The Ultimate Guide to the Oktoberfest In Munich for the Wiesn
Find out moreThe Munich Oktoberfest
The Oktoberfest is a world-famous festival which takes place on the Theresienwiese in Munich, Germany, running for two weeks between mid-September and early October. It attracts thousands of visitors every day, many of whom travel to Munich especially to be a part of this very special event. For those who can’t make it to the original, other cities in Germany and, increasingly, worldwide put on Oktoberfests of their own, following Munich’s lead and celebrating the specifically Bavarian combination of excellent beer, rich food, easy bonhomie and, of course, traditional dress.
Anyone who really wants to be a part of the Wiesn, as Munich locals call the Oktoberfest, needs to be dressed appropriately: that means a nice dirndl for the ladies and lederhosen paired with a smart shirt for the gentlemen. It’s worth going to the effort, because once you’re at the festival, you’ll love the breweries’ traditional beer tents, the wide range of fairground attractions – both historic stalls and state-of-the-art rides, and the outstanding Bavarian delicacies on offer. Did we mention the beer…?
If you want to find out more about the Munich Oktoberfest, this detailed guide is just right for you. Make sure to read all five chapters so that you’re well-versed in all aspects of this fantastic traditional festival and can impress the Bavarians you meet with your knowledge!
Chapter 1 Finding your way around the ‘Wiesn’
The Oktoberfest takes place on the Theresienwiese (hence the name ‘Wiesn’), a large open space in central Munich kept specifically for the Oktoberfest. Located just a few hundred yards south of the main station, you can reach Theresienwiese either on foot or by public transport: as well as Theresienwiese station, Hackerbrücke, Schwanthalerhöhe, and Goetheplatz are all within easy reach.
Beside a multitude of smaller tents, the Munich Oktoberfest features 14 full-sized beer tents. In addition to those run by the city’s traditional breweries, there is a wine tent (Weinzelt) and one specialising in fish (Fischer Vroni). Käfer’s Wiesn-Schänke is where the great, the good, and the glamourous go to meet. Find out more about each tent by clicking on it in the map below.
Oktoberfest tent map
Ochsenbraterei
Once you’ve done the party tents and eaten enough chicken, why not try something different? The Ochsenbraterei (literally: “the ox roastery?) tent is a uniquely culinary proposition: its kitchens spit-roast entire oxen. Its atmosphere is upmarket and traditional, yet decidedly festive.
Owners
Anneliese Haberl und Antje Schneider
Contact
089 / 38 38 73 12
www.ochsenbraterei.de
Style
Upmarket, but friendly
Brewery
Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Prices 2017
1 litre of Spaten beer: €10.70
Serving of ox-meat: €16.80
Capacity
6000 seats inside and 1.650 outside
Reservations at the Oktoberfest
If you want to be sure of being able to get into a specific tent on a certain day, the only way to do it is to get a reservation for you and your friends. All of the tents have tables open for bookings in three or four-hour slots, with reservations being taken for the afternoon or the evening; generally, the first bookings run through until late afternoon or early evening, with the next reservation taking effect at 4 or 5pm. Nevertheless, all landlords are obliged to keep some tables free of reservations, so there is always the chance of getting into a tent without one. Unreserved tables are open to all (but tend to get snapped up early in the day).
If you decide not to take the risk and want to reserve, make sure you do it early, as tents don’t have any trouble getting rid of advanced reservations: if you haven’t booked by early spring, you may find all the available tables are gone – especially the popular weekend and evening slots, which tend to be offered to regulars. Bookings are taken by the tent landlords, either by phone or over the internet, and although the seat itself is free of charge, reservations are only given to customers who pre-purchase vouchers for food and drink. These vouchers are either sent ahead of time or can be picked up at the tent itself.
How to get into a tent without a reservation
Getting a seat in a tent is important if for no other reason than that it’s the only way to get a tankard of beer; there are very few areas in which a Mass can be ordered standing up. If you don’t have a reservation, the best strategy is to get into a tent as early as possible. Once the party has really got going, it can be very difficult to find any free spaces, and tents generally fill up by 10am latest on the weekends (during the week, things are quieter through until the afternoon). As a general rule, smaller groups have better chances of getting a seat than larger ones. Once tents are at capacity, the doors are shut and security guards count people out and in.
If you do find yourself trying to get into a tent that is full, make like experienced locals and try being friendly. The security staff can often be persuaded to let one or two people in. Once you’re in, ask a waiter or waitress if there are any seats free, as this can speed things up. Don’t get your hopes up too high, though. You’ll often find its best to try smaller and medium-sized tents, which are just as authentic as bigger tents (and whose food is just as good).