Octoberfest - Germany - first timer Q's
Discussion
I like Germany, I like beer, I like sausage, I like festivals, but never have I combined the 4 into a Octoberfest weekend!
So, looking to rectify this in 2025, I have about 15 of us that want to make it happen, we have it in the diary for weekend of 26-29th September and keen to get it booked ASAP!
So, some questions
1. Is the only real 'main' one worth going to in Munich? Can we have a good proper Octoberfest experiance in any other major German Cities?
2. Once flights and hotels are sorted, do you need to buy tickets? Is there an official retailer? or is it a turn up on the day affair?
3. Buy some Lederhosen here before we go, or will the proper stuff be better and cheaper out there?
Thats good for a start, more will come im sure,
Ta
So, looking to rectify this in 2025, I have about 15 of us that want to make it happen, we have it in the diary for weekend of 26-29th September and keen to get it booked ASAP!
So, some questions
1. Is the only real 'main' one worth going to in Munich? Can we have a good proper Octoberfest experiance in any other major German Cities?
2. Once flights and hotels are sorted, do you need to buy tickets? Is there an official retailer? or is it a turn up on the day affair?
3. Buy some Lederhosen here before we go, or will the proper stuff be better and cheaper out there?
Thats good for a start, more will come im sure,
Ta
Munich is probably the worst one. Yes trip to the Hofbräuhaus is worth it but do it another time and you will have a much better experience. When I lived there we went to Stuttgart's as that was usually the best for balance of great atmosphere, far fewer tourists etc etc. Food and beer are brilliant!
sidekickdmr said:
I like Germany, I like beer, I like sausage, I like festivals, but never have I combined the 4 into a Octoberfest weekend!
So, looking to rectify this in 2025, I have about 15 of us that want to make it happen, we have it in the diary for weekend of 26-29th September and keen to get it booked ASAP!
So, some questions
1. Is the only real 'main' one worth going to in Munich? Can we have a good proper Octoberfest experiance in any other major German Cities?
2. Once flights and hotels are sorted, do you need to buy tickets? Is there an official retailer? or is it a turn up on the day affair?
3. Buy some Lederhosen here before we go, or will the proper stuff be better and cheaper out there?
Thats good for a start, more will come im sure,
Ta
I've been a number of times, but my comments may not be totally helpful as it's always been organised by a mate living in Munich and it's a few years since I last went.So, looking to rectify this in 2025, I have about 15 of us that want to make it happen, we have it in the diary for weekend of 26-29th September and keen to get it booked ASAP!
So, some questions
1. Is the only real 'main' one worth going to in Munich? Can we have a good proper Octoberfest experiance in any other major German Cities?
2. Once flights and hotels are sorted, do you need to buy tickets? Is there an official retailer? or is it a turn up on the day affair?
3. Buy some Lederhosen here before we go, or will the proper stuff be better and cheaper out there?
Thats good for a start, more will come im sure,
Ta
Tickets, no idea about when to get them but we were always organising 9 months in advance. I would not want to turn up in Munich without tickets in advance. 2 types of tickets - general admission and tables. We would have a table booked for the morning session and wing it for the afternoon session. To get decent seated tickets my mate had to pull a few strings, so I don't think tables are easy to source. So quite relaxed in the morning, but the afternoon was always a fight to get seats without having booked a table. By which stage we were drunk, charming and very lively. But bear in mind you cannot order a drink from a bar inside the tents, you have to be seated at a table so it's imperative to get seats. Might be tricky with 15, we were a group of 8, but I think you can queue before opening to run to empty tables, we never did as we were outside during the break exploring and losing track of time. We never failed to get seats and always ended up sharing with others, which just added to the experience.
You can eat at the table, I think we were given a choice of half a chicken, or half a chicken. However, we were in the same tent every year so may be different in different tents.
My advice would be to try and book a table before you go, if going for the first time, no idea where you get them from.
Bear in mind flights and hotels will be expensive, the equivalent of going to Monaco during GP weekend. Pick your hotel wisely, Oktoberfest is not in the centre of town, so getting a hotel that works for access to the city centre and the site is a good idea. Mate always pre-booked restaurant reservations outside of Oktoberfest, as the city will be heaving.
Lederhosen - they take it seriously, it's not fancy dress, mate would wear it to work every day during the period. Everyone's wearing it. First year we went he made us all buy proper stuff which wasn't cheap, but has subsequently had plenty of use, and being leather takes plenty of abuse. There were pop-up shops in the airport for this, but you can also get it in town. Don't get stuff from the UK.
We've never been anywhere else so can't compare, but it's awesome, there are people from all over the world and we've met lots of interesting characters there over the years, many of whom we've teamed up with at subsequent Oktoberfests. There's a great atmosphere.
You'll have an amazing time and definitely want to go back.
Deffo need to book tickets. We stayed out by the English Garden and wandered there or you can catch the U Bahn. There's no need to be too close.
You also need to take it fairly steady. Rookie mistake to drink Steins at a pace, it doesn't end well. We went for the PM session but others have said that AM may be best.
Personally I enjoyed taking in the whole site including the ropey olympic rings roller coaster, before the beer starts.
We have always done the Paulaner tent, worth researching before you go. The poster is correct re food...chicken or chicken with a potential pretzel thrown in.
I travel to Munich four or five times a year for work and love the place. Great city!
You also need to take it fairly steady. Rookie mistake to drink Steins at a pace, it doesn't end well. We went for the PM session but others have said that AM may be best.
Personally I enjoyed taking in the whole site including the ropey olympic rings roller coaster, before the beer starts.
We have always done the Paulaner tent, worth researching before you go. The poster is correct re food...chicken or chicken with a potential pretzel thrown in.
I travel to Munich four or five times a year for work and love the place. Great city!
I liked the Ingolstadt fest(s) I went to better, smaller & easier to deal with plus I could stagger home at the end. Beer/food/rides/etc without being too much of an 'event'. Other local events would be similar.
Munich is/was an experience every time but much harder work, and that was even with the whole thing organised & paid for by someone** else including transport there & back plus table plus the rest all sorted. Just involved more effort to get through it?
**This did involve one year when the organiser famously failed at organising the proverbial pissup in a brewery and got the date wrong, meaning everyone only found out they were going on the afternoon of day it was actually booked on, instead of when they expected it to be two days later. Much panic involved.
Munich is/was an experience every time but much harder work, and that was even with the whole thing organised & paid for by someone** else including transport there & back plus table plus the rest all sorted. Just involved more effort to get through it?
**This did involve one year when the organiser famously failed at organising the proverbial pissup in a brewery and got the date wrong, meaning everyone only found out they were going on the afternoon of day it was actually booked on, instead of when they expected it to be two days later. Much panic involved.
wrencho said:
You also need to take it fairly steady. Rookie mistake to drink Steins at a pace, it doesn't end well. We went for the PM session but others have said that AM may be best.
Even with planning this can be difficult. Did one in Munich, started at 4.30, pickup not till 10.30, did the maths of how that would end. Tried to pace it and stretch the first litre; gone in 15 minutes. Downhill from there.At a regular fest in town you'd probably wander in and out at a sensible point but if it's an expensive 'event' trip in Munich involving effort you might try to maximise the event and stay longer than is sensible.
I knew some who would do the Munich fest literally every day it was on each year and the way to enjoy did not involve long heavy stays.
Another lesson learned the hard way - although the volume involved with the beer should save you it's quite possible to sit and drink plenty of fest beer with food, think all is fine, then only once you've got up & walked 5 minutes the exercise makes it actually start to kick in properly and you end up in a ruined state you weren't expecting. Amazingly quick to go from 'ok' to not.
Do people still bang their steins together to the band or just to say cheers a lot and break them? Been over 10 years for me but do recall a lot of good expensive beer spilled from broken steins. Could have just been the lively crowd! I'd been several times before I even realised there was fairground rides and stuff rather than just beer and chicken in a huge tent.
JQ said:
I've been a number of times, but my comments may not be totally helpful as it's always been organised by a mate living in Munich and it's a few years since I last went.
Tickets, no idea about when to get them but we were always organising 9 months in advance. I would not want to turn up in Munich without tickets in advance. 2 types of tickets - general admission and tables. We would have a table booked for the morning session and wing it for the afternoon session. To get decent seated tickets my mate had to pull a few strings, so I don't think tables are easy to source. So quite relaxed in the morning, but the afternoon was always a fight to get seats without having booked a table. By which stage we were drunk, charming and very lively. But bear in mind you cannot order a drink from a bar inside the tents, you have to be seated at a table so it's imperative to get seats. Might be tricky with 15, we were a group of 8, but I think you can queue before opening to run to empty tables, we never did as we were outside during the break exploring and losing track of time. We never failed to get seats and always ended up sharing with others, which just added to the experience.
You can eat at the table, I think we were given a choice of half a chicken, or half a chicken. However, we were in the same tent every year so may be different in different tents.
My advice would be to try and book a table before you go, if going for the first time, no idea where you get them from.
Bear in mind flights and hotels will be expensive, the equivalent of going to Monaco during GP weekend. Pick your hotel wisely, Oktoberfest is not in the centre of town, so getting a hotel that works for access to the city centre and the site is a good idea. Mate always pre-booked restaurant reservations outside of Oktoberfest, as the city will be heaving.
Lederhosen - they take it seriously, it's not fancy dress, mate would wear it to work every day during the period. Everyone's wearing it. First year we went he made us all buy proper stuff which wasn't cheap, but has subsequently had plenty of use, and being leather takes plenty of abuse. There were pop-up shops in the airport for this, but you can also get it in town. Don't get stuff from the UK.
We've never been anywhere else so can't compare, but it's awesome, there are people from all over the world and we've met lots of interesting characters there over the years, many of whom we've teamed up with at subsequent Oktoberfests. There's a great atmosphere.
You'll have an amazing time and definitely want to go back.
I agree with all this having been in a twice and both times were organised by a mate who lived in Munich.Tickets, no idea about when to get them but we were always organising 9 months in advance. I would not want to turn up in Munich without tickets in advance. 2 types of tickets - general admission and tables. We would have a table booked for the morning session and wing it for the afternoon session. To get decent seated tickets my mate had to pull a few strings, so I don't think tables are easy to source. So quite relaxed in the morning, but the afternoon was always a fight to get seats without having booked a table. By which stage we were drunk, charming and very lively. But bear in mind you cannot order a drink from a bar inside the tents, you have to be seated at a table so it's imperative to get seats. Might be tricky with 15, we were a group of 8, but I think you can queue before opening to run to empty tables, we never did as we were outside during the break exploring and losing track of time. We never failed to get seats and always ended up sharing with others, which just added to the experience.
You can eat at the table, I think we were given a choice of half a chicken, or half a chicken. However, we were in the same tent every year so may be different in different tents.
My advice would be to try and book a table before you go, if going for the first time, no idea where you get them from.
Bear in mind flights and hotels will be expensive, the equivalent of going to Monaco during GP weekend. Pick your hotel wisely, Oktoberfest is not in the centre of town, so getting a hotel that works for access to the city centre and the site is a good idea. Mate always pre-booked restaurant reservations outside of Oktoberfest, as the city will be heaving.
Lederhosen - they take it seriously, it's not fancy dress, mate would wear it to work every day during the period. Everyone's wearing it. First year we went he made us all buy proper stuff which wasn't cheap, but has subsequently had plenty of use, and being leather takes plenty of abuse. There were pop-up shops in the airport for this, but you can also get it in town. Don't get stuff from the UK.
We've never been anywhere else so can't compare, but it's awesome, there are people from all over the world and we've met lots of interesting characters there over the years, many of whom we've teamed up with at subsequent Oktoberfests. There's a great atmosphere.
You'll have an amazing time and definitely want to go back.
Something to bear in mind if the flights become too expensive, Nuremberg has direct flights to several UK airports and they are much cheaper than Munich during Oktoberfest, the train is just over an hour and cost about €10. We actually stayed an extra night in Nuremberg as the hotels were so cheap and the city is fairly cheap compared to Munich. It's also a lovely medieval city with plenty of beer tavern's.
If you want a plan b then consider Cannstatter Volksfest, it's not quite as big as Oktoberfest but it's still the 2nd largest beer & folk festival in the world. Flights and hotels are also cheaper.
Munich is the nicer city (Stuttgart is modern like Milton Keynes) and Oktoberfest is probably better all things considered, but I would happily go to Cannstatter Volksfest again and it's the same recipe of ridiculously large beer tents serving beer by the litre, munching on roasted chicken and checking out all the other tents and fairground in the evening.
I've been to Oktoberfest in Munich three or four times now, but it's always corporate hospitality so I can't advise much on tables or tickets. My experience is far more civilised!
I would say you need to book your accommodation immediately, though. It's not ust that it gets expensive, it disappears entirely, and you'll be left in a grotty hostel somewhere, and even that will be €300 per night.
I would say you need to book your accommodation immediately, though. It's not ust that it gets expensive, it disappears entirely, and you'll be left in a grotty hostel somewhere, and even that will be €300 per night.
Chucklehead said:
I would say you need to book your accommodation immediately, though. It's not ust that it gets expensive, it disappears entirely, and you'll be left in a grotty hostel somewhere, and even that will be €300 per night.
I think even now you may have left it too late for (decent) accommodation but I hope I’m wrong. Never actually been for Oktoberfest (which is actually in September
) but Munich is brilliant. Hope you get there and have a great time. Of course you could just go to another Volksfest as a fallback/early trial run, they're all pretty much the same thing just without the hype/expense of Munich Oktoberfest, and they happen at different times of the year when the weather can be much nicer.
Barthelmarkt and the Ingolstadt Volksfest were a couple of my locals and they're pretty big multiday events especially as there's multiple big breweries locally. The local beers aren't exactly bad either.
There are a *lot* of these events to choose from beyond the famous one.
Barthelmarkt and the Ingolstadt Volksfest were a couple of my locals and they're pretty big multiday events especially as there's multiple big breweries locally. The local beers aren't exactly bad either.
There are a *lot* of these events to choose from beyond the famous one.
Went about 20yrs ago and turned up without tickets, got a table (you needed to be sat at a table to be served) and had a brill time. They come to the table to serve your beer and you could also buy pretzels.
The following day we retuned but couldn't get a table as they had all been pre booked by corporate businesses, so refused entry. Very disappointing.I've heard since that its now corporate bookings only but I can't confirm if its true.
The following day we retuned but couldn't get a table as they had all been pre booked by corporate businesses, so refused entry. Very disappointing.I've heard since that its now corporate bookings only but I can't confirm if its true.
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