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What Is It?
Oktoberfest (in Bavarian: d’Wiesn) is the world’s largest Volksfest, a legendary Bavarian festival of beer, music, food, and fun. It began in 1810 to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese and has grown into a 16-day event attracting millions from around the world.
When Is It in 2025?
September 20 – October 5, 2025
It starts on the Saturday September 20th and ends on the first Sunday in October 5th.
Opening Ceremony
The Parade of the Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries marks the true start of the Wiesn, as festively decorated wagons and horse-drawn brewery carriages make their way to the Theresienwiese. On Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 10:35 AM, the procession follows its traditional route from Josephspitalstraße, along Sonnenstraße and Schwanthalerstraße, through Hermann-Lingg-Straße and Bavariaring, before entering Wirtsbudenstraße. Crowds lining the streets enjoy the colorful spectacle before the mayor’s famous “O’zapft is!” keg-tapping at noon officially opens the festival.
The Mayor of Munich taps the first keg in the Schottenhamel tent, proclaiming “O’zapft is!” (“It’s tapped!”) at exactly noon on opening day. No beer is served before this moment.
What to Wear
Wearing traditional clothes is part of the fun:
- Women: Dirndl (blouse, dress, apron) — €60–150 for a mid-range one, or €40+ for budget versions. Nicer Dirndls go from €200+
Shoes: Sneakers, boots (recommended) or high heels (not recommended)
- Men: Lederhosen (leather shorts with suspenders, checkered shirt) — €100–200 for better quality, €70–100 budget
Shoes: Oktoberfest Men shoes and socks, but sneakers are also fine.
You don’t have to wear a dirndl or lederhosen to attend Oktoberfest, entry is open to everyone. But around 99% of visitors dress in traditional Bavarian clothing, and without it, you might feel a bit like an outsider among locals and tourists that dress up. Wearing traditional attire isn’t just about looks; it’s part of the atmosphere, experience, and helps you blend in with the cheerful, celebratory crowd.
You can buy the clothes there (C&A for cheaper options, or at some of the local stores Trachten Rausch, Angermaier Trachten, Steindl Trachten). Another option is to bring it along on your trip trying it out at home:
It can get pretty cold in the evenings, specially towards the end of the festival which is closer to October. The avarage temperatures range from 8 to 18 Celsius / 46 to 64 Farenheit. Therefore I recommend bringin a jacket along with you.
Big bags and backpacks are not allowed in the festival so make sure to only use a small purse.
- Important Tip - Enjoy like a Local!
Etiquette rules for women: Germans typically prefer midi or long dirndl skirts, not the short “mini” versions sold to tourists. The apron bow also carries meaning: tied on the left means you’re single, tied on the right means you’re taken, tied in the center can indicate you’re a virgin, and tied at the back is traditionally worn by widows or waitresses.
Entrance & Beer Tent Access
- Grounds entry is free.
- Tents are free to enter, but you need a seat to be served beer. Since the tables are for 10 people, it’s normal to ask strangers if you can join them if there is free space.
- Table reservations require pre-purchasing food & drink vouchers (they need to be made way in advance – almost a year before). Check last minute availability.
- Without a reservation, come midweek mornings or before 3 PM for the best chance at a spot.
Oktoberfest’s many tents aren’t just there for decoration. They each pour beer from a specific Munich brewery, so the taste can vary noticeably from tent to tent. While the music and food menus are fairly similar across the festival, the beer is always served in the traditional 1-liter Maß glass, and the choice of tent determines which brewery’s brew you’ll be enjoying. From lively, tourist-friendly atmospheres to more traditional, local favorites, and even the Weinzelt for wine lovers, each tent offers its own take on the Wiesn spirit. Picking the right one can shape your entire experience, so it’s worth knowing the differences before you go.
- Important Tip
If you go during the week in less crouded hours you will be able to enter all of them to check them inside. Also, if you eat something smaller outside of the tends you can save some money.
Beer & Food Prices Estimate 2025 (inside Tends)
- 1-liter Maß beer: ~€14–16 in 2025* Beer can only be ordered and drunk inside of a tent. Waiter expects tip (usually €1-2 minimum)
- Half roast chicken (halbes Hendl): ~€17.
- Fastfood (sausage, breads, pasta, etc – outside of tends): €5–10
A comfortable daily budget: €100–120 per person including food, drinks (2x Maß), local transport, and one or two rides.
And unfortuantely they don’t let you leave the tend with the big 1L glasses as a souvenir. You need to leave it behind.
- Important Tip
You need to have cash! They don’t accept card payments there. There are some ATMs at the festival but I would rather already arrive there with the money.
Booking Tips
- Reserve tables early — big tents open bookings up to 9 months in advance. If you haven’t done that, check current availability.
- Group reservations: Most tents require booking for 8–10 people. If solo or small group, join others via online Oktoberfest forums or Facebook groups. Here you can also find table spots last minute (one person or more).
- Accommodation: Hotels and hostels in Munich sell out months ahead. Book by spring if possible.
- Transport tip: Get a Gruppentageskarte (group day pass) for public transport—it’s cheaper for up to 5 people.
If the tends are too full, they will not allow anyone else to enter. So make sure to make a reervation or to arrive early to have a stress-free experience!
How to Get There
The best subway station for Oktoberfest is the Theresienwiese subway station. It’s located right next to the festival grounds and is served by lines U4 and U5.
The Goetheplatz and Poccistraße stations (lines U3 and U6) are also an option.
Where to Stay in Munich
- Luxury: Bayerischer Hof, Mandarin Oriental — expect €1000+ per night during Oktoberfest for couples.
- Mid-range: H+ Hotel München, Marc München — ~€500–600/night in central locations.
- Budget: Hostels like Wombat’s City Hostel, Euro Youth Hostel — beds from €200–300/night in festival season. Sharing rooms 6-8 people
- Camping: Wiesn Camp and The Tent — €60–80/night with shared facilities.
- Apartment rentals: Airbnb options book fast; some double prices in September.
- Important Note:
Hotel and Airbnb prices go super high during Oktoberfest season. Make sure to book in advance to pay better prices. You can also look to stay a bit further away from the festival, but try to stay at it’s metro line (U4/U5).
Want to explore Munich & Bavaria even further?
Check out this Travel Guide to Munich with all of the tips.
Travel Essentials & eSIM
For Oktoberfest, pack a few smart travel essentials that can save you time and stress: an AirTag or luggage tracker to keep tabs on your bags, a universal travel adapter for charging devices, a portable power bank for long days in the tents, and a small combination lock for hostel lockers.
Staying connected during Oktoberfest is easy with an eSIM, which lets you activate a local data plan instantly without swapping your physical SIM card. It’s the best to navigate in Munich, message friends in case you get separated in the crowds, and post your Wiesn adventures instantly.
Curiosities & Culture
- Around 7 million liters of beer are consumed each year.
- The festival grounds are called the Theresienwiese, or simply “Wiesn”.
- Food specialties include Hendl (chicken), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Obatzda (cheese spread), and Brezn (giant pretzels).
- The table is shared within 10 people. A nice way to get to know people at the festival
Bavarian Words & Phrases You’ll Hear
- Servus! – Hello/Hi (friendly greeting).
- O’zapft is! – It’s tapped! (opening call).
- No a Maß, bittschee! – Another liter of beer, please!
- Maß – liter of beer
- Prost! – Cheers!
- Brezn – Pretzel.
- Wiesn – Oktoberfest grounds.
- Bua – Boy/guy.
- Madl – Girl.
Closing Ceremony
Although it’s not as big as the open ceremony it’s still a beautiful moment to enjoy. When the last night of the Wiesn reaches its end, there is a very special atmosphere in the beer tents. The Wiesn finale begins. The bands play the lasts songs, and shortly before closing time, sparklers are passed around and lightned up. In some tends they ask you to put your phone flashlight below your beer keg so it lightens up for the final song.
Conclusion
I would recommend staying 2-3 days at Oktoberfest so you can enjoy it. Maybe a day outside and the other inside of a tent or a mix. Spending only a day there isn’t enough. When I was younger, I went every day/ almost 10x in one year, but I think I can’t do this anymore. Also, if possible, plan ahead so you avoid high prices and guarantee your spot at Oktoberfest. Dressing like a local is part of the experience and makes it even more fun! Stay safe, one liter of beer is quite a lot, so take it easy. And most important of all, have a good time!
