How to Do Oktoberfest Right
The first time Scott and I went to Oktoberfest, most people were surprised.
I suggested the location for our honeymoon and once the words left my mouth, Scott was obsessed with making the adventure happen. Obviously, Oktoberfest (let alone Munich) was not a conventional choice for a romantic holiday, but…it was an unforgettable experience.
We stepped onto the fairgrounds, greeted by hoards of people in
The energy in each tent alone was worth the visit. Full of beer, bratwurst and brass band music, you will find rows upon rows of people from across the world singing their drinking songs, telling stories and making new friends.
A fun way to keep track of each tent you visit is to collect the brewery pins. Each tent has a pin you can purchase as a badge of honour. Scott and I had a mission to visit each tent, but after drinking several steins at Paulaner and Spaten, we were beaten.
From the beer tent balcony, we admired groups of friends from table to table. We promised to return with our own friends someday.
And that’s exactly what we did.
Two years later, we returned to Oktoberfest with a group of friends. The trip was amazing, but with so much drinking, so many people, and too little time – it was not without its stories. So, with two Oktoberfests under my belt, I have my fair share of tips and learnings to enjoy this legendary event.
1. Save up and plan early
This may seem like an obvious comment, but trust me, the price increase seen throughout the city is pretty crazy. Munich, in general, is a pricey German city to visit and once you add an international event, the hotels and Air BnB costs start to rise. Places book up quickly too. We had a friend who joined our trip too late and had to meet us in another city because the hotels were too costly and hostels were full.
The locals will be the first to tell you how expensive the beer at Oktoberfest is too. One Maß (1 litre stein) is 12 Euros and it’s the only size available. Regular beer in Europe can cost you around 2 euro. It’s not an easy comparison to choke down, but you’re paying for the experience overall.
2. Go early
If you’re the type that likes to have a home base when you go out to a club or bar, then you’ll want to go early for a table. Tents fill up fast! The fairgrounds may open at
Long tables are available for reservations early in the year, but tables do get claimed by businesses and groups for certain periods of the day. Sometimes you can snag a table that has a reservation for later in the day. Going early to grab free tables is never a bad plan though
3. EAT
For the love of god, EAT SOMETHING! Not only is the food delicious and plentiful, but you’ll want a good base in your belly. The beer at Oktoberfest is good and goes down way too easy – especially if you get a Radler. The atmosphere only makes it easier to consume stein after stein with all the games and songs around. So, a little bratwurst or pretzel never hurt.
4. Pace Yourself
Nobody likes to be the first to leave the party! While daytime drinking may seem wild enough, the party picks up in the evening. Brass bands, dancing, carnival rides and more are just some things you’ll miss if you don’t pace yourself.
If you decide to take a break in the day to make it to the evening, I suggest walking to the back of the festival where you’ll find a particularly infamous hill. Great for people watching, you’ll surely find more than a few tourists passed out in various positions, all because they weren’t as smart as you. 😉
5. Set a Meeting Spot
A meeting spot may seem like something for the 90s, but trust me, a lot of hassle can be saved by doing this early on. We learned a big lesson on our latest trip when we lost a friend whose cell phone died partway through the day. The first thing the security asked was “did you set a meeting spot?” With cell phones these days, it doesn’t seem necessary to set a spot or a time to check in, but when travelling in a group, it could be the difference between a good time and a search party. Pick a place, set a time and then go explore.
6. Bring a Cel Charger or Mophie
At Canadian festivals, it’s so common to run into a cell phone charging station. I will never take such things for granted again! At Oktoberfest, we were hard pressed to find any such station. With all the videos and pictures we took, battery life was sacred. Many tourists typically bring battery packs anyway, but in case you don’t, invest in that shit.
I can’t stress how fun Oktoberfest was both times we went. I often get friends asking if I’m going back, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to. Perhaps it’s our incomplete pin collection (4/6) or how good we look in a
