Munich Oktoberfest

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Oktoberfest is September 21 through October 6. Many here have gone or know someone who has. Is there a marked difference between attending the first week vs. the second?

I have to think second week isn't as exciting as the first. Anyone have experience with first vs. second week?

[stevej37]

Don't know the answer to your question....
Hope this helps.

[porsche tech]

No answer either. Went once over 50 years ago…no idea which week it was but it was fun!

[Rick Lee]

Opening day is obviously bigger than the next several. I think it's usually kicked off with the mayor of Munich tapping a keg. I've been to Oktoberfest twice and it can get insane. A lot of those tents are booked a year in advance. I didn't know this the first time I went and it was pretty low key when we went to the Augustinerbräu tent in the daytime. Foreigners don't know that beer, so it wasn't crowded. But at night, man, that's a whole other world. We only got in through a connection at BMW and I can't even remember which tent it was, but just insane. Second time we also only got in through a friend's company who had booked a table a year in advance. You ain't walking into the Franziskaner tent at 8pm and looking around for a seat.

[Arizona_928]

I like the one in Erlangen (Bergkirchweih?)…

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Opening day is obviously bigger than the next several. I think it's usually kicked off with the mayor of Munich tapping a keg. I've been to Oktoberfest twice and it can get insane. A lot of those tents are booked a year in advance. I didn't know this the first time I went and it was pretty low key when we went to the Augustinerbräu tent in the daytime. Foreigners don't know that beer, so it wasn't crowded. But at night, man, that's a whole other world. We only got in through a connection at BMW and I can't even remember which tent it was, but just insane. Second time we also only got in through a friend's company who had booked a table a year in advance. You ain't walking into the Franziskaner tent at 8pm and looking around for a seat.

Great stuff, thanks, I'll see what I can book tomorrow. We are going for food and fun more than beer, I'm not sure if that will make a difference. One 11 ounce bottle of Augustiner Maximator and I'm feeling fine. Three of them, or a liter, I won't be able to walk out. GF and I are looking forward a fun 2-3 days, then Porsche Museum, then a castle and anything else we can do. Definitely starting German Babbel soon to help with high school nonexistent baseline of speaking/understanding German as needed.

[Rick Lee]

I flew back from three weeks in Germany, Austria and Switzerland yesterday, so this is fresh in my mind.

Last time I was at Oktoberfest was about eight yrs. ago. A 1l Maßkrug of Augustiner was €12 then. That will get you a buzz. 3-4 will get you vomiting, which you will see plenty of there. It's probably about the same price now outside of Oktoberfest, more inside. I usually get the 500mL glasses at the bars and beer gardens. It's getting more expensive now. During Oktoberfest you will see huge crowds walking around Munich in festive attire - Lederhosen and Dirndls. Honestly, the smaller beer gardens are much better than the insanity at Theresienwiese. But everyone should go see it once. The Augustinerbräukeller around Marienplatz is really the best place there is for authentic Munich beer and food, it's crowded and the staff are (in)famous for their rudeness. But you can't get a bad beer or meal there. I think they have another location near Westfriedhof, but am not sure. I was there long ago, just can't remember if it was an official branch. If you must succumb to the lure of the Hofbräuhaus, jusy know the only Germans there are the staff. If you're looking for the Bürgerbräukeller from the 1923 Putsch, it's long gone.

[Rick Lee]

Sorry, but most German women these days have very short hair and wear glasses. Vast majority, even the real young ones.

Originally Posted by stevej37

Don't know the answer to your question....
Hope this helps.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Sorry, but most German women these days have very short hair and wear glasses. Vast majority, even the real young ones.

To make them less likely to get raped when they are out after dark?

[WPOZZZ]

Mmmmm, German bier! As a 16 year old, I spent my summer in Europe with some classmates. They didn't like bier, so they game me theirs at the Hofbrauhaus in Munich. Let's just say I downed about 5 or 6 of those steins. That experience ruined bier for the rest of my life. Nothing was as good as German bier!

[Skytrooper]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I flew back from three weeks in Germany, Austria and Switzerland yesterday, so this is fresh in my mind.

Honestly, the smaller beer gardens are much better than the insanity at Theresienwiese. But everyone should go see it once. The Augustinerbräukeller around Marienplatz is really the best place there is for authentic Munich beer and food, it's crowded and the staff are (in)famous for their rudeness. But you can't get a bad beer or meal there.

+1

That is how Augustinerbraukeller (near Marienplatz) was when I was there in 2012. It was the best Biergarten experience ever. Food and drink was outstanding !

[berettafan]

Clicked on the thread just for that famous pic. I realize i've never really given the third girl much of a look but darned if she doesn't appear to be just as cute as the first two!

Took me forever just to get past the first girls boobs and see the other girl. Wonder what i'll notice in this pic two or three years from now.

[IROC]

I went in 2019. It doesn't matter what day you go - just go. It was like nothing I had ever seen. Hundreds of thousands of people per day drinking massive amounts of beer.

A pic since someone mentioned Augustiner:

[Rick Lee]

I swiped a Maßkrug from the Augustinerbräu tent in 1999. I put it in my carry on bag and, while going through security at Frankfurt, the inspector looked at the x-ray screen of my bag and said to me, "Ah, Oktoberfest" and smiled.

[Rick Lee]

Last time I went, I had first spent a few days in Austria and CZ Rep. Oh man, their beer is at least as good. I toured the Pislner Urquell and Budvar breweries too.

[craigster59]

I went to Oktoberfest twice, 1979 and 1980 when they had the bombing (I was there 3 days after). We took the train from Bamberg and slept at the Bahnhof (train station). Left our sleeping bags there, went to the fest and staggered back to sleep it off.

Augustiner tent was a favorite, lots of people, lots of fun but don't think I'd do it again. I'll do Hofbrau Haus Vegas for a limited experience. Or go back to my Wife's town of Bamberg for the Sandkerwa which is a festival they have late August.

https://www.sandkerwa.de/

Beautiful town and lots to see. If you're ever in Germany...

[kevin993]

Our go-to is the Augustiner-Keller near the train station. Always had good food and good service.

If you're in Munich for the holidays, the Octoberfest grounds are turned into an alt-Christkindlmarkt called Tollwood. We thought it might be dumb - edgy for the sake of being edgy. It wasn't. It was fun. Don't miss the Deutches Transportation Museum nearby.

[bleucamaro]

Went in 2013 and 2015.

The first trip was during the opening. It was fantastic.

The second trip, we ended up going the 2nd weekend, which is "Italian Weekend" when the italians all visit. It is markedly dirtier, ruder, drunker (not a great way). It was still incredible, but I'd recommend to choose an alternate time to go than "Italian Weekend".

That said, the seconde trip we discovered the Teufelsrad (devils wheel), and the Oide Weisn (traditional area). The oide weisn was very much less crowded, a place to relax and rest.

At all the tents, to be served food (and I think beer, can't remember), you must be seated at a table. To be seated at a table you must:
A) Make a reservation - I have no idea how to do this.
B) Get there early, and bum rush to your preferred tent & table, then have a member of your party camp there all day. - We did this, it worked out great, but we had a group of 8.
C) Wait for an opening (can wait up to an hour or more)
D) Make friends with people at a table with an opening, just ask to join them for an hour or so. - This works really well also when you are solo or a couple.

[Bill Douglas]

Yes, do your research. You don't want to be surrounded by 10,000 drunk Kiwis and Aussies.