Prost! Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany
I've always had the iconic beer fest Oktoberfest on my bucket list, and this year, my dream finally became a reality. My husband and I embarked on a thrilling journey from Toronto, Canada, to Munich, Germany, at the end of September. It was our first time flying an overnight with Icelandic Air, enjoying a quick layover in Reykjavik before continuing our adventure to the Bavarian capital.
We decided to rent a car for a couple reasons: We wanted to drive on the Autobahn, Taxi and Uber’s were busy and expensive from the airport, and we got a great deal on the car rental with Enterprise!
Four Points by Sheraton Munich Arabellapark
Arabellastrasse 5, Munich, Bavaria, Germany, 81925
Four Points by Sheraton Munich Arabellapark located in Munich’s Bogenhausen district features a spa with a pool, gym and sauna area. It is 2 minutes from Arabellapark Underground Station and 15 minutes to Oktoberfest.
VISITING THE FESTIVAL GROUNDS
Every year, millions of people from around the world come to Munich, Germany, to experience the world’s largest and most famous beer festival. This just over two week extravaganza of beer, bratwurst, and Bavarian culture is a bucket-list event for many travelers. If you’re planning a visit to Oktoberfest in Munich, plan ahead! We had two amazing days at the festival and did the most we could with the time we had! Enterance into the grounds is free and most people dress in traditional German lederhosen and dirndls. You can only bring small bags into the festival so check your dimensions and rules about entering.
Each of the Oktoberfest tents has sections for reserved tables but there is some open seating! If you have a group of 8-10 you can reserve a table for about 350-400 euro but includes beer and meal tokens. Reservations open in April or May and should be made directly with the respective tent (you can find a list of large and small tents here). Otherwise, you should plan to arrive early in the day or go on a weekday, tents will close to visitors once at capacity. Being only a party of 2 we had a difficult time finding open seating later in the day, after 3 pm. The first night we got a great spot at the Hofbräu tent with strangers that quickly became friends! The second day it was raining so the thousands of people wanted to be inside. It was extremely difficult to get into any of the tents. We started outside in the biergarten, and quickly made friends with people in the same boat as us. We then decided to wait in line with a liter in the evening after a long wait got into Hacker-Pschorr.
Quick Tips
Click for a list of items for your trip to Oktoberfest
Waitresses love tips and those beers are heavy! Ours loved us and served us quickly!
Get into the Bavarian spirit and order a traditional lederhosen or dirndl. Avoid wearing costumes like “Beer Garden Babe” or “Carry Me to Oktoberfest”. We had a short window while there so we found the most traditional we could.
The Oktoberfest tents take cash only, be sure to bring plenty of euros. In a pinch you can find an atm in each tent though the fees will be higher.
Plan your trip as early as possible, over 6 million people attend Oktoberfest and hotels & tables book up quickly.
Wear comfortable shoes!
Review the train route and know how to get home.
Rides & Activities
The festival has a range of rides, fun houses, and shows to offer that you won’t see anywhere else in the world. For example, the devils wheel and toboggan were wild to watch and even crazier to do!
The Devils Wheel:
The Toboggan: This historic ride has a conveyer belt up then a long slide down. It is not for the faint of heart as the slide brush burned me up my arms! It was more fun to watch, but an experience!
Beer Tents/ Beirgartens
The 2024 breweries include Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Spaten, and each brews a special Oktoberfest beer for the event. That is the only beer you will find in each tent, all the traditional Märzen-style lager but each with its own twist.
Beer will cost between €13.60 and €15.30 at the Oktoberfest in 2024.
Midday Happy Hour: 10am until 3pm, Oktoberfest is cheaper. Click for midday specials https://oktoberfest-guide.com/your-visit/midday-specials/
Food in Munich
While beer is the main attraction, the traditional Bavarian food served at the festival is heaty and delicious.
Roasted Chicken: This was our favorite, even got it twice! A half a chicken, this simple dish is perfectly prepared, juicy inside and crisp skin.
Pretzels: Giant, doughy pretzels are the perfect beer companion. They’re salty on the outside and soft on the inside.
Kartoffelsalat: German potato salad is a tangy and savory side dish that pairs well with the hearty meat dishes.
Bratwurst: These grilled sausages are a festival staple and come in various flavors, side of sauerkraut and mustard.
Oktoberfest Map
Our Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle
After a crazy two days drinking many beers, on tables with new friends we wanted to venture out to see the Neuschwanstein Castle. With a rental car, we took off early for the hour 45 minute drive, or faster depending on how you drive on the Autobahn. The Autobahn in Germany is the highway system throughout Germany. Its official name is the Bundesautobahn or federal highway, built to reach cities by car in the fastest way. It is access-controlled and only allows vehicles that can go faster than 60 km/h (37,3 mph). With no speed limit we tried to see how fast we could go and keep up, but even at 176km, 109mph there was no chance!
Once we arrived, we found parking in town for $12, grabbed our umbrellas and began the 25 minute walk up to the beautiful castle. Some call it “The Cinderella Castle in Germany.” Others call it “The Disney German Castle.” Regardless of what you call it, the castles was absolutely beautiful!