It’s been on my bucket list for as long as I could remember to attend one of the most well known festivals in the world. …all I can say is that it was totally worth the wait! Before I dive into all my stories, let me give you a brief history of Oktoberfest that I picked up during my time in Munich. Dating back as long ago as 1810, Oktoberfest was actually a horse race that was a celebration of the wedding between Bavarian King Ludwig I and his wife Theresie. The people of Bavaria loved the horse race so much that it became an annual event-but over time the focus shifted from horses to beer and carnival rides!
My first piece of advice if you go to Oktoberfest is do it right and dress up! I can’t tell you how important it is to really get in the spirit of the festival! Girls, you have to buy a dirndl! See my pictures below, but by all means choose your particular style as they come in so many styles and colors! Heads up all you Fashionistas, you can absolutely accessorize with the traditional heart shaped bags, hats, and jewelry! Guys, it’s a little pricy, but a good pair of lederhosen (traditional leather pants) is an investment that you won’t regret once you walk through the Oktoberfest gates.
The first day was so surreal. As we walked under the famous Oktoberfest sign, I really couldn’t even believe that I was actually there. To avoid the over priced hotels and mishaps that can accompany camping experiences, my group (4 people) rented an apartment through Airbnb, which I could not recommend enough. If you plan on attending the festival on a Saturday, I would definitely recommend waking up and getting an early start to grab a table.
After quite the scramble and much excitement, we finally got a table around 10am in the Augustiner Tent. I was traveling with my old friend from high school, Taylor, and I clearly remember looking at her almost in tears of happiness when I lifted up my first (of many) liters of beer holding a pretzel in the other hand and with a loud cheer of “Prost!” I will not forget my first sip of Oktoberfest beer…..and boy was it fantastic!
The hours we spent in the tent that morning seemed as if we were in a dream. The band started up around noon, and the tent (filled with 6,000 people) all broke out in a chorus of drinking songs. We were clinking our mugs with everyone around us, and savoring every moment of the wonderful experience of being in the best place for beer in the world. People from all over the world were there- we did not all speak the same language, but we felt the universal camaraderie of celebrating life.
My second tip for anyone going to Octoberfest would be to try to go in small to medium sized groups and to get a table if you do not have a reservation. Especially on weekends, the tents can be packed. Just be friendly when asking people if you can join their table-you might just be surprised how many will say yes. Not to mention so much of the fun at Oktoberfest is the opportunity to meet new people from all over the world. We met people from all over Europe, Australia, America, and South America! People are at Oktoberfest to celebrate life, and so many are eager to meet new people too.
The whole design and layout of the tents is exceptional. The tables are huge, and the waitresses carrying the beer mean business. Do not get in their way. Seriously. It was so helpful to be able to have so many people in my group speak German. It made ordering and grabbing tables so much easier. I would highly recommended finding some German-speaking friends while you’re there.
The rest of that day was a whirlwind. The beer isn’t the only thing that is great about Oktoberfest – the food is just as incredible. Traditional Bavarian dishes are the way to go in Munich. In Augustiner, I had a fantastic chicken that was so flavorful. However, what I love the most (and I still crave) is Currywurst. Currywurst is a fast food dish of Germany that made with pork sausage that is first steamed then fried and cut into slices and seasoned with curry ketchup blended with a dusting of curry powder on top. Taylor and I were so addicted to it the lady at the stand even said she recognized us as “the currywurst girls” by our last day.
The third tip I have is to make sure you go on a couple of the rides in the evening. Most of the tents are closed past 5:00 pm and are open for only those with reservations. It’s almost impossible to get in, but this is a perfect chance to go explore the fair if the weather is holding up. My favorite was going on the huge Ferris wheel at night, and when the whole grounds are covered in a sea of twinkling lights this makes for an incredible view. Even though we went to just one tent the first day, I could have not asked for a better experience. After the rides, we finished off the night with a couple more liters in the Hippodrom bier garden. The energy in the bier garden was fantastic. Hippodrom is traditionally more of an “upscale” tent that is typically filled with more European and American celebrities, so it was great to have a completely different experience with a whole new group of people.
The next tip I have it to plan to give your groups at least two full days or three partial days at Oktoberfest. Think of it as if you were going to Las Vegas. One day isn’t enough, two is perfect, and three is when you are ready to go back home. We were up early (it’s a miracle!) on Sunday again too. Sleep was not an option, and both Taylor and our friends agreed that we made the most out of our time spent at the fair that day. I am proud to say that we went into five tents and had at least 5-6 liters of beer throughout the course of that day…okay so maybe I’m not too proud about the last part. Sunday was definitely a lot lower key than Saturday was, and it was so helpful that we got an early start.
What made it even more exciting was running into a friend of a friend from my days spent interning in Dallas at Oktoberfest. (Super small world) The last time I saw him was in July at our friend’s party, and next thing I knew I was clinking glasses with him inside the Winzerer Fähndl sipping on our Paulaner. It was so great to see him and reminisce fondly of the fun times and memories we have of our friends back in Texas.
After visiting the Winzerer Fähndl tent, we ran in and out of several tents throughout the day. Each tent has its own character. We meet some more friends from the states, and they were great company to have with us. We were able to share great stories and enjoy the rest of our day with them clinking glasses and singing more and more cheers of “Prost!” Octoberfest is all about sharing the experience with others. I think that song will forever be stuck in my head. In summary here are my 5 tips and tricks for getting the most out of attending Oktoberfest.
1. Dress up! Lederhosen and Dirndls can be purchased at so many places in Munich. Even at the train station and airports.
2. Arrive early if you don’t have reservations. After all, no one remembers the night they got enough sleep.
3. Don’t be afraid to meet new people at your table. Everyone has a fun story to share
4. Be open to trying new food (german kaiserschmarrn similar to an American funnel cake is incredible!)
5. Don’t forget to go on the rides. The Ferris wheel view from the top at night is a memory not to be missed.
No matter how you chose to do it, Oktoberfest in Munich is unforgettable. It will really be the experience of a lifetime! Prost!