First time at Oktoberfest?

This is the most important tip of all. On weekends and in the evenings, you’ll hardly be able to get into a festival tent without a reservation. The most popular dates (Saturdays, the first and last days of Oktoberfest) are often booked up months in advance. Our advice: Make your reservation by spring at the latest, ideally as soon as the booking portals open. A table reservation usually includes a table for 8–10 people and comes with vouchers for food and drinks (typically: 2 Maß of beer + 1 roast chicken per person).

About 70% of visitors now wear dirndls or lederhosen—traditional attire is as much a part of Oktoberfest as a Maß of beer. But don’t worry: you won’t be looked at funny even if you wear jeans and a T-shirt. If you’d like to buy a traditional outfit: A simple, good-quality dirndl starts at around €80, and a sturdy pair of lederhosen starts at around €150. You can find cheaper options at costume shops, but you can tell the difference. Tip: You can often find well-preserved traditional outfits at fair prices at flea markets or on secondhand websites.

A visit to Oktoberfest isn’t cheap. Expect to spend at least €80–130 per person for an evening of food, drinks, and a few rides. Be sure to bring plenty of cash—not all booths accept credit cards, and the cell phone network is often overloaded in the tents, making contactless payments difficult.

A “Maß” of beer contains 1 liter of beer with an alcohol content of about 6%—which is roughly equivalent to two regular bottles of beer. So always order something to eat first. Half a chicken or a hearty pretzel with Obatzda makes for a good starter. Also, be sure to drink water regularly. Most tents also serve mineral water, even if it isn’t prominently listed on the menu.

There are a few unwritten rules in the festival tent that everyone should know: Climbing onto the benches is only allowed when singing along to “Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit” or other songs—and even then, only briefly. Climbing on the tables is strictly forbidden and will result in being asked to leave. Breaking glass (the beer mugs are heavy and slippery!) is frowned upon. And if you leave your seat, be sure to take your belongings with you—seats get taken quickly.

Didn't get a reservation? Here are some strategies: Come on a weekday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.—you'll have a good chance of finding an open table. The Hofbräu Festzelt has the largest standing area of all the tents (approx. 1,000 spots), which is accessible without a reservation. The beer gardens of the festival tents are generally easier to access than the indoor areas. And the smaller tents (Glöckle Wirt, Ammer, Hochreiter) are less crowded than the 14 large ones.

Backpacks and large bags are inspected at the tent entrances and may not be allowed (if they exceed 3 liters in volume). Bring only the essentials: wallet, cell phone, keys. A small shoulder bag or fanny pack is ideal. Prohibited on the Oktoberfest grounds: glass bottles, knives and sharp objects, backpacks larger than 3 liters, outside beverages, selfie sticks, and drones.

The cell phone network at the Wiesn is notoriously overloaded—especially in the evenings and on weekends, when calls and text messages often don’t work very well. So be sure to agree on a specific meeting place and time in advance, just in case you lose sight of each other. Good meeting spots are the Bavaria statue at the southern end of the Theresienwiese (clearly visible, somewhat quieter) or the main entrance at Esperantoplatz.

The traditional Family Day takes place on the two Tuesdays during Oktoberfest (2026: September 22 and 29). On these days, most rides and vendors offer discounted prices—ideal for families with children, but also for anyone who wants to experience Oktoberfest in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Oktoberfest isn't just about the festival tents. Take some time to stroll through the “Wiesn streets”—here you'll find historic rides like the Teufelsrad (since 1910!), the Krinoline, and the ship swing. There are also stands selling gingerbread hearts, candied almonds, and cotton candy.

During Oktoberfest, the subway generally runs on a more frequent schedule until around 2:00 a.m. However, the Theresienwiese and Goetheplatz stations are extremely crowded after the tents close (11:30 p.m.). Plan on a 20–30-minute wait, or head to the Poccistraße station, which is often less crowded. Taxis are hard to come by; wait times of 30–60 minutes are normal. Ride-sharing apps work only to a limited extent due to network congestion.

Unfortunately, where there are large crowds celebrating, pickpockets are often on the prowl. Keep your wallet close to your body, ideally in a secure inside pocket. Don’t leave your cell phone on the table when you get up. And take only as much cash with you as you really need.

There are several first-aid stations run by the Bavarian Red Cross on the Oktoberfest grounds. The largest first-aid tent is located on the western edge of the grounds. In case of an emergency: Police 110, Emergency Medical Services 112. The City of Munich’s Lost and Found Office can help with lost items.

Oktoberfest is more than just drinking beer. It’s the band striking up “Ein Prosit” and 5,000 people raising their mugs in unison. It’s the smell of freshly roasted chicken and cotton candy. It’s the view from the Ferris wheel over the brightly lit Theresienwiese at night. Take the time to soak it all in.