Oktoberfest Munich - 5 Takeaways from My First Visit to Munich's Iconic Festival

Paulaner Tent, Oktoberfest 2025, Munich Germany

As Oktoberfest celebrations continue throughout the US, Munich's 190th Oktoberfest has concluded, even though it's just the first week of October. Why does Munich's Oktoberfest begin in September? I discovered the answer to this question during my first visit to Oktoberfest in Munich last week. We'll return to that shortly.

I suppose if I had any expectations for Oktoberfest, they would involve large crowds and the possibility that we might not be able to enter the renowned beer tents. Prior to our visit, I did minimal planning, only discovering that booking one of the sought-after tables for just two people wasn't feasible, as each table costs hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the tent, day, and time you visit. But, not to worry, it turns out that my preference to have a detailed "plan" wasn't necessary.

If you're considering adding Oktoberfest to your bucket list, I whole-heartedly recommend it! Here are 5 tips to make the most of a trip to this historic event:

1. Avoid weekend and "table changeover times." For the first time in its history, Oktoberfest closed down temporarily this year when the crowds were so great that moving freely, or at all in some cases, became difficult. While the final attendee tally has not been disclosed as I write today, this year's festival is currently on track to break 2023's attendance record of 7.2 million visitors. While this fact alone would normally deter my attendance at such an event, I found that our attendance on a Monday afternoon was perfect! There were enough visitors to create a festive atmosphere, but not so many that prevented us from freely walking into all the main tents. We even found space at an outdoor table with some locals who very much appreciated American's dressed in traditional German attire.

2. On the topic of what to wear, I highly recommend going for it! Dress up in your the best lederhosen and dirndl you can find! This is really not as great a challenge as you may think. Amazon does have some fairly realistic looking ensembles, but I don't recommend going that direction. Between the Munich airport the Oktoberfest fairgrounds, you'll find a number of places to suit up. My husband and I spent a few days prior to attending the festival on Bavaria's Romantic Road which provided more than ample opportunity to find traditional, German-made clothing. Munich also has a number of shops just waiting for tourists. Of course, you'll pay a bit more, but we found that getting "suited up' was half the fun. One tip: DO NOT wear lederhosen and dirndl made for Halloween costumes! This will stand out in a bad way.

3. Visit as many tents as you can! If you choose to go on a weekend, this will be nearly impossible. In fact, given the attendance numbers from 2025, I highly recommend avoiding a weekend altogether. as we were easily able to explore several of the tents, we found each had it's own vibe and energy. What was most surprising to me perhaps was the popularity of tunes like John's Denver's "Take Me Home Country Roads," or Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama." I wondered how many of those belting out this tune knew where Alabama was. Either way, it's pretty amazing to sing out tunes I love with thousands of revelers. With nearly 40 tents (14 major breweries and dozens of smaller breweries), you are guaranteed to find one that feels just right to you.

4. Book a hotel early. Ok, duh, but prices doubled in the 6 weeks that I first booked. The fairgrounds are very close to the center of Munich so walking is actually quite doable. We booked this unique hotel directly across from the Marienplatz which in my opinion is one of the more beautiful sites in Munich.

5. Stay for the day, then explore more. Unless you are single and looking to mingle, I find that one day is more than enough to experience Oktoberfest. The festival's location in the heart of Bavaria makes it a perfect jumping off point for more exploration. The nearby "Romantic Road" links picturesque towns along a 220 mile route from Wurzburg in the North to Fussen in the South. The route showcases medieval towns such as the charming Rothenburg ob der Tauber and beautiful landscapes including the Alps where the fairy tale Neuschwanstein Castle (that inspired Cinderella's Castle at Disney) is located.

   
   

This year's Oktoberfest in Munich began on September 20th and concluded on October 5th, just as most celebrations across the US are getting underway. Why? Leave it to German practicality. The festival is held in September largely because the weather is more pleasant in September - October becomes colder and darker.

Combining Bavarian tradition, a lively cultural atmosphere, closeness to the Alps, and medieval history, Munich's Oktoberfest makes an ideal start to the fall season.