Oktoberfest is the world’s largest Volksfest, a beer festival and traveling funfair. Held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, it is a 16- to 18-day folk festival running from mid or late September to the first weekend in October, with more than 6 million people from around the world attending the event every year.
Locally, it is often called the Wiesn, after the colloquial name for the fairgrounds, Theresa’s meadows (Theresienwiese). The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since the year 1810. Other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations that are modeled after the original Munich event.
During the event, large quantities of Oktoberfest Beer are consumed: during the 16-day festival in 2013, for example, 7.7 million litres (66,000 US bbl) were served. Visitors also enjoy numerous attractions, such as amusement rides, side stalls, and games. There is also a wide variety of traditional foods available.
This year, Oktoberfest begins on September 22 and ends on October 7.
WHAT’S NEW AT THE OKTOBERFEST?
The festival grounds
The festival grounds will have a size of 34.5 hectares. 545 businesses have been admitted this year, 143 form the gastronomical sector, 151 carnies and 251 vendors. About 13.000 people will be employed at the Oktoberfest.
The new fun rides
During the annual Oktoberfest press conference, the new fun rides are usually one of the most anticipated topics. This wasn’t any different this year: Munich Mayor and Oktoberfest-boss Josef Schmid presented several new attractions:
The “Chaos Pendel” (“Pendulum of Chaos”) resembles a combination of a swing and a slingshot and has 2 cabins with 8 passengers each going into all possible directions.
Named after the Hollywood classic, the “Predator” takes no prisoners: The gondolas flip and tumble on two hydraulic poles.
A classic returns in an all modern look: The “Wellenflieger” chairoplane got a new LED lighting.
German TV’s “Survivor” is called “Dschungelcamp” and just like in the show there are the floors full of obstacles are waiting for brave visitors.
Another big return is the Royal Bavarian Court Photographer, where you can shoot your own souvenir-photo with all kinds of historic props, backdrops and costumes.
News at the Oide Wiesn
The “Alpenhaus” in the museum tent offers sweet treats, produced in a historic fashion. The “Museumsstandl” sells reprints of historic Oktoberfest posters, which can also be sent by mail. A special exhibition focuses on carny-legend Carl-Gabriel.
Another big comeback is the “Humoristic Velodrome”: Prove your skills on crazy, hard-to-handle bicycles with offset axles and other special quirks.
A new version of the official Wiesn App
After last year‘s successful start, the official Oktoberfest App by the city of Munich is back with new information and brand new features like the detailed fairground map with more than 720 entries about all kinds of locations at the Oktoberfest.
Souvenirs:
The official Oktoberfest 2018 souvenirs are now available. Glasses, mugs and more are waiting for you. Browse and order at the Oktoberfest.de-Shop.
Beer and Food:
The 16 small and big beer tents offer room for 119.000 guests. Altogether, 127 medium-sized and small businesses offer spicy and sweet specialties.
Oktoberfest at a bargain:
Especially families are invited to visit the Oktoberfest on the official family days, which are Tuesdays. Fun rides and food vendors have special offers then.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BEER…
Among the many attractions, the “liquid gold” is probably the most important thing at the Oktoberfest. As usual, over 6 million liters of beer will be drunk this year.
- Price: A “Mass”, one litre of beer, will cost between 9.70 € and 10.10 € this year.
- Serving times: Beer will be sold in the tents from 10 a.m to 10:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on saturdays, sundays and holidays.
Where to get which beer:
- Augustiner: Augustiner-Festhalle, Fischer-Vroni
- Paulaner: Armbrustschützenzelt, Winzerer Fähndl, Käfer’s Wies’n Schänke
- Spaten-Franziskaner: Marstall, Schottenhamel, Ochsenbraterei/Spatenbräu-Festhalle
- Löwenbräu: Schützen-Festzelt, Löwenbräu-Festhalle
- Hacker-Pschorr: Hacker-Festzelt, Pschorr-Bräurosl
- Hofbräu: Hofbräu Festzelt
The Bavarian Purity Requirements:
It’s no coincidence, that Bavaria has the best beer in the world: Since the 16th century there have been strong regulations about brewing beer and how to keep up the high quality of the final product by choosing the ingredients very carefully. One of the oldest laws concerning food and drink are the Bavarian Purity Requirements, decreed by Duke William IV. in 1516: Only water, hops and barley should be used to brew Bavarian beer.
Beer Tokens
Most companies hand out beer tokens (“Biermarken” in German) to their guests, which can then be exchanged for beer in the respective tents. If you want to buy beer tokens, please contact the tent-owners directly.
MUNICH BREWERIES ON THE OKTOBERFEST
According to tradition, the beer tents only sold original Munich beer, which is characterized by a long tradition, much experience in brewing and the strict adherence of the “Reinheitsgebot” (Bavarian Purity Requirements). Here’s an overview of all six Munich Oktoberfest-breweries.
Augustiner
Augustiner was founded in 1328 and is the oldest Munich brewery. It’s rooted in the old Munich Augustiner monastery in Neuhauser Gasse. There has also been a taproom which was popular with the Munich people. Later the brewery was relocated to Neuhauser Straße 27 where’s still the famous Augustiner Inn and later on it was removed to Landberger Straße where the brewery is settled until today and where is also the traditional Bräustüberl with low priced, Bavarian food. Both the beer garden Augustinerkeller and Hirschgarten are very popular.
Augustiner-Oktoberfest-beer has 6% alcohol and is sold in the beer tents Augustiner-Festzelt and Fischer Vroni. As the only Munich brewery, Augustiner is still using wooden barrels for storing beer.
Hacker Pschorr
The brewery was founded in 1417 at the place where today is the inn Altes Hackerhaus (Sendlinger Straße) and grew to the leading Munich brewery in the 18th century under the couple Joseph Pschorr and Maria Theresia Hacker. After their death, the brewery was divided in Hacker brewery and Pschorr brewery and not reunified before the 1970s. Since 2007 the beer is sold again in the traditional bottles with flip top closure.
The beer which is with 5,8% alcohol the lightest one, is offered at the Oktoberfest in the Hacker-Zelt and the Pschorr-Bräurosl.
Hofbräu
Wilhelm V. founded the brewery in 1589. Originally the brewery at the Platzl where is still the famous Hofbräuhaus, one of the most important touristic attractions in Munich. Later the brewery was socialized and relocated to Wiener Platz, where is still one of the most beautiful Munich beer garden, the Hofbräukeller. Today the brewery is in München-Riem.
The beer which is sold in the Hofbräuzelt at the Oktoberfest is with 6,3% alcohol the strongest one.
Löwenbräu
Already in the 15th century, there has been a brewery in the Löwengrube. The middle-sized company emerged to the biggest brewery in the 19th century under the Family Brey. The brewery was relocated to Nymphenburger Straße where it is already located. Near the brewery is the popular beer garden Löwenbräukeller at the Stiglmayerplatz which was founded in 1883. The logo of the beer is a lion. Also famous is the oversized, mechanical lion on the top of the Löwenbräu tent which can roar and move its tail.
At the Oktoberfest the 6,1%-beer is sold in Löwenbräu-Zelt and Schützenzelt.
Paulaner
This beer is brewed since 1634 in the Paulaner monastery and therefore the most recent under the Munich beers. First, the beer was only sold in public on holidays. The recipe of the stout which became very popular with the Munich people was invented by Brother Barnabas. Today the brewers are settled on the Nockherberg where takes place every year the stout-festival with an opening festival where politicians are kidded under the direction of a selected Brother Barnabas.
The Oktoberfest-beer of Paulaner has 6% alcohol and is sold in the Winzerer Fähndl, the Armbrustschützen-Zelt, the Käferzelt and the Wine Tents.
Spaten
The Spaten brewery was founded 1397 and was settled in the Neuhauser Gasse for the first centuries. Today the brewery is located in the Marsstraße and managed for 200 years by the Sedlmayr Family. The logo of the label is a spade with the initials of Gabriel Sedlmayr. Also in the possession of the Sedlmayr family is the Franziskaner brewery. These both 5,9%-beers are offered at the Oktoberfest in the Schottenhammel, the Marstall, the Ochsenbraterei and of course the Spaten-Zelt.
THE OIDE WIESN 2018
Intended as a one-time-only event in 2010, the Oide Wiesn (Old Wiesn) in the southern part of the festival grounds has become a people’s favorite at the Oktoberfest.
First celebrated at the Oktoberfest’s 200th anniversary, the Oide Wiesn became a huge success among Oktoberfest visitors and a regular part of the Oktoberfest in 2011: Historical costumes, traditional music and nostalgic rides. Here, guests find relaxed tradition instead of the wild partying in the big beer tents.
On 3.5 hectares of the southern parts of the festival grounds, the Oktoberfest is still celebrated like a long time ago.
- Opening times: Daily from 10:00 to 23:00 (Last drinks at 21:30, Fun rides 10:00 to 22:30)
- Entrance fee: 3€
- Fun rides: 1€ each
The rides and attractions
Fans of historic rides will find a lot of nostalgic joy at the Oide Wiesn. Merry-go-rounds and chairoplanes form as far back as 1919 can be found, just as classics like swingboats or shooting galleries.
The Museum-Tent
The free museum-tent tells you about the history of the Oktoberfest and its carnies. Over 100-year-old carousels and booths and a historic sausage grill are waiting for you.
Outside the tent, historic tractors and organs are presented and played regularly.
For the first time, the Museum-Tent welcomes Willy Kinzler jun.’s “Alpenhaus”, where sweets like glazed almonds and nuts, cotton candy and other traditional treats are prepared. If you’re a fan of Oktoberfest nostalgia, make sure to visit the “Museumsstandl”: They offer exclusive reprints of the Oktoberfest posters from 1952 to today, which can either be bought right away shipped by mail.
This year’s special exhibition is dedicated to legendary Oktoberfest carnie Carl Gabriel (1857-1931), a true legend of the world’s biggest fair.
- Opening times: Daily from 10:00 to 22:00
The Tents
The “Tradition Tent” of the families Winklhofer und Wieser focuses on brass music and Munich style food. In the garden, traditional veal-sausage breakfasts are served and kids can have fin in the lemonade garden. Various groups of traditional dancers and musicians from all over Bavaria get you into the vintage Oktoberfest mood.
The “Herzkasperl-Festzelt” of award-winning guesthouse proprietor Josef Bachmaier offers a stage to the young folk-music scene. Well-known and new artists share the stage with their diverse shows. There is even a traditional dancefloor in the tent. The kitchen offers traditional Bavarian cuisine but also vegan dishes.
A new tent at the Oktoberfest is the folk singers‘ tent Volkssängerzelt “Zur Schönheitskönigin”. In the tradition of many old Munich celebrities like Karl Valentin, they try to catch the classic tavern atmosphere in this tent. Apart from vegetarian and vegan dishes, the kitchen also offers very traditional Munich food and exclusively uses ecologic and regional products.
BEER PRICES
The good news: Several lemonades didn’t only stay at last year’s price, but got even cheaper.
The bad news: In several beer tents, one liter of beer now costs you more than 11€.
The Mass (1 liter of beer) will cost you something between 10.70€ and 11.50€ this year. That is an average increase of 3.57% compared to last year’s beer prices. The cheapest beer can be found at the Museum Tent at the Old Wiesn and at the Ammer tent.
Whereas it is quite common that beer prices go up significantly each year, a novelty is prices of lemonades and Spezi going down in some tents.
The tent proprietors explain this year’s rise in prices because of the higher contingent rent for their tents. Because of increased security measures, the city of Munich had increased those rents last year.
Depending on where you go, beer is served in glasses or steins. Both can be ordered in a wide range of varieties at the Oktoberfest.de Shop.
GETTING TO MUNICH
If you are planning to travel to Munich by plane, the following information should make your trip more comfortable:
Going to Munich by plane means you will land at Airport Franz-Josef-Strauss (named after a very important and long-reigning prime minister of Bavaria), which is located about 20 kilometers north of Munich.
For your trip on to the city, there are various means of transport available:
Train:
The airport is connected to Munich by two S-Bahn lines, the S1 and the S8. Both will bring you to the most important stops in the Munich city center. Going to Munich by S-Bahn trains will take you approximately 45 – 50 minutes.
Tickets are available at the vending machines at every train station.
Bus:
The Lufthansa Airport Bus takes you from the airport to the Munich central train station in ca. 45 minutes. At the airport, there are stops at both terminals and at the Airport Center.
Taxi:
If the traffic allows it, taxis are the fastest way to get to Munich from the airport. There are taxi stands at both terminals, rides to the city will cost you something upwards from approximately 60,- €.
DATES, OPENING TIMES AND GENERAL FAQ
Essential and useful information about the Oktoberfest:
- When will the Oktoberfest 2018 take place?
On Saturday, September 22nd, the Schottenhamel tent is the place to be, if you want to catch the official opening ceremonies. At noon, the Mayor of Munich will have the honor of tapping the first keg of Oktoberfest beer. Once the barrel has been tapped, all visitors will then be allowed to quench their thirst. It pays to arrive early in order to experience the festivities up close and personal and it’s quite common for visitors to come around 9 am to secure good seats. The festival will go until October 7th. - What are the opening hours?
Beer Serving Hours
Opening day 12.00 noon – 10.30 pm
Weekdays 10.00 am – 10.30 pm
Saturday, Sunday & holiday 09.00 am – 10.30 pm
Daily closing hour 12.30 am ‘Käfers Wiesnschänke’ and ‘Weinzelt’ open until 1.00 am - Opening hours of stalls
Opening day 10.00 am – midnight
Monday – Thursday 10 am – 11.30 pm
Friday 10.00 am – 12.00 midnight
Saturday 9 am – midnight
Sunday 9 am – 11.30 pm
Souvenirs, traditional clothes, mugs and much more can also be ordered online at the Oktoberfest.de Shop. - Fairground attractions & sideshows
Opening day 12.00 noon – midnight
Monday – Thursday 10 am – 11.30 pm
Friday, Saturday 10.00 am – midnight
Sunday 10 am – 11.30 pm - End of Oktoberfest 2018
Sunday, October 7th, 2018 11.30 pm
When is Oktoberfest scheduled for 2019?
2019: September 21 – October 6
Do I have to pay an entrance fee?
No, the entry to the area and all beer-tents is free.
Bags and Backpacks
Backpacks and large bags are generally not allowed. Please leave everything you don’t necessarily need at home. The less you carry with you, the easier you will find it to move around the busy parts of Oktoberfest. Bags and backpacks with a volume of more than 3 litres and/or larger than 20cm x 15cm x 10cm are not allowed to be taken into the showgrounds (‘Wiesn’).
All bags and rucksacks will be checked by the security staff and will be tagged with a security check band. Personal medical devices or medication are allowed once cleared by security personnel.
If your luggage exceeds the maximum size you can secure them at one of the several locking stations around the Wiesn (fees apply).
How can I make a reservation for beer tents?
For making a reservation in a beer tent you have to contact the respective beer tent. You can find the contact data of the tents on our tent-overview.
Can I enter the beer tents without a reservation?
Of course you can also enter the tents without any reservation. But please consider to come early, because the tents fill up very quickly! When the tents are overfilled, you can not enter anymore. On weekend the tents often close before 11 am. because of overfilling. During the week the tents are normally open until afternoon.
Why is Oktoberfest called “Oktoberfest” when it actually begins in September?
The historical background: the first Oktoberfest was held in the year 1810 in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festivities began on October 12, 1810 and ended on October 17th with a horse race. In the following years, the celebrations were repeated and, later, the festival was prolonged and moved forward into September.
By moving the festivities up, it allowed for better weather conditions. Because the September nights were warmer, the visitors were able to enjoy the gardens outside the tents and the stroll over “die Wiesen” or the fields much longer without feeling chilly. Historically, the last Oktoberfest weekend was in October and this tradition continues into present times.
Are children allowed to visit the beer tents?
It depends on the age: Children under the age of six must leave the tents at 8pm even if they are in the company of their parents. A crowded tent wouldn’t be much fun for either the children or the parents.
Is smoking allowed in the beer tents?
No. Since August 2010 there is a new no-smoking law in Bavaria which interdicts smoking in all kind of bars, pubs and restaurants including beer tents. Contravention is punished by not being served or from 2011 on also by a fine.
What is “Die Wiesn”?
The locals in Munich fondly refer to Oktoberfest as “die Wiesn” because of its location, Theresienwiese, which was named after Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.
Is there a program of events to observe during this folk’s festival?
The main highlight of the Wiesn events and an important must-see is the Oktoberfest Costume and Riflemen’s Parade. The parade happens every year on the first Wiesn Sunday.
Other important events are the Parade of Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries, the Official Tapping of the Keg, the Oktoberfest Mass or the “Böllerschießen” (handheld canon salute) in front of the Bavaria statue.
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