Oktoberfest Munich 2013
A first-timer's guide to the Munich Oktoberfest 2013.
Come join the party!
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. 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…
Cheeky: Two guys peck a girl in a Dirndl at festival. Looking forward
to the Munich Oktoberfest 2013. Pic: © DPA* source
How it started
Munich’s Oktoberfest originated in 1810 as a horse race to celebrate a 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, (officially called the Theresienwiese, informally, d'Wiesn), south-west of the city’s Main Train Station.
Festive atmosphere: A group of good-looking ladies in traditional Oktoberfest dresses
share a few drinks at the festival. Pic: © Reuters * source @ Munich Oktoberfest 2013
When to go to the Munich Oktoberfest 2013
Woof: No-one’s excluded from
the festivities – even some
dogs dress up for the
Oktoberfest Munich 2013. Pic: © DPA
Oktoberfest 2013 starts on Saturday, September 21 and finishes on Sunday, October 6.
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.
Four of these five girls are wearing "Dirndl" themed T-shirts. Perhaps not the genuine article
but still quite nice! @ Munich Oktoberfest 2013 Pic: uLe @ Dortmund
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 2013
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
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 per cent 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).
Spirits up: A group of friends in Bavarian costume at the famous German beerfest.
Pic:
Mike-Campbell @ Munich Oktoberfest 2013
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 2013. 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...
Looking good: Cute Oktoberfest girls in Dirndls pose for the camera at
the Munich festival. Pic: © AFP @ Munich Oktoberfest 2013
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Oktoberfest Munich 2013 index
Oktoberfest picture galleries
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Oktoberfest tips and tales
▪ Oktoberfest beds - Find your bed before they're all sold out - again!
▪ Oktoberfest reservation - Book a tour of the Oktoberfest and a table in one of the tents. Act quickly! These deals always sells out!
▪ Oktoberfest tent guide - Destination Munich's two-page guide to Oktoberfest beer tents in 2013.
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.
▪ 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 - When's it gonna be busy at the Munich Oktoberfest 2013? Find out here.
▪ Oktoberfest 2013 dates - A temporal guide to the 2013 Oktoberfest with info about special events and 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?
▪ German Dirndl - All about that most wonderful traditional dress, the Dirndl.
(extra photo page at Oktoberfest Dirndl photos).
(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 numbers - Who ya gonna call? Important numbers for Oktoberfest 2013.
Beyond the Munich Oktoberfest
▪ Oktoberfest recipes - Recreate the taste of Oktoberfest food with these great recipes.
▪ 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.
Finished reading about Oktoberfest 2013?
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