Litres of beer overflowing, a whole 16-days of non-stop party. Find out more about the event that lures in 7 million people and consumes about 7 million litre of beer as well. The World’s biggest fair- Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest was actually first initiated in 1810. King Ludwig I, at that time a crown prince, invited the citizens of Munich to the fields in front of the city gates and attend the festivities from his marriage. This field is then named Theresien Wiese, to honour Crown Princess Theresa, whom then-Crown Prince Ludwig married. This place, translating to Theresa Fields, is where Oktoberfest is held in present time.

Honestly, I’m not much of a drinker. I would chug down a glass or two when I’m out on parties, but generally, I don’t drink alcohol. The taste of beer isn’t something that suits my taste, although I need to say: out of all the beers I have drunk in my life, the Bavarians do know how to make their beer.

Despite that, Oktoberfest is actually an event I wait earnestly for, being a student in Munich myself. But when most people would go for the beer, I go for the festival.

Don’t imagine Oktoberfest as a big open club where people get drunk and bodies are laying on the ground passed out from alcohol. It actually resembles a theme park, and you will see lots of families attending this particular event. There are all kind of rides, from those suitable to kids to the extreme ones even adults would think twice about!

For Oktoberfest, visitors would typically wear the Bavarian traditional costume, Dirndl for the ladies and Lederhosen for men. These costumes are normally sold starting from 100 Euros, while it’s also completely normal for some excellent ones to exceed 300 Euros. You can, however, find cheap Dirndl for about 50 Euros (usually in Amazon!). Another tip is to buy them after the Oktoberfest, and using it for the next year. After Oktoberfest ends, they are normally sold in discounted price. Here’s a link to 30 Euros complete Dirndl-set. In shops, 30 Euros would only get you the inner shirt. Don’t fret, men! Here’s a 50 Euros Lederhosen to save you money and let you buy more beer!

Is all they’re saying about the crazy 1-litre-beer-glass true? Yes!

You can enjoy beers in big tents with capacity of about 80 000 people. If you’re visiting during mid-day or the afternoon, finding a vacant seat wouldn’t be too hard. However, during the weekends, people normally reserve tables to ensure a place. You can’t book individually, you will need to reserve an entire table (8-10 people), which is quite pricy too.

Food here cost around 12-20 Euros, while the 1-litre-beer is about 10 Euros. If you’re trying to be economical, drink only the beer inside and head out to enjoy the stall foods instead. French fries, roasted nuts, Nutella crepes… Bratwurst! German sausages are yum! They’re only 3-5 Euros. Do try the giant Bretzels in these tents though!

Tents are different one to another in terms of food, price, and so but the one thing they have in common: Beer. In all tents, there is going to be Music, the all-together-toast every 10 Minutes- Prost! and strangers talking to each other like they are childhood buddies. It’s an amazing vibe, with people laughing and being completely care-free.

Don’t worry about safety though! Oktoberfest is heavily facilitated with enough securities that’ll ensure no drunkards will start anything rash. Munich is definitely adequately equipped and prepared for this biggest Beer event. Not only do they pay extra attention on the Fest Location, they also add extra security for public transportations!

For this fest itself, the later it gets- the more people! Tents are jam-packed in the evening, and would stay like that ’til late at night. Don’t rush your beer! Everyone would always say: think of a marathon instead of a sprint. Take your time sipping, toasting to strangers, laughing, conversing with people who flew thousands of miles just for this event, and enjoying yourself. You’ll be surprised at how it feels like everyone knows everyone. I, for one, was completely blown.

Aside from the beer, though, don’t miss trying one of the rides in Oktoberfest! It gets really pretty at night too, with stalls and attractions all lighting up at once. People who live in Germany would normally come once completely for the beer, but return for the festivities!

Even if you’re not a fan of beer (like me!), you wouldn’t regret coming to Oktoberfest. It’s such a relief from your stress, like unscrewing all your inner worries. It’s no wonder it’s deemed the World’s largest fair- Oktoberfest.

Important tips for those who travel for Oktoberfest:

• Book hotels early! Accommodations are booked to the brim, it’s 7 Million people attending! The best website to book hotels or hostels is via booking.com. They are extensively used in Germany.
• Book your transportations early as well. Flight tickets during the Oktoberfest are known to quadruple. Check cheapflight for, well, cheap flights! If you’re travelling by bus, use Flixbus. Refer to EUrail or the german official trains, Deutsche Bahn for those travelling by trains.
• Jacket! Munich is quite a cold city, and if you’re not drinking any beer, then those Dirndl or Lederhosen only might be too cold for you.
• Don’t hold back! Talk with people, toast everyone around you, it’s a festival so don’t be shy!
• Last tip, and the most important one: Have fun!

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Post contains affiliate links. Refer to my disclosure.

Tags: Beer Festival, featured, Festival, Germany guide, Munich, Oktoberfest, photography, travel blog