Live well. Eat well. Travel well.

When I first attended the Oktoberfest… the real Oktoberfest in Munich, I thought it’s one of those once and done kind of things. Nope! I found myself going back about 5 times now and probably will still keep going whenever time permits. It involves a lot of planning ahead of time! Read on below how it’s like!

Pre-departure / Planning phase

• I’ll start with the most common question I get asked all the time. Do we need to reserve a table for Oktoberfest? The answer is NO! It is not needed if you go early. I have been there at least 5 times with a group of 6-7 and we always manage to get a table. You can reserve a table for peace of mind and if you plan to go in the evening, which can be impossible to get in, but you just have to pay upfront per person who are going with you. It’s consumable anyway… the amount you pay you have to use it for food and drinks.
  • I have to note that if you are planning to book, I suggest going to the official Oktoberfest reservation site since there are so many different options that offer them but they add service fees, etc.

• Planning starts at the beginning of the year or once you know the dates for the next Oktoberfest and hotel bookings open up. Check the dates for the next Oktoberfest and check the hotel rates at that time. Check if you have enough points or have free hotel nights around the area.

• My first Oktoberfest was in 2015. Didn’t plan until March of that year… hotels that were within walking distance were ridiculously over my budget. I ended up booking Holiday Inn Munich – City Centre which was a 20-30 minute travel time. 3-5 train stops and ~10 minutes walk. 

• Here are the hotels I have stayed at
  • 2015: Holiday Inn Munich – City Centre: Cheapest but not that convenient.
  • 2016: Sheraton Munich Westpark Hotel (As of Jan 2024, it looks like this is permanently closed): Booked using Marriott free night. Convenient since close by train station but still far from Theresienwiese.
  • 2017: Le Méridien Munich: Booked free using points. Right across the main train station (münchen hauptbahnhof) and walking distance to Theresienwiese.
  • 2018: Aloft Munich: 2017: Booked free using points. Also right across the main train station (münchen hauptbahnhof) and walking distance to Theresienwiese.
  • 2022: Courtyard by Marriott Munich City Center: Cheapest with breakfast package. Walking distance to/from main train station (münchen hauptbahnhof) and Theresienwiese.

• The first 2 years I paid out of pocket then got smarter the following years. I either paid using my points or my free night(s).
  • Checkout Marriott Bonvoy credit card (at time of writing, depending on the card you choose, they offer 3 nights free – valued at 150,000 or 30,000 or 85,000 or 90,000 points as welcome bonus.). Apply for an American Express Card with this referral link.

• Going to Oktoberfest is an event I look forward to since I plan to travel Europe during the week before or after (or both). I usually book it with a group (different groups every year… the most I have done is with 7 people traveling together), hence a lot of planning is required. It’s usually what’s economical or when there is a fare sale. Here’s a list of countries I went to year by year, to give you an idea of where you can also plan going to:
  • 2015: Munich, Germany → Ehrwald, Austria → Rome, Italy
  • 2016: Munich, Germany → Ehrwald, Austria → Reykjavik, Iceland
  • 2017: Amsterdam, The Netherlands → Oslo, Norway → Munich, Germany → Dublin, Ireland → Tromso, Norway
  • 2018: London, UK → Inverness, Scotland → Berlin, Germany → Munich, Germany → Barcelona, Spain
  • 2022: Munich, Germany → Geneva, Switzerland → Chamonix, France → Courmayeur, Italy → Lisbon, Portugal

Day 1: Arrival in Munich 🇩🇪

• Hotel check in (aim for an early arrival to maximize the day)
• Opportunity to buy dirndl and/or lederhosen if you haven’t bought one yet. So many stores and even the train station stores sell them.
• Checkout Marienplatz or Olympiapark (it will be tough to do both)

• Lunch at a brewery. You’ll feel the Oktoberfest in all their breweries. I have been to different locations of these brewery but the link I have below is my favorite for each of them:
  • Hofbrauhaus (you can reserve a table here)
  • Augustiner-Keller
  • Paulaner Bräuhaus

• Theresienwiese for Oktoberfest at night. It will be tough to get a table in the tent when you go at night but at least you get to go around the festival and see what they have to offer. Try the food and rides. Save the next day for an all day beer drinking and tent hopping! 

• There are approximately 17 big tents and 21 small tents. Walk around the tents and keep note of the tents you wanted to visit. I believe the most I have done in one day is 3 big tents and 3 small tents.

Day 2: The Oktoberfest Experience 🍻

• So check the Oktoberfest FAQ once they are available to see the times they open. You should aim to be there around 10 am – 11 am. Choose a tent from 

• Technically they don’t serve beer until noon BUT at least you can order food and fill your stomach with something before the liters of beer are waiting for you! I had folks who went with me who only had beer with no food for breakfast… ended the festivities early. You don’t want that!

• Have a list of tents you want to visit. Here are my go-to’s as my first tent of the day (notice they are the same breweries I suggested earlier 🙂):
  • Hofbrauhaus 
  • Augustiner-Keller
  • Paulaner Bräuhaus

• Once you go in they will either sit you on a non-reservations table or a reserved table but you will be asked to move before the reserved time starts.

• Music will be playing non stop once the festivities begin.

• Enjoy a couple 1-liter glass Maß Oktoberfest per tent. I think the most I did in a tent is 3. And the most I did the whole day was 7. And one other person with my had 9 (he says he had 11… but who knows when you all are drunk)

• You will probably feel buzzed or get drunk before 6PM. By that time, the festival will be so packed and you’ll see a whole lot of interesting people (if you know what I mean 😅).

Recap and Important things to note 

• Book your accommodation as far in advance as possible (look around January-February-March)
• Reserve tables for peace of mind
• Book restaurant reservations for pre-Oktoberfest lunch or dinner
• Don’t forget your lederhosen or dirndl
• Stay as close as possible to Theresienwiese in Munich city center. That is where Oktoberfest happens. 
• Bring cash for the tents! Don’t forget to tip the person who brings you the 1-liter glass Maß beers. They buy it for you at the same price on the menu, and carry them to your table.
• ENJOY!