Oktoberfest is a 16 day annual celebration of Bavarian culture and beer held in Munich, Germany from mid to late September until the first week of October. The exact dates of the festival change every year based on how certain days fall, but the good times and unforgettable experience do not. This past fall, two friends and I attended the first day of Oktoberfest, which proved to be one of the defining if not the defining experience of my three month tour of Europe. What could be better than good times, liter after liter of delicious German beer, and the distinctive Bavarian culture?
Our Oktoberfest experience began at the main Munich train station at 6 am on day one of Oktoberfest. We had just spent four days in Prague, and took an eight hour night train from Prague because we couldn't miss Oktoberfest when we were so close. This train could have been easily avoided if we had planned a little earlier. More than six million people attend the 16 day festival. So accommodations in Munich and the surrounding areas are booked months to years in advance, not to mention prices from hostels to hotels are astronomical during the festival. So if you are planning on going I strongly suggest planning up to a year in advance in booking your travel and accommodation, because demand for it in the city during the festival.
We ended up having to take that night train from Prague arriving at 6am, and leaving on a night train back to Prague at 10 pm on that first day of Oktoberfest. We planned our trip about two months prior to the festival and were unable to secure any accommodation. Anyways, immediately after stepping off of our train we were greeted by thousands of traditionally dressed Germans already guzzling on their beer during the wee hours of the morning. Since we arrived on Day 1, we had heard that getting into the tents that make up Oktoberfest is extremely difficult and you need to get there really early.
So around 8 am we took the U-Bahn just one stop from the central train station to the Theresienweise stop, which is the grounds where Oktoberfest takes place. The grounds are composed of 14 tents from Brewers throughout Bavaria. Each tent seats roughly 6,000 people on tightly packed tables inside and outside of the tent. If you have 8 or more people you can reserve a table and dinner for about $300 a person, but if you were like us you showed up and anxiously stood outside the doors until they opened up to claim a "general admission" table. Since we arrived on day 1, the place was absolutely packed with thousands upon thousands of people on the grounds. If you do decide to come on day 1, I would definitely show up to the grounds as early as possible and wait in line to get a table. Sometime around 10am we were let in, and frantically searched for a table that could seat the three of us. It's a great experience because the tables seat 10-12 people in about an area that comfortably seats 6-8. So you get to be friends with your neighbors which are more than likely to be native Bavarians dressed in lederhosen (men) or a dirndl (women).
On day 1 beer isn't served until noon because you have to wait for the mayor to traditionally tap the first keg and declare the festival open. Other days I believe they start serving beer earlier. However, while we were waiting we dabbled in German grub such as Wurst, Brezeln (the biggest pretzels you will ever see), and chicken. It was all fantastic and most people usually get a little bit of food either before or with their beer. It is pricey though. Expect to spend at least 20 euros on food during a single day. Once noon hit though the beer began to flow! Oktoberfest beer is incredible and usually only comes in one variety at each tent and that is golden and highly alcoholic (At least 10% alcohol). It is sold in a heavy glass stein that measures a liter, and its unbelievable watching the servers carry up to ten at a time! Each liter of beer costs 8 euro so it is definitely a pricey day if you plan on drinking a lot. If you don't want to wait forever either I would suggest buying multiple steins each time a waitress comes to your table, because the place is extremely packed and servers come around maybe twice an hour.
We literally spent out entire day sitting at our table in the tent until about 8 pm just drinking beer, partaking in drinking songs, and talking with our table mates. It was an incredible experience. Once you leave the tent though it is extremely hard to get back in because they have security posted at the doors and only let people in when other people leave so as to not let the tent get too crowded. Also, do not attempt to steal a stein from your tent as security is on the lookout for that if you are caught you will face imprisonment and a hefty fine. However, once we did decide to leave our tent and walk the grounds a bit before heading back to the train station. Also, on the grounds of Oktoberfest are a number of carnival rides, pastry stands, and souvenir stands. We picked up some souvenirs, talked with some locals, and got a few pictures it was too much fun! Then back on the U-bahn we went to the train station and back to Prague.
After just one day of Oktoberfest we knew we had experienced something special. Being there on Day 1 was incredible truly being immersed in Bavarian culture at its best. However, if you attend the festival on weekdays after it has started it is much less crowded and easier to make your way around so I may suggest that for those who like to avoid crowds. If you are to ever visit Germany I suggest doing it in late September so you too can experience the glory of Bavaria and its incredible beer. After one day at Oktoberfest your senses will truly be overloaded! I will definitely be back to Oktoberfest in the near future attending more than one day, and who knows maybe next time I will get myself a sweet pair of lederhosen to I can blend in with the locals!
