One of the biggest festivals in the world, attended by as many as 6 million people, Oktoberfest is set to run from September 22nd until October 7th 2018. A celebration of Bavarian culture, the festival features a diverse variety of cuisines, fine Munich beers, traditional music and dance. The participants fly here from far and wide and get together for a great time at one of the many beer tents to enjoy the fine German hospitality.
If you are planning on attending the event this year, here is all the information that you will need:
Reaching the Oktoberfest
It is highly recommended that you don’t drive to the festival as getting a parking spot is a bit of a hassle. Most tourists opt to take the train to the Theresienwiese or Schwanthalerhohe stations served by U4 and U5 lines of the metropolitan underground and from there simply walk to the festival for 15-20 minutes.
The Oktoberfest Budget
Though it is free to enter the tents and fairgrounds, you will have to pay for your food and entertainment every day. The daily average budget for food and 5 pints of beer, however, is estimated to be around €100 per day. You can keep an eye open for ‘Family Tuesdays’ and Midday Oktoberfest deals (Monday-Friday) for discounted admissions to attractions in order to bring your budget down.
Significant Oktoberfest Activities
Oktoberfest is not only about drinking and dancing as there are umpteen games, shows, rides and other attractions open for visitors to explore. This time, there’s a new range of white knuckle rides that are claimed to bring your heart to your mouth. The attractions will stay open 10am -11.30pm from Monday to Friday and from 10am to midnight on Friday, Saturday and October 2nd. On Sundays and other holidays, the timings will be from 10am-11.30pm.
Brewery Tents to Watch Out For
Augustiner tent serves beer from large wooden barrels rather than the steel ones used everywhere else on the festival grounds. Bräurosl (Pschorrbräu tent) is more than 100 years old tent, with ability to seat up to 8400 people. Football fans will love to visit Löwenbräu tent, the traditional meeting place for fans and players of 1860 Munich football club. Besides, watch out for Armbrustschützen tent (Paulaner), Winzerer Fähndl – Paulaner tent, Hippodrom (Spatenbräu) and Schützenfesthalle (Löwenbräu).
Food Tents to Watch Out For
If you are seeking Bavarian cuisine during your visit, you must have Obatzda (a fatty, spiced cheese-butter concoction) and Weisswurst (a white sausage) on your list. For other traditional fares, dishes such as Hendl (chicken), Schweinsbraten (roast pork), Haxn (knuckle of pork), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Würstl (sausages) along with Brezn (Pretzel), Knödeln (potato or bread dumplings), Kaasspatzn (cheese noodles) and Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes) will be your best bet.