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Where's the Party?
The Oktoberfest takes place in the last 2 weeks of September,
ending on the first Sunday in October and is the highlight
of any beer drinker's year. Around 6.9 million visitors attend
every year. Wies'n meadow in Munich gets completely booked
out around 6 months in advance and most people book from one
year to the next. Oktoberfest is fast food feeding frenzy.
6,000 chickens, 90,000 pork legs and 80 oxen, and the ever
present Umtata bands.
The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810, when a public party
was held for the people of Munich to celebrate the wedding
of the Crown Prince Ludwig to Therese Charlotte Louise of
Saxe-Hildburghausen. Everyone had such a good time that it
was decided to make it an annual event, and it has grown at
a galloping pace ever since. There are now 14 beer tents on
die 'Wiesen ('the meadow'), each seating around 10,000 punters
at any one time and each with its own unique crowd, food specialities,
and characteristics.
What's It All About?
Most people think of Oktoberfest as little more than a gigantic
booze-up, but it'll be a gruelling few days if all you're
there to do is drink. There is much more to Oktoberfest than
beer-swilling indulgence: it's a fascinating window on German
culture and folklore.
The festival opens with a colourful parade, when the tent
concessionaires ride through the town on brewery wagons. Revellers
dress up in traditional costumes from the different regions
of Germany, and march through the streets to the sound of
the brass bands. An agricultural fair takes place in conjunction
with Oktoberfest, as well as a full funfair, pop concerts
and soccer tournaments.
Be Prepared
European Nationals do not require a visa to enter Germany.
Citizens of other countries may require a visa, even for stays
of under 90 days. If in any doubt contact the German Embassy
or Consulate in your home country before you leave.
Hotel accommodation is at a premium during Oktoberfest, so
it's essential to book five or six months in advance.
Warm clothing is essential, as is a waterproof jacket. If
you¹re camping, a sleeping bag that can handle near-zero
temperatures is required. The days may be sunny but at night
it can turn bitterly cold.
Getting There
Several European airlines operate flights to Munich, including
Lufthansa, British Airways and Go. Alternatively, if you¹re
coming from the UK you could drive - it takes between 14 and
16 hours from London.
Group journeys to Oktoberfest are also operated by several
major tourcompanies from the UK, such as PP Travel, 3 Hillgate
Street, London W8 7SP Tel: +44 20 77924444.
Once you're in Munich, the closest U-Bahn (underground) station
to the festival is Theresienwiese U4/U5, but Schwanthalerhöhe
and Goetheplatz are also nearby.
Where to Stay
There are plenty of places to stay in Munich, but be aware
that prices are inflated during the festival, and you will
need to book well in advance. Contact the tourist office for
a full list of hotels.
If you're prepared to rough it and camp through the festival,
Camping Thalkirchen is the way to go. However it is definitely
a younger crowd that stays here, so prepare for late nights
and partying until dawn. Camping Thalkirchen is located at
Zentral Land Strasse, 49, 81379 Munich Tel: +49 89 723 17
07 Fax: +49 89 724 31 77. The campsite is open between March
and November and only groups of more than 20 need book in
advance.
Other Expenses
Prepare to pay around US$6 for a stein. This breaks down
to an actual cost of about US$2 for the house itself and US$4
for the beermaid. It might sound like she's getting a great
deal here, but once you see the beermaids at work you¹ll
understand. A full roast chicken retails at around US$7. Allocate
US$45 per day for food and drink.
Travel in Munich is inexpensive. US$14 a day will be enough
for a train journey to the grounds and the all-important cab
fare home. Rides at Oktoberfest cost no more than US$6 ‹
but if you¹ve been drinking, these are probably best
avoided.
Once You're There
The beer halls get extremely crowded and it can be hard to
get a seat. Make sure you get in early if you want to join
the festivities. Tipping the beermaids sounds obvious, but
if you forget, so will they. Beermaids have certain areas
they patrol and you'll struggle to get a beer for the remainder
of the day.
While in the beer houses, avoid the wrath of security at
all costs. An Oktoberfest-long expulsion for one drunken act
is not unheard of. Many visitors also decide to swindle a
stein - again, forget it. You may have drunk a few and think
you¹re being sly but security is paid to watch for this.
Falling asleep at the grounds is not a good move. If the
police don't get you, someone will relieve you of your possessions
within minutes. Leave credit cards, identification and any
other valuables behind. Take only the cash you need for the
day. This way you'll have a pre-set beer limit and irreplaceable
items won't go astray.
Some travellers might advise against paying for the U-Bahn
- this is a stupid, embarrassing and costly move that will
wind up with an extended visit to the police station.
Respecting the locals goes without saying. They rely on the
tourism Oktoberfest brings and will go out of their way to
ensure each visitor has a memorable visit. The problems at
Oktoberfest usually come from the visitors: Germans are used
to the beer. The rest of us aren't.
Local Attractions
Often the Oktoberfest parades originate on the streets of
Munich before winding up at the fairground. So no matter where
you are in Munich, chances are you¹ll run into some kind
of Oktoberfest celebration.
Horse-drawn carriage rides across the city are a relaxing,
comfortable way of seeing the city. Another popular way to
cruise around Munich and check out the sights is by bike.
There are many outlets for half and full-day hiring and cyclists
are catered for on the roads. Munich has a remarkable array
of museums, including the Hellabrum (the
world's first geo zoo), the BMW museum and
the SiemensForum, an interactive electronics
forum. The Englischer Garten (English Garden)
in the centre of Munich is Europe's largest city park, an
oasis of calm during the madness of Oktoberfest.
Plan to get out of the city at some stage - you'll need it.
You can hop across the border on a day trip to Austria from
here, or for an eye-opening, poignant reminder of Germany¹s
recent history, visit Dachau. This was the first concentration
camp developed by the Nazis and is just 30 minutes away by
train.
Similar Events
Oktoberfest is an event which is increasingly held in cities
all over the world, including London, Seattle and even Windhoek
in Namibia. So if you can't make it to Munich, chances are
you'll be able to find beer-swilling shenanigans (albeit of
dubious authenticity) closer to home.
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