München Oktoberfest: The Volkfest We Had to Experience More Than Once

A Complete Guide to Munich Oktoberfest—Beer Tent Reservations, Where to Stay, What to Wear, Traditions, Tent Etiquette and What to Expect at the Wiesn

When we lived in Germany, there were certain experiences that felt almost mandatory to do at least once. Oktoberfest in Munich was one of them.

Except we didn’t go just once. We went a couple of times, always with a large group of friends, and both trips turned into those wonderfully ridiculous days you still talk about years later. There was beer, roast chicken, live music, thousands of people singing songs we knew every word to, traditional Bavarian clothing, carnival rides, food stalls and some of the best people-watching imaginable.

And somehow Germany will forever be the place where I learned that an entire beer tent full of people can become passionately invested in Sweet Caroline and John Denver’s Take Me Home, Country Roads. Yes, the “West Virginia” song. They love it.

Munich’s Oktoberfest is enormous, crowded, international and definitely one of the more tourist-heavy ways to experience a German Volksfest.

But it is also a real Bavarian tradition with more than 200 years of history behind it—and if you’ve never experienced it, I think it’s absolutely worth doing. Apparently, we thought it was worth doing twice.

Why Is There an Oktoberfest in the First Place?

Believe it or not, this entire celebration started with a wedding. On October 12, 1810, Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria—the future King Ludwig I—married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The official wedding festivities lasted for several days and ended on October 17 with a large public horse race held on a meadow outside Munich’s city gates. The meadow was named Theresienwiese, or “Therese’s Meadow,” in honor of the bride.

The celebration was such a success that it was repeated, gradually developing into the massive festival we know today. Munich locals commonly refer to Oktoberfest as “die Wiesn,” a shortened Bavarian reference to Theresienwiese.  So really, the world’s most famous beer festival began as one very elaborate wedding reception. I can only imagine the catering bill!

Today, Oktoberfest is considered the world’s largest folk festival, combining Bavarian traditions with beer tents, food, music, carnival rides, games, parades and millions of visitors from around the world. 

For 2026, Oktoberfest runs September 19 through October 4 on Munich’s Theresienwiese. Dates change every year, so always check the Official Muinich Oktoberfest website before planning a trip.

Why Is It Called Oktoberfest When Most of It Happens in September?

This confused me before we lived in Germany too. Oktoberfest originally took place in October, but beginning in the 19th century the start was moved earlier to take advantage of September’s generally better weather and longer daylight. Since 1872, Oktoberfest has traditionally started in September and continued into the beginning of October. 

And after experiencing German autumn weather, I can confirm that choosing September was probably a very wise decision.

Oktoberfest Traditions and Opening Weekend

Oktoberfest isn’t simply a matter of opening the gates and pouring beer. There are traditions surrounding the festival that have been repeated for generations. The first Saturday begins with the Parade of the Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries, when decorated brewery wagons, magnificent horse teams, festival hosts and performers make their way toward the Theresienwiese. Around 1,000 participants take part each year.  Then, precisely at noon, the mayor of Munich taps the first keg in the Schottenhamel tent and announces:

“O’zapft is!”

In other words: It’s tapped.

Twelve ceremonial gunshots then signal to the other festival tents that the Wiesn is officially open and the beer can begin flowing. 

The following morning brings another major Oktoberfest tradition, the Trachten- und Schützenzug, or Traditional Costume and Marksmen’s Parade. Thousands of participants wearing historic Tracht, along with marching bands, traditional clubs, decorated carriages and other groups, process through Munich toward Theresienwiese. 

Throughout Oktoberfest there are other special traditions as well, including the Oktoberfest church service, the enormous outdoor concert featuring musicians from the festival tents and the traditional gun salute at the Bavaria statue on the final day. 

So yes, there is plenty of beer. But there is much more history and tradition surrounding Oktoberfest than you might expect.

The First Thing to Know: You Don’t Actually Need an Oktoberfest Ticket

This is probably one of the biggest misunderstandings when people start planning Oktoberfest.

There is no general admission ticket for the main Oktoberfest grounds. Admission to Theresienwiese is free, and you don’t buy a ticket just to walk into one of the regular beer tents.

What people are usually referring to when they talk about getting “Oktoberfest tickets” is actually getting a table reservation inside one of the beer tents. And there is a big difference. You can go into the beer tents without a reservation when space is available.

The large tents are required to keep portions of their seating available for people without reservations. However, evenings and weekends can become extremely crowded, and tents may temporarily stop admitting people when they reach capacity. 

If you’re traveling with a large group like we were, I would absolutely try to make a reservation. I wouldn’t fly all the way to Munich with ten people and make the day’s strategy: Hopefully we’ll find a table.

When Do Oktoberfest Beer Tent Reservations Open?

This is where you need to plan early. There isn’t one central date when all Oktoberfest reservations suddenly go on sale because each tent controls its own reservation system.

For most beer tents, reservation systems for the upcoming Oktoberfest open sometime in the spring, generally by March or April, although some begin accepting requests earlier. The official Oktoberfest website recommends checking the individual tent websites beginning in the spring. 

If Oktoberfest is an important part of your trip, I would start looking in late winter rather than waiting until summer. For the Hofbräu Festzelt, use the tent’s official reservation portal and watch for the upcoming year’s reservation information.

Another important point: reservations aren’t usually about paying an admission fee. Instead, the reservation typically requires purchasing food and drink vouchers. In the main aisles, the usual minimum is approximately one Maß (1 liter) of beer plus half a roast chicken per person, although exact packages and requirements depend on the tent and seating area.  That is very similar to how ours worked. We had drink tickets and tickets for a half-chicken meal. And I don’t know if it was the atmosphere, the beer or the fact that we’d already been singing for several hours, but that roast chicken was exceptionally good.

Why We Chose the Hofbräu Festzelt

Both times we went to Oktoberfest, we were with a fairly large group and reserved tables in the Hofbräu Festzelt. If you’re picturing the big, loud, energetic, international Oktoberfest experience you’ve seen in movies and photographs, Hofbräu delivers it.

The Hofbräu Festzelt is the second-largest tent at Oktoberfest and accommodates around 10,000 guests. It is particularly popular with international visitors and is also the only large Oktoberfest tent with a dedicated standing area directly in front of the music stage. That should probably tell you something about the atmosphere before you even walk through the door.

Our reservation was during the day. As I remember it, our seating began around noon and ended around 4 p.m. Reservation periods and time slots can change, so don’t use our schedule as a rule—check the exact times on your own reservation. But I actually loved the daytime reservation.

You get several hours inside the tent when everything is lively and fun, and when your time slot ends you still have hours left to wander around Oktoberfest. And you’re going to need those hours!

What It’s Actually Like Inside the Hofbräu Tent

Calling these buildings “tents” feels slightly misleading once you’re standing inside one. Think less backyard canopy. Think enormous temporary beer hall. Long wooden tables and benches fill the space. Servers somehow carry more liter-size mugs of beer than seems physically possible.

Food is constantly coming out of the kitchen. People are talking to the strangers sitting beside them. And over all of it is a live band.

As the afternoon goes on, the atmosphere changes. Traditional music gives way to more familiar party songs, everyone gets increasingly enthusiastic and eventually much of the tent is standing and singing. And this is where we discovered the German affection for Sweet Caroline and Take Me Home, Country Roads. These songs came around again and again. At some point thousands of people are singing “West Virginia” together inside a beer tent in Bavaria while everyone is wearing lederhosen and dirndls. There really isn’t an appropriate way to explain the moment.

You simply participate.

Oktoberfest Tent Etiquette: There Are Rules

Oktoberfest is fun, but the tents aren’t a free-for-all. One important rule we learned very quickly:

Standing on the benches? Fine.

Dancing on the tables? Not fine.

We could stand on the benches while everyone was singing and celebrating, but getting on top of the actual tables was a big no-no.

And after a couple Maß, that distinction apparently becomes important enough to mention. Also pay attention to the rules surrounding your reservation and re-entry. With our reservation, we treated walking out of the tent as being finished with the tent. Once you leave, you should not assume you’re going to be able to walk back in, particularly when the tent is full, and you have your wristband on. Oktoberfest tents can stop admitting guests when they reach capacity. 

So before someone announces they’re “just running outside for a minute,” ask a staff member whether you’ll actually be allowed back in. And one more piece of extremely practical advice:

Go to the restroom before it becomes an emergency.

There are bathrooms.

There are also a few thousand other people who have been drinking liter beers.

You can probably figure out the rest.

The bathroom lines can get long.

What Do You Drink and Eat at Oktoberfest?

For us, the classic combination inside the tent was exactly what you would expect: Oktoberfest beer and a half roast chicken. Beer is traditionally served by the Maß, the iconic one-liter glass beer mug. Beer may be the star of Oktoberfest, but it isn’t your only option. You can usually find wine, Radler—a refreshing mix of beer and lemon soda—and other non-alcoholic drinks as well. They may not be as obvious on the table menus, so ask your waitress what is available.

And one thing we learned quickly: tip your waitress with every drink order. The servers are incredibly busy, carrying those enormous mugs through packed aisles all day long, and taking care of them throughout your reservation is both customary and a very good idea.

Food goes well beyond the half chicken, too. Depending on the tent, you’ll find Bavarian favorites like pretzels, sausages, pork dishes, potato salads and other hearty meals. Outside the tents, the fairgrounds are packed with food stalls, so save a little room—you will definitely find something else you want to try later.

What to Wear to Oktoberfest

Technically, there is no dress code at Oktoberfest. You are allowed to show up in jeans and a sweater and enjoy the festival like everyone else. But if you’re asking me what I would do?

Wear Tracht.

Women typically wear a dirndl, while men wear lederhosen or longer leather Bundhosen with a traditional shirt, often finished with a vest or jacket, Trachten shoes, socks and sometimes Loferl—the traditional calf warmers worn with shorter lederhosen. Traditional clothing is everywhere at Oktoberfest.

I remember thinking that if you aren’t wearing it, you really do feel a little like you’re missing part of the experience, and you will stick out!

There is one caveat, though. If you’re going to wear Tracht, I would buy real Tracht. Skip the shiny “German beer girl” costume and novelty lederhosen from the costume aisle. A dirndl is clothing, not a Halloween costume. Real dirndls have proper bodices, skirts, blouses and aprons. Lederhosen are made to be worn for years, not once for a themed party. You don’t have to spend a fortune. You just want to look like you’re wearing actual traditional clothing rather than auditioning for a German-themed restaurant.

The Dirndl Bow Means Something—So Tie It on the Correct Side

There is one little detail about wearing a dirndl that tourists often don’t realize. Where you tie your apron bow can communicate your relationship status.

This custom isn’t an official Oktoberfest rule, and not everyone follows it, but it is still widely understood. Most importantly, the directions are from the woman’s point of view while wearing the dirndl, not from the perspective of someone looking at her.

A bow tied on the left traditionally means single.

A bow tied on the right generally means taken, engaged or married.

A bow tied in the center of the back has traditionally indicated either a widow or a waitress. 

So if you’re married, make sure that bow goes to your right. Otherwise you’ve apparently walked into Oktoberfest and accidentally changed your relationship status. Good information to have before the first beer.

Where to Buy an Authentic Dirndl or Lederhosen

One of the benefits of actually buying your Tracht in Germany is that there are real traditional-clothing stores everywhere.

Some German Trachten stores sell online. Trachten Angermaier has a large selection of authentic dirndls, lederhosen, shirts, vests, shoes, and accessories. They also currently ship to the United States via DHL.

The Demmer Store in Speyer is where I shopped while we were living in Germany. The store is on Maximilianstraße and carries an Alpen-Fashion collection with dirndls, lederhosen and coordinating accessories. 

If you’re shopping once you arrive in Munich, Trachten Angermaier is a good place to start. They specialize in both traditional and modern Tracht and have Munich locations including Rosental near Viktualienmarkt and Landsbergerstraße. They also offer tailoring services, which can be especially helpful with a fitted dirndl. 

For something more upscale, LODENFREY in central Munich has a beautiful Trachten department and is a good option if you’re looking for higher-end pieces. Their Munich department store is on Maffeistraße near the Frauenkirche. 

And don’t overlook smaller Trachten stores if you’re traveling around Bavaria or southern Germany before the festival. Some of the nicest pieces are found well outside the tourist center of Munich.

If you’re purchasing an entire outfit, give yourself some time. A dirndl isn’t just one dress. Suddenly you’re choosing the dirndl, then the blouse, then the apron, then you’re debating which apron looks best while your husband is standing there holding three shirts wondering how this became a two-hour project. Welcome to Tracht shopping!

Where We Stayed for Oktoberfest

Hotel prices in Munich can climb quickly during Oktoberfest, which is another reason I strongly recommend booking your accommodations as soon as you know you’re going. We usually chose to stay outside the immediate center of Munich, where we were able to get better rates, and then took a bus or shuttle into the Theresienwiese.

We’ve stayed at both the NYX Hotel Munich and the Leonardo Hotel Munich City South, which are almost directly across the street from one another on Hofmannstraße in Obersendling. The Leonardo is at Hofmannstraße 1 and NYX is at Hofmannstraße 2.  Both were excellent. If I had to choose between the two, though, I preferred the NYX.

One very practical reason is that NYX has a Hans im Glück restaurant right inside the hotel.  And after spending an entire afternoon at Oktoberfest, walking back into your hotel and realizing you can get a burger without organizing another transportation plan suddenly feels like one of life’s great luxuries. Trust me on this!

If you’re willing to stay outside the historic center, look for a hotel with good U-Bahn, bus or shuttle access to the Theresienwiese. You don’t necessarily need to be able to walk to Oktoberfest.

In fact, after a day in the beer tent, letting someone else do the driving is exactly what you want. And this should go without saying, but Oktoberfest and rental cars are not friends. Use public transportation, a shuttle, taxi or designated driver.

What Happens When Your Beer Tent Reservation Is Over?

This was actually one of my favorite parts of the day. When our reservation ended around 4 p.m., we didn’t leave Oktoberfest. We headed outside and wandered around the fairgrounds. There are carnival rides everywhere—from Ferris wheels and classic rides to some that I personally preferred to observe safely from the ground – especially after several Maß.

We would walk around, get something else to eat, stop for another drink somewhere, explore another tent when possible and watch other people ride the rides. And the people-watching alone could keep you entertained for hours.

By late afternoon and evening, Oktoberfest takes on a completely different atmosphere as the lights come on and the fairgrounds get busier. So don’t think of your beer-tent reservation as your entire Oktoberfest visit. It’s really just one part of the day.

Munich Oktoberfest vs. More Traditional German Volksfests

This is something I didn’t really understand until we lived in Germany. Munich Oktoberfest is not the only German beer festival. And it isn’t necessarily the most representative example of what a local German festival feels like. Munich is the famous one. It’s the bucket-list one. It’s the one that attracts people from every corner of the world. That makes it incredibly fun. It also makes it incredibly touristy.

If you want another large festival experience that can feel more regional, Stuttgart’s Cannstatter Volksfest, commonly called the Wasen, is another one to consider.

But some of my favorite German festival experiences were the smaller local Volksfests and village celebrations you find throughout Germany. Those are where you may be surrounded primarily by local families and friends rather than international tour groups.

The music may be more traditional, the crowd smaller and the experience a little closer to everyday German culture. I wouldn’t choose one or the other. I would do both.

Experience Munich Oktoberfest because it is completely over the top and unlike anything else. Then go find a local village festival and experience the other side of the tradition. That’s one of the things I loved most about living in Germany—you eventually realize that some of the best experiences aren’t necessarily the famous ones.

Is Munich Oktoberfest Worth It?

Yes.

Even knowing that it is crowded, touristy and a little ridiculous?

Still yes.

There are travel experiences that are beautiful, experiences that are educational and experiences that change the way you see a place. And then there are experiences that are simply fun. Munich Oktoberfest was fun. It gave us a chance to experience a Bavarian tradition, dress in Tracht, sit at long tables with friends, drink German beer, eat roast chicken, sing songs with thousands of strangers and wander through one of the biggest festivals in the world.

Years later, I may not remember exactly how many beers were consumed. Probably for the best.

But I remember how much we laughed. And sometimes that’s exactly the travel memory worth keeping.

Planning More Time in Germany?

If Oktoberfest is only one part of your Germany trip, give yourself time to explore Munich beyond the Wiesn. Check out my:

• Munich, Germany Travel Guide – The city has so much more to see—from Marienplatz and Nymphenburg Palace, the English Garden, the BMW Museum and some of our favorite experiences from the years we lived in Germany.

• Rhine River Cruise from Bingen to St. Goar – one of our favorite easy days while living there was cruising through the castle-filled Middle Rhine and taking the train back after lunch in St. Goar.

Have you been to Oktoberfest—or is Munich’s Wiesn still sitting on your travel bucket list? I’d love to hear whether you’d choose the full Hofbräu beer-tent experience or one of Germany’s smaller local festivals.

And if you’re planning your first trip, save this guide before you start booking. Oktoberfest is one of those trips where a little planning ahead makes the actual day much more fun.