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Oktoberfest 2023!

Das Oktoberfest dates back to 1810. In 2010 the event celebrated its 200th birthday, but that year marked only the 177th Oktoberfest, what with wars, epidemics and such. The Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancelation of the event in 2020 and 2021. The original Fest was the celebration of a Bavarian royal wedding. Princess Teresa (Therese) of Bavaria (1792-1854) had married crown prince Ludwig I (later king of Bavaria) on the evening of October 12, 1810. The next day, the city began celebrating the wedding with various activities, including concerts, parties, balls, and even a horse race on the 17th. It all went so well that the Bavarian royal family decided to hold another race a year later, beginning the Oktoberfest tradition.

Munich’s Oktoberfest is celebrated on the historic fairgrounds (Theresienwiese) in the middle of the Bavarian capital city. This view shows preparations just days before the 2016 festival opened on September 17. The annual set up takes a total of ten weeks. PHOTO: Hyde Flippo

The new tradition was interrupted in 1813 because of Bavaria’s involvement in the Napoleonic Wars, but over the years the fairgrounds (the Theresienwiese, named for Therese) grew to include other attractions. (The horse races continued to run intermittently until 1960.) In 1818 came the first merry-go-round, and a year later the Munich city fathers took over the operation of the annual affair. Since then Oktoberfest has been held annually except for two cholera outbreaks and the First and Second World Wars. The modern Oktoberfest resumed in 1950.

Oktoberfest Today
Oktoberfest now attracts from five to six million visitors every year, many of them from outside Germany. (5.7 million in 2022.) Although it is called Oktoberfest, the 16-day event always begins in the first Saturday after 15 September and ends on the first Sunday in October – unless that Sunday falls on the 1st or 2nd, in which case the festival is extended to continue until October 3, German Unity Day, the German national holiday. The 188th Oktoberfest in 2023 lasts an “extended” 18 days, rather than the normal 16.

Every Oktoberfest begins with a parade led by the Munich mayor and the “Münchner Kindl” (Munich child, the city’s mascot, usually portrayed by a girl). Then comes the ceremonial tapping of the first beer keg at 12 noon. That honor goes to the mayor, who shouts out the traditional cry of “O’zapft is!” (“It is tapped!”) Only then can the beer start flowing and the festivities begin.

Attractions
The main attraction of Oktoberfest is its 15 elaborate beer “tents” (plus the Weinzelt for wine-lovers), which are set up only during the two-week event. (See more about the tents below.) Yes, beer is king, but Oktoberfest is really an oversized state fair, with a carnival atmosphere and carnival rides. Ferris wheels, roller coasters, and other fair rides are a big part of Oktoberfest. There are about 80 ride attractions alone. To learn what’s new for 2023, see What’s New at Oktoberfest 2023 from oktoberfest.de.

For more about Oktoberfest celebrations in the USA and Canada, see Oktoberfest in North America, a new guide from the German Way.

In recent years, the Oktoberfest organizers have made an effort to combat what was a growing problem with rowdy, inebriated people who were creating an unwelcome atmosphere. The organizers have taken steps to make Oktoberfest more family-friendly, while preserving the fair’s oompah beer core. Some tents offer a special “kids night” once a week to encourage family attendance. (See “The Beer Tents” below for more about the tents.)

Farewell sparklers on the last Wiesn-Sunday in the Hacker-Pschorr tent. PHOTO: ©Sebastian Lehner/oktoberfest.de

For the 2016 Oktoberfest, in light of terrorist attacks and threats in France and elsewhere, new security measures were introduced. In addition to a fence around the entire perimeter, there were new restrictions on backpacks and purses. In the end, there were no serious problems, other than the rainy, cool weather that slightly reduced the 2016 attendance figures.

Oktoberfest Tips

Transportation and Lodging
Getting to Munich, a major air and rail hub, is easy, but you should make your flight or rail reservations as far in advance as possible. If you are driving, don’t plan on getting anywhere near the Theresienwiese fairgrounds or Munich’s center during Oktoberfest. Use Munich’s very good public transport system. The walk from the Munich main station to the Oktoberfest grounds only takes about 15-20 minutes.

Hotels and other accommodations are usually booked up months prior to Oktoberfest. Make reservations early. Late arrivals (and people who want to save money) often choose to stay in cities outside the Munich area. Augsburg, for instance, is only about an hour away from the Bavarian capital.

Getting around in Munich is easy with the city’s excellent public transportation system. The many S-Bahn (commuter rail), U-Bahn (metro, underground), streetcar and bus lines connect the city’s districts, the suburbs, and the airport. Of course, things can get a bit crowded during Oktoberfest, but that’s just another part of the fun.

Free Entry, but…
There is no charge to get onto the Oktoberfest grounds. You can walk around for free, but if you want to do anything you have to pay for food and drink and the various rides and attractions. Beer and food vouchers are only available in the beer tents. A typical table reservation costs 25 to 60 euros per person, depending on the tent and various options. For that you get a voucher for two liters of beer and typically a roasted half-chicken. (The reservation itself is free, but you have to pay for a voucher.) Most tents offer both indoor and outdoor (beer garden) seating. Tents only take table reservations via postal mail, fax (!), or the official online request service for reservations, starting in April. A table seats 6 to 10 people, or you can reserve in units of 10, 20, etc. By law, there are days and times when no reservations are possible; first come, first served. Timing is everything! Note: No credit card or US-check voucher payments!

Avoid weekends! Friday and Saturday in particular are crazy times at Oktoberfest. You are more likely to encounter drunk and unruly patrons on the weekend. If that’s okay with you, fine, but many people try to avoid Oktoberfest weekends. Many people prefer early afternoon on any day as well, avoiding the more rowdy evenings. On the other hand, Oktoberfest is not supposed to be a refined “Sunday picnic” – which is what attracts many visitors. Just be forewarned.

Oktoberfest Trivia and Prices

Oktoberfest by the Numbers (2017, 18 days)
Area of fairgrounds used for Oktoberfest: 34.5 hectares (85 acres)
Total Area of the Theresienwiese: 42 hectares (104 acres)
Seats in the festival halls: approx. 119,000
Visitors: 5.7 million (2022), 6.2 million (2017), 5.6 million (2016)
Non-German visitors: 19 percent (most from the USA, followed by GB, Austria, and France)
Employees: 8,000 full-time, 5,000 part-time

Price for a Liter of Beer:
The price varies from tent to tent. In 2019 visitors paid between €11.40 and €11.80, but Oktoberfest beer and other beverage prices (including water!) have gone up each year. In 2010, the top price for a Litermaß was “only” €8.85. In 2018, a liter of beer broke the 11-euro level. Switching to bottled water will cost you even more than beer! Soft drinks are about 2 euros cheaper than beer. For Oktoberfest 2023, a liter of beer will cost between €12.60 and €14.90, an average of 6.12 percent more than in 2022.

Oktoberfest Beverages Served
Beer: 5.6 million liters (2022), 7.3 liters (2019)
Wine: 89,259 liters (2010)
Sparkling wine: 37,733 liters
Coffee and tea: 245,335 liters
Water and lemonade: 1,028,522 half liters

Oktoberfest Food Served
Chicken (Brathendl): 366,878 units (2016)
Pork sausages: 151,857 pairs (2016)
Fish: 40,850 kg (2010)
Pork knuckles (Haxen): 69,293 units (2010)
Oxen: 127 units (2016)

For the 187th Oktoberfest (2022), cool, rainy weather reduced attendance and consumption. Instead of ice cream, hot mulled wine was a popular choice. For more, see this online page: (English) Oktoberfest 2022: Facts and Figures or (German) Oktoberfest-Bilanz 2022: Zahlen und Fakten.

No Smoking!
Bavaria has a strict non-smoking law for bars and restaurants, with no exceptions for Oktoberfest! However, most tents offer special closed-off smoking areas. The catch: No food or drink can be served there – and there are no tables or chairs!

The Beer Festival Tents (Festzelte)

Only Munich beer breweries are allowed to sponsor beer tents. Most of these so-called “tents” look more like huge buildings than tents. The more popular Oktoberfest tents are booked up long before the events begin (but some won’t accept reservations before February or March). You have to make your reservations with each tent, usually via email or on their website. (See links below.) Advance payment is usually cash or EC card (only a few take credit cards!). You don’t have to have reservations, but tents are closed when they reach full capacity, so arrive early! Only people with seats can be served! Most tents close at 11:30 p.m., except for the Käfer Wiesn-Schänke and the Weinzelt, which close at 1:00 a.m. There are also smaller “restaurant” tents that specialize in roast duck, chicken, pork, Bratwurst, Knödel (Bavarian dumplings), or cake and pastries. Here is a summary of the 16 large tents:

• Armbrustschützenzelt | The “crossbow shooters tent” is named for an event that has been part of Oktoberfest since 1895. Beer: Paulaner. Website (English)
• Augustiner-Festhalle | Family-friendly! Tuesday is “kids day”! Serves the local brew, Augustiner, tapped from “Hirsche,” traditional wooden barrels with a capacity of 200 liters. Website (English)
• Festzelt Tradition | The biggest tent on the Oide Wiesn, the Historical Wiesn. Traditional with hearty brass music, whipcrackers, dance floors, and beer from stone mugs. Family friendly. Website
• Fischer-Vroni | As the name implies… Fischer Vroni offers fish. This is where you can find the famous “fish on a stick” (Steckerlfisch). Augustiner is the beer served here. Email reservations; no fax reservations. Website (Deutsch)
• Hacker-Festzelt | The rustic Hacker Festzelt was rebuilt in 2016. It received a new 2,000-square-meter painting by Rudi Reinstadler, which shows many well-known scenes from Munich city life, such as a picnic on the Isar. The Hacker tent is one of the most popular Wiesn festival halls, simply because it is so beautiful, bright, and friendly, almost like a big beer garden on a Munich summer day. The audience is mixed, from young to old. Website
• Herzkasperl-Festzelt | The Herzkasperl-Festzelt stands on the Oide Wiesn. It was first established in 2010, when this “Wiesn wie anno dazumal” (Wiesn Like the Old Days) was held as an anniversary event for the 200th year of the Oktoberfest. The focus here is on the young folk music scene: The musicians are imaginative, funny, intercultural, cheeky, and sometimes rebellious. The excellent Hacker-Pschorr festival beer from traditional stoneware pitchers also provides for a lively atmosphere. Website
• Hofbräu-Festzelt | The tent run by the famous Hofbräuhaus is the largest and it’s popular with Americans and other foreigners. Website
• Käfer Wiesn-Schänke | Small, cozy, and very popular. Rustic atmosphere and champagne from tankards – it attracts many celebrities to the annual “cattle drive.” Here visitors don’t celebrate in a classic festival tent, but in a genuine Bavarian log cabin. But it’s almost even nicer outside in the quaint beer garden, bars and band included. Gourmet dining. Beer: Paulaner. Website
• Kufflers Weinzelt | A wide selection of wines plus Paulaner Weißbier (until 9:00 p.m.). A popular address for party-goers at a later hour. If you don’t end up coming in, you’ll still have the heated bar in front of the tent. The Weinzelt is a popular destination among Munich celebrities. Website (English)
• Löwenbräu-Festzelt | The “lion’s brew” tent is marked by a huge (4.5 meters tall) lion above the entrance. And it attracts, above all, “1860 München” soccer fans and the Italians.. Website (Deutsch)
• Marstall Festzelt | As the successor to the Hippodrome, the Marstall has had a firm place at the Oktoberfest since 2014. The Marstall tent pays homage to the equestrian roots of the Oktoberfest. The Marstall, a court riding-school built by Leo von Klenze, was a meeting-point for aristocratic equestrians in 19th-century Munich. An 1810 horse race was the precursor of today’s Oktoberfest. Lovingly decorated, good food, and friendly service make up the charm of the youngest of the large Wiesn tents. Caution, party people: No one gets on the benches until 4:00 p.m. Website
• Paulaner Festzelt | The former Winzerer Fähndl is now the Paulaner Festzelt. Look for the landmark tower with a big rotating mug of Paulaner beer on top. Features the Nockherberger brass band. The menu scores points not just for its own beer and the refreshing Paulaner Spezi drink, but also for a variety of Bavarian and Munich delicacies, from snacks to stews. There are three dishes for vegetarians and one for vegans: the baked sweet potato with African bean stew, tofu cream, and arugula salad. Website
• Pschorr-Festzelt Bräurosl | The Pschorr brewery tent seats 6,200 inside. A cozy tent for everyone, with perhaps the most beautiful selection of the services on the last evening. Home to the Gay Sunday event (on first Sunday).
• Ochsenbraterei | As the name implies, ox roasted on a revolving spit is the specialty. More than 125 oxen are eaten here during Oktoberfest. Beer: Spaten. Website (Deutsch)
• Schottenhamel-Festhalle | Oktoberfest’s oldest tent is popular with young folks. This Spaten tent is where the opening ceremonies with the mayor take place. 6,000 seats in the hall, 3,000 seats in the beer garden. Website (English)
• Schützen-Festzelt | A mid-sized tent located below the landmark Bavaria statue. Considered the most beautiful of the whole Wiesn, it allows views of the Ferris wheel, the Bavaria, the sunset, and the cheerful hustle and bustle. Beer: Löwenbräu. Website (English)
• Web: Large Beer Tents – Links to the 16 biggest tents/halls (oktoberfest.de in English)
  Web: Small Beer Tents – Links to the 22 small tents/halls (oktoberfest.de in English)

Oktoberfest Alternatives

Oktoberfest around the Globe
Even in Germany itself, Munich’s Oktoberfest has inspired imitation. The Cannstatter Volksfest (Cannstatter Wasen) in Stuttgart is the second largest beer festival and fair in Germany, with about 4.5 million annual visitors. It starts a week later than Oktoberfest. In 2017 the Cannstatter Volksfest ran from September 22 to October 8. Other large German festivals include Munich’s own Starkbierfest in the spring (see the box above), the Cranger Kirmes in Herne, North Rhine-Westphalia; the Rheinkirmes in Düsseldorf, and the Freimarkt in Bremen in northern Germany. The Schützenfest Hannover is the world’s largest marksmen’s fair. There are also many other Oktoberfest events in about 100 other countries, including large ones in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the United States.

For more about Oktoberfest in Munich, see the official Oktoberfest.de site (in German and English) and the various tent links above.

For more about Oktoberfest celebrations in the USA and Canada, see Oktoberfest in North America, a new guide from the German Way.

Next | Munich City Guide

Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY

• Munich City Guide – What to see and do in the Bavarian capital
• Beer and Wine – A guide to imbibing in Deutschland
• City Guides: Germany – More cities
• Holidays and Celebrations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland
• Cultural Differences – USA-Germany – Cultural comparison charts

ON THE WEB

• Also see the links to the various Oktoberfest tents above.
• Oktoberfest.de (English)
• Oktoberfest.de (Deutsch)

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