Make a reservation or get there early
Reserving a table can be complicated and expensive up front, but it’s absolutely worth it if you want to make sure you get a spot, and if you have a group (more than 3-4 people). This site has some great information and goes into much more detail! Be wary of anyone who is selling tables on Facebook or other sites, as it is illegal to purchase beer tent tickets through a third party and therefore probably a scam.
If you don’t manage to get a reservation, you can of course still go, as you don’t need a ticket to get into the Oktoberfest grounds. You don’t even need a ticket to get into the tents, but tents will close their doors once they reach capacity, and then the only way to get in is with a table reservation. There is plenty of food to eat and rides to experience, so going into a tent isn’t even necessary. But let’s be honest, if you’re visiting Munich during Oktoberfest, it is likely to get the classic bench-dancing experience! In this case, you need to get into a tent, or sit at the outdoor beer garden sections if the weather is nice enough. The nicer the weather, the easier it is to get a seat inside where the classic party atmosphere and music will be found! During the week (excluding German Unity Day), you can normally get into a tent during the day, no problem, and if you before 16:00, you might get a table to yourself, or at least find room to fit in with other friendly folks. However, if you go in the late afternoon/evening and on the weekends you will find it more challenging. The earlier you get there the better chance you have!
Be prepared for all weather
The end of September and beginning of October is very unpredictable when it comes to weather. You might have one day where is it 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit), or another where it is 27 C (80F). That’s why if you’re traveling to town just for the Oktoberfest, make sure you bring multiple options. Remember, even if it is nice during the day, it will cool off the second the sun starts to go down, often dramatically, so bring a jacket or sweater to layer up for the often long walk back to the underground (ubahn) or tram at night.
Do not bring any valuables
One time at Oktoberfest I managed to leave behind a scarf and jacket at a table, not a huge deal, but I liked them both. I visited the lost and found the following days and was shocked to see walls of keys, phones, purses, jackets etc… that people had lost (literally thousands of items). So the good news is people will often turn these things in, bad news is, there is absolutely not any guarantee (my missing stuff was not there). Plus if your flight or train leaves the next day and you can’t go while the office is open, you’re out of luck! That is why I highly suggest taking the bare minimum. Bring your phone of course (but watch it), leave any extra keys at home, and don’t bring your favorite jacket, or favorite anything (except your lederhosen/dirndl of course). Whether you just misplace it, or someone takes it or just spills beer all over it, the less you care about the item in general, the better suited it is for Oktoberfest.
Bring cash
Generally, you cannot pay with card in Oktoberfest, especially not inside most, if not all, tents. While there are of course ATMs, most of them charge high fees and you have to search them out instead of enjoying your time there. If you plan on having 2-3 drinks and something to eat, I would recommend bringing a minimum of €50, with a €10 note hidden away separately in case you need to buy a public transport ticket or an emergency doner kebab afterward 😊 And that would be a minimum, I know many people who never leave a night at Oktoberfest without spending at least €100! Remember, one mass of beer costs over €11 now, and don’t forget to tip the hardworking servers!
If you’re a woman, anticipate long bathroom lines
The prices of beer may change every year, but one thing that never does is the line for the bathrooms. They are notoriously long! I’m not exaggerating when I say that if you are a woman, and you go to a full tent, plan to spend 15-30 minutes in line at the bathroom each time. So please do yourself a favor and factor in that time, particularly if you must weave your way through half the tent just to get to a bathroom. Men, of course, have it easier, but I’ve certainly seen lines there too.
Have fun, but be safe
Oktoberfest feels like a magical (while also very loud and dirty) time in Munich. You’ll see people from all over the world walking around the city and it’s a great time to make new friends! For a festival in which there are literally thousands of (often very inebriated) people wandering around, it feels surprisingly safe, and there are police everywhere as well. That being said, it is important to still be aware of your surroundings and stick with friends when possible (especially if you’re a woman and it’s dark out). There will always be people who get out of control, and once the tents close and throngs of people start heading home, keep a special eye out.
Munich is generally an extremely safe city, and I rarely feel uncomfortable. But I am much more careful during Oktoberfest, even when I am nowhere near the Oktoberfest grounds. Drinking does not always bring out the best in people, and I tend to try to avoid going anywhere by myself late at night during the Oktoberfest, as you never know when you’ll encounter a very drunk group of people. If you don’t have a friend to accompany you back to your hotel/Airbnb, I would recommend getting a cab or uber if it’s after 23:00, especially if you are unfamiliar with Munich. The rest of the year I would almost never feel the need to do this, but during Wiesn I often do. And if you do see someone who looks like they need help (someone being harassed for example), please consider helping, whether that means intervening yourself or alerting the many police and security officers around. Oktoberfest should be and safe experience for everyone!
So put on your best Tracht and get ready for a wonderful Bavarian tradition!
Why Wait When You Can Wander? 