Beer, pretzels, rides, friends, lederhosens and dirndls: all key ingredients for a successful Oktoberfest.
For those of you who don’t know, Munich just celebrated its 184th Oktoberfest that believe it or not, actually started out as a wedding celebration in 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen invited all citizens to celebrate their marriage with them. Since then, it has turned into a traditional beer festival centered around the idea of having a good time with friends and family, not just drinking beer! While its main attraction is the German beer, there a local families who come to enjoy the delicious food and fun rides with their kids as well.
The 18-day festival offers beer, food, music and games that come together in a traditional Bavarian fair for all ages! With 14 tents to choose from, you can spend all day tent-hopping and trying out everything Oktoberfest has to offer. Each tent has a different layout and theme, accompanied by live music that will surely get you in the festive mood. And if you’re looking for a change of scenery, check out the roller coasters and fair games that can be found around the tents.
Here are some tips and suggestions I have for you all based on my experience:
1. Book your travel arrangements ahead of time!
The earlier you buy your flight and book your hotel, the better! If you wait until the last minute, you’ll find ridiculously expensive prices. I would advise against reserving a spot at a tent though, because then you’re stuck in one tent, feeling obligated to stay there all day as opposed to exploring other tents and walking around as you wish. Since there are so many tents, you will find plenty to go into.
2. Buy your lederhosen or drindl outfit beforehand.
The traditional attire for men is called a lederhosen and the traditional dress for women is called a drindl. You will see both locals and tourists dressed in these during Oktoberfest and I would recommend getting yours, too! It’s fun to dress up, but it’s more affordable if you order your outfit from Amazon or go to a costume store near you that might have it, so that your only option isn’t to buy the expensive ones at the festival.
3. Go with friends.
I was fortunate to have other friends studying abroad who were available to meet up for Oktoberfest, and I would suggest planning this trip with friends as well. Most people go in groups. It makes the experience a lot more memorable and fun in my opinion!
4. Bring cash.
To my surprise, the entire festival was cash-only so make sure you come prepared, unlike me! The rides are 9 euros, each pint of beer is 10.80 euros and food ranges in price. It’ll save you the embarrassment when you have to ask your friends to cover you. I would suggest bringing a fanny-pack or cross body style bag so that it’s easier to carry everything.
5. Try the pretzels and the bratwurst.
In between the beers and the rides, make sure you make time for the delicious and authentic food offered at Oktoberfest! My personal favorites were the cheese-covered pretzel (yummy, I know!) and the bratwurst, which is a German sausage. While there are plenty of items to choose from both at the restaurants and the food trucks, those were my top choices.
As the German would say: prost (cheers) and until next time!