Complete Guide on Tips to Attend Oktoberfest

Festivals are the most animated events that celebrate communities, cultures, and art. One such enlightening experience is Oktoberfest in Munich. This life-size festival has been running successfully for over two centuries (with only 26 cancellations). The easiest way to explain it is: EVERYTHING BAVARIAN!

It means slight preparation is needed to make the most of it. The brew at the festival is stronger than regular beer, and the ground is filled with large and small marquees serving it. Go through all the Oktoberfest Tips and Tricks to make the most of your experience.

Beer, Food, & Oktoberfest Tent Related Tips

The whole Oktoberfest experience is optimized if you put things in order. Little details make the biggest difference!

Shortlist the Best Days to Visit Oktoberfest

The world’s largest beer fest runs for 16-18 days, making it one of the longest-running Volkfests around the globe. It starts at the end of September and lasts till the start of October. It means you have to decide which days are best for you to attend the festival.

The Busy Days at Oktoberfest

If you love having people around, then the busy days at Oktoberfest are for you. All the important dates at the festival have some kind of event planned.

• Opening Day on First Saturday (it has two important events: The Landlord & Brewery parade and Keg Tapping ceremony at the Schottenhamel tent.
• First Sunday (Costume and Hunter's Parade)
• Second Weekend (Italian Weekend)
• Second Sunday (Landlords' Concert)
• Final Day of Oktoberfest (Gun Salutes)

All these events mark the special days of the festival, and it’s sometimes hard to find a spot, so you'd better be on time!

Relaxed Days at the Festival

Weekdays at the festival are relaxed, and a great time to find a spot and enter the Theresienwiese without getting in line. Mornings have especially less turnover, and the best time to experience the festival without the hustle and bustle.

Day Deciding Tip! Check the Oktoberfest barometer to shortlist the best days to attend the festival according to your crowd preference.

Mind the Opening Hours of the Festival

The operational hours of the Oktoberfest vary for the tents and the days. Beer serving at the tents is discontinued a little before the tents' business hours.

Beer Tent Opening on the First Day

• On the opening day of the Oktoberfest, the beer tent opens at 9 a.m.
• Non-alcoholic drinks and small bite-sized food options are available to order from 10 a.m.
• The star of the show, “Oktoberfest beer,” is served once the Mayor taps the keg on the beer barrel at midday, 12 o’clock.

Large Tent Opening Hours

• Weekdays (Including Oide Wiesn)- 10 am to 11.30 pm.
• Weekend and Public Holidays (3 Oct)- 9 a.m.
• The bar is always open till 10.30 p.m.

Note: Käfer Wiesn-Schänke and Kuffler’s Weinzelt (wine tent) are open till 1:00 a.m., with the bar closing half an hour before.

Small Tent Opening Hours

• Weekdays- 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
• Weekends- 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
• The beer and wine service in the small and medium-sized marquees stops half an hour before closing.

Beer Tent Timing Tip: If you plan to stay late, rush to the Käfer Wiesn-Schänke or Kuffler’s Weinzelt to score a spot.

Prioritize Your Beer Tent!

The 42 hectares of the Oktoberfest fairground have 17 large and 21 small tents. It is impossible to cover all the beer marquees, especially if you attend the festival for only one day.

Image Courtesy: Oktoberfest.de

All the beer tents have different vibes and decor, and they serve one of six Munich beers. Research all the major tents to decide, avoid disappointment, and manage expectations.

1. Armbrustschützenzelt- Crossbow Shooting Championships tent.
2. Augustiner Festhalle- Beer from Beer Barrel.
3. Fischer-Vroni- Fish specialty tent
4. Hacker-Festzelt- Heavens of Bavaria/ Romantic Grand Finale
5. Hofbräu-Festzelt- Famous amongst International Visitors.
6. Käfer Wiesn-Schänke- Cozy Log Cabin Vibe
7. Kufflers Weinzelt- Groovy Musical Performance
8. Löwenbräu-Festzelt- Lion roar and 37-meter-tall tower.
9. Marstall Festzelt-Art Nouveau Interior
10. Ochsenbraterei-Ox Specialty Tent
11. Paulaner Festzelt- Modern beer pipeline
12. Pschorr-Festzelt Bräurosl- The biggest Beer tent
13. Festhalle Schottenhamel- Keg Tapping Tent
14. Schützen-Festzelt- Arnold Schwarzenegger favorite tent
15. Boandlkramerei- Musical tent
16. Festzelt Tradition- Old School Vibe
17. Volkssängerzelt Schützenlisl- Translation of 140-year-old Oktoberfest

Take Advantage of the Midday Special Oktoberfest

The Midday Oktoberfest (Mittagswiesn) was introduced in 1998 to encourage more visitors to visit the fairground between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

During these hours, daily specials are offered on the menu at discounted prices. It is your chance to enjoy one of the low-cost Bavarian specialties.

Chug Oktoberfest Beer Responsibly

The Oktoberfest beers (Augustiner-Bräu, Hacker-Pschorr-Bräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Spatenbräu, Hofbräu) are only served at the tents. These beers are especially brewed for the Oktoberfest, having higher alcohol content, between 5.8% to 6.2% (regular beer has 4% alcohol content).

The Oktoberfest Marzen lager easily washes down; without knowing, you can chug many steins. Pace your drinking game to enjoy all aspects of the world's largest Volkfest.

Line Your Stomach Before Drinking

Since Oktoberfest beer is strong and easily drinkable, drinking it on an empty stomach can result in quicker and worse intoxication, which can ruin the whole festival plan.

General Tips to Attend Oktoberfest

There are certain rules and protocols for attending an event, especially if it is grand like Oktoberfest (with a 200+ year history).

Bring Enough Cash!

The German currency, the Euro (€), is used at Oktoberfest. Cash is the king at the fairground. Credit cards are not accepted there; debit cards work only for the whole table reservation. Some stalls and rides accept cards, but there may be some issues. The ATM at the fairground charges a hefty amount, so bring some cash with you.

Slip into the Oktoberfest Costume!

The festival has no obligatory dress code, but most locals attend the festival wearing dirndls and lederhosen (traditional German attire), which elevates the whole festive experience.

Oktoberfest Costume Men

Men at Oktoberfest wear;

• Lederhosen (Traditional leather trousers)
• Checkered or Plain White shirt
• Bavarian knitted socks
• Suspenders or belt
• Leather shoes

Oktoberfest Costume Women

Women's dress code for Oktoberfest is:

• Traditional Dirndl Dress
• Bavarian Dirndl blouse
• Minimal jewelry
• Bavarian hairstyle
• Shoes

Oktoberfest clothing Tip! It is better to skip the Oktoberfest costume altogether than wear a low-quality one.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

The festival ground is quite long (100 acres) and has seven entrances. Your favorite Oktoberfest tent may be located quite far from the entrance. Comfortable shoes help you go a long way without having foot sores. Closed shoes are recommended for both men and women exploring the Oktoberfest fairground.

Know the Oktoberfest Rules!

There are certain rules and regulations, and Oktoberfest police roam around to ensure everyone abides by them.

• Backpacks and bags bigger than 20 cm x 15 cm x 10 cm are prohibited.
• Strollers are not allowed on weekends, and on weekdays after 6 p.m.
• Animals, except assistance dogs, are prohibited at Oktoberfest.
• You cannot take with you bicycles, scooters, or skateboards.
• Anyone over 16 years is only allowed to drink at the festival.
• No smoking inside the beer tents is strictly not allowed.
• Glass bottles, pepper spray, or weapons are not allowed.
• Selling Drugs can result in imprisonment.
• Wild toileting results in a hefty fine.

Do not Pass Out on Puke Hill

The famous “Puke Hill” or, as locals say, “Kotzhügel" is a notorious spot behind the beer tents. Many intoxicated visitors lie there after having had steins of beer. Many people avoid it for hygiene reasons. Despite very few incident reports, it is also a famous pickpocket spot.

Tip: Take a water break between drinking sessions. And return to the hotel if you are a solo Oktoberfest visitor.

Tip Generously to Get Served Well

If you plan on spending most of your time at the Oktoberfest beer halls, prepare to tip well. The recommended tip is 5 to 10% of your bill per serving, which is roughly €1-2 per beer serving. Tipping well means getting your order in time!

Note: The servers also rely greatly on the tips as their base salary is quite marginal.

Check out the Historical Oktoberfest

The Oktoberfest celebration got an extension on its southern part to celebrate the 200th anniversary. It is decorated to celebrate the traditional vibe of the festival with beer tents and rides during the early years of the festival.

The Oide Wiesn (Historical Oktoberfest) is replaced every four years with the Agricultural fair. So, check the official Oktoberfest website before visiting!

Do not miss the Carnival Rides!

The whole Oktoberfest experience is incomplete without the Carnival rides. Some of the rides are so much fun, especially for adrenaline junkies. Some of the top recommended Oktoberfest carnival rides are;

Olympia Looping

Toboggan

Teufelsrad

Ferris Wheel

Learn Basic Oktoberfest Lingo

71% of the Oktoberfest visitors are Bavarian, mostly conversing only in German. Having a little knowledge of German can help navigate the festival easily.

• Wiesn- Bavarian name for Oktoberfest
• Theresienwiese- The Oktoberfest venue
• Das Oktoberfest- The October festival
• Das Festzelt- The festival tent
• Die Bank- The bench
• Der Sitzplatz - The seat
• Prost- Cheers

Work-up for Munich’s Unpredictable Weather

Munich’s weather is unpredictable, with rain on roughly 180 days a year. It can downpour at Oktoberfest at any hour. It is great to have a compact umbrella or rain poncho handy to shield your awesome lederhosen or german dirndl dresses from getting soaked.

Wrapping It Up!

The world's biggest Volksfest, Oktoberfest Munich, is one of the most hyped celebrations. Everyone loves Wiesn for many reasons, but going to the first straight without having the essentials sorted can ruin the whole experience. It is best to shortlist the festival days of visitation, check the beer tent timings, and have enough cash on hand to have the time of your life!