The Complete Guide to Oktoberfest

Want to enjoy all the Oktoberfest rides and attractions? You’re in luck!

We have been there, done that, and we’ve got the photos to prove it ;P

Oktoberfest was on our pre-kids bucket list. You know – the stuff you want to have already done before baby.

But as soon as I started planning this epic Germany adventure, I quickly realized how much planning it would really be.

The truth is, you don’t really know what to expect until you’re there.

We had a bunch of questions about Oktoberfest such as:

How to get to Oktoberfest from our hotel
What items are allowed in?
Is Oktoberfest free?
Can you go to Oktoberfest without reservations?
When’s the best time to get there?

You can do like we did and try to piece the information together. Or you can read below to find out all about our experience and plan your Oktoberfest the easy way!

So grab your Oktoberfest Planning Template from our free Travel Resource Library and let’s get started!

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What is Oktoberfest?

Oktoberfest is basically a huge carnival – but with more drinking 😛

There are beer tents, carnival rides and games, peanut-stalls, and lots of people-watching to be done!

It starts every year in autumn at the Theresienwiese in Munich, Germany.

Thousands of people flock to the fairgrounds. Everyone from tourists to locals old and young – so prepare to make a lot of friends while you’re there!

When is Oktoberfest?

You might be thinking that Oktoberfest is obviously in October.

And you’re mostly right.

But the Oktoberfest generally starts at the end of September and runs until about the first week in October.

It originally began in 1810 as a festival to celebrate a royal marriage. They eventually moved it up into September for the better weather which allows the visitors to walk around outside without getting too cold (but maybe bring a jacket just in case)

That being said, you should know that the surrounding area and accommodations book up pretty fast. When we attended, we booked our trip in July and by that time most of the hotels were already taken.

We actually ended up re-booking our hotel at the very last minute thanks to Miami’s hurricane season. So I can say from experience, don’t wait until the last minute to book – things get expensive fast!

Want the Oktoberfest Planning Template?

Just download it from our free travel resource library and start planning your Oktoberfest trip right now!

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Is Oktoberfest free?

Yes! Oktoberfest is officially free!

Sound good? 😉

The only things you will need to pay for are food, drinks, and the Oktoberfest rides (did you know there are rides? I didn’t until we got there!)

If you choose to have a sit-down meal at Oktoberfest, you will need to book your table reservations directly with one of the tents. There are many many tents to choose from, and more information on each tent can be found on the official Oktoberfest website. Keep in mind that each tent has a different way to reserve your meal and different prices, but generally it involves some emailing back and forth.

If you aren’t able to make a reservation, don’t worry.

You can definitely go to Oktoberfest without reservations – and you will still get to eat while you’re there 😉 Just find to-go food at the kiosks by the entrance and you’re all set.

We went this route since the tent we wanted was already booked up. But this way ended up being cheaper and faster, so no regrets there.

As you walk around you’ll also find kiosks selling candy, peanuts, and other baked goods. Surprisingly, we didn’t find anything to be that expensive.

Total we spent less that $100 for the whole day between beer, lunch, snacks, and games. Not too bad!

What Can I Bring?

Only small backpacks or purses are allowed on the grounds and they do check them before entering.

Remember that it will be very crowded and rowdy, so only take what you absolutely need.

If you do end up bringing things with you, keep an eye on them at all time and make sure that it can be zippered or closed securely. Also keep in mind that they will likely end up smelling like beer or fried food.

Children are allowed, but kiddos under the age of 6 must leave the tents by 8 pm, according to the website. We did see some children there, but overall, the festival is more for adults.

Should I wear a dirndl?

Yes! You definitely should!

The traditional garments of Oktoberfest are dirndls for women and lederhosen for men.

Originally I wanted to dress up, but Julien was convinced that only the tourists dress up. So I didn’t buy or rent an outfit in advance like I was planning to do.

But when we got to Munich made some friends who told us that the locals always dress up to celebrate. You can imaging how upset I was at not having gotten an outfit in advance.

Fortunately, they do sell dirndls, lederhosen, and all the accessories right outside the festival.

There are several different pop-up shops selling them and we managed to get my dirndl, complete with accessories, for about €50. Not too bad since we had seen them for double the price online.

Other options are renting them beforehand from a shop, or buy them online and have them shipped to your hotel.

Keep in mind that for the women, the placement of the bow on the dirndl apron is very important! A bow tied in the front on the left side means the girl is single, on the right side means taken, and in the middle means she is a virgin.

On the other hand, a bow tied in the back means she is either a widow, or she’s one of the waitresses 🙂

Where to Stay

Like I mentioned above, we booked our hotel originally in July, and even then most things were already booking up.

But then fast-forward to the day before our trip (can you believe it?) and our flight was cancelled due to the impending category 4 hurricane.

Since we refused to cancel our trip, we rescheduled the flights and tried to re-book the hotel. Unfortunately we weren’t able to change the hotel dates but ended up staying at the LetoMotel just outside of the city center. We actually had to contact them directly, but the staff was extremely helpful and managed to find a room for us at the last minute.

This hotel is actually about 20 minutes away from the city center via train, which we normally don’t recommend, but it worked out perfectly to escape the crowds.

There is also a train station literally 2 minutes walking from the hotel, as well as a cute cafe next door for some coffee and pastries. Oh and I can’t forget the Croatian restaurant across the street (5 minutes walking) which was perfect for dinner when we got in to town late!

I would definitely recommend this hotel if you’re looking for something economical, clean, and accessible.

My tip is to book your accommodations as early as possible, no matter where you stay, since there are lots of other people all planning the same trip into Munich.

Oktoberfest Tips

One day at the Oktoberfest is probably enough unless you’re going with your fraternity brothers or love love love to party and drink beer
Try not to bring anything with you, if at all possible. Besides getting it lost or stolen, anything you bring will most likely end up smelling like beer
Dancing on the tables is prohibited. I’m not saying that people don’t do it, but the waitresses will tell you to get down. However, dancing on the benches is completely allowed.
Be open to making new friends. We met lots of people, and we are definitely introverts. People literally just started talking to us, handing us beers, and dancing away. Embrace it! But also keep any eye on your belongings
If you can’t find a place to sit you can do 2 things: ask one of the waitresses until they find you a place OR ask people if you can join them. Some people will say no, but some will say yes and then you’ll have people to talk to 🙂
There will be lines to get into the tents. If you can’t get into one, move on to another and eventually they will let you in
Don’t eat or drink right after (or right before) the rides. Even if you’re a fan of roller coasters. Just don’t do it.
The cute gingerbread cookies taste like cardboard in my opinion. Perfect for photos, not so great for eating

That wraps up our Complete Guide to Oktoberfest!

And don’t forget to download the Oktoberfest printable to take with you from our free resource library! It will help you plan for your Oktoberfest Munich trip and even comes with a packing checklist!

Hope you have a great time and try not to drink too much 😉

Cheers!

– Veronica