Nathan's 40th is somewhat on the horizon, 2029, and I fancied checking off a bucket list item so we're proposing a trip to Munich for Oktoberfest.
Current itinerary in mind is:
- Day 1: as early a flight as is practical, attend the weisn until closing or we get tired
- Day 2: free day. Whatever you like, possibly nursing hangovers. I'm sure we can work out some sightseeing plans, maybe a museum or two. Meet for dinner if, say, some of us would rather just sleep it off and not go for a wander.
- Day 3: one more go at the weisn
- Day 4: flights home
Alternate itinerary:
- Day 1: more leisurely flight. Spend the afternoon sightseeing
- Day 2: attend the weisn until closing or we get tired
- Day 3: free day
- Day 4: one more go at the weisn
- Day 5: flights home
Money
So, first, I've got a rough cost breakdown. I'm announcing these plans FAR in advance to give folk a good chance to save, if interested.
This seems sensible, though highly biased towards a fairly LADS LADS LADS looking tour operator:
As a back of the cig packet calculation, I think for 3 days, we'd likely be looking at 1300 Euros, plus (at time of calculation) a £270 return from Leeds-Bradford to Munich (cattle class, but it's a short flight). This does not factor in anything but food, drinks, public transport and reasonably close, good quality accommodation. It may be cheaper to get a large shared living arrangement. Also, I can't predict how much you'll want to eat and drink so this may be a touch on the low end. If you wish to factor in traditional outfits, that's encouraged (and I'm somewhat considering it) but you're very much on your own for working that out. I'll happily attempt to feed and home you all but I shall not dress you.
Stuff to know
- The beer's around 6%, be careful. They do serve radler. I've read you might get some playful ribbing for ordering it but whatever
- Water is not free in the tents
- Cash-based seems to be the order of the day in the tents
- Despite the emphasis on meat, veg options are available.
- You're expected to tip the staff. To be fair, it's a rotten job
- Learning the lyrics to Ein Prosit seems to be mandatory and I'm not joking. There are a number of rituals around when and how to drink that I'd encourage you to look up. Nothing sinister, toasting at the ends of songs and the like
The good bit
We have some decisions to make:
-When are we going?
This is handy:
My suggestion would be to do the weisn on the first Monday and Wednesday. Gates open at 10 but we don't have to be in a tent and going at it immediately. There's a lot of stalls and fairground stuff to have a nose around at (though rides after beer are generally not recommended). The only thing I can say outside of the website is that I've read the middle weekend is, for some reason, favoured by Italian tourists who tend to come over in motor homes. I do not know why this is the case and whether that matters at all is up to you. I'm not overly concerned. Also, the first Sunday is known as "gay Sunday" and has a strong LGBTIQ* flavour in some of the tents so it might be a bit louder than usual.
-Which tent?
This is the fun question.
https://www.oktoberfest.de/en/beer-tents
There's a lot of choice here. Each tent has a different style, different décor, different atmosphere. Some are party tents, some are more foreigner-friendly, some traditional, some serve wine, one does a lot of sweets. It's worth looking up guides for yourself and makes for a very enjoyable morning's exploration but for my vote:
- Augustiner Festhalle - beer from traditional barrels, caters to locals, has its own dedicated butcher (but mentions veg options) and a really traditional band
- Ochsenbraterei - more traditional and reserved, less favoured by tourists
- Marquee Tradition - has a (small) fee to enter but is themed around the early days of Oktoberfest. Features traditional dancing, vintage rides and whip cracking performances.
- Pschorr-Festzelt Bräurosl - nice and airy, family friendly, specifically mentions their vegetarian options
- Volkssängerzelt Schützenlisl - looks lovely, caters more to families and traditionalist locals
- Kufflers Weinzelt - styled after a royal hunting lodge. Downside, serves only wheat beer and serves only wine after 9pm
-When should we book?
About a year in advance sounds right.
Reservations can be made for tents. They last 3-4 hours and guarantee a table. However, the rule for reservations is that they expect you to either book for 8-10 people OR to consume 8-10 people's worth of food and drink. Reservations cost round 25-30 Euros per head and come with drink and food tickets which will get you about 2 strong beers and half a chicken.
If you don't book, it depends on how quiet it is. Hofbrau allows standing room, the rest require you to be seated. They save unreserved seats, they just fill up. Sounds like so long as you're still buying, if you're seated in unreserved and are generally pleasant to the staff and tipping well, it's not a huge issue.
-What are we doing?
I'm wide open on this. If we can't find something worth looking at in a city, it's a bad job. I'd fancy looking around the stalls at least.
-Where are we eating?
I'd suggest, but am in no way married to the idea, of street food on weisn days and restaurants on off days just for the sheer convenience and lack of having to navigate.
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