iShouldTravel

Oktoberfest is the undisputed heavyweight champion of beer and bratwurst consumption. It is held annually in Munich, Germany, and it’s a 16–18 day celebration that starts in mid-September and ends on the first Sunday of October. It usually welcomes 6–7 million visitors annually.
It’s so much more than just beer and bratwurst, there are also pretzels, roast chicken, schnitzel and more beer.
It is also called “Wiesn”, because of the area where it takes place “Theresienwiese” (Therese’s Meadow) and it’s about the size of 60 football fields. If you say you’re going to “die Wiesn,” everyone knows exactly what you mean.
The mayor of Munich traditionally taps the first keg to officially open the event.

Here’s what makes Oktoberfest spectacular:
Beer is served in 1-liter glasses called Maßkrüge (or short: Maß, ß is pronounced s). How to order: „Ein Maß, bitte!“ (One beer, please!), when you toast just raise the “glass” and say “Prost!” like the locals.
There are many beer tents. Each tent has its own vibe, music, and beer brand, some are seating over 8000 people.
In 2023, visitors drank over 7.4 million liters of beer but the record in from 2011 with 8 million liters
Locals and tourists dress in traditional outfits lederhosen (men) and dirndl (women)

You’ll find some hilarious games:
Stein (beer mug) Holding Contest – Hold a full 1-liter beer stein straight out in front of you with one arm
Nail Hammering -hammer nails into a wooden stump using the narrow end of a hammer (already difficult, try that after some beers).
Log Sawing – lumberjack-style with two players teams
Pretzel Eating Contest
Toss a beer keg for distance.
Finger Wrestling

And carnaval rides:
Willenborg’s Ferris Wheel
Krinoline (carousel)
Münchner Rutschn – a giant slide
Olympia Looping – roller coaster
SkyFall – A 75-meter drop tower
Teufelsrad (Devil’s Wheel): A spinning platform where participants try to stay on as long as possible. Hilarious to watch and difficult to win.

Here is a list with top contenders for most-consumed dishes at Oktoberfest

Brezn (Giant Pretzel)- Soft, salty, and bigger than your head. Perfect beer companion.
Obatzda (Cheese Spread) Creamy blend of Camembert, butter, and spices. Served with pretzels or rye bread.
Hendl (Half Roast Chicken) – crispy-skinned chicken, perfect after a few beers.
Schweinhaxe (Roasted Pork Knuckle) Crispy on the outside, tender inside.
Bratwurst & Sausages – classic bratwurst or half-meter sausages.
Leberkäse – Despite the name (“liver cheese”) it has no liver and no cheese, it’s a finely ground meat loaf made from pork, beef, and bacon.
Gebrannte Mandeln (Roasted Almonds) Sweet, crunchy, and aromatic. Eat while wandering the festival tents.
Käsespätzle (Cheesy Egg Noodles) similar to mac & cheese.

The beer costs ~ 13-16 Euro, a Prezel ~ 6, Hendl ~ 16-20, Schweinhaxe ~ 20-25, it is recommended to have cash on you.

How to Reserve a Table at Oktoberfest. Step by step:
– Go to the official website and select one tent (there are 17 large tents and 21 smaller ones)
– Fill out a reservation request form
– Choose your date, time slot, and number of guests
Reservations are free, but you must pre-purchase vouchers (paid in advance and redeemed inside the tent) typically a couple of beers and something to eat.
Once accepted, you’ll get a confirmation email. Vouchers are either mailed to you or picked up at the tent’s office in Munich.

Walk-ins are possible, especially during weekday mornings.
Most tents reserve 30–40% of seats for spontaneous guests

Here is how to get to Oktoberfest:

By plane:
Arrive at Munich International Airport (MUC), then tTake the S-Bahn S1 or S8 directly to München Hauptbahnhof (Central Station). Then hop on the U4 or U5 U-Bahn to Theresienwiese (Oktoberfest stop).
Budget Option: Fly into Memmingen Airport (FMM) (~100 km away), served by low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Wizz Air. Then take a shuttle or train to Munich.

By train:
Arrive at München Hauptbahnhof, right in the heart of Munich, and take the U4 or U5 to Theresienwiese, just two stops away.

By bus:
Long-distance buses from cities across Europe arrive directly to Munich ZOB (Central Bus Station).
Nearby U-Bahn stations like Hauptbahnhof or Theresienwiese (U4/U5) get you straight to Oktoberfest.

Here are some hotels to stay while you are in town for the festival: