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Oktoberfest
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Oktoberfest

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Oktoberfest
4.5
1,625 reviews
#20 of 467 things to do in Munich
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About
A raucous celebration of Bavarian culture, Munich's Oktoberfest is one of the world's oldest, biggest, and longest parties. Dating back to 1810, the event these days kicks off when the mayor taps the first keg at noon on the third Saturday of September. Some 6 million revelers spend the ensuing 16 days clinking and drinking 1-liter beer steins, eating sausages and doughy pretzels, and swooshing through the air aboard carnival rides. Technically a folk festival rather than a beer festival, Oktoberfest features plenty of merrymakers in traditional lederhosen and dirndl dresses belting out old Bavarian songs in giant tents and beer gardens. Regardless of attire, though, anyone is welcome to link arms and join the fun.
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How to get there
  • Theresienwiese • 8 min walk
  • Goetheplatz • 9 min walk
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Restaurants
2,552 within 3 miles
Mimmo E Co
385
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • Mediterranean
Oanh 65
199
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Asian • Vietnamese • Healthy
LENZ Schank und Speiselokal
336
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • German • Bar • European
Banyan
269
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Asian • Vietnamese • Vegetarian Friendly
Fischer-Vroni
54
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • German • Vegetarian Friendly
Restaurant Jasmin
408
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Asian • Vietnamese • Vegetarian Friendly
Cafe Omo Athiopisches Restaurant
126
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • African • Ethiopian • Vegetarian Friendly
Wirtshaus am Bavariapark
207
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • German • European • Gastropub
Schottenhamel
37
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • German • Bar
Dean & David
21
0.2 mi$ • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
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Attractions
412 within 6 miles
Tollwood Festival
11
141 ftMusic Festivals
Theresienwiese
1,471
0.2 miParks
Ruhmeshalle und Bavaria
220
0.2 miMonuments & Statues
Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum
474
0.3 miSpeciality Museums
Marienplatz
25,521
1.3 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
St. Paul's Church
107
0.4 miChurches & Cathedrals
English Garden
18,034
2.3 miBodies of Water • Parks
Alexander Krist Theater
243
1 miTheaters
Asamkirche
2,798
1 miHistoric Sites • Architectural Buildings
Munich Central Station
704
0.6 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,625 reviews
Excellent
1,170
Very good
306
Average
78
Poor
30
Terrible
41
Aunt_Tray
Phoenixville, PA225 contributions
Check it off your Bucket List
Sep 2022 • Friends
We had a blast at Oktoberfest. Drinking beer is obviously a big activity there, but it is much more than that. There are also rides, games, food, etc. We met a lot of great people that were so friendly.

Do your research before you go. Research the tents, the best day and time to go, what to wear, etc. Make sure you bring cash because most places don’t take credit cards. Most people wear traditional/authentic Bavarian outfits (Dirndls and Lederhosen). The authentic outfits can be pricey, but they are really beautiful and you can tell the difference between them and a costume version.
Written September 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
greengirl68
Eden Prairie, MN815 contributions
Great time, crossed off the bucket list
Oct 2019
We went with a tour group, which I recommend. We did have a great time but it's a LOT of people and can get a bit overwhelming walking around.

It was perfect while we sat at the table and ate the best crispy skin chicken I've ever had. The beer was wonderful (I can't believe how much I drank) and the shandies (Radler) helped lighten the alcohol consumption. Just make sure you eat! You'll need th good base for all that good beer.

We were at the Hofbrau tent, which was a lot of fun and beautiful with all the edelweiss flowers hanging from the ceiling. All the music and singing was perfect.

If you want to dress up in the traditional clothes, here's what I recommend, buy it well ahead of time. Don't wait until you get to Germany to do it. There are crazy long lines and things get picked over. Sure, buy a hat or purse while there, but you don't want wait an hour to try on clothes. We ordered our outfits from Germany, you can also get them from companies in the US who import them. We had authentic clothes and it showed. We were actually used as examples during the tour and we felt like we fit right in, so fun!
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Need To See It All
Perth, Australia1,088 contributions
Great vibes
Apr 2020
Well worth it, the atmosphere is great. The beers are good, and very lively atmosphere. We came during the week following the opening day, and it was busy pretty much right from gates open in the morning. Service was very efficient, and we met a group of locals on our table that made it an excellent time. We tried two tents and found Schottenhamel to be the more enjoyable experience - more traditional, more local crowd, and lively without being absurd.
Written March 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jeffrey G
Sacramento, CA58 contributions
Don’t waste money and stay in your home country celebrating Oktoberfest with the people that care. This is for locals!
Sep 2022 • Friends
Munich Oktoberfest
Blah! Unless you truly truly love beer and big crowds of drink people in a foreign country then yes for sure but overall if you are looking for something amazing and you are well travelled and have seen a lot..don’t waste your time and money. Beer is good, service SUPER terrible, food is no better than an LA hot dog cart on the street and you are cramped within a million people and they can care less whether you are enjoying your self or not. This is a 100% local event. Leave it to the locals. Locals hate tourists and they make it obvious!

The City of Munich is beautiful and modern but just another city. Very busy (New York-like) but not a place I’d go to again for any reason. Metro system is efficient BUT a total hassle and packed of people all the time. Uber is your way to go.

Munich airport is massive and another busy hassle since Munich is so close to the International border you’ll be cramped among thousands of people from all over! The airport itself very modern and clean regardless how super crazy busy it is.

GERMANY
Overall is a double thumbs down and a country id not go on Vacation to ever again. I do not recommend it!
Written September 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mike C
Glasgow, UK60 contributions
"Beer at a Carneval" marketed by genius business strategist
Sep 2019
You drink your large beer in a big noisy tent packed to capacity of people shouting german songs. What's there not to like? Kidding aside, its an absolute waste of space. Without all the branding and the fake take on tradition, if it was just labelled for what it is (a beer at a german carneval), then that would be honest. But in doing so, nobody would pull out the huge amount of cash needed for the table, the beers, the snacks, etc. So a beer has to be disguised as a premium drink (a fancy octoberfest beer), a seat at a wooden bench (tradition) and drunk songs you could hear in any karaoke dive bar in the uk (culture). Add to that rubbish over priced rides and bingo. Welcome to the Octoberfest. Luckily I was already in the city for work, but I felt genuinely sorry for people travelling from abroad for this nonsense.
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
László R
Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland229 contributions
A unique experience in Munich
Sep 2022
A unique experience in Munich. it is not only about the beer drinking, but the festival tents, the nice decoration, the bands, the great meals, and most importantly, the lively atmosphere. We stayed in two tents and had a lot of fun over a period of 10 hours! A must try for everyone!
Written October 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Steffie
Manchester, UK604 contributions
Fabulous you need to go!
Sep 2022 • Couples
Fabulous we got a table which you normally have to book in March but managed to bag one in the Augustiner tent & the schottenhammel tent, had food in the schottenhammel tent it was delicious. Very busy but service was very quick. Outside are all stalls & rides. It’s cash only in the tents but there are atms. Would defo recommend coming it was amazing! No larger louts either & security was everywhere, so felt very safe.
Written September 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
tomislavm910
Belgrade, Serbia177 contributions
Festival of beer lovers all over the world
Sep 2022 • Couples
Every beer lover has a dream to visit Octoberfest definitely most popular beer fest on the world.
The experience is impossible to describe you must experience it.
A festival of beer,bavarian food and general madness.
Written September 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
erin y
Boston, MA109 contributions
Go early and in a small group!
Oct 2016 • Couples
So this was our first experience at Oktoberfest and we're in our mid-30's. I would also say that we did this right. We hit the last few days of the festival this year, going to the festival on Friday (all day) and Sunday (afternoon). The tips are as follows:

1) Know that this is truly focused as family-friendly entertainment and that this is much more of a carnival/fair than just boozing. There are tons of rides and games for kids, street/fair food all over and lots to look at.
2) There are multiple entrances and you're better off taking the Munich underground to get there. Its easier and worthwhile.
3) If you don't have a reservation, you're not out of luck, but you should go in a small group and go early. It was just me and my husband and we went to the area of the tent that didn't have "Reservation Only" slid in with some locals and had a great time, but we went on Friday at 11AM. We went back on Sunday and it was raining, the tents were full to capacity and we could only sit outside. It wasn't an issue, we sat with locals who were awesome and still had a great time.
4) 2 days is more than enough.
5) The waitresses/barmaids/waiters rule the roost - so if you're serious about eating some great food, find a waitress and tell them its just two of you and you're looking to eat and drink. If you're serious about it, they'll find room for you, but you can't be an jerk about it.
6) The Hofbrauhaus Tent is only for drunk tourists who think its cool. If you're looking for something more authentic, hit up Augustiner or one of the other tents. Regardless, though, you should at least walk through them all.
7) Eat the roasted chicken and a pretzel. Its easy to booze all day, but you should really eat.
8) Germany has some of the cleanest public toilets I've ever seen, so that's a relief.
9) If you think that wearing the local Lederhosen or Dirndl is going to be lame, you're wrong. Everyone is wearing it and you're going to be the odd man/woman out. Invest in a pair to fit in, you also get treated better.
Written July 12, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Steve W
San Diego, CA75 contributions
Best trip ever X2
Sep 2015 • Friends
Where to start. Flew in from San Diego USA and spent 6 days in Munich. This was my 2nd time at Oktoberfest in Munich. Will give you some secrets. The Fest is a big fair with tents that look like they've been there forever but they are actually taken down and rebuilt each year. Most tents open at 10am. We never had a problem getting in, though I've noticed closed doors at times. Worried, get there at noon. More confident, get there at 3pm, after that, you may have to wait. Best tents--Paulaner, Spaten, Marstal, Lowenbrau. No bad tents--but more American music in Hofbrau. Order every time the waitress comes by for the entire table, tip well or they will ignore you. Break a mug once when Prost, but get that beer replaced or you'll be in the ER. Best advice is to have an open mind, don't be in a hurry, meet people-pretty sure I've covered all continents with one exception. I stayed in walking distance and via short 20 min train ride. Big, huge crowds, very very drunk people - stay aware of your surroundings and just have fun. It's the best party on earth, everyday for 2 weeks. Oh yeah, dress up or you will feel out of place and people will make fun of you and won't be as nice. Men can buy clothes in Munich easily, main train station worked great as they have a place to try on the clothes and you can also bargain on the prices. It's cheaper there rather than online from Amazon and really good quality. Times at the fest 3/3 and 5/6 days on my trips - all tough with the hangovers. Eat (chicken in the tents) and hydrate the best u can. Recovery takes 1 week afterwards. Songs are still in my head and will never leave, thankfully. Something I'll never forget.
Written August 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Oktoberfest (Munich) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Oktoberfest
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