Beer is something to be really enjoyed and celebrated. When I have a really good beer, then I cannot wait to down it and try the next one just as good. Everyone I know says that I love to party and get out and dance 'til my feet go numb. So where can I do all this? Beerfest! Which is more commonly known as the Oktoberfest in Munich.
This Beerfest is for the celebration of the best beers in the world, Bavarian Lagers. It is held in Munich over a 16 day period every September/October. If you go to Oktoberfest one thing that will blow you away is the size of the crowds in Munich. There is millions of people EVERYWHERE! So you really need to plan ahead and get there as early as you can, because actually finding a seat at a table inside the beer halls could take ages. So that is one thing that you have to keep in mind when are Oktoberfest in Munich - Get ready for the crowds!. I actually read up about this beforehand so I got in line at 8am on the opening day so that I was ready for the festivities.
One tip for newbie's is don't attend a "royal wedding" if you're not dressed properly. If you are a girl then you have to dress in a Dirndl, a traditional wear for Bavarian girls and if you're a guy like me, then you must dress in Lederhosen, Dirndl's male version. You can rent or buy these outfits, as I did, from every costume store in Munich from between 80 and 300 Euros. I opted for the cheaper version, but make sure you get the costume, it will make the experience so much better.
I stayed in a hotel that was a short walk to the Theresienwiese, which is the name of the area for the Oktoberfest grounds. Munich has plenty of accommodation options, but like anywhere if you want the cheapest price then you should book early. Hotel prices start from around 150Euro per night for a 3 night stay. If you're looking at saving a bit of money on the accommodation then you can also look at hostels and campgrounds.
There are cheaper options for accommodation a bit further out in the suburbs of Munich and the city has great public transport to get you into the Oktoberfest grounds. The Metro will take you right to the heart of the festival with a train arriving around every 10 minutes at the most. The two closest lines to the Oktoberfest grounds are the U4 and U5 lines.
When I first got there I was dazed and confused seeing so many Bavarian people ready to start to party. One wise solution for meeting new people to spend time with, particularly if you are by yourself, is just start up conversations with the people around you. The party people at Oktoberfest are very friendly and if you get the chance to meet locals you will have a more authentic trip and probably learn a thing or two about Munich or the Oktoberfest along the way.
I met a German couple at the Lowenbrau beer hall who told me one of the best Oktoberfest meals is the pork knuckle, which is pronounced Schweinshaxe in German. A pork knuckle is is basically a big shank or hock of pork. Pork is very popular at Oktoberfest I might add. Now of course it would not be a beer festival if I did not mention the beer and one thing you need to keep in mind is that Oktoberfest beer is one level stronger than normal beer and beer sizes come in a 1 liter glass stein. This is also called a Mass in German. So if you want one beer, remember "Ein Mass". A Mass costs around 9euro, but a tip is generally customary, so just give your server 10Euro and they will be back to serve you before you are done. After a few drinks I found myself singing drinking songs, knocking the table with my fists, dancing on tables and having so much fun with my new friends. The atmosphere in a beer hall is incredibly loud. Everybody is dancing, screaming and laughing all night long. I left the Oktoberfest when my beer hall, the Augistiner, closed at 10.30pm. The trip home in the Metro was quite fun though because the singing and dancing continued all the way back home!
I heard that there is plenty of companies that organise tours to the Oktoberfest. They are offering a place to sleep, sometimes with breakfast included, as well as transport to the festival ground. Apparently some even offer transport options in and out of the UK
I can recommend everyone to go to the Oktoberfest, even if it is just once in your life. I will be back next year and I hope you have it on your bucket list of things to do.
This Beerfest is for the celebration of the best beers in the world, Bavarian Lagers. It is held in Munich over a 16 day period every September/October. If you go to Oktoberfest one thing that will blow you away is the size of the crowds in Munich. There is millions of people EVERYWHERE! So you really need to plan ahead and get there as early as you can, because actually finding a seat at a table inside the beer halls could take ages. So that is one thing that you have to keep in mind when are Oktoberfest in Munich - Get ready for the crowds!. I actually read up about this beforehand so I got in line at 8am on the opening day so that I was ready for the festivities.
One tip for newbie's is don't attend a "royal wedding" if you're not dressed properly. If you are a girl then you have to dress in a Dirndl, a traditional wear for Bavarian girls and if you're a guy like me, then you must dress in Lederhosen, Dirndl's male version. You can rent or buy these outfits, as I did, from every costume store in Munich from between 80 and 300 Euros. I opted for the cheaper version, but make sure you get the costume, it will make the experience so much better.
I stayed in a hotel that was a short walk to the Theresienwiese, which is the name of the area for the Oktoberfest grounds. Munich has plenty of accommodation options, but like anywhere if you want the cheapest price then you should book early. Hotel prices start from around 150Euro per night for a 3 night stay. If you're looking at saving a bit of money on the accommodation then you can also look at hostels and campgrounds.
There are cheaper options for accommodation a bit further out in the suburbs of Munich and the city has great public transport to get you into the Oktoberfest grounds. The Metro will take you right to the heart of the festival with a train arriving around every 10 minutes at the most. The two closest lines to the Oktoberfest grounds are the U4 and U5 lines.
When I first got there I was dazed and confused seeing so many Bavarian people ready to start to party. One wise solution for meeting new people to spend time with, particularly if you are by yourself, is just start up conversations with the people around you. The party people at Oktoberfest are very friendly and if you get the chance to meet locals you will have a more authentic trip and probably learn a thing or two about Munich or the Oktoberfest along the way.
I met a German couple at the Lowenbrau beer hall who told me one of the best Oktoberfest meals is the pork knuckle, which is pronounced Schweinshaxe in German. A pork knuckle is is basically a big shank or hock of pork. Pork is very popular at Oktoberfest I might add. Now of course it would not be a beer festival if I did not mention the beer and one thing you need to keep in mind is that Oktoberfest beer is one level stronger than normal beer and beer sizes come in a 1 liter glass stein. This is also called a Mass in German. So if you want one beer, remember "Ein Mass". A Mass costs around 9euro, but a tip is generally customary, so just give your server 10Euro and they will be back to serve you before you are done. After a few drinks I found myself singing drinking songs, knocking the table with my fists, dancing on tables and having so much fun with my new friends. The atmosphere in a beer hall is incredibly loud. Everybody is dancing, screaming and laughing all night long. I left the Oktoberfest when my beer hall, the Augistiner, closed at 10.30pm. The trip home in the Metro was quite fun though because the singing and dancing continued all the way back home!
I heard that there is plenty of companies that organise tours to the Oktoberfest. They are offering a place to sleep, sometimes with breakfast included, as well as transport to the festival ground. Apparently some even offer transport options in and out of the UK
I can recommend everyone to go to the Oktoberfest, even if it is just once in your life. I will be back next year and I hope you have it on your bucket list of things to do.
About the Author:
For an extensive array of information and advice for the Oktoberfest in Munich, including travel options, travel tips, party spots and other activities you should contact the events and festival travel specialists, FOMO Travel.
No comments:
Post a Comment