{"id":11707,"date":"2018-09-10T09:00:47","date_gmt":"2018-09-10T13:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=11707"},"modified":"2025-12-28T09:01:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T14:01:58","slug":"how-to-survive-oktoberfest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/travel-blogs\/how-to-survive-oktoberfest\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Survive Oktoberfest"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Nomadic<\/p>\n

\u201cHow many days are you at the Wiesn (Oktoberfest) for?\u201d asked the German girl wearing her traditional Bavarian dirndl<\/em> across the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here for five days,\u201d I replied, putting down my umpteenth stein of beer.<\/p>\n

Her face became a mix of shock, disbelief, and horror.<\/p>\n

\u201cFive days! That is crazy! You\u2019re a bit insane, huh?\u201d she said. \u201cYou only need one day for the Wiesen<\/em>. I hope you survive.\u201d<\/p>\n

It turned out she was right. My friends and I were<\/em> a bit insane to think five days wasn\u2019t that long at Oktoberfest. We quickly learned that most Germans come for a day because that really is enough time at the Wiesn (the German name for Oktoberfest).<\/p>\n

It’s the tourists who stay longer.<\/p>\n

Five days at Oktoberfest was something I wouldn\u2019t do again. By the end, I never wanted to see a beer again.<\/p>\n

But I survived the experience \u2014 and in the process had a great time, made a lot of new friends, hardened my liver, met some other cool travel bloggers, and learned just how to plan the perfect Oktoberfest trip.<\/p>\n

In this post, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about planning a trip to Oktoberfest. <\/p>\n


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What is Oktoberfest?<\/h3>\n

Oktoberfest was one of the best festivals I\u2019ve ever attended. It’s a 16\u201318-day beer festival held annually in Munich, Germany<\/a>, running from late September to the first weekend in October. <\/p>\n

It all began when Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese on October 12, 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city, which the locals call “Wies’n” (which means grass, and why Oktoberfest is nicknamed Wiesn in Germany). Ever since then, it has become a major event, especially in the last few decades, as more and more international travelers have been attracted to the festival thanks to tours, cheap flights, and better accommodation options. <\/p>\n

It’s such a big thing that you’ll find Oktoberfest activities in cities around the world (though nothing beats the original).
\n <\/p>\n

What to Expect at Oktoberfest<\/h3>\n

Oktoberfest is a wild, no-holds-barred drinking festival. An estimated 7 million people visit every year, with the majority of those Germans (they represent 85% of attendees)! You’ll see just about everyone dressed up in traditional Bavarian clothes (lederhosen<\/em> for guys, dirndls<\/em> for girls), having a good time, and drinking lots and lots of beer. These pictures will help paint the scene for you:<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\"One<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Outside the beer tents, you’ll find a carnival atmosphere. Literally. The grounds contain a carnival with games, rides, and even haunted houses. It is like a theme park. If it weren’t for people dressed up, you wouldn’t have known you were in Germany. (This is also where you’ll find everyone passed out from too much beer!)<\/p>\n

Inside the tents is where you find the traditional Oktoberfest you’ve come for: lots of hearty food, traditional music, large decorated tents, friendly people, large steins of beer, and a communal happy atmosphere that breeds friendship and joy! Everyone is here for a good time and in high spirits!
\n <\/p>\n

How Much Does Oktoberfest Cost?<\/h3>\n

All the tents are free to enter. Beer is typically around 14\u201315 EUR. For food, you can get half a chicken for around 18\u201325 EUR and sausages for around 11 EUR.<\/p>\n

Reserving a table is technically free, however, a reservation requires you to order food and drinks. Usually, this is the equivalent of two beers and half a chicken (which is around 50 EUR per person). So a table for 8 will be around 400 EUR, depending on the tent.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s virtually impossible to do this event on a tight budget. You can buy beer or food outside the event grounds, which will lower your costs (get drunk and full before) but if you’re purchasing anything in the tents, expect to pay!<\/p>\n

If you don’t want to plan an entire Oktoberfest visit and just want a quick sample of the event, you can book a one-night guided experience<\/a> that will get you into the event and includes a table reservation (and a local guide).
\n  <\/p>\n

How to Make Table Reservations at Oktoberfest<\/h3>\n

All the tents are free throughout the day and all have free tables as well as reserved tables for people eating meals (these are also prime seats in the center of the tent). If you want to eat or guarantee a table (and not fight for all the free tables), you’ll need to make a reservation. We had a table reservation every day because my friends and I wanted to make sure we had a place to sit. <\/p>\n

To make a reservation you’ll need to contact the tent directly via email, phone, or fax (yes, they still accept faxes!). This is typically done at the start of the year between January and April. The tables at the best tents fill up quickly and reservations for each tent don’t open at the same time (they are all managed separately).<\/p>\n

If you do book at one of the tents, be aware that most tables seat 8\u201310 people and cost around 400\u2013500 EUR (about 50 EUR per person). You’re required to book a whole table, so even if it’s just one of you going, you reserve the table as though you are going to fill it. While you’re supposed to have a full table when you sit down, we showed up minus a\u00a0few people and they didn\u2019t seem to care. This reservation includes some beer and food.<\/p>\n

Personally, I\u2019m not so sure I\u2019d reserve tables again. It\u2019s nice to know you have a place to sit down, but other than on weekends or at night, it seemed like you could always find an open seat, even if you had to stand for a while. If I booked a table again, I would only do it for the nighttime hours, when tables are harder to get, you’ll want a place to eat, and you might not want to stand around waiting. If you’re going solo or with a friend, you don’t need to book one. I’d only book if you have a big group.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that weekends, when the Germans aren’t working, are incredibly busy and it’s much harder to get a reservation as well as find free tables. If you don’t have a reservation, get there early!<\/p>\n

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