Oktoberfest Munich - A first timer's guide

 

CHEEKY: Two guys peck a girl in a Dirndl at the Oktoberfest Munich. Pic: © DPA

Then you stroll outside and jump on the roller-coaster. You’re pushed, pulled, stretched and slammed and decide this would have been a better idea before the beer!

Feeling hungry now? Nothing a plate of pork knuckles wouldn’t fix. Easy to fill your belly here, if you’ve got the coin for it. The sun goes down and you head back inside. You start swinging your drink and singing along to the sound of oom-pah music.

Soon you’re dancing on the benches with a dozen friendly locals…

Oktoberfest Munich

SHOWING OFF: A couple of models prove that it’s what’s underneath that counts by exposing their special “Oktoberfest” underwear. Pic: © Reuters

How it started

Munich’s Oktoberfest originated in 1810 as a horse race to celebrate royal wedding.

But everyone apparently enjoyed the drinking a lot more, and had such a great time they decided to do it all again the following year.

The horse race is now part of history but the beer certainly isn’t and neither are those willing to drink it.

Oktoberfest (with a k, not Octoberfest) is officially the world’s biggest party drawing about six million visitors a year to southern Germany.

The action takes place on Munich’s fairgrounds, (offically called the Theresienwiese, informally, d'Wiesn), south-west of the city’s Main Train Station.








Oktoberfest Munich

DOUBLING UP: A pair of experienced Oktoberfest visitors (and twins as it would seem!) enjoy a starter while watching the marksmans' parade. Pic: © AFP

WOOF!: No-one’s excluded from the festivities – even some dogs dress up for the Munich Oktoberfest. Pic: © DPA

Oktoberfest 2010 starts on Saturday, September 18 and finishes on Sunday, October 3.

There’s often a mad rush to find a seat before the beer starts flowing at 10am (9am on weekends).

There’s a costume parade and a gay party on the first Sunday. Weekdays are much quieter than weekends, especially around lunchtime.

Which tent to pick

Most of the drinking is done in the 14 big beer “tents” - actually big wooden halls. You can reserve tables through www.oktoberfest.de but most sell out months in advance.

The festivities officially start in the Schottenhamel tent and often reach their rowdiest in the Hacker (Heaven of Bavaria).

The bright red Hippodrom tent near the main entrance can’t be missed: It’s the place to see and be seen among Munich’s hipper, younger, set.

The Hofbräu tent is famed for pulling far more tourists than locals, the Augustiner might be the best for Bavarian authenticity and the Löwenbräu becomes a good option when everywhere else is full.

Oktoberfest Munich

DRESSED TO KILL: It could be the world’s most elegant traditional costume: the Bavarian Dirndl. It comes in many different styles, as you’ll see at the Munich Oktoberfest in 2010. Pic: © Reuters

Munich’s Thalkirchen Camping Ground could be the cheapest place to stay with tents available for just a few euros. There’s a small supermarket on site, regular buses to the Wiesen and a 24-hour party ambience during Oktoberfest. It’s at Zentralländstr. 49, Munich.

A handful of good hostels sit just south of the main train station, about a 15 minute stagger back from the Wiesn. Check out Jaeger’s www.jaegershotel.de for its friendly bar or the top-rated Wombat’s www.wombats-hostels.com. Both are in Senefelder Strasse.

PARTY TIMES: 10,000 people can fit in the Hofbräu Festzelt at Oktoberfest Munich. Pic: © Destination Munich

What to wear

Practically anything goes, but for an extra layer of fun consider kitting out like a local.

For guys, a pair of Lederhosen leather shorts start from €120.

For gals, a traditional Dirndl dress cost upwards of about €100.






Tip: When worn correctly Dirndls also reveal the wearers’ availability. Look just above the apron: If there’s a bow on the right she’s taken.
A bow on the left means she’s still to be had, and a bow bang on the front marks a virgin.

What to eat and drink

SPIRITS UP: A group of friends in Bavarian costume at the Munich festival. Pic: © DPA

Beer! The amber fluid is served exclusively in one litre glass mugs, called Maß (mass) that cost about €8.60.

The beer is slowly brewed through the summer and packs a six-percent alcoholic punch.

For a change, try the beery-lemonade mixture called Radler, or head out to the wine tent.

Food is everywhere at Oktoberfest Munich. Popular picks are grilled chicken (Hendl), pork knuckles
(Schweinshaxe) and giant pretzels (Breze).

The huge hearts half the girls hang around their necks are made of gingerbread. For the daring there’s the Ox (Osche).




Oktoberfest Munich

What to say - the Oktoberfest Munich essential phrases

Being the thoughtful gent that I am, I’ve compiled a list of essential phrases every Oktoberfest visitor should consider learning. If anybody can report using the one about the meadow full of cows successfully, I’ll happily buy them a Maß.

CENTRE OF ATTENTION: For 16 days each year Munich is the seat of most voluptuous display of hedonism the world has to offer: the one and only Oktoberfest. Pic:© DPA

FIRE QUENCHER: This guy’s wearing a dragon suit to Oktoberfest. What not? The beer tastes good no matter what you’ve got on. Pic: © AFP

FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE: A group of good-looking ladies in traditional Oktoberfest dresses share a few drinks at the Munich Oktoberfest. Pic: © Reuters

LEDERHOSEN LADS: Four guys in Lederhosen (leather shorts) ready for the Munich Oktoberfest. Pic: © Eraffe

IT'S TAPPED!: Munich's perpetual mayor Christian Ude taps the first keg at the Oktoberfest. The little sprite behind him is the Münchner Kindl. Looking forward to Oktoberfest 2010! Nagy / Presseamt München

ON TARGET: Judging by the get-up and the guns these guys have stowed next to them, I'd say they're part of the shooting club. Pic: © AFP

CRACK!: A bunch of guys gather around an Oktoberfest bank (bench) that they’ve just broken, probably through dancing too hard on it. The benches are surprisingly resilient, but hey, accidents do happen. Pic: © DPA

KISS: A couple get stuck into it on Munich’s Oktoberfest grounds. Who said you can’t have fun if you don’t manage to get into one of the beer tents? Pic: © DPA	WHAT A RIDE: A well-framed shot of Oktoberfest visitors aboard a roller-coaster with Munich’s famous Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) in the background. Pic: © DPA

FUN KNIGHTS: Two guys in shining armour drink from mugs of sparking beer at the Munich Oktoberfest. Pic: © AFP

LOOKING GOOD: Cute Oktoberfest girls in Dirndls pose for the camera at Munich festival. © AFP

YOU AND ME COULD WRITE A BAD ROMANCE, BABY: It’s about beer, good friends, music, culture and the occasional roll in the grass. That's Munich's Oktoberfest. Pic: © DPA

Want to see more shots from the festival?

Check out Destination Munich's Oktoberfest picture galleries.

You can also use the text links....

Oktoberfest pictures, Oktoberfest pictures 2, Oktoberfest pictures 3,
Oktoberfest pictures 4, Oktoberfest pictures 5, Oktoberfest pictures 6

See my other Oktoberfesty pages


Oktoberfest tips and tales

The Münchner Kindl		Munich Oktoberfest A - Z		Oktoberfest history
What's this girl got to do with the beer fest?		A tip for every letter of the alphabet.		Get the backstory on the world's biggest bash.

What's on and when to go

Oktoberfest barometer		Oktoberfest parades		Oktoberfest times and calendar
When's it gonna be busy? Find out here.		Take a walk on the wild side. The parades at Oktoberfest Munich.		Special events. What's going on when at the fest.

Slur along

Oktoberfest songs		More Oktoberfest songs		Oktoberfest songs in English
7 songs you should know for the Wiesn.		7 more Oktoberfest hits you're gonna hear - learn the words and sing along.		Random worldwide hits popular at the festival.

Good to know - essential festival info

Oktoberfest Map - Don't get lost!

Oktoberfest lost and found

Oktoberfest numbers

A map of the Munich grounds for you to download as a PDF.

Angel wings, wedding rings and other strange things.

Who ya gonna call?

Beyond the Munich Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest recipes
Recreate the taste of Oktoberfest food with these great recipes.

Older Oktoberfest stories...

Swine flu at Oktoberfest? What are the risks of picking it up on the Wiesn?
Oktoberfest 2009 beer prices How much will we have to fork out this year?
Horse on the menu at Oktoberfest Get ready for the new taste of the festival.
Cool Oktoberfest pics - A slideshow Watch 'em spin - a dialshow of pics from the
Oktoberfest Munich.

Here’s an annotated map of the Oktoberfest.
It looks like they were setting up for the fest when this satellite image was taken, so you can see most things, except the rides and the crowds. Go ahead, zoom away.

FIRST DRINKS: Me at my first Munich Oktoberfest in 2006. Certainly not the last. Pic: © Stuart Anderson - Destination Munich

Got something to stay about the Oktoberfest Munich - the story or the event? Or perhaps you'd like to share your own Oktoberfest story with Destination Munich's readers. Why not write in and I'll publish your comments here.

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