The Oktoberfest in Munich is the world’s largest folk festival. It has been held annually on the Theresienwiese in Munich since 1810 and more and more visitors come every year.
The organizer is the city administration of Munich. The Oktoberfest is an important economic factor for the city of Munich. The festival takes place every year from mid-September to early October. The number of visitors is over 5.5 million. The turnover at the Oktoberfest is more than 1 billion euros.
In terms of infrastructure, not too much has changed in the last 50 years. Even today, Bavarian food and beer are important parts of the festival. Some Munich breweries brew a special beer especially for the Oktoberfest. This beer must have a certain original wort content and contain approximately 5.8 to 6.4 percent alcohol by volume.
Planning the Oktoberfest visit
A good choice of days for visiting the Oktoberfest is an important factor for success. For example, the festival tents are closed at peak times in order to avoid overcrowding.
Saturdays and October 3rd, if it falls on a Friday, are very crowded. It is also not recommended to arrive on Friday afternoon and leave on Sunday, for example. On Friday evenings and on Saturdays, the fairground is often overcrowded.
In addition to the rush, there are other aspects that influence the arrival days.
These include, for example, parades (on the opening Saturday or the day after) or the gay celebrations (the first Sunday of the Oktoberfest).
The scheduled days depend on the type of excursion. The meadow can be visited in one day, unless the Friday or Saturday already described is chosen. It also depends on the intensity of the visit to the Oktoberfest.
The city of Munich provides its guests with around 80,000 beds during the Wiesn season. If you need a room on the Oktoberfest weekends, you should start looking for accommodation well in advance. The distance to the main train station in Munich from the Theresienwiese is a good 10 minutes on foot. There are also many hotels available. If you book a hotel in one of these hotels, there is a short arrival time.
Visit the Oktoberfest with a guide
For example, if you are coming to the Oktoberfest from northern Germany and do not want to bother with your own intensive preparation for visiting the Oktoberfest, here is an opportunity to book an experienced guide for this visit to Munich and for visiting the Oktoberfest.
Such an offer often includes my Munich welcome tour and a guaranteed place in a tent at the Oktoberfest.
The tour of downtown Munich is also an introduction to the history of the city and the Oktoberfest.
Such a classic route usually starts from the historical center of the city. Here it goes from the medieval Isartor via Maximilianstraße. In addition to the most expensive shopping street in Munich with numerous boutiques, there is also an unusual architectural style here. At Max-Joseph-Platz, there are two important buildings from the royal era that can be visited: the opera and the residence.
The Maximilianeum is reached across the Isar. The Bavarian State Parliament has met there since 1949. Continue past the Friedensengel onto Prinzregentenstraße. Here the facade of the Bavarian National Museum can be visited and admired.
At the Odeonsplatz we go to the magnificent Ludwigstraße. The Feldherrenhalle and the Siegestor form the beginning and end of the boulevard.
However, the focus of the tour is on visiting the Munich Oktoberfest with an admission ticket. Here the guide will take you on a historical tour of the festival grounds. From the bird’s eye view from the famous Oktoberfest Ferris wheel you get a precise overview.
A reserved spot in one of the large Oktoberfest beer tents is also available. A few liters of beer and a chicken or other food are often included in the price for the guide.
A meeting point for pick-up (e.g. at the NH Hotel) is usually agreed with the guide. The guide can then often be identified by a sign saying “Munich Art Tours”. This day will then become an unforgettable experience.
When does it make sense to reserve a room ?
If you only start looking for a room after you have arrived in Munich, it is too late, especially during the Oktoberfest. Especially during this time there are hardly any bargains or last-minute offers in Munich. The official website can be found here: Oktoberfest Munich 2023.
With proper preparation for visiting October