Oktoberfest is legendary.
The annual German holiday has many facsimiles around the world but there’s nothing like sitting in a Munich beer tent during one of the largest festivals on the planet.
You’re going to eat, drink, and be merry in Munich, no doubt about it.
But before you prost, be prepared: these are the key things to know about Oktoberfest.
Image Credit: Getty Images, kzenon
FAQs Oktoberfest 2023
What is Oktoberfest about?
Oktoberfest dates back to 1810 when it celebrated the marriage of Prince Ludwig I with a five-day festival ending in a horse race. The race was repeated annually, with booths serving food and drink added as the years went on. Eventually, the horse racing was ditched as the booths became tents and the carnival rides made their way into the grounds.
When is Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest is an annual two-week festival beginning in mid-to-late-September and typically ending on the first Sunday in October. Oktoberfest 2023 takes place from September 16 to October 3, which is a Tuesday. You can thank the German Union Day holiday for extending Oktoberfest this year.
Why is Oktoberfest in September?
Although the first Oktoberfest happened in October, the festival was later pushed back to begin in September purely for weather reasons. Attend one and you’ll agree that longer hours of daylight and warmer weather make for a more enjoyable outdoor experience.
Where is Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest was born in Bavaria and Munich continues to be the epicenter of the event. Of course, Oktoberfest is celebrated around Germany so you’ll find other celebrations (though nowhere near the same size and scale) in other cities like Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Hamburg.
How to get from Munich airport to city center?
The S-Bahn train lines run between Munich airport and city center in 10-minute intervals, getting you to the heart of Oktoberfest in less than an hour. The S1 and S8 lines stop at Terminal 1 and 2 in Flughafen München, continuing on to multiple stops in and around Munich.
How to book table reservations in the tent?
Entry into the festival tents is free and a certain percentage of tables are available first come, first served. Reservations in the tents are free, too, but it’s not a bad idea to reserve a whole table if you’re rolling up to the fest with a large group. You will need to purchase food and beverage vouchers in advance. There are more than 30 tents, plus outdoor bier gardens, so don’t stress too much.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Nikada. Image Location: Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
Oktoberfest Munich 2023
Oktoberfest is an excellent reason to visit Munich in 2023, but it’s not the only attraction they’ve got on tap. There are other things to see around Munich and Bavaria, whether you’re visiting for Oktoberfest or just exploring Germany’s largest state.
- Tour the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum: Well isn’t that convenient, a whole museum dedicated to Oktoberfest right at the site of Oktoberfest, open year-round.
- Sip a beer in a 16th-century beer hall: Hofbräuhaus is the famous seat-yourself beer hall where you’ll rub elbows with an international crowd.
- See BMWs of the past and future: The BMW Welt and BMW Museum are a short subway ride from the city center. Maybe a new car won’t fit in your carry-on, but there are other stylish souvenirs you can take home.
- Watch surfers carve an endless river wave: In the English Garden, brave waveriders surf the man-made Eisbach Wave no matter the temperature.
- Visit the castle that inspired Walt Disney: Gaze at Neuschwanstein Castle and you’ll see why Disney couldn’t resist borrowing its design for the House of Mouse’s fictitious castles.
- Explore Bavaria’s medieval towns and alpine trails: From the stone bridges of Franconia to the Via Alpina hiking trail that cuts through 8 countries, there’s so much to see and do outside of Munich.
Download the Trainline app and use it as your DD for celebrating Oktoberfest. You can buy and store tickets right on the app, giving you one less thing to carry in your lederhosen.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Nikada. Image Location: Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany