Tips for enjoying the Oktoberfest in Munich!

When I decided upon moving to Germany for my higher studies, the most popular comment from my friends and acquaintances was , that I was going to a country ‘where beer is cheaper than water’! Everybody was familiar with Oktoberfest, which by the way, is celebrated in late September every year. I was excited for a lot of reasons; studying abroad, meeting new people, experiencing a new culture and traditions, etc. I wanted to attend the festivals and carnivals, and was eager to explore the food (and drinks), and see for myself what I like and dislike. So, after my first year of studies, I decided to visit Munich with some friends and attend Oktoberfest.By now, I have attended Oktoberfest for two years and have had some fantastic as well as some frustrating experiences.And so, I’d love tos hare some Oktoberfest tips with you!

Let me tell you, the atmosphere is vibrant and let’s put it this way…absolutely crazy! This 16-18 day festival is being celebrated since 1810, and is an important part of the Bavarian culture. The celebrations begin with a parade through the streets of the city, followed by the tapping of the beer barrel by the Mayor. That is an official sign for the revelries to begin. You can also witness a colourful parade on the second day, in which different traditions and regions of Germany as well as other European countries are represented. In 2016, Oktoberfest will begin on September 17^th and end on October 3^rd. There are special programs scheduled for each day, and all the details can be found on the official Oktoberfest website.

However, you will have a lot of fun if you visit one of the many tents ;yes, there are several tents, each catering to a different brewery and having the capacity to seat several thousands of people. But, it is often extremely difficult to find a seat in the tents, and you can expect to queue up for long, if you don’t have reservations in advance.

 

So, what can I do during Oktoberfest?

You could actually spend the entire day at Theresienwiese, the venue of the celebrations (take the metro lines U4 or U5 to get there). There could be as many as 14 tents, each serving a different brand of beer, and food  is available in the tents as well as outside, in the grounds. Beer is only served in huge 1 litre jugs costing about 10 Euros, and you can take your time to enjoy it, while witnessing all the craziness around you. Often, there are bands playing in the tents, or there might as well be different variety shows. You can keep on re-ordering beer and food and join in the festive spirit, when someone around you starts cheering or singing and everybody else joins in! Outside the tents, there are a whole lot of amusement rides and numerous stalls where you could play games, buy souvenirs or the traditional costumes. Oktoberfest is one big fun fest guaranteeing a whole lot of fun and well, a whole lot of rush.

My tips for attending the Oktoberfest:

1.Although the opening parade and beer tapping tradition would be fun to watch, I would not suggest going to the venue and trying to enter one of the tents on the opening weekend. The reason being: the huge number of people that will be there. You can of course book your seats in advance, and then there will be no problem. Bookings can be done by contacting the individual tents, the details of which can be found on the official website. I also came across this website called Munichs Oktoberfest, where you can find information on accommodation options, tent reservations and other related  things.                                        

2.Making a booking is not mandatory; I have never made one myself, though I’ll try to do so the next time I go. You can either go early morning (before the tents open at 10 am), especially on a weekday, to get seats for sure, or you could queue up to enter the tent. The problem is, there is no guarantee of how long you would have to wait in the line for,and if, ultimately, they will let you enter. I have seen people waiting for 45 minutes to 2 hours and beyond.

3.Make sure you try out the Augustiner Beer if you get a chance. It is one of the oldest breweries of Bavaria.

4. If you can, get dressed in the traditional attire-Drindl(girls) and Lederhosen(boys). The locals really appreciate it. You can find the Drindl in all stores and shops in Munich, even at the central station and at the festival venue. However, you could get the Drindl at cheaper prices when there is a sale in certain stores like New Yorker, at a time close to the fest.

So, enjoy your beer and sausages (or pretzels and dumplings for vegetarians) and enjoy the madness of Oktoberfest!

P.S: In case you are unable to enter a tent, don’t get upset! Stroll around the grounds,enjoy the atmosphere and you can also buy the Oktoberfest beer and hats right outside the grounds!

P.P.S: For those who might prefer a quieter alternative to Oktoberfest, there is always the Volksfest in Stuttgart you can attend!

If you are planning to attend the Oktoberfest, Cologne Carnival or Basel Fasnacht, check out this collection of festival and carnival hacks!

Don’t forget to share this post with your friends and let me know if you are planning on attending any carnival/festival soon!

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