The Traveller's Magazine
Without a doubt Oktoberfest is in your vocabulary and on your list of travel destinations for this fall if you have any liking to beer at all. Did you know it is the largest beer festival in the world? If you’ve never been before then this is the year to make it a priority since Oktoberfest will celebrate its 200th anniversary. Here is everything and more of what you need to know about this year’s festivities.
When and where?
The festival opens its doors and taps the first keg at noon on Saturday the 18th of September and continues until the 4th of October. It lasts almost 2 weeks but for the average drinker 2-3 days will suffice. If you plan to go the first day of the festival, you can expect to drink and sing with more than 8000 others, all with an equal liking to the golden nectar.
Oktoberfest is within 10 minutes walking distance from the train station in Munich, in the Theresienweisen district.
Oktoberfest statistics
6 million visitors flock to Munich each year to take part in this Bavarian tradition. The festival isn’t just about great drinking though, there are other great shows and events organised as well. Quite surprisingly, it’s estimated that an average of only 1 litre of beer is consumed by each visitor. It my not seem like a lot but that’s an astounding 6 million litres of beer served each year!
In terms of food, an average of 500 000 chickens are grilled, 100 000 sausages are consumed and the giant pretzels come with a “one size fits all” attitude, measuring 30 cm. Best to pack some Pepto-Bismol for this trip!
The price of a litre of beer ranges from €8.30 to €8.60 depending on the tent. The festival employs 1600 waitresses who can carry 12 litres of beer on a tray… now that’s impressive!
Go to Oktoberbest
- How to get there?
Leave your car at home because it’s very unlikely you’ll find a parking space anywhere near the festival in Munich. Instead opt for the train or grab some cheap flight to Munich to get you there. From London you can still find deals for as low as £167 with EasyJet and Ryanair. The best way to find the lowest price is to keep your dates flexible and combine 2 low cost airlines.
- Where to sleep?
Hotels in Munich fill up fast so if you do plan to go, book now. Room rates start at around €90 a night. There are plenty of youth hostels in the city as well and if you’re really brave, it’s not unheard of to camp at this time of year. To compare hotel prices, check out cheap hotels in Munich on liligo.com
- Festival tent info
There are only 100 000 tickets available for millions of visitors. It’s recommended then to book a table in advance. Expect long queues for seats if you don’t want to stand. In true German style, Oktoberfest is not something you improvise, hoping to get lucky!
Did you know that each year, 9 months after Oktoberfest in July that the number of births in Munich jumps, to its yearly high?
If Oktoberfest tickles your fancy then you should also check out these 10 destinations to “drink up!”
Have you ever been to Oktoberfest? What did you think of it and what advice would you give this year’s participants?
Although this year is actually the 177th Oktoberfest because the outdoor festival has been canceled 24 times because of war and cholera epidemics, festival organizers are celebrating the anniversary, with special events, including staging horse races at a nearby arena for the first time since 1938.