Oktoberfest is an exciting and wonderful time of year even if you don’t like drinking beer. Out of the 5 days I was in Munich, I went to Oktoberfest for 3 days, and it was hard to stay away for the last 2 days.
1. Dirndls
First of all, Dirndl’s ladies. I would suggest buying an authentic Dirndl in town instead of the cheapest one you can buy on Amazon. It’s an entire experience from picking it out, trying them on in the dressing room, and learning how to properly tie your bow if you are single v.s. married. I bought a very nice authentic one for 120 euros, but they have plenty of good looking ones for around 70 euro. The non-authentic ones are anywhere from 10-30 euros, and are usually silky. There are shops everywhere, so you don’t even need to google it– Just walk around the city and you’ll pass a ton of shops.
If you decide not to wear a dirndl, it’s fine. You won’t stand out much either way, but you’ll have a better experience if you look the part. 🙂 I personally found it fun to get dolled up each day and dance and sing in my dress.
2. Cash
You’ll want to bring cash since most of the drinks and food only accept euros. Also, some dirndl places also only accept euros and no cards.
3. Get there Early for the Tents
Some tents offer reservations, but they cost a lot. You won’t need one unless you have a large party or if you come after 2-3pm. There were two of us, and while we had to walk around a bit, we were able to squeeze in with others at a table. Don’t be afraid of asking people if they could move over a smidge or if anyone is sitting there. We’re all there for the same reason: to have a good time.
We went into 4 tents while we were there. We would stay in a single tent the entire day instead of moving around since it can be hard to find seating.
Tents like Hofbrauhaus are incredibly crowded and touristy. I’d suggest going to the Augustiner tent instead and have a great time meeting locals.
4. In a tent? Take a seat!
You cannot order a drink unless you’re seated.
Also, learn the “Ein Prosit” chant so you can have a great time while toasting. It’s very easy to catch on, but a quick view of a youtube video before you go will help.
The most important word for Oktoberfest is Prost, the German “Cheers.” The pronunciation is “Pro-o-sh.”
5. Small Bags/Purses ONLY!
Only small bags/purses are allowed into the Oktoberfest grounds. They have some lockers for bigger bags like backpacks, but there’s always a long line, so I would avoid it. If you can, don’t bring any because they’ll get checked every time you enter a tent.
6. Book your hotel ASAP and confirm with them
Booking your hotel/AirBNB is essential before leaving. During Oktoberfest, everything books up quickly, and the prices are outrageous due to demand. We stayed within walking distance so we wouldn’t have to worry about getting on the right train or anything.
Unfortunately, when we arrived at the hotel, they said that our card didn’t go through even though Expedia confirmed. Luckily they were able to arrange for us to stay, otherwise we would have paid an arm and a leg for the room last minute somewhere else. Therefore, make sure you confirm with the hotel directly when it’s such a busy time of year! You don’t want to arrive after a long flight to get turned away and have to book a very expensive place last minute.
If you’re planning a year in advance, I’d probably go with an AirBNB close to the venue v.s. hotel, but that’s just my preference.
7. No hangovers! 😀
You’ll hear this from a lot of the people attending, locals and non, but it’s hard to believe it. They don’t put a lot of preservatives in their beer like we do in the states, so you won’t get those terrible hangovers like you’re used to after a couple of beers. So YAYYY!
8. The grounds are HUGE!
It’s really hard to meet up with friends because the grounds are absolutely enormous! Even with you’re on the phone and describing everything you’re standing next to. It’s doable, it’s just hard so I’d suggest that you all meet outside the grounds and walk in together and avoid getting split up.
9. Tip your server
If you want your server to keep coming back to your table, you’ll want to tip. Plus, your servers are working incredibly hard carrying 5-10 steins at a time and pushing through the crowds. They will become your best friend and make sure you have everything you need throughout the day as long as you keep them happy.
10. Wear rubber soled shoes
This is incredibly important because you’re going to want to dance on the benches of your table, and if you’re not wearing the proper shoes, it can be incredibly dangerous. Throughout the day, beer gets spilled making everything slippery and wet, so your best bet would be a decent gym shoe to prevent any falls. I have seen many people wipe out!
