Practical box
- Transport
- Munich U-Bahn U4 and U5 run extended hours during Oktoberfest with normal fares. The Theresienwiese U-Bahn station is the main festival entrance. Walking from Hauptbahnhof takes 12 minutes.
- Costs
- Hotels in Munich during Oktoberfest EUR 380-950 per night, around 4x off-peak. Mass beer EUR 14.50-16. Half-roast chicken in a tent EUR 16-22. Lederhosen and dirndl rental EUR 35-95 per day.
- Safety on the night
- Pickpocketing on the U-Bahn and at the Theresienwiese entry queues. Drunken altercations after 20:00. Wear non-leather shoes; the tent floors get covered in beer.
- Dress
- Lederhosen for men, dirndl for women. The dress code is universally observed; tourists in jeans look conspicuous. Rental from Trachten Wagner or Angermaier in the Marienplatz area. EUR 35-95 per day.
- Ticketing
- Tent reservations through the tent's website starting January 2026. Reservation comes with two beer vouchers and food coupons (EUR 35-45 per voucher set). All major tents sell out reservations by mid-April. Walk-in is possible at every tent but requires arriving by 09:00 to 10:00 to secure a table at the most popular tents.
Where to go on the night
The named venues and zones that anchor the event. Prices are peak-night, paid at the door or for an advance ticket. Outside the event week these same venues run at a fraction of the cost.
Hofbräu Festzelt
The international tourist tent, the largest tent at 10,000+ capacity with the international beer-hall reputation. Live brass band, English-friendly staff, the standard Munich Oktoberfest tent experience.
Where
Theresienwiese, central Munich
From
Mass beer EUR 14.50-16; reservation EUR 35-45 vouchers
Augustiner Festhalle
The Munich locals' tent. Augustiner-Bräu's own family-owned tent on the Wiesn, the only one still serving from wooden barrels. The smaller, less-touristy tent (8,000 capacity).
Where
Theresienwiese
From
Mass beer EUR 14.80-15.80; reservation difficult
Schottenhamel
The opening ceremony tent. The Munich mayor taps the first keg at noon on the opening Saturday with the traditional 'O'zapft is!' (it's tapped) shout. The Schottenhamel is the second-oldest tent and runs the most prestigious Wiesn reservations.
Where
Theresienwiese
From
Mass beer EUR 15-16; reservation hardest to secure
Oide Wiesn (Old Oktoberfest)
The historical museum-style alternative tent at the southern end of Theresienwiese. Traditional Bavarian music, old-fashioned carnival rides, costume contest. Smaller crowds, more cultural texture.
Where
Oide Wiesn, southern Theresienwiese
From
EUR 4 entry; Mass beer EUR 11.50-13.80
Oktoberfest Is Bigger Than Munich
Oktoberfest 2026 runs Saturday September 19 through Sunday October 4 at Theresienwiese in central Munich. Around 6 million attendees over the 16 days, drinking 7 million Mass beers. The official program: the Trachten- und Schützenzug parade on Sunday September 20, the Oktoberfest Mass for the dead on Thursday September 24, the closing fireworks on Sunday October 4. The festival runs daily from 10:00 to 23:30.
The festival operates on a six-brewery model. The six Munich breweries (Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Spaten) each operate one or more major tents on the Wiesn (the festival grounds). A Mass (1-liter stein) of Oktoberfest beer in 2026 will run EUR 14.50 to EUR 16, depending on the tent. The Wiesn beer is brewed to a specific specification (5.8-6.3 percent ABV) by the six big breweries.
Tent-by-Tent
Hofbräu Festzelt is the international tourist tent at 10,000 capacity, the largest at Wiesn, with English-friendly staff and the recognizable beer-hall reputation. The default first-timer choice.
Augustiner Festhalle is the Munich-locals tent. Augustiner-Bräu's family-owned tent is the only one still serving beer from wooden barrels rather than steel. 8,000 capacity. Quieter atmosphere, more authentic Bavarian feeling.
Schottenhamel is the opening ceremony tent. The Munich mayor taps the first keg at noon on the opening Saturday with the traditional 'O'zapft is!' (it's tapped) shout. The second-oldest tent and the most prestigious reservations.
Käfer Wiesn-Schänke is the upscale celebrity tent with the higher-end food and the most upmarket crowd. 1,000 capacity, hardest reservations to secure.
Oide Wiesn (Old Oktoberfest) is the historical museum-style alternative at the southern end of Theresienwiese: traditional Bavarian music, old-fashioned carnival rides, costume contest. Smaller crowds, more cultural texture. EUR 4 entry.
The Reservation Question
Reservations at major tents come with two beer vouchers and food coupons for EUR 35-45 per voucher set, and guarantee a table for 4 hours. All major tents sell out reservations by mid-April for the September festival. Walk-in is always possible: arrive by 09:00 to 10:00 to secure a table at Hofbräu or Schottenhamel; Augustiner and Käfer Wiesn-Schänke usually have walk-in space until 11:00 to 12:00. After 12:00 most major tents close their doors to new entry; you wait for a table to free up.
Lederhosen and Dirndl
The dress code is universally observed. Lederhosen for men, dirndl for women. Tourists in jeans and t-shirts look conspicuous. Rental from Trachten Wagner, Angermaier, or any of the rental shops in the Marienplatz area runs EUR 35-95 per day depending on quality. Purchase runs EUR 220-650 for a basic set. The dirndl bow-tying convention: bow on the left means single, right means taken, front-center means virgin, behind back means widow.
Practical Munich Oktoberfest Numbers
Hotels in Munich during Oktoberfest EUR 380 to EUR 950 per night, around 4x off-peak. The premium properties (Mandarin Oriental, Bayerischer Hof, Sofitel, Marriott) at EUR 580 to EUR 1,800. Apartments via Airbnb EUR 220 to EUR 580 with multi-night minimums. Hotels around Munich Hauptbahnhof are the most convenient (walking distance to Theresienwiese). Book by January; Munich sells out by March. Munich U-Bahn U4 and U5 run extended hours during Oktoberfest with normal fares.
Where to stay in Munich during Oktoberfest
Rooms in the core event neighborhoods sell out months ahead and run double the off-peak rate. The map below shows what's still available within walking distance of the action.
Year-round context for Munich
This page covers the event week specifically. For the broader picture, legal framework, nightlife districts, and year-round venues, see the main TDG Munich city page and Germany country guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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