A First-Timer's Guide to Oktoberfest in Munich: Maria's Experience

Are you ready for a secret? I... Erika "the dirndl-maker" has never been to Oktoberfest in Munich. But recently, our studio manager Maria went on a trip to Germany — starting with watching two of her brothers run the Berlin marathon, followed by a few days in Würzburg, then four days in Munich (2 at Oktoberfest), and finishing up with two days in Nürnberg. I was SO excited for her and of course had questions for her upon her return.

Quick History

Oktoberfest traces its origins back to October 12, 1810 — the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The citizens of Munich were invited to join in the festivities, which included horse races, food, music, dancing, and plenty of beer. The event was such a grand success that it was decided to repeat the festivities annually, leading to the birth of Oktoberfest as an annual tradition.

Today, Oktoberfest stands as a global symbol of camaraderie and cultural heritage. Held annually in Munich and replicated in various forms worldwide, it spans about two weeks from late September to the first weekend in October. The festival grounds host elaborate beer tents, each representing a different traditional Bavarian brewery, where attendees can revel in the company of friends and strangers alike — enjoying not only the famous German beer but also traditional foods, lively music, and spirited dancing.

Below is an interview with Maria about her first time at Oktoberfest and her experience.

What were your overall feelings about Oktoberfest?

Make Munich Oktoberfest your bucket list item. It is definitely worth visiting once in your lifetime! I went with my husband (Troy), my brother (Mario), and his wife (Margaret). We spent two days there and felt like there was so much more to do and see.

Walk around and see what catches your eye. There are 14 amazing large, beautifully decorated Oktoberfest tents and a number of small beer tents to choose from. Only six breweries are permitted to sell beer at Oktoberfest: Spaten, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Augustiner, Löwenbräu, and Paulaner. Each beer tent features a specific brand and all the tents are unique. There are also plenty of booths selling treats, food, and souvenirs, plus carnival rides and other attractions to enjoy.

What are the major beer tents at Oktoberfest in Munich?

The major beer tents at Oktoberfest are iconic destinations, each offering a distinct atmosphere and experience. The Hofbräu Festzelt is known for its lively and international crowd with traditional music and ample opportunities for dancing. The Paulaner Festzelt exudes a more relaxed ambiance, focusing on authentic Bavarian traditions and cuisine. The Hacker-Pschorr Festhalle combines tradition with modernity, featuring a stunning wooden interior and inviting beer garden. The Augustiner Festhalle is celebrated for its family-friendly environment. Lastly, the Schottenhamel Festhalle is renowned for hosting the ceremonial tapping of the first beer barrel, signifying the official start of Oktoberfest. We definitely didn't get to visit all of them, but we did our best!

Did you see a lot of people wearing traditional Bavarian clothing?

I would say about 2/3 of the people were wearing dirndl and lederhosen. There are some tourists who are not dressed in traditional clothing, but all the Germans are! And what a great way to be fully immersed in the experience by dressing appropriately. I absolutely recommend wearing traditional outfits for your first Oktoberfest trip.

What beer tent did you visit first?

Our first stop in the early afternoon was the tent of my husband's favorite beer, Augustiner Bräu! Visiting the Augustiner-Festhalle was a must on his wish list. Augustiner is Munich's oldest brewery, dating back to 1328, and this tent is generally regarded as Müncheners' favorite.

The tent was relatively full by early afternoon and many tables had reserved signs on them. We did come upon an empty Stammtisch table and asked a Kellnerin (waitress) if we could sit down. In many German restaurants, one table is reserved for local regulars — called a Stammtisch or head table — and no one is permitted to sit there, even if it remains empty all evening. Our Kellnerin informed us we could sit there, but if those folks arrived, we would have to move. Thankfully, that didn't happen and we were able to enjoy the best beer, food, and traditional atmosphere that Oktoberfest has to offer.

Where did you go next? Did you visit the biggest tent?

In the late afternoon, the tents fill up fast! We ran into a friend of my husband's from Chicago who invited us to Hofbräu-Festzelt, as he had a reserved table. This tent is popular with Americans and other foreigners and was nearly at full capacity by 4 p.m. on a Friday. The tent was so large that without knowing what section they were in, we were unable to locate them. The Hofbräu-Festzelt felt very chaotic.

Since Hofbräu beer isn't our favorite, we left and made our way to the Hacker-Pschorr Festzelt. Known for having the best bands of any of the tents and a real party atmosphere — not to mention the fabulous Märzen Bier — it is also known as Himmel der Bayern (Heaven of Bavaria) with its gorgeous blue sky and clouds roof theme. Since we didn't have table reservations, unfortunately there were no open seats.

What happens if you can't find a seat in one of the beer tents?

Simple — go to another one! Which we did, making our way into Löwenbräu-Festhalle. What a great choice that was! Löwenbräu means "Lion's Brew" and there is a 15-foot-high lion at the entrance that occasionally drinks from his beer. We found seats at a table with Danes and Germans who made the experience incredible. It wasn't long before we enjoyed Oktoberfest food (including half a chicken) and were talking with them in English. We were singing along to rock songs, Prosting to each other, hugging, and enjoying their great Märzen beer.

Just get into the Oktoberfest tent early to enjoy the party. And if you see empty seats at a table, simply ask politely: "Sind diese Plätze frei?" or "Plätze frei?" — which means "is this seat free?"

How was your 2nd day at Oktoberfest?

On day two, my wonderful Munich friend Sandy joined us and as a local she had some excellent Oktoberfest tips. One of them was going to Oide Wiesn, translated roughly as "Old Oktoberfest." It is like stepping back 100 years and celebrating an original Oktoberfest the way it was meant to be enjoyed. Introduced in 2010 as a special section within the larger Oktoberfest grounds, Oide Wiesn offers visitors a glimpse into the past, recreating the ambiance and attractions of early Oktoberfest celebrations.

Bring cash, because this nostalgic area has a €4 entrance fee — well worth it!

There are traditional brass music bands, traditional Schuhplattler dancing groups, and historical attractions including carnival rides, vintage games, a puppet show, and men playing street organs. When visiting Oktoberfest, I think Oide Wiesn is definitely one of the best-kept secrets on the festival grounds. The Museumszelt is a beer tent with more of a family environment — historic exhibits, a vintage carousel, sweets booths, and an area to ride old zany bicycles.

The tent we visited was Festzelt Tradition. We enjoyed the beer garden and Bavarian foods including pretzels and Steckerlfische (grilled fish on a stick, very popular in Bavaria and Austria) with the carnival as our backdrop.

Once inside the beer tent, there was brass music and traditional dancing. It didn't take long for a local men's group to welcome us, join in on the conversation, and even perform a whip performance on top of the tables.

The historical costumes were gorgeous and my husband was schooled on what to wear and not to wear. Apparently, checkered shirts look too American and a white shirt is more traditional. See what happens when you dress the part! If you are going to Oktoberfest in Munich, wear a traditional outfit like a dirndl or lederhosen.

By far, the Oide Wiesn was my favorite place to visit on the festival grounds. It was so charming — don't miss it.

Did you make Oktoberfest beer tent reservations?

No. We went early on Friday and Sunday. We did have trouble in the Hofbräu and Hacker-Pschorr tents late on Friday — it was mayhem. These are the tents that Americans and Oktoberfest tour groups tend to visit, but I encourage you to explore other tents.

Personally, I think the reservations system is too expensive and only necessary if you have a large group. Go early, walk into the beer tents like you have a reservation, and when you find space at a table, just ask if it's available. The people who attend are very welcoming.

Once the tents do get filled, there are long lines, but plenty of seating outside in the beer gardens where you don't need a table reservation. That is a great experience in itself.

How many dirndls did you take with you?

I took two — one for each day. But you can easily take one dirndl and two blouses so as not to wear the same blouse twice. You could also take two aprons to change up your look. There are so many people attending Oktoberfest, you could absolutely wear the same dirndl multiple times — but that's not as fun!

How was the German beer?

Go to your favorite beer tent and/or try something new. There will be lots of beer drinking so pace yourself — the alcohol content is higher than American beer. Don't become the drunk guy who joined us at one of our tables and fell asleep, or the guy throwing up at the U-Bahn station on our way back to the hotel. And eat when you are drinking beer!

Is there anything at Oktoberfest you wish you would have done?

I wished we had visited the Ochsenbraterei (Spatenbräu) tent for their delicious oxen. I'm a little bummed we didn't get to the Weinzelt (wine tent), one of the smaller more intimate tents, or enjoy the carnival rides — in particular the Ferris wheel, Toboggan, and Feldl's Teufelsrad. Two days is not enough, but it definitely gave us great experiences and a desire to go back!

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