Oktoberfest 2023: Top Tips For Your First Visit To Oktoberfest

It’s time to raise your steins of beer for one of the largest folk festivals in the world, the Oktoberfest in Munich. This is the World’s Biggest Beer Festival. If you are a fan of beer, food, dancing and cultural festivities, then you cannot miss a trip to Germany for the upcoming Oktoberfest 2023 Munich.

What is Oktoberfest?

Imagine millions of visitors – locals and tourists, coming together once a year to drink steins of specially crafted beer, enjoy Bavarian food, sing and dance on tabletops with strangers. This is not some new-age festival but the Oktoberfest has been in action for almost 2 centuries. Held for the first time in 1810 in Munich, to celebrate the royal wedding of Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese, Oktoberfest 2023 is going to be the 188th edition of this festival. Leaving behind the initial tradition of horse racing, the traditions of good food, parades, millions of litres of beer flowing and unlimited continue to date. 

Also Read: Raise A Toast To The Festival Of “Cheers”- Oktoberfest 2022 Is Here!

Oktoberfest 2023 Munich Dates & Location

Oktoberfest 2023 Opening Hours:

• Opening Day: 12 PM – 10:30 PM
• Weekdays: 10 AM – 10:30 PM
• Weekends & Holidays: 9 AM – 10:30 PM

Whether you are a first-time visitor or a seasoned festival-goer, the Oktoberfest Guide will help you experience the festival at its best. 

Here are the best Munich Oktoberfest Tips to follow:

1. Reaching and Getting around Munich

This edition of the Oktoberfest will last for 18 days, from 16th September 2023 to 3rd October 2023. It will be held on the famous grounds of Theresienwiese like every year. 

It is easy to plan a Germany holiday by applying for a Schengen Visa Online. You do not need a separate Germany Visa as the Schengen Visa grants you access to 26 countries including Germany. After having fun at Oktoberfest, plan a Europe holiday without haggling for separate visas. Even though there is going to be a high demand for flight tickets, booking in advance and making use of deals can get you cheap flight tickets to Munich. Air India, Lufthansa, Air Canada and Emirates are some airlines that have regular flights from India to Germany. 

It is easier to use the Munich public transit to get to Oktoberfest and back to your hotel. The U4 and U5 metro lines take you directly to the fairgrounds with the stop marked as ‘ ‘Theresienwiese’. If you are willing to spend more, taxis also take you to the fairgrounds. 

2. Where to Stay

Getting the best hotels for Oktoberfest 2023 can be tricky. Hotels closer to the festival grounds can be comparatively costlier than those a little farther away, but you will have to spend on transport. You can always use discount codes to get the best hotels for cheap. Many companies offer exciting deals on booking hotels online. For e.g: Code ATHOTEL on Akbartravels.com can grab you discounts up to 75% OFF on hotel bookings. 

For those wanting to soak in the complete essence of the festival, there is also an option to book the official Oktoberfest Campsite. 

3. Admission to Oktoberfest 2023

Entry to the Munich Oktoberfest is free. However, you can book tables by purchasing a certain amount of beer and food vouchers. This will guarantee you entry inside a particular tent, even when it is overcrowded, especially on weekends. In total, there are 14 big tents and 20 small ones. The big tents keep themselves free from reservations. 

4. Tents at Oktoberfest 2023

Deciding which tents to visit and which to skip can be difficult, especially when you are attending the festival for only a couple of days. The vibes are equally immaculate everywhere and you can keep moving. 

These are some tents you can try:

• Schottenhamel- The first keg of the festival is tapped here.
• Pschorr-Bräurosl- One of the traditional and local spots, being managed by the Heide family for 7 generations.
• Hofbräu Festhalle- Mainly for international tourists.
• Löwenbräu-Festhalle- A favourite for locals and tourists alike.
• Augustiner-Festhalle- For the best beer!
• Weinzelt- If you are in the mood for wine.

5. Carry your Cash

The beer that is crafted specially for the festival is sold at a higher price than usual. But it is definitely worth the festive vibes. You will end up paying about €12- €15 for 1L of beer. The staff here are quite busy so be ready with the exact change or poof they might be gone. Carry enough cash to pay for food, water, etc. as well. Of course, you will find ATMs in several places. 

6. Spending the Entire Day

If you want to grab the best spots, show up early or get a reservation. By afternoon, you will find people chit-chatting while the band plays some soft hits. If you are in a large group, reserving a table might make sense. But if you are by yourself or a couple, you can easily find empty spots. This will also help you make friends with strangers. By evening, you will find yourself singing the best German songs with arms around strangers and raising your beers from time to time. There are also several rides and attractions for the visitors. Having a rough Oktoberfest itinerary, regarding what tents to go to, what beer and food to try, etc. would help depending on how many days you decide to attend the festival. 

7. Pace your Drinking

We are all here for the beers! Especially when the vibe encourages you to keep chugging the gigantic beer steins. It’s best to pace yourself rather than going all out and guzzling these beers. Try getting in some water and food before you get down to another round of beers. 

8. What to Eat at Oktoberfest 2023

Come here for the traditional Bavarian beer but stay for the food. You will find food vendors and restaurants inside the tents. Must-try food items at Oktoberfest 2023 – bratwurst, pretzels, French fries, fairy floss, gingerbread, chocolate-covered fruit, roasted chickens, plates of sausages with mashed potatoes and assorted nuts. There are options like veggie burgers for vegetarians. 

9. What to Drink at Oktoberfest 2023

Of course, the largest Beer Festival has a variety of options to choose from. The beer served at Oktoberfest is called Märzen, since it is brewed in March with 6% alcohol. The six authentic beer labels at the festival are – Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräuhaus, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, and Spaten. They might also be labelled as ‘festbier’. The Germans are very serious about their beer. You can also see maids carrying up to an impressive 12 steins at one time so be prepared for some sloshing of beer. Radlers, coffee, wine and soft drinks are also available.

10. Dressing as a Bavarian

At the festival, you will see men and women adorning traditional Bavarian outfits. Men wear lederhosen and women wear dirndls. To truly get into the festival spirit, dressing the part is important. You can easily rent these dresses all over Munich. 

Intrigued by the fun and festive vibes of Oktoberfest? Plan a trip to Oktoberfest 2023. Apart from the festival in Munich, Germany has the best tourist attractions, from the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and the Marienplatz in Munich to the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne. Explore these gorgeous sites of Germany with our all-inclusive Germany Tour Packages. Don’t forget to make a pit stop at Oktoberfest 2023. 

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