How to spend three days at the Munich’s Oktoberfest: The World’s Largest Beer Festival!
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Mid-Week Oktoberfest Stay
Our stay at Oktoberfest was from Wednesday thru Friday. We chose to attend Oktoberfest mid-week in an attempt to avoid the crowds, and ultimately have a more enjoyable experience. I would recommend this to anyone. Whether it’s mid-week or a happening Saturday night, Oktoberfest is always packed.
The perk of being there mid-week is that we were able to find an occasional open table (without being forced to reserve one). HUGE bonus! Additionally, we could bop from tent to tent at our leisure since none of the tents were at capacity. NO LINES!!!!
Day 1 : Munich, Germany
We arrived in Munich mid-Wednesday morning, found our Airbnb, grabbed a quick bite, and headed straight to the festival.
It was only 1 pm and everything was already in full swing. We walked the festival grounds and stopped into several large tents where beers the size of our heads were flowing.
Day one was full of good laughs, awesome beer, polka music, and the best mammoth brats.
Day 2: Morning – Munich, Germany
After scraping ourselves out of bed, we made it to the city center just in time to catch the free walking tour. This took us through the city center of Munich and gave us a lot of insight into its past. Our tour discussed the origins of Oktoberfest and the major role Munich played in WWII. The tour ended in the Marienplatz just in time for the famous show of the Glockenspiel.
Day 2: Afternoon – Munich, Germany
Because we hadn’t consumed enough beer yet, we went to the world-famous Hofbräuhaus for lunch. We struggled to even find a table, but we held out and luckily found a spot in their outdoor Biergarten. The atmosphere was fantastic! Polka bands played and beer flowed. You truly got the feel of Bavaria.
After feeling refreshed and ready to go, we stopped off at one more location before returning to the festival site. Some members of my group wanted the traditional Oktoberfest outfits, dirndls, and lederhosen. Our tour guide recommended a store, C & A, which sold relatively nice quality outfits for a good price (and they were on sale!)
Suited up and ready to go we headed back into the crazy festivities of Oktoberfest.
Day 2: Night – Munich, Germany
Thursday night was even busier than the night before. That being said, we took a different approach. We found a key spot in the middle of the Hofbräuhaus tent and set up camp for the night. It was by far the busiest tent. They were playing popular music and it was SO MUCH FUN. Once everyone has a stein or two of beer in them, they then try to “cheers” hard enough to break the glasses. Which, despite our best efforts, the steins stayed intact. They are heavy duty.
While at Oktoberfest, be prepared to drink more than you think you will, and spend more than you expect to. So bring lots of cash!
Day 3: Dachau, Germany
In contrast to the most extreme party, we woke up and traveled to the most sobering location in the Munich area. We took public transportation to the Dachau Concentration Camp, which is located about 30 minutes outside of Munich. This is absolutely one of the most impactful places I have had the opportunity to experience. Once we arrived, we each took our audio tours individually. I think this helped us process and experience this somber place the way each of us needed to. Walking through the gates, and trying to comprehend the atrocities that occurred right where you are standing, is truly indescribable. I wholeheartedly believe that everyone should experience this at least once In their life. After we finished our tour, It was, unfortunately, the end of our time in Munich, and we headed to the airport.
I am so glad we got to experience both the fun and the heavy tones of this city. It was the perfect Oktoberfest experience.
If I had more time in Munich I would have loved to visit:
- Neuschwanstein castle
- the natural beauty of Bavaria.
Explore more of Germany and its neighbors!
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