I think I would really love my wedding to be the reason for celebrating beer! I could feast my queen and be the king by tasting as much beer as my liver can bear. I would eat while people were dancing until their feet went numb. OK, challenge accepted...I'm getting married at the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany!
This Beerfest is for the celebration of the best beers in the world, Bavarian Lagers. It is held in Munich over a 16 day period every September/October. If you go to Oktoberfest one thing that will blow you away is the size of the crowds in Munich. There is millions of people EVERYWHERE! So you really need to plan ahead and get there as early as you can, because actually finding a seat at a table inside the beer halls could take ages. So that is one thing that you have to keep in mind when are Oktoberfest in Munich - Get ready for the crowds!. I actually read up about this beforehand so I got in line at 8am on the opening day so that I was ready for the festivities.
So what should you wear at Oktoberfest? Well the traditional Oktoberfest costume is a Dirndl dress for the girls and the Lederhosen for the guys. Both outfits are very traditional in Bavaria and you definitely will not look out of place at Oktoberfest if you rent or buy one these traditional costumes. They are sold throughout central Munich and cost somewhere between 80 and 300 Euros. If you want to look the part then make sure you look into getting a Dirndl or Lederhosen.
I stayed in a hotel that was a short walk to the Theresienwiese, which is the name of the area for the Oktoberfest grounds. Munich has plenty of accommodation options, but like anywhere if you want the cheapest price then you should book early. Hotel prices start from around 150Euro per night for a 3 night stay. If you're looking at saving a bit of money on the accommodation then you can also look at hostels and campgrounds.
Don't worry if you're staying a fair way away, as I highly recommended to use public transport, especially the Metro, which takes you right to the heart of the festival. A train comes ever 10 minutes or so and runs until 2am on weekends. We took the U4 line, but U5 gets you to same place.
When I first got there I was dazed and confused seeing so many Bavarian people ready to start to party. One wise solution for meeting new people to spend time with, particularly if you are by yourself, is just start up conversations with the people around you. The party people at Oktoberfest are very friendly and if you get the chance to meet locals you will have a more authentic trip and probably learn a thing or two about Munich or the Oktoberfest along the way.
I met a German couple at the Lowenbrau beer hall who told me one of the best Oktoberfest meals is the pork knuckle, which is pronounced Schweinshaxe in German. A pork knuckle is is basically a big shank or hock of pork. Pork is very popular at Oktoberfest I might add. Now of course it would not be a beer festival if I did not mention the beer and one thing you need to keep in mind is that Oktoberfest beer is one level stronger than normal beer and beer sizes come in a 1 liter glass stein. This is also called a Mass in German. So if you want one beer, remember "Ein Mass". A Mass costs around 9euro, but a tip is generally customary, so just give your server 10Euro and they will be back to serve you before you are done. After a few drinks I found myself singing drinking songs, knocking the table with my fists, dancing on tables and having so much fun with my new friends. The atmosphere in a beer hall is incredibly loud. Everybody is dancing, screaming and laughing all night long. I left the Oktoberfest when my beer hall, the Augistiner, closed at 10.30pm. The trip home in the Metro was quite fun though because the singing and dancing continued all the way back home!
One last thing, if you want to go with a group of similar people you should hook up with one of the Oktoberfest tour groups. Use search engines for companies that specialize in that. They are offering a place to sleep, sometimes with breakfast includes, as well as transport to the festival ground. Some even fly or bus you there from London.
I highly recommend that everyone celebrates beer at least once in their life. Oktoberfest should definitely be on your to do list. I will be back next year for sure.
This Beerfest is for the celebration of the best beers in the world, Bavarian Lagers. It is held in Munich over a 16 day period every September/October. If you go to Oktoberfest one thing that will blow you away is the size of the crowds in Munich. There is millions of people EVERYWHERE! So you really need to plan ahead and get there as early as you can, because actually finding a seat at a table inside the beer halls could take ages. So that is one thing that you have to keep in mind when are Oktoberfest in Munich - Get ready for the crowds!. I actually read up about this beforehand so I got in line at 8am on the opening day so that I was ready for the festivities.
So what should you wear at Oktoberfest? Well the traditional Oktoberfest costume is a Dirndl dress for the girls and the Lederhosen for the guys. Both outfits are very traditional in Bavaria and you definitely will not look out of place at Oktoberfest if you rent or buy one these traditional costumes. They are sold throughout central Munich and cost somewhere between 80 and 300 Euros. If you want to look the part then make sure you look into getting a Dirndl or Lederhosen.
I stayed in a hotel that was a short walk to the Theresienwiese, which is the name of the area for the Oktoberfest grounds. Munich has plenty of accommodation options, but like anywhere if you want the cheapest price then you should book early. Hotel prices start from around 150Euro per night for a 3 night stay. If you're looking at saving a bit of money on the accommodation then you can also look at hostels and campgrounds.
Don't worry if you're staying a fair way away, as I highly recommended to use public transport, especially the Metro, which takes you right to the heart of the festival. A train comes ever 10 minutes or so and runs until 2am on weekends. We took the U4 line, but U5 gets you to same place.
When I first got there I was dazed and confused seeing so many Bavarian people ready to start to party. One wise solution for meeting new people to spend time with, particularly if you are by yourself, is just start up conversations with the people around you. The party people at Oktoberfest are very friendly and if you get the chance to meet locals you will have a more authentic trip and probably learn a thing or two about Munich or the Oktoberfest along the way.
I met a German couple at the Lowenbrau beer hall who told me one of the best Oktoberfest meals is the pork knuckle, which is pronounced Schweinshaxe in German. A pork knuckle is is basically a big shank or hock of pork. Pork is very popular at Oktoberfest I might add. Now of course it would not be a beer festival if I did not mention the beer and one thing you need to keep in mind is that Oktoberfest beer is one level stronger than normal beer and beer sizes come in a 1 liter glass stein. This is also called a Mass in German. So if you want one beer, remember "Ein Mass". A Mass costs around 9euro, but a tip is generally customary, so just give your server 10Euro and they will be back to serve you before you are done. After a few drinks I found myself singing drinking songs, knocking the table with my fists, dancing on tables and having so much fun with my new friends. The atmosphere in a beer hall is incredibly loud. Everybody is dancing, screaming and laughing all night long. I left the Oktoberfest when my beer hall, the Augistiner, closed at 10.30pm. The trip home in the Metro was quite fun though because the singing and dancing continued all the way back home!
One last thing, if you want to go with a group of similar people you should hook up with one of the Oktoberfest tour groups. Use search engines for companies that specialize in that. They are offering a place to sleep, sometimes with breakfast includes, as well as transport to the festival ground. Some even fly or bus you there from London.
I highly recommend that everyone celebrates beer at least once in their life. Oktoberfest should definitely be on your to do list. I will be back next year for sure.
About the Author:
The events and festival travel specialists, FOMO Travel, has developed a new site that provides an extensive array of information and advice for the Oktoberfest in Munich, including travel options, travel tips, party spots and other activities.
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