Oktoberfest in Munich 2025 | Everything You Need to Know

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Last Updated on July 4, 2025 by sydabroad

If you plan on celebrating Oktoberfest in Munich 2025, then keep reading! 

In this post, I’m sharing everything you need to know before going to Oktoberfest in Munich. We’re covering what to expect once you’re there, costs, where to stay, and basically how to make the most of your experience (even if you’re going without a reservation).

Last summer, I spent over four months backpacking through Europe, and I wrapped up this trip of a lifetime in Munich, Germany, for Oktoberfest with some of my best friends. I went on opening day (which was chaotic but so much fun), but there were definitely a few things I wish I had known beforehand. 

So, whether you’re planning your first Oktoberfest in Munich or you’ve already booked your flights and just want to be prepared, this post is for you. Let’s get into it! 

Keep reading for a guide to celebrating Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany! 

What is Oktoberfest?

Oktoberfest is an iconic beer festival and cultural celebration that takes place every year in Munich, Germany, typically from late September to early October. What started as a royal wedding celebration in 1810 has now become the world’s largest beer festival, attracting over 6 million visitors each year. 

There’s more to Oktoberfest than just drinking; it’s deeply rooted in Bavarian tradition with locals and visitors dressing in dirndls and lederhosen, and celebrating with folk music, carnival rides, German food, and community. 

Inside the festival, you’ll see 17 massive beer tents — each run by a different Munich brewery, local dishes, and live Bavarian bands. Outside the tents, there is a festive carnival with rides, games, food stalls, souvenir stands, and more fun. 

What to expect at Oktoberfest in Munich 

Once you enter the festival, expect massive beer tents (some holding up to 10,000 people!), carnival rides, food stands, and a lively energy. You’ll find people of all ages enjoying the atmosphere, wearing traditional outfits, and obviously drinking beer.

Know that you can only get the official Oktoberfest beer inside the tents, and you have to be seated at a table (more on this later in the guide). Outside the tents, you’ll find other drinks like cocktails, soft drinks, and basic beers and wines, but not the iconic steins. 

If you plan on visiting Berlin too, check out my guide here! 🇩🇪🤍

Oktoberfest in Munich 2025

Oktoberfest in Munich 2025 will be celebrated from Saturday, September 20th, to Sunday, October 5th. Opening day is Saturday, the 20th of September, and the festival will officially begin at noon when the first keg is tapped. 

Oktoberfest Tips

1. Oktoberfest Outfits | What to wear at Oktoberfest

Okay, you don’t have to dress up, but I highly recommend that you do. Most people will be dressed in a traditional dirndl (for the women) or lederhosen (for the men). 

So, where to find your dirndl and lederhosen? Well, if you’re like me and are traveling for a while before arriving in Munich, you’re not going to want to carry an extra outfit that you’ll only wear once. So I planned to buy my dirndl in Munich, and I am so happy that I did! 

Not only was shopping for my Oktoberfest outfit a fun experience, but it’s kinda like a souvenir as well. There are plenty of places in Munich to shop for Oktoberfest outfits. I ended up finding my dirndl the day before at a shop called Steindle Trachten. 

I paid about €180 for everything, which included the dress, the apron, and the white dirndl blouse. If I had more time in Munich to shop around, I probably could have found one at a more affordable price. There are lots of second-hand shops you can go in to find Oktoberfest outfits around Munich.  

I will say it was chaos in that store the day before. And as I mentioned earlier, I did go to Oktoberfest on opening day, so I assume it was the busiest time to shop. 

Some other cute shops to find traditional dirndls at in Munich are: CocoVero Trachten, Ludwig & Therese, and Alpenmädel. 

Pro-tip: Avoid buying cheap dirndls or lederhosen that look like Halloween costumes. They don’t look authentic at all and can come off as disrespectful. You can buy proper outfits in Munich or from a reputable site before your trip. 

2. Tent Reservations

Let’s talk tent reservations. You do not need a tent reservation for Oktoberfest in Munich. I did not have one, and my whole group got a table. I’ll explain a bit more about tent reservations if you’d like to go that route, though.  

Okay, anyone can reserve a tent, but most tents prioritize group bookings (around 8 to 10 people). Reservations are “free”; however, you must pre-purchase food and drink vouchers – it’s like a minimum spend. 

For Oktoberfest in Munich 2025, you’re probably too late for a tent reservation because most open between March and May and fill up within minutes of release.

Don’t have a reservation? No problem. You’ll just want to be ready to go early and know that finding a table will definitely be more challenging on a weekend vs a weekday.

For general admission tables, I suggest lining up early, before the gates open, to get a table. The tents will leave a portion of tables unreserved, which are taken on a first-come come first-served basis. 

I went to the festival on opening day, and let me tell you, it was an experience. Since we had a big group and no reservation, we got in line around 7:00 am to wait for the doors to open at 9:00 am.

There are hundreds of people in line waiting for the fairgrounds to open, and honestly, time went by quickly, standing in line while chatting with friends and meeting new people. The energy was insane. 

Once the gates opened at 9:00 am, it was a free-for-all and everyone sprinted to the tents to get a table. I was absolutely shocked, like everyone started sprinting, it was complete chaos, but so funny. 

It was quite hard for my friends and me to stay together, but someone eventually got a table in Hofbräu (a popular tent for internationals). I don’t know how we did it, but it worked out! 

Pro-tip: Beer tents begin serving at noon on opening day, so you’ll have to wait for beer for a while. Bring cards or little games to play with your friends. Also, they will be walking around selling snacks and cards, just no alcohol until noon on opening day. 

3. Weekends vs. Weekdays

Weekends are busier than weekdays. It’s loud and packed. If you’re after a wild, chaotic Oktoberfest experience, go during a weekend (or on opening day!).

On the other hand, weekdays are much more relaxed. Tents are easier to get into, and the atmosphere is a bit more laid-back and local. Regardless, you’ll have an amazing time! 

4. You won’t get served unless you are sitting at a table 

People will sprint to get a table so that they will get served, because you won’t get served beer unless you are sitting. You cannot stand and drink in the aisles inside the tents. 

There are smaller beer gardens and outdoor seating areas next to some tents where you can be served without being inside. And some stalls outside the tents sell basic beers, wines, and proseccos. Just know that beer is not freely sold to walk around with; you have to be in a designated area. 

5. Opening day alcohol isn’t served until noon 

As mentioned above, on the opening day of Oktoberfest, the beer starts being served at noon after the Mayor of Munich taps the first keg in the Schottenhamel tent and says it’s tapped! (O’zapft is!).  No beer is served in any tent until this ceremonial moment. 

Every other day, the beer tents open at 10:00 am, and beer is served immediately from opening time. 

6. Oktoberfest beer is STRONG

You guys, the beer is strong. I had almost two steins and was very, very much feeling it. The beer served at Oktoberfest is specially brewed for the festival by the 6 official Munich breweries. The beer is a traditional Märzen-style beer, which is stronger, maltier, and smoother than a typical lager. The beers are about 5.8% to 6.3% ABV. 

7. Have cash!

Expect to pay around €15 per stein; also, keep in mind that a tip is expected. Your table server will likely serve you quickly if you give them a better tip. 

Almost all the tents and food stalls only accept cash, so make sure you have plenty. There are ATMs on the fairground, but expect long lines. I suggest getting cash out the day before. 

8. Don’t leave your tent at midday and expect to get back in

If you are at the festival on a busy day, know that if you leave your tent, you may not get let back inside. Even if you just leave the physical tent, and are still within the tent’s gates right outside.

Basically, we were sitting at the table all morning, and a friend and I decided to bring our steins and take a look outside the tent (They had some tables outside). Mind you, all our friends were still at the table inside the tent, and we left our purses and wallets with everyone at the table.

After spending some time outside, we went to go back in, and they said they were at capacity and wouldn’t let us back in. We told them literally our purses, money, everything was inside with our friends, and it took some convincing for them to let us back in. But we learned our lesson and didn’t try leaving the tent again until we knew we didn’t mind if we got back inside or not. 

9. Bring a small bag

Check the official website for the latest bag requirements when you go. However, when I went, only small bags were allowed. I brought a small shoulder bag with only the essentials. 

Keep in mind that large backpacks, suitcases, and tote bags are not allowed on the festival grounds. Opt for a small shoulder bag, crossbody, or belt bag. 

10. Transportation in Munich 

Getting around Munich is super easy and efficient. You have the options of the U-Bahn, the S-Bahn, trams, buses, and, of course, Uber. 

Download offline Google Maps for Munich, in case you lose service. But with Google Maps, it will tell you the best way to get to the festival grounds. 

A list of Oktoberfest Tents 

Hofbräu-Festzelt: This is where I spent the day. This tent is known for being rowdy and loud, and popular with international travelers. 

Schottenhamel: The tent where the first keg is tapped. It’s the official opening tent at Oktoberfest in Munich. 

Augustiner-Festhalle: This tent serves beer from wooden kegs; some locals consider this the “most authentic.”

Käfer Wiesn-Schänke: Upscale and known as a celebrity favorite tent. 

Weinzelt: This is a wine tent.

Marstall: A newer tent that’s more modern and attracts a younger crowd.

Hacker-Festzelt: This is another party tent, known for its painted sky ceiling that will open up if the weather is nice out. 

Armbrustschützen: This tent is known for its crossbow competition. It’s a very popular tent with a traditional atmosphere. 

Löwenbräu-Festzelt: A popular tent among sports fans. This tent is known for its giant lion at the entrance. 

Pro-tip: You need to try some traditional foods at the festival. Here are some delicious things to try at Oktoberfest in Munich: hendl (roast chicken), brezn (giant pretzel), bratwurst, currywurst, and beer cheese mac and cheese.   

Oktoberfest in Munich 2025 FAQs

Is Oktoberfest in Munich worth going to? 

Absolutely! This festival is certainly a bucket list experience. Even if you aren’t the biggest beer drinker, I think the atmosphere and the tradition make it such an amazing day and an overall unique experience. 

I don’t usually opt for beer, but I had fun joining in on all the festivities. And honestly, the beer at Oktoberfest was pretty good. The environment is so lively and fun, it’s such a memorable experience. 

Read my Europe packing list for female travelers here!

How much does it cost to attend Oktoberfest in Munich? 

Oktoberfest is free; no ticket is required to enter Oktoberfest. You’ll only pay for drinks, food, rides, shopping, etc. 

Beer and food will cost anywhere from €5 to €20, rides and games will cost around €4 to €15 per ride, and accommodation will be the priciest. For your accommodation, expect to pay anywhere from €100 to €400 per night. 

If you choose to buy your dirndl or lederhosen here, this will cost anywhere from €80 to €300+. 

Where to stay for Oktoberfest in Munich? 

I will tell you now, do NOT stay at the hostel, a&o Hostel München. We had originally booked here and had a horrible experience, and ended up moving to a hotel. 

If you are looking for a basic hotel, check out Novotel Muenchen Messe or Roomers Munich. If you are looking for something more upscale, consider Sofitel Munich Bayerpost. 

Where exactly is the Oktoberfest in Munich?

Oktoberfest takes place at the Theresienwiese, a large open space just southwest of the city center of Munich. It’s very easy to get to with public transportation.  

Can I just show up to Oktoberfest? 

Yep! You can just show up at Oktoberfest, it’s a completely free festival. However, if you want to sit inside a tent, especially on weekends, it’s best to get here early or have a reservation if you’re in a group. 

Additional things to do in Munich

If you have the time, take advantage of Munich and explore the city! I wish I had a couple more days here to experience Munich outside of Oktoberfest, but maybe next time. Here is a list of some things you can do in Munich: 

• Marienplatz (the heart of the city) 
• Englischer Garten
• BMW Museum 
• Nymphenburg Palace 
• Viktualienmarkt (food market) 
• Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site 
• Neuschwanstein Castle 

I hope you enjoyed this post all about celebrating Oktoberfest in Munich 2025! If you have any questions, DM me on Instagram or comment below.

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