ultimate oktoberfest 2024 guide

WHAT IS OKTOBERFEST?

One of the most famous festivals in the world, Oktoberfest is the world’s largest folk festival and the original beer festival. It takes place every year in Munich, Germany, more specifically in the Theresienwiese fairgrounds that are close to the city centre. Oktoberfest was originally a wedding celebration between Bavaria’s Crown Prince Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on 12 October 1810, but since then it has converted into a celebration of Bavarian and German culture, food, and especially beer. 

Some facts about the modern Oktoberfest:

• There were 7.2 million guests at Oktoberfest 2023, up from 5.7 million in 2022,
• Of those guests the majority are from Munich and the state of Bavaria (around 70%) followed by beer lovers from Germany, and the surrounding countries of Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland. From outside Europe many guests come from the USA, UK, Australia and Brazil,
• Almost all guests dress in traditional Oktoberfest costumes, which for men is the lederhosen and for women a dirndl,
• The guests drink 7.3 million litres of beer (which is unimpressive when you think that at our Stoketoberfest campsite around 8000 guests drink 150,000 litres of beer).

The modern Oktoberfest covers 100 acres and features 17 large beer halls and 21 smaller tents, only serving beers from the six Munich breweries – Augustiner Bräu, Hacker-Pschorr-Bräu, Hofbräu-München, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, and Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu. In addition to being local beers that obey German purity laws, they are typically served in a one-litre (34 fluid ounce) glass called a Maß. Outside the beer halls you will find traditional German food, Bavarian music and performers, and stomach-churning fairground rides and attractions. 

WHERE IS OKTOBERFEST?

Munich’s Oktoberfest is held in the Theresienwiese fairgrounds, which are approximately one kilometre from the Hauptbahnhof (Central Station). Other nearby train stations are the Hackerbrücke S-Bahn Station, and the Theresienwiese U-Bahn Station, which is located on the edge of the fairgrounds themselves. Munich is the capital of the German state of Bavaria, and near the German cities of Nuremberg, Regensburg and Füssen (home of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle) and Salzburg and Innusbruk in Austria.

From within Munich the best way to arrive at Oktoberfest is by walking, by S-Bahn or U-Bahn train, or in a taxi or Uber rideshare. You can easily arrive in Munich by train, including Germany’s high-speed ICE train, or by bus arriving at the central bus station (next to the Oktoberfest). From further afield there are plenty of flights arriving at Munich Airport. 

For more information on where Oktoberfest is and how to get there, click here.

WHEN IS OKTOBERFEST 2024?

Despite the name, Oktoberfest actually starts mid-September as the festival was pushed forward in 1872 to take advantage of nicer weather, and so that the event could finish on the first Sunday of October – thereby coinciding with German Reunification Day, on October 3rd). Therefore the festival rages for anywhere between 14 and 16 days each year. Oktoberfest 2024 kicks off on September 21st and closes on October 6th 2024 (with Stoke Travel’s Oktoberfest campsite open from the 20th of September until the 7th of October).

When Oktoberfest opens on Saturday 21st September 2024: 

• It will begin at 10:45 with the mayor’s parade through the fairgrounds, accompanied by decorated draught horses pulling barrels of beer,
• Arrives at the Schottenhamel tent before midday where the mayor will officially open the event,
• They will yell O’zapft is! (It’s tapped!) and use a hammer to tap the first wooden beer keg of the event,
• Once that keg is tapped then all beer halls can start serving Oktoberfest beers!
  
  NOTE: The wise travellers staying with Stoke Travel get to the Lowenbräu beer hall very very early in the morning so we can get tables and then endure the wait until the keg is tapped and the festivities begin. 

Oktoberfest will then go until the first Sunday in October after October 3rd, German Unity Day. During this time the beer halls will be open from 10am until 11pm – 9am until 11:30pm on Saturdays. 

In 2024 on Sunday 6th October Oktoberfest will close at 11:30pm and we all wander off into the night and into our hangovers.

You’ll find more information about when you should come to Oktoberfest here.

WHERE TO STAY FOR OKTOBERFEST?

As Munich is a major European city there are plenty of places to stay during Oktoberfest, from 5-star hotels to sleeping on someone’s couch. Unfortunately accommodation gets very expensive during Oktoberfest as the city fills with beer lovers and hotels and hostels put their prices up. Fortunately for you though, Stoke Travel’s Oktoberfest packages are great value for money as well as ensuring that you’re sleeping in the funnest party outside the beer halls.   

OKTOBERFEST HOSTELS

Typically a reliable budget option for travellers, hostels in Munich get super busy and even more expensive during Oktoberfest – expect to pay between €55 and €300 for a bed in a shared dorm room. If you want to sleep in a hostel we advise you to book early and use a service like Hostelworld to compare prices. 

OKTOBERFEST HOTELS

If you don’t want to share a room with a dozen beer breathing, snoring strangers then getting a hotel room in Munich might be an option for you. Hotels are going to be even more expensive than hostels, and instead of having a lively common area to meet new people (or world-famous wild and beer-flowing Stoke Travel campsite parties with DJs and live music) you’ll have your hotel room or the lobby bar to mingle. If you’re sold on the privacy of a hotel, you’ll find plenty of expensive options on booking.com.

OKTOBERFEST AIRBNBS

If you’re travelling with a group of friends a private home or apartment rental through Airbnb or a similar platform might be an option. You’ll have the privacy of your own place for you and your friends, but you won’t be able to mingle with beer lovers and party people from all over the world and isn’t that the point of going to Oktoberfest and travelling in general? Also, there are no protections against hosts cancelling on you last minute, which can be an absolute disaster when Munich is at capacity. While we love Airbnb, sometimes it isn’t your best option when travelling Europe.

OKTOBERFEST CAMPSITES

While not the most glamorous accommodation option for Oktoberfest, there are multiple campsites in Munich where you can pitch a tent or even better stay where there’s a tent pre-erected for you. If you want to stay close to Oktoberfest and in a more laid back, family atmosphere (for Oktoberfest standards) then look no further than Munich Central Camping. 

If, however, you want a wild Oktoberfest campsite with late-night parties, all day open bar, DJs and live music, drinking games and staying with 1000s of beer lovers from all over the world, then look no further than Stoke Travel’s Oktoberfest camping packages.

For the full guide on where to stay at Oktoberfest – and Oktoberfest budget accommodation – head here.

WHAT TO DO AT OKTOBERFEST? 

Inside the beer halls the most important thing to do at Oktoberfest is drink the specially brewed Oktoberfestbier that will be delivered to you by the litre. You will also listen, dance and sing-along to the live Oompah bands playing traditional German beer drinking songs mixed in with pop music hits and dance on the bench seats (but don’t get on the table top unless you plan on drinking your litre of beer in one gulp). 

Outside the beer halls, visitors to Oktoberfest can enjoy the attractions of the Theresienwiese fairgrounds, including fairground attractions (the best you’ll ever see outside amusement parks) including roller coasters, fun houses, rides and carnival games. You’ll also find in these areas food and souvenir vendors, smaller bars and every so often giant and ornately decorated draught horses pulling wagons laden with flowers and wooden beer kegs. 

If you are interested in Oktoberfest traditions, here are some weird and wonderful ones. 

WHAT ARE OKTOBERFEST BEERS?

The beers brewed for Oktoberfest and for Oktoberfest only are called Oktoberfestbier that are brewed in the traditional Märzen style – a rich, malty beer that come in between 5.8% – 6.4% and are served by the litre. Very strong, very delicious and very tasty. The Oktoberfest beers have to contain only four ingredients – hops, barley, yeast and water – as per German Purity Laws, and are only made by “The Munich Six”:

• Augustiner-Bräu: Their most popular brew is Helles (5.2% abv), a light coloured, sparkling, mild beer.
• Hacker-Pschorr-Bräu: Their Märzen beer (5.8% abv) is particularly malty, slow roasted and caramelised to a deep honey amber.
• Löwenbräu: Their Wiesnbier (6.1%) is literally translated as “meadow beer,” named after the festival grounds, and is known for its touch of spice and an herbal aroma.
• Paulaner: The most popular beer at Oktoberfest, Paulaner Oktoberfestbier (5.8%) is full bodied and has notes of toffee and fruit.
• Spatenbräu: Their Oktoberfestbier (5.9% abv) is full-bodied with a delicate sweetness, light taste of hops, and a gentle bitterness.
• Staatliches Hofbräu-München: Hofbräu’s Oktoberfestbier (6.3% abv) is mild and palatable with a sweet, light, tart fruit finish.

WHAT ARE THE BEER TENTS AT OKTOBERFEST AND WILL I NEED TO MAKE A RESERVATION? 

There are 17 large Oktoberfest beer tents and 21 smaller ones, which together make up the main attraction of the festival. Each beer hall serves only one of the six brands of Oktoberfestbier, and has their own distinct personality. The large tents have more than 5000 seats, and they include:

• Hofbräu-Festzelt: this is the biggest and most crowded beer hall that largely caters to an international crowd. Stoke Travel guests often visit this tent, especially for the opening day.
• Löwenbräu-Festzelt: this is where you’ll always find the Stoke Travel guests and the most lively party at Oktoberfest with a good mix of locals and tourists. Look for the giant robotic lion drinking a beer.
• Schottenhamel: is a very traditional tent where the mayor taps the keg during the opening ceremony.
• Käfer Wiesn-Schänke: this is the swankiest beer hall and where you’ll find celebrities, gourmet food and inevitably spend more money.
• Paulaner Festzelt: where you’ll find the delicious Paulaner beer and an amazing outdoor beer garden for warmer days.
• There are other beer halls with more niche specialities like, Armbrustschützenzelt: with its crossbow competition, Fischer-Vroni: with its fish on a stick, and Ochsenbraterei: which specialises in roasted ox.

Of the smaller tents you’ll find places that predominantly serve wine, like Weinzelt, and others that specialise in a type of food, like Glöckle Wirt with its pork knuckle, Heimer Entenbraterei and roasted duck, Münchner Knödelei where we’ll find all kinds of dumplings. 

And all these beer halls are possible to enter without a reservation. The trick to that is making sure you arrive early, or between busy times (like when the lunch people are too drunk but the dinner people haven’t arrived yet), or just being willing to wait for security to let you in. A great option is to wait in the beer garden areas of the beer hall you want to enter and drink a beer or two while you wait for space to become available inside. 

You can, however, reserve Oktoberfest tables, but be warned that they often aren’t in the busiest or most lively parts of the beer hall and require a minimum spend on food (often included in the reservation fee). You can email us to reserve an Oktoberfest table, or look at the beer halls’ own websites to book yourself:

• Paulaner Festzelt
• Hofbräu Festzelt
• Augustiner-Festhalle
• Hacker-Festhalle
• Ochsenbraterei (Spatenbräu-Festhalle)
• Löwenbräu-Festhalle
• Schützen-Festzelt
• Pschorr-Bräurosl
• Weinzelt
• Schottenhamel
• Armbrustschützenzelt
• Marstall
• Fischer Vroni
• Käfer’s Wies’n-Schänke

HOW MUCH ARE TICKETS TO OKTOBERFEST?

Unlike many Oktoberfest celebrations held around the world, at the original and best Oktoberfest in Munich you don’t need tickets. Entry to the Theresienwiese fairgrounds is completely free of charge, as is entering the beer halls; the only thing preventing you from getting into a beer hall is if they are too full, and even then you simply have to wait. So don’t worry about Oktoberfest tickets, and don’t believe anybody who tries to sell them to you. 

HOW TO GET A TABLE AT OKTOBERFEST WITHOUT A RESERVATION

If you want to secure a table just for you and your friends (friends you knew before Oktoberfest, and those new best friends you met last night at our Stoketoberfest campsite party), then you have to arrive early. We’re talking leaving the campsite at 9am early, as the beer halls open at 10am and you want to be the first crew at the doors to secure the best (most rowdy) tables in the middle of the beer hall by the band stage.

If you can’t arrive so early, then your best bet to secure a table at Oktoberfest is to arrive in smaller groups (or split up into smaller groups when you arrive) and join other people’s tables. The atmosphere is always so jovial and welcoming that you can jump on almost anybody’s tables and end up sharing beers and cheers with locals and fellow beer lovers from around the world. Plus, when your new beer hall table mates finish up and head out, you can fill the table with your friends, if you spread out earlier.

NOTE: if you do arrive earlier in the day then there’s a chance that security will “kick you out”, or better said, move you on, to make space for thirstier and less drunk revellers to occupy that space. Our advice? Hit another beer tent, some carnival rides, the permanent beer halls/gardens and restaurants around Munich for some food, or head back to the campsite to make the most out of Stoketoberfest’s dance floor and bottomless beer bar.

WHAT TO WEAR TO OKTOBERFEST?

Almost everyone at Oktoberfest wears traditional clothes called Tracht. Based on traditional Bavarian village wear, these days they serve to make the wearers look cute and feel the part at the beer festival. For the locals, tracht is a big deal and they will spend over €1000 for a high quality outfit and/or wear parts that have been handed down through the generations. Leather pants are built to last.

While it’s not mandatory to wear tracht at Oktoberfest, it’s recommended if you want to both a) look great in photos, and b) look the part while you’re drinking in the beer halls. Fortunately, you can find cheaper versions of the tracht that won’t impress the locals, but will look and feel like the real deal to you and other foreigners, and will leave you with extra beer drinking money. 

Oktoberfest Outfit For Men

The traditional Oktoberfest outfit for men is lederhosen, leather shorts with suspenders and a buttoned flap worn over a button-up shirt. Men will also often wear hats to accompany the lederhosen, with high woollen socks and leather shoes to complete the look, but for international guests the leather pants and/or chequered button up shirt can be sufficient. Stoke Travel sells decent quality lederhosen and shit packs for €90 at the campsite shop, which is basically as cheap and as easy as it comes.

Oktoberfest Traditions For Wearing Lederhosen

Like in almost all facets of life, men get away with the easier to put on, less complex – but also less cute – Oktoberfest outfit option. But there are still some traditions to bear in mind.

• Lederhosen length matters. Go shorter for a more contemporary look, longer for more traditional. 
• Many lederhosen are passed down through generations and the embroidery will be specific to the wearer’s family and/or region. Keep an eye out for hunting motifs on the cooler ones.
• Everyone props their lederhosen up with suspenders, so leave the belt at home.
• You’ll notice a traditional thick soled shoe and thick, high socks being worn by the locals. Neither of these is obligatory, and nobody will expect you to buy shoes, but you can afford a pair of socks if you want to get closer to completing the look.
• Keep an eye out for local men wearing hats with elaborate feathers and tufts of chambois – or mountain goat – fur known locally as Gamsbart. The hats and their adornments are typical to the Bavarian alpine regions, and the bigger the tuft, the more influential the wearer. 

Oktoberfest Outfit For Women

The traditional outfit for women is a dirndl – an alpine peasant-style dress with a blouse and apron. Essentially the dirndl’s sole purpose is to push cleavage up to gravity-defying, eye-popping heights. To take the hassle out of dirndl shopping, you can snag one for €70 at Stoke’s campsite shop, and we guarantee you’ll look damn stunning.

Oktoberfest Traditions For Wearing Dirndls

The dirndl is a traditional Bavarian dress and a staple for women to wear at Oktoberfest. As you can imagine at an event so steeped in tradition, there are some things you should be aware of when getting dressed.

• The location of your apron bow matters! Most basically, tie it to the right if you’re taken, to the left if you’re single and in the front if “it’s complicated”. 
• Longer dirndls are considered more traditional, but it’s 2024 so you can wear your dirndl as short as you want!
• Local women will braid their hair and throw in some hair clips to complete the look, so don’t be shy with a bit of accessorising.
• Speaking of which, traditional necklaces and small purses are something that you’ll see locals wearing.
• Wear comfortable but cute shoes, and remember that you’ll be in a pretty boisterous, spilled-beer kind of environment, so make sure your footwear can navigate that.
• The weather can, and will, change on a whim so layer up with a cardigan. Who knows when you’ll walk out of the beer halls.
• Don’t overthink it! The Oktoberfest beer halls have to be one of the least judgemental spaces in the world, so just wear what makes you feel comfortable and cute and will look great in photos!

NOTE: while it’s acceptable for women to wear lederhosen or a variation, it’s not recommended that men wear dirndls and often the security will refuse entry to those who do. Locals say that this is due to the Nazi practice of humiliating gay men in concentration camps. While modern Oktoberfest is a very inclusive festival and has special events for the LGBTQI community, this unfortunate history still resonates with the locals and their culture.

Here’s a full guide for what to wear to Oktoberfest for girls and guys.

WHAT ARE SOME OKTOBERFEST TRADITIONS?

As the world’s biggest folk festival and a showcase of Bavarian culture, there are many traditions at Oktoberfest that you will encounter during the festival.

• • The traditional outfits aka tracht. As mentioned earlier, almost all revellers will be wearing replicas of traditional Bavarian farming clothes – lederhosen or dirndls, adorned with hats and trinkets that have been passed down through generations, or that are typical to villages and regions of Bavaria.  
  • Traditional Bavarian Oompah bands. These groups of up to 15 or more members are important custodians of Bavarian folk music and play the best upbeat tunes to keep the beer loving crowds dancing.

• Traditional drinking mugs aka Maßkrugs. There aren’t many places in the world where a litre of beer isn’t just an option, but the main one. These have been found in Bavarian beer halls for centuries and are the perfect size and durability for a hearty prost, but we  seen them break.

• Speaking of which, you’ll be “prosting” and prompted to prost – or cheers – frequently during the festival. The word comes from the latin prosit meaning “may it be good for you”, and as we’re in Germany you must be sure to always maintain eye contact while prosting or supposedly suffer seven years of bad sex. 

HOW TO GET TO OKTOBERFEST?

FLYING TO OKTOBERFEST:

If you’re coming to Oktoberfest from across the globe or the outer edges of Europe, flying to Munich is your best bet. Ticket prices to the Munich International Airport, which is 35 minutes from the heart of the city, get more expensive the closer you get to September, so decide your dates and book something sooner rather than later. If you can’t find cheap enough flights into Munich you can always fly into Nuremberg or Stuttgart.   

TRAIN TO OKTOBERFEST:

If you’re already in Europe and decently close to Munich, it’s worthwhile to look into train travel. Going by train takes a little longer and it’s not the cheapest option, but it leaves the smallest carbon footprint and comes with the added bonus of sightseeing along the way. Plus usually there are no added baggage fees, and trains generally arrive and leave from the centre of town.

BUS TO OKTOBERFEST:

Bussing is probably the cheapest option if you’re near Germany. Flixbus generally has insanely great prices, prime for students and backpackers. The bus takes a while, but again you’ll be saving precious beer drinking money and you can make the bus ride as fun as you want it to be, or use the time as an opportunity to get some rest in before your Oktoberfest adventures.

DRIVING TO OKTOBERFEST:

Driving to Oktoberfest is an option if you have access to a car or have friends who want to split the cost of renting one with you. The only downside is that you have to put the car somewhere during the festival, and parking can get pretty expensive. It’s also unlikely that you’ll be using it during the fest given that you’ll probably be over the legal limit, and that situation could extend to the day after the beer halls if you’ve partied on at the Stoke Travel campsite.

For our full guide on how to transport yourself to Oktoberfest, this is the link for you

WHAT IS THE LEGAL DRINKING AGE IN GERMANY?

The legal drinking age in Germany is 16 years old for beer and wine, and 18 years old for spirits and cocktails etc. This means that anyone 16 and over can legally drink beer at Oktoberfest. Children 14 and over can legally drink beer and wine so long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. It’s always a good idea to carry identification with you to Oktoberfest as there are security staff who might ask to see proof of your age.

WHAT KIND OF MUSIC CAN I EXPECT AT OKTOBERFEST IN 2024?

There is a bandstand in the middle of the Oktoberfest beer halls where you will see Oompah bands playing a range of songs, from German and Bavarian classics, to pop songs – all done in the traditional style. The unofficial anthem of Oktoberfest is the traditional Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit which ends in the band leader encouraging audience participation followed by the downing of some beer. 

The Oktoberfest oompah bands – sometimes numbering as many as 15 members playing a range of brass, woodwind and percussion instruments will also play modern and classic pop hits, with some Stoke Travel favourites being: Angels by Robbie Williams, Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, the Australian hit  You’re The Voice by John Farnham and the German pop hit 99 Luftballons by the chanteuse Nena.

The music at Oktoberfest is perfect for singalongs and dancing with your new friends in the beer halls – and for doing it on the benches and tables. 

WHAT IS THE OKTOBERFEST 2024 PARADE SCHEDULE?

There are two parades at Oktoberfest that you might be fortunate enough to witness. The most important is the Traditional Costume and Rifleman’s Parade – or Trachten und Schützenzug.  This parade takes place on the first Sunday of Oktoberfest – September 22nd in 2024 – and features 1000s of people from Bavaria, Germany, Austria and across the Alps showcasing their traditional costumes, dances and culture. Expect to see dirndls and lederhosen, horse drawn carts, brass bands and traditional folk songs, and livestock. 

This parade usually starts at 10am and will last through the afternoon and takes in central Munich as well as the Theresienwiese fairgrounds.

Then there’s the opening day parade, which is the day before on the first Saturday of the event on September 21st in 2024. This is the lead up to the mayor tapping the first keg, and includes them, as well as representatives from the beer brands and the beer hall owners. The parade features the horse drawn carts loaded with beer barrels, as well as bands, costumes and crowds anticipating the festival being opened and the first beers consumed.

WHAT TO EAT AT OKTOBERFEST?

As much as Oktoberfest is a beer festival it’s also one showcasing Bavarian and German food – in particular beer drinking food. The beer halls are also massive restaurants with each having its own kitchen and specialities, and while the food can get expensive it’s definitely worth trying something and lining your stomach to increase your beer drinking experience. 

The food is hearty, filling and rich and some specialities and favourites include:

• Schweinshaxe which is a crispy pork knuckle, 
• Hendle, or golden roast chicken cooked and seasoned to perfection, 
• Ochsenbraterei or oxen cooked on a massive spit found in the beer hall of the same name,
• Various würstl or sausages, such as currywurst and bratwurst,
• Or the fish on a stick known locally as steckerlfisch.

The plates are generally served with sauerkraut, potatoes and vegetables or a salad. If you’re looking for more of a snack you can’t go past the giant and fresh pretzels, or dumplings – or even a raw radish, which doesn’t sound appealing but bizarrely is. For a full guide on food you’ve gotta knock back at Oktoberfest, check out our top 10 things to eat at the Oktoberfest.

IS OKTOBERFEST EXPENSIVE?

Yes, Oktoberfest can be expensive but we are firmly of the opinion that such an enjoyable and unique event is worth every euro. Stoke Travel has more-inclusive and better priced accommodation so you can safely spend more money in the beer halls, and here’s a breakdown of what things cost at Oktoberfest in general. Or for the financially minded, here’s a full guide to doing Oktoberfest on a budget.

HOW MUCH ARE BEERS AT OKTOBERFEST?

The beers at Oktoberfest aren’t cheap but are worth every cent. Ten years ago you could get a litre of beer for around €10, but due to inflation in 2024 that will be more like €15. It is also strongly advised to tip the beer servers to be sure that they’ll come back and serve you when you need your next beer (the story is that they survive mostly off tips, with many only working the Oktoberfest every year). Here’s a breakdown of the Oktoberfest beer prices in 2023:

• Armbrustschützen-Festzelt: 14.40 Euro (2022: 13.50 Euro)
• Augustiner-Festhalle: 13.50 Euro (2022: 12.80 Euro)
• Bräurosl: 14.30 Euro (2022: 13.40 Euro)
• Fischer-Vroni: 13.70 Euro (2022: 12.90 Euro)
• Hacker-Festzelt: 14.40 Euro (2022: 13.40 Euro)
• Hofbräuhaus-Festzelt: 14.50 Euro (2022: 13.60 Euro)
• Käfer Wiesn-Schänke: 14.50 Euro (2022: 13.70 Euro)
• Löwenbräu-Festzelt: 14.50 Euro (2022: 13.60 Euro)
• Marstall: 14.50 Euro (2022: 13.70 Euro)
• Ochsenbraterei: 14.50 Euro (2022: 13.50 Euro)
• Paulaner-Festzelt: 14.50 Euro (2022: 13.50 Euro)
• Schottenhamel-Festhalle: 14.50 Euro (2022: 13.60 Euro)
• Schützen-Festzelt: 14.50 Euro (2022: 13.70 Euro)
• Weinzelt (Weißbier): 17.40 Euro (2022: 16.80 Euro)

HOW MUCH IS FOOD AT OKTOBERFEST?

Much like the beer, food at Oktoberfest is expensive but definitely worth it. A meal will cost you around €10 for some würst or sausages, €18 for the roast chicken and more than €25 for the pork knuckle. Snacks like pretzels and so on will come in below €10. A travel hack that we’ve learnt at Stoke Travel is that if you go outside the fairgrounds and into one of the permanent beer halls you can get the same food (and beer) for 20-50% less. 

OTHER OKTOBERFEST EXPENSES

PRICE OF OKTOBERFEST RIDES

The rides at Oktoberfest are some of the most fun and expensive carnival attractions you’ll ever come across. Ranging from around €8 for the smaller rides and above €15 for the biggest and most popular, drunk you can really rack up a bill throughout an afternoon of riding. The budget minded will ride only on Tuesdays when all rides are half price. 

PRICE OF OKTOBERFEST SOUVENIRS

You’re going to want to purchase some souvenirs to help remember your time at Oktoberfest, but again these can get expensive fast. For less than €10 you can get the ubiquitous heart-shaped gingerbreads, or commemorative photo frames, as well as pins and other smaller souvenirs. Beer steins and traditional hats will be more in the €10-€20 range and can make for great keepsakes. The more expensive souvenirs will be your tracht, i.e. the lederhosen and/or dirndls that you wear to the fair.

THE HISTORY OF OKTOBERFEST

Surprisingly, beer wasn’t flowing at the party that started the fest we know and love today. The OG Oktoberfest celebration happened when Bavaria’s Crown Prince Ludwig I tied the knot with Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on 12 October 1810. Like any other royalty rolling in dough, they invited the entire region to party it up with them on the grounds where Oktoberfest is held now (the word Theresienwiese translates to Therese’s Meadow).

After a few wildly successful years of festivities, horse races, and general revelry the city declared Oktoberfest to be an official annual event and they moved the dates to September so people could take advantage of the “better” weather. It’s taken 200 years for Oktoberfest to evolve into the riotous event it is now – the first beer wasn’t even sold in the iconic glass mugs until 82 years after Oktoberfest began!

For a full history of Oktoberfest, Stoke style, here you go!