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Oktoberfest Munich 2012- A first-timer's guide

OKTOBERFEST MUNICH 2012: You race a mob of lads in leather shorts to find a seat in the packed, wooden tent.

A busty barmaid whams down an enormous glass of beer. You drink to the cry of Prost! and get ready to do it again.

Then you stroll outside and jump on the roller-coaster.

Here's to next year's beers!

Oktoberfest 2011 is done and dusted. Hope you had a ripper time :-)
If you were at the festival you can share your experiences by scrawling a few lines in the comments section below. If you missed out, there's always next year!
This page is now updated for Oktoberfest 2012, hope to see you there.

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…

munich-oktoberfest-guys-kissing-girlCheeky: Two guys peck a girl in a Dirndl at
Oktoberfest Munich. Pic: © DPA

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.


munich-girls-oktoberfest-2012
Festive atmosphere: A group of good-looking ladies in traditional Oktoberfest dresses share a few drinks at the Munich Oktoberfest. Pic: © Reuters

When to go to Oktoberfest Munich

munich oktoberfest costume
Woof: No-one’s excluded from
the festivities – even some
dogs dress up for the
Oktoberfest Munich 2012. Pic: © DPA

Oktoberfest 2012 starts on Saturday, September 22 and finishes on Sunday, October 7.

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.


girls-at-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 2012. Pic: © Reuters

Where to stay

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.

What to wear to Oktoberfest 2012

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

munich-oktoberfest-2012
Spirits up: A group of friends
in Bavarian costume at
the Munich Oktoberfest. 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).

What to say - Oktoberfest Munich essential phrases

To help you along, I’ve compiled a list of essential phrases every visitor should consider learning for Oktoberfest 2012 . If anybody can report using the one about the meadow full of cows successfully, I’ll happily buy them a Maß.

Oktoberfest Munich phrases...

May I sit here? - Darf ich mich zu dir setzen? (Darf ik mik zoo dear set-zen?)
One beer, please! - Eine Maß, bitte! (Eyne mass, bit-tey!)
Cheers! - Prost! (Prawst!)
Your eyes are as pretty as a meadow full of tulips. - Deine Augen sind so schön wie eine Tulpenwiese . (Dine-ny ow-gen sind so schern vee eyne tul-pen-vee-say)
Let’s go back to my tent for a coffee! - Gehen wir mal zu meinem Zelt für einen Kaffee! (Gay-en veer mal zoo mine-em zelt fair eyn-en kaf-ey!)
I need to chuck up. - Ich muss kotzen. (Ik moose kot-zen)
• I have a killer hangover. - Ich habe so einen Katter. (Ik hab-ey so eyn-en kat-er)

A few more Oktoberfest Munich pictures...


munich-oktoberfest-2012-girls-kissingLooking good: Cute Oktoberfest girls in Dirndls pose for the camera at
the Munich festival. Pic: © AFP

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Oktoberfest Munich index

Oktoberfest picture galleries

oktoberfest munich picsOktoberfest pictures l Oktoberfest pictures 2 l Oktoberfest pictures 3 l Oktoberfest pictures 4 l Oktoberfest pictures 5 l Oktoberfest pictures 6

Oktoberfest tips and tales

Oktoberfest beds - Find your bed before they're all sold out - again!


oktoberfest-tent-guide-thumb Oktoberfest tent guide - Destination Munich's two-page guide to Oktoberfest beer tents.
You'll also find out how to reserve a table at the world's biggest party.
See the first page here or go to Oktoberfest tent guide page 2.

oktoberfest-muenchener-kindl-thumbThe Münchner Kindl - What's this girl got to do with the beer fest?


Munich Oktoberfest A - Z - A tip for every letter of the alphabet.

Your Oktoberfest stories - Got a story about a visit to the Munich Oktoberfest? Or have you been to a similar festival elsewhere in the world? Tell us about it!
Go here to contribute and check out other readers' tipsy tales.

Oktoberfest history - Get the backstory on the world's biggest bash.

What's on and when to go

oktoberfest-barometer-mini Oktoberfest barometer - When's it gonna be busy? Find out here.

Oktoberfest parades - Take a walk on the wild side. The parades at Oktoberfest Munich.

Oktoberfest times and calendar - Special events. What's going on when at the fest.

Slur along

Oktoberfest songs - My new site focussing on the music of Oktoberfest! With videos, background info, lyrics in German and English translations. There's also an extensive collection of Oktoberfest songs in English.

What to wear to Oktoberfest?

dirndl German Dirndl - All about that most wonderful traditional dress, the Dirndl.
(extra photo page at Oktoberfest Dirndl photos).

Traditional German lederhosen - An exploration of leather pants.
(More photos at Bavarian lederhosen photos).

Good to know - essential festival info

Oktoberfest Map - Don't get lost! - A map of the Munich grounds for you to download as a PDF.

Oktoberfest lost and found - Angel wings, wedding rings and other strange things.

Oktoberfest numbers - Who ya gonna call? Important numbers for Oktoberfest 2012.

Beyond the Munich Oktoberfest

oktoberfest-recipies-mini Oktoberfest recipes - Recreate the taste of Oktoberfest food with these great recipes.

Oktoberfest clipart Need Oktoberfest clip art? Here's the best place to look.

Oktoberfest parties around the world - It's not just in Munich, ya'know! A guide to Oktoberfest celebrations around the world.
Included so far are: Oktoberfest Kitchener - Waterloo, Tempe Oktoberfest, Minster Oktoberfest, Big Bear Oktoberfest, Hickory Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest archives Where the older stories are shelved.