minute trip with only a handful of stops along the way.
From the Hauptbahnhof station, you can take several U-Bahn subway train routes directly to or extremely near your hotel and then grab a cab from there. This is assuming your hotel is near the city center where most international travelers stay while attending Oktoberfest. I recommend that you stay as close to the city center as you can due to the convenience.
Munich is a very safe city with very little crime. During the festival, there is a heavy police presence throughout the city. I make the joke that you are more likely to get hit by someone on a bicycle than get mugged during Oktoberfest. With that being said, there are dedicated bike lanes adjacent to the sidewalks so as you are walking–mind your lane!
Pro-tip: Don’t book a lunch reservation to a beer tent for Oktoberfest on the day you arrive in town. It will take you several hours to get situated once you arrive in Munich, and you will not make it to the reservation. Your time will be eaten up with customs, baggage and the crowds that will be in the airport. Do not add to your stress.
Step Two: Preparing for Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is also called the Wiesn. The wiesn literally means “meadow” or “lawn,” but actually refers to the fairgrounds where the beer tents, food stands and rides are set up each year. Prior to visiting the Wiesn, I highly recommend purchasing “tracht” (traditional German clothing) such as a set of “lederhosen” (men) or a “dirndl” (women). Lederhosen are leather breeches which may be either short or knee-length. These usually have lots of pockets and a drop front with decoration. The dirndl consists of a white blouse, a colorful dress with an apron over it.
A decent outfit will cost between 400 and 600 euros depending whether you decide on a jacket or a vest to accent your attire. Less expensive options exist. Cowhide lederhosen are the least expensive choice. I highly suggest the goat skin option unless you have thousands of dollars to burn and go with the authentic deerskin option. These options can be purchased in Munich at official Oktoberfest sponsored designer stores, department stores, or even second-hand stores. You can browse the official Oktoberfest online shop for men or for women to get a good idea of Oktoberfest tracht in advance of your trip.
The pricing will greatly depend on the quality, material and the design. There are additional options where you can rent this traditional wear for the day. However, if you will be there for more than one day or plan a return trip it is a better idea to purchase one outright. A quality lederhosen or dirndl will last a lifetime if properly cared for and makes a wonderful Halloween costume for future use and a wonderful souvenir.
You have secured your purchase and dressed for the festival. Before you depart your hotel make sure that you leave your backpack or any large pack there, for even though it may be convenient, it is no longer allowed at the festival.
Now, you are ready!
Step Three: Transportation to Oktoberfest
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk transportation to and from the Wiesn. There is simply no better mode of transit than the city’s subway system. Several U-Bahn subway trains drop passengers off at four stops surrounding the fairgrounds, with the Theresienwiese station being directly near the main entrance. The other three are within a short walk to the grounds. The Munich train system site MVV is an excellent journey planner tool for any of the U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains.
You can take a taxi. Do not drive a car. It is difficult to find parking, and towing companies are quick to take your car from a restricted area.
I still recommend the subway. It is easy and always on time.
Step Four: Oktoberfest – You are here. What should you expect?
Munich attracts over six million visitors a year during the little over two weeks of festivities. Navigating the fairgrounds on a weekend day or evening feels like being at a gigantic music festival–it gets crowded. So, if you have reservations to a beer tent at a specific time, you had best plan to be on the grounds a minimum of one-hour prior. If you don’t have a reservation on these busy days, good luck getting into one of the 14 big tents-it is nearly impossible.
Your best chance at that point is hoping to find a spot in one of the outdoor beer gardens. If the weather is nice it’s an adequate alternative, but nothing like being on the inside where all the action is. This is where the real party is happening. There are several reputable websites where securing a reservation is possible and highly recommended to maximize your experience.
The Wiesn not only houses the beer tents, it possesses a fantastic carnival setup complete with roller coasters and a mix of several other awesome rides. I would highly recommend checking them out while you’re still on the sober side. My absolute favorite is the Teufelsrad, “Devil’s Wheel” in English. You have to Google it – it’s much more exciting if you check it out on YouTube and see it in action rather than listen to me ramble on about how great it is.
I particularly like the BB gun shooting booths. There has been more than one time this old country boy drew a crowd to one of these booths. Unlike the carnivals I’m used to, these BB guns are surprisingly precise. Sport shooting just isn’t as common in Europe as is it where I come from, and it’s a total rush taking those targets out in front of a gawking crowd. Additionally, there are numerous souvenir shops selling all manner of trinkets: hats, pins, steins, the list goes on and on. ATM machines are located throughout–you need CASH–be sure to get some!
Step 5: The Beer Tents at Oktoberfest
So, now’s the hard part. Which tent works best for you? Technically there are 17 so called “big tents”–three of which are in the “Oide Wiesn,” and not really where the action is, so I’ll focus on the main attractions. There are 14 Big tents in the main area, and each has its own charm, atmosphere, and most importantly different beer and other alcohol options. Which tent to choose depends on your personal taste. Do you want a fun lively crowd? Or a more authentic experience? Do you prefer wine or champagne instead of beer?
Below is a description of my personal favorites which I visit yearly- multiple times a year. Although each is different in its own way, they are equally spectacular and even if you twisted my arm, I couldn’t tell you which one is best. Before we start, I must reiterate that credit cards are not accepted in most (if not all) of the tents. Bring cash, in Euros, and expect to tip an absolute minimum of two euros per food item and beer to receive the best service.
My Top 4 Beer Tents at Oktoberfest
We’ll start with Hofbrau because it’s world famous, and likely the one everyone is most familiar with of a beer tent. On a scale of one to ten it’s a ten for the party atmosphere. I especially like the balcony area because watching the people on the main floor from way up there makes me chuckle every time. The mittelshiff (the main center floor area) gets rocking from afternoon until the lights go out around 10:30pm. The band is fantastic, and the food is good.
The best part is the Hofbrau Oktoberfest beer; it is a bit stouter (6.3% alcohol) than the bottled version or the version available at a restaurant. Reservations to the Hofbrau tent typically come with two beer vouchers per person, and a half chicken voucher (hendl) that can be exchanged as a cash credit toward other menu items. The ribs in Hofbrau are phenomenal-so good in fact I don’t venture away from them when I visit this tent.
Next let’s bebop over to the Hacker Festzelt tent. The beer in here is a smooth Bavarian masterpiece with a 6.1% alcohol content. Like the Hofbrau tent, the chicken voucher here can be used as a credit towards any menu item. The atmosphere in this tent can rival that of Hofbrau–it’s lively, has a great band, and excellent service personnel. I really enjoy attending the end of the Oktoberfest closing ceremony at this tent. Everyone in the tent lights sparklers and sings along with the band–a truly spectacular event to be a part of. Although it’s not difficult to reserve a spot for that final Sunday evening; it is expensive, so be prepared.
For those of you looking for an upscale experience, the Marstall tent is your go-to spot. Here you will find a dedicated champagne bar, and food that is second to none. The menu includes: beef tenderloin, succulent, giant prawns, and a Wiener Schnitzel so delicious I can hardly think about it without my mouth watering.
When I was there on the first Sunday of the 2019 Oktoberfest, I had the pure joy of watching the one and only Arnold Schwarzenegger join the band on stage–the place went crazy. In general, this tent is much less rowdy than most. It is a great place for either lunch or dinner but be prepared to spend some money especially if you’re drinking champagne all night. Just like my man, Arnold– “I’ll be back.”
For those who remember the old Hippodrome, the Marstall has made a remarkable staple to the Wiesn in replacement of that rundown dump. I absolutely love the rotating carousel above the centrally placed main stage.
Finally, from my personal list of favorites, we head over to the Paulaner tent. This is a frequent lunchtime spot for me. The beer is from the Paulaner brewery and is smooth with good flavor and those liters go down easy. The lunch experience here gets me geared up for whatever I have planned for that day. Paulaner also provides a more traditional feel in comparison to the previously listed tents. The lunchtime crowd isn’t as intense. but come evening time this place gets a good groove going. It’s a definite must if you can muster up the courage to face this kind of place.
Other Beer Tents at Oktoberfest
There are several other tents that I have visited and have been very pleased with, but they are difficult to gain access to. You need to have a reservation regardless of what you may read online to fully enjoy Oktoberfest. The Ochsenbraterei tent with a whole Ox roasting on a gigantic spit blew my mind the first time I saw it. It’s worth checking out to enjoy the Spaten brew along with a nice cut of beef.
The Augustiner- Festzelt tent serves arguably one of the best beers Oktoberfest has to offer (Augustiner Brau). The problem with that tent is it is nearly impossible to gain entry–the tables are just not available, even during the less desirable days of the week–unless you want to pay big.
The Fischer- Vroni tent also serves Augustiner and is one of the smallest of the big tents. They cook speckle fish on outdoor coal pits to perfection. The band plays from a boat like it is a stage; however, it is also difficult to get a reservation here even from the secondary market.
Lastly the Armbrustschützen-Festzelt (Paulaner Beer) and Schützen- Festzelt (Lowenbrau Beer) tents provide a very authentic Oktoberfest experience and are favorites of the German patrons.
Two tents that don’t really tickle my fancy are the Kafer Wiesn Schanke and the Kuffler’s Weinzelt wine tent. With Kuffler’s, it’s not that I don’t like wine, but I come to drink beer and lots of it.
As far as the Kafer it’s a bit more pretentious than I desire however it is super posh–I’ve been in both and they are nice. If you’re looking for rubbing elbows with the rich and famous, you can find them in Kafer for sure, but prepare yourself for open wallet surgery. It will cost you. I don’t honestly understand how Kafer is considered a big tent because the inside is actually quite small. Don’t quote me on this, but it can’t have more than a thousand spots or so. It does have a cool beer garden. These two stay open later than all the other tents. Again, both good tents and they really get rocking late in the evenings– just not my preference.
Now for my least favorites. Sadly, the Schottenhamel- Festzelt, which kicks the whole thing off with the tapping of the first keg by the Mayor of Munich on that first Saturday, is not that great. The few times I’ve been in there I found the service left something to be desired, maybe because I am an American and it is a cultural thing. I also didn’t like the sheer size of the place, it’s too big. If you’re not on the main floor, good luck getting a good view of the band.
Pschorr Braurosl is OK, but not in the same category as some of my favs. Finally–the worst for me is the Lowenbrau-Festzelt tent. It’s got a good atmosphere, but it’s hard to get past the worst of all Oktoberfest beers in my opinion, which is at the Lowenbrau tent.
In Summary
Munich is an international city with tons of history, and well worth the trip. Buy the “U” ticket–it’s easy to get to nearly anywhere you want to go. Bring a raincoat or umbrella– it is September/October in Munich–it’s typical to have beautiful cool weather, but the rain does come. If you want a souvenir, then get a stein or an authentic cuckoo clock.
Have fun and don’t get too hammered– if you end up drinking too much and passing out on the lawn surrounding the park, they will put you in the “big blue box,” formally the “banana bag,” and that will cost you big.
Peace and Love folks! I hope my experience helps you find your way around. Prost!
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