Throughout the Prince of Journey Signature Occasion in Montreal in April 2022, our staff member Rohin instructed a staff meetup in Munich for Oktoberfest. It appeared like a really affordable thought on the time, and we quickly booked flights and penciled within the dates in our calendars.

Because it seems, Josh, Rohin, and I met up for a few days nearer to the start of the annual pageant. The town was alive with festive spirit, and I felt a bit misplaced sporting pants that weren’t fabricated from leather-based. 

We had a good time including one other vacation spot on this planet for the staff to collect. It’s secure to say that we’d all certainly do it once more, particularly realizing what to anticipate and what the expertise is all about.

In case you’ve received your eyes on Oktoberfest, listed below are 10 suggestions to bear in mind for planning, attending, and surviving Oktoberfest comparatively unscathed.

1. In regards to the Pageant

Oktoberfest, also called Wiesn, is the world’s largest beer pageant. It has been held virtually yearly since 1810, with a couple of exceptions.

The unique celebration marked the wedding of then-Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. Residents of Munich have been invited to attend the celebrations.

The grounds on which the festivities have been held turned often called Theresienwiese as a tribute to the bride. Since then, it’s been the identify of the exhibition grounds, and afterward, the identify of the closest metro station.

Over time, Oktoberfest has grown into a large annual celebration. Someplace round six million folks attend every year, with round seven million litres of beer consumed over the course of the pageant.

Horse racing was an enormous a part of Oktoberfest, however that has since given option to a carnival and rides. In case you plan on attempting out a few of the rides, it’s in all probability in your finest curiosity to take action earlier than you enterprise into the beer tents. 

Oktoberfest happens over round 17 days from mid-September to early October every year.

2. German Beer Legislation

German beer is famend worldwide for being topic to a purity legislation, Reinheitsgebot, which is usually often called the Beer Purity Legislation. The legislation restricts the substances that can be utilized to make beer, and since 1516, solely water, hops, and barley malt could also be formally used to make beer.

After all, yeast is a vital element within the beer brewing course of, because it’s what leads to alcohol. It wasn’t talked about within the legislation, nevertheless it’s troublesome to make beer with out it.

I’ve dabbled in brewing in beer at residence for fairly a while now, and I can totally admire the way it’s very a lot an artwork type. As somebody who usually leans in direction of beers with a hoppier, extra bitter style, there’s one thing to be mentioned a few crisp German beer.

There are a couple of types of beer which can be brewed particularly for Oktoberfest. The truth is, when you’re fortunate to sufficient to fly Lufthansa First Class through the pageant, you’ll be capable to take pleasure in particular Oktoberfest beers each on board and on the First Class Terminal.

The fashion of beer served at Oktoberfest is Märzen, which interprets to March (the month). Its historical past dates again to when brewers upped the alcohol share to six% for beers brewed in March, which might assist it to maintain in cellars over the summer season months.

Solely six breweries (Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräuhaus, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, and Spaten) are allowed to place Oktoberfestbier on their labels and ship to the Oktoberfest tents. That is protected by trademark legislation, however when you discover beers with “festbier” on the label, you’ll basically be consuming the identical factor.

This all goes to indicate that Germans take beer very significantly. The truth is, in a few of the native beerhalls, you’ll discover that individuals have their favorite steins underneath lock and key for straightforward entry every time they pop in for a chilly one. 

3. Carry Your Pockets (And Money)

A part of the pleasure of attending Oktoberfest is parting methods with stacks of euros. It’s not the most cost effective place to get a beer in Munich, however you’re paying for the environment.

Within the tents, count on to pay €13.50 ($18 CAD) for a litre of beer. Ought to you need employees test in on you once in a while, it’s possible you’ll need to spherical that as much as €15 ($20 CAD).

The employees attending tables are very busy, so when you’re not fast to ask for change or a certain amount again, it’ll be gone earlier than you understand it. What you thought could be a €13.50 beer can very simply flip right into a €20 beer when you’re not cautious.

It’s possible you’ll be considering that this could possibly be an effective way to earn some bank card factors, however sadly, you’re solely in a position to pay with money. So, depart your bank cards locked up in your resort room, and are available geared up with a pile of money and your debit card.

There are ATMs within the tents and all through the Oktoberfest grounds, so getting some money received’t be exhausting to do. 

You’ll need to finances for some meals, too, however you additionally might need to seize one thing to eat earlier than heading to the grounds. If you wish to keep hydrated, a pint of faucet water will set you again €5 ($7 CAD). 

You’ll be able to’t deliver bottles of water into the tents, both, as there are employees checking luggage on the doorways. Greatest to come back hydrated and depart earlier than you’re too dehydrated.

4. A Day within the Life (Buckle Up)

In case you’ve made a reservation, you’ll be able to keep away from exhibiting up earlier on within the day to snag an excellent desk. Reservations open up earlier within the 12 months, usually between January and April, and you may contact the tent you’d like to order a desk in by e mail, telephone, or fax.

Remember that it’s a must to pay to order a complete desk, so that you’ll need to be certain you’ll be able to fill it as much as preserve the prices as little as doable. Reserving a desk isn’t obligatory, although, and you may present up and search for empty spots.

Because the day progresses, tents refill and good seats grow to be more durable to search out. If you wish to be within the coronary heart of the motion, present up early and tempo your self all through the day.

The tents have reside bands that play music all through the day and into the evening. Throughout the day, the environment is jovial, however far more subdued in comparison with the night. 

Certainly, most individuals shall be sitting and chatting through the afternoon, and the band will play a mixture of German songs and a few fashionable hits that many individuals know.

Because the day turns into night, the tent is stuffed with folks standing on benches, and never many individuals are left sitting down. Simply make sure to stand on the benches as an alternative of the desk, as doing the latter will get you escorted out of the tent. 

It’s possible you’ll need to heat up your vocal folds, too, because the band performs hit after hit after hit, to which individuals enthusiastically sing alongside. Don’t be shocked if you end up along with your arms round strangers’ shoulders, belting out tunes on the high of your lungs.

It’s possible you’ll discover a track that will get performed time and again. That is mainly a track after which everyone raises their steins for a tent-wide cheers.

In case you don’t converse German, don’t fear. You’ll invent your personal phrases to the track by the tip of the evening.

5. Tempo Your self

Certainly, your first sips of beer at Oktoberfest will go down easily. Together with the environment, it’s enjoyable to drink out of gigantic beer steins, absorbing equal quantities of festive environment and scrumptious beer.

Simply be conscious of what number of litres you’ve put down the hatch. Our desk was stuffed with largely accountable adults, however we have been seated near many individuals whose downward trajectory was very quick. 

Some of us will get up on a bench with a full litre of beer and try and guzzle down your complete stein in a single go. Cheers of encouragement come from throughout the tent, and also you’re both met with a loud cheer when you succeed or a refrain of boos when you don’t. 

You’ll additionally discover that there are non-alcoholic beers on the menu for a similar value as an everyday beer. In case you’re nonetheless thirsty, however perhaps prepared for a break, it’s good to know that there’s an choice accessible that received’t make issues any worse than they already may be.

Equally, you possible don’t have to spend a number of days in a row within the tents. Munich is stuffed with good locations to calm down and rejuvenate your self, and there’s loads of inexperienced house accessible for lifting up your spirits.

Contemplate spending the day on the English Backyard to elevate up your spirits when you had a couple of too many sips the evening earlier than. Or, stroll across the Previous City for some beautiful Bavarian structure.

6. Use Public Transit (Not E-Scooters)

Munich could be very straightforward to get round by transit. In case you’re in a little bit of a state after your go to to the Oktoberfest tents, hopefully you’ll be able to nonetheless handle to go again to the metro station to get again to your lodgings safely.

In case you don’t have a day cross, the ticket machines will enable you to discover the fare you want by getting into your vacation spot. Within the centre of the town, a number of traces cease on the identical stations, so when you’ve missed your cease, you may be capable to switch on the subsequent one with none points.

It might be tempting to hop on an e-scooter to get again, nevertheless it’s not a good suggestion. Not solely are you placing your self and others in danger, however you’re additionally topic to the identical penalties as when you have been driving a automotive underneath the affect.

Transit is unquestionably the way in which to go right here, and also you’ll be again within the consolation of your resort room earlier than you understand it.

7. The place to Keep

Unsurprisingly, resort stays could be very costly throughout Oktoberfest. Accommodations know that they’ll cost a premium round this time, as a result of massive variety of revellers who make their option to Munich over the course of the pageant.

That is the place reserving a room with factors could also be a really priceless transfer, and also you may wind up getting a wonderful cents per level worth. When on the lookout for inns, take into account each the situation and the way a lot time you’ll be spending on the premises. 

In my case, I knew that I’d be spending nearly all of my time both within the Previous City or at Oktoberfest, so I wasn’t actually involved a few notably luxurious keep. 

I wound up staying on the Moxy Munich Ostbahnhof, for which I paid 20,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening. Contemplating that the money charge for a similar resort was round €320 ($433 CAD), I wound up getting excellent worth when in comparison with our factors valuations.

Josh booked a room on the 4 Factors by Sheraton Arabellapark, for 30,000 Bonvoy factors per evening. On the time of reserving, this was good for about 1 cent per level.

Regardless, I wouldn’t put an excessive amount of inventory within the actual valuation right here. Money charges are more likely to fluctuate dramatically round occasion occasions, and the worth of the expertise is priceless.

There are various choices accessible for reserving inns on factors, so simply make sure to e book effectively prematurely to safe a good room at a good value. If it’s a must to pay money, break up the price with pals to make it barely extra reasonably priced.

8. Gingerbread Hearts

All over the place you go in Munich, you’ll discover gingerbread hearts both on the market or as decorations. When you’ll additionally discover them across the Christmas holidays, they’re a very talked-about merchandise for Oktoberfest.

Gingerbread hearts are literally a more moderen custom at Oktoberfest, having been popularized by grasp confectioner Gustav Tschernich round 40 years in the past. The hearts are adorned in icing sugar as an alternative of a messier chocolate coating, and have quick messages on them.

You’ll be able to choose one up in most locations across the metropolis, and you may also have custom-made messages created. It makes for a pleasant memento for a liked one again at residence, or as a tasty snack once you’re in want of a little bit of sugar.

9. Keep Nourished

Whereas beer will quench your thirst, you’ll additionally have to nourish your physique. Throughout Oktoberfest, you’ll be able to take pleasure in some beautiful Bavarian delicacies all through the town or within the beer tents on the pageant grounds.

In case you like sausages, you’ve come to the suitable place. There’s not a lot else that’s as satisfying a chilly beer and a sizzling sausage with all the trimmings, and through Oktoberfest, you received’t have a troublesome time discovering this mix.

Eating places within the beer tents and the beer halls crank out roasted chickens, plates of sausages with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut, and pretzels with spectacular effectivity. Maintain an eye fixed out for a few of the conveyor belts that get sizzling meals from the kitchen to your desk – it’s fairly outstanding.

Earlier than heading into the beer tents, take into account loading up on an enormous meal away from the Oktoberfest grounds to avoid wasting money. There are additionally loads of choices exterior of the tents on the pageant grounds, the place you may get some meals, stretch your legs, and ponder your subsequent transfer.

10. Costume the Half

As you progress across the metropolis and the pageant grounds, you’ll discover many males sporting lederhosen and ladies sporting dirndls. These are conventional Bavarian outfits, they usually’re very a lot part of the expertise for locals and vacationers alike.

For males, the outfit usually consists of deer leather-based shorts with suspenders, a button-up shirt, calf-high socks, an Alpine hat, and durable Bavarian footwear.

For ladies, the dirndl usually consists of an apron, a bodice, a shirt, and a skirt. The patterns and materials differ considerably, however the set-up of the outfit largely follows an analogous design.

These outfits carry vital historic significance, as they have been conventional work outfits for peasants a very long time in the past. Finally, upper-class Germans adopted sporting lederhosen  for searching, horseback driving, and different pursuits.

The dirndl had an analogous trajectory from peasant work clothes to being adopted by a wider swathe of society. Whereas the attire was constructed from rags, they’re now far more elaborate and constructed from finer supplies, however observe the identical historic design.

In case you’d prefer to look the half, you’ll be able to simply lease lederhosen and dirndls in lots of locations all through the town. Your resort could be pleased to help find a rental place, or you could find many locations on-line.

Count on to pay round €50 for the complete get-up for a one-day rental, though costs might fluctuate. 

Conclusion

Oktoberfest is among the most well-known festivals on this planet, and for good motive. In case you’re up for toasting beers with 1000’s of strangers, you’re certain to have a good time.

Munich comes alive through the pageant, and it’s attention-grabbing to participate in such an iconic celebration. Having now been as soon as, I’d undoubtedly take into account going once more, however I’m not in a selected rush to take action.

Prices for attending Oktoberfest can add up shortly, however you’ll be able to mitigate this by planning prematurely and realizing what to anticipate.