August 15, 2024

Head over heels in the beer abyss: we're going to Oktoberfest!

What are your first associations with Bavaria? Some will remember the center of German football. Others will name traditional sausages and pretzels. Both are true. But it is impossible to imagine them without beer!

Beer is not just a drink, it is an integral part of the soul of the German people. Strong friendships, political appeals and grandiose projects were born over a glass of beer in German pubs. To appreciate the system-forming role of beer in German society, you need to go to the most famous beer festival in the world - Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest - what is it

Oktoberfest is the most impressive festival in the world in terms of size. Photo RAW, Brandness

Oktoberfest is known throughout the world as a huge beer fair, where Germans and guests of the country taste the best varieties of Bavarian beer in unlimited quantities. Such a sign scares off reserved and moderate people. Therefore, let us correct the stereotypical idea: beer is the core of the Oktoberfest program. But not its only element. During the festivities, you can visit exhibition pavilions, costumed processions, folk concerts, and entertainment attractions.

History is on the side of this idea of the festival. It was founded in 1810 as a celebration in honor of the wedding of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. Even in its infancy, the celebrations were lush and large-scale, with horse races, balls, and concerts. So they decided to preserve the festival, and since 1819 it has become a city festival, accessible to anyone.

Oktoberfest 2024 will be the 189th in a row. Every year it attracts more and more tourists, turning into a celebration of cosmopolitanism. When national and linguistic boundaries are erased over a glass of beer.

Where and when is Oktoberfest held in 2024

Munich is beautiful. And a festival makes it even better. Photo by Daniel Sessler — Unsplash

The meeting place cannot be changed - for the trip to the festival we take tickets to Munich . In the capital of Bavaria, the festival is held year after year on a special square, Theresienwiese ("Therese's Meadow"), which still bears the name of the bride to whom we owe the appearance of such a glorious holiday. The Germans themselves call the fair by the name of the place where it is held - "Wiesn" (abbreviated "Meadow"). Arriving in Munich during the festival, a traveler can lull his wife's vigilance by saying that he is just "going to the meadow." The locals undoubtedly identify this phrase as an intention to get lost in the boundless ocean of beer.

Those who wonder how to get to the Theresienwiese will appreciate the simplicity of the answer. Trains, trams and buses regularly run from the tourist-favorite Karlsplatz to Theresienwiese. The fastest way is the metro, two stops and you are there. The journey by bus #18 or tram #19 will be a little longer, 10-20 minutes.

When choosing dates for a trip to Germany, it is important not to be fooled by the name of the beer fair. The first festivals did take place in October. But now they always start in the second half of September: the festival will begin on September 21, and on October 6 we will see the closing ceremony of Oktoberfest.

What You Need to Know to Attend Oktoberfest

Getting to the capital of Bavaria is no problem. There are dozens of flights to Munich every day from Vilnius, Warsaw and Riga, you just need to buy tickets online . You can get from Minsk to Munich by bus, there is a direct flight twice a week.

But it will be much more difficult to book a hotel for the festival in the capital of Bavaria on your own. In recent years, the number of visitors to the festival has exceeded six million people. It is better to take care of finding a hotel in Munich much earlier.

A convenient alternative is Oktoberfest tours . This option will allow you to combine sightseeing of the country's striking architectural landmarks (we have compiled a list of fairytale castles in Germany), gastronomic tourism and the unforgettable emotions of Oktoberfest.

Do not forget that to visit the country you need a Schengen visa to Germany . If you contact professionals in a timely manner , its registration will not be a difficult task.

Where to go at Oktoberfest

The Schottenhamel tent, the oldest at Oktoberfest. Photo by Sebastian Lehner

"Beer and beer - what's so special about it," the skeptics will say. And they will be wrong. You will not try beer like the one at Oktoberfest anywhere. The fact is that the foamy drink undergoes a rigorous selection before it gets to the fair:

  • The festival exclusively features Munich breweries (Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräuhaus, Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Spaten), the oldest of which, Augustiner, will turn 700 years old in 2028.

  • The drink at the festival must comply with one of the oldest "GOSTs" in the world - the German beer laws of the 15th-16th centuries.

  • A special beer is brewed for Oktoberfest. It is richer, maltier and stronger. The strength of the festival beer is 5.8-6.3 degrees.

Pay attention to the surroundings in which you will consume the drink. No dives or train station stalls, the drinking culture will not tolerate this! The 2024 fair will feature 16 large pavilions (with a capacity of up to 10,000 people) and 21 small ones (with a capacity of "only" 300 to 1,000 people).

When choosing a pavilion, it is worth choosing not so much by the type of beer you want, but by history and features. Augustiner Festhalle is famous for its soft beer from wooden barrels (the rest use steel, lined with wood). Hacker-Festzelt - for its heavenly landscapes, filling visitors with romance. Kufflers Weinzelt is known for betraying beer in favor of wine, here you can try the best German varieties of the latter.

Well, the Schottenhamel-Festhalle is the oldest pavilion of the festival, counting its long century since 1867. It is here that the opening ceremony of Oktoberfest takes place. According to legend, this was due to chance: a city official was rushing to the ceremony and, caught in the rain, simply ran into the first pavilion he came across. It turned out to be the Schottenhamel-Festhalle.

A pleasant discovery for visitors will be the lack of need to pay for entry to the festival or reserve seats. Just choose the location you like and boldly step towards adventure.

Bored of Oktoberfest? Munich has many alternative attractions, read about them here .

Oktoberfest cuisine

"Beer doesn't fill you up," says a Bavarian proverb. And visitors to the fair are offered a wide selection of snacks to bolster their physical strength. The highlight of the festival program, along with beer, is... no, not the traditional Bavarian sausage, but fried chicken, halbes hendl. The chickens certainly aren't in the mood for celebration these days; they become victims of gluttony en masse. No less than 500,000 of them are eaten during the festival.

Pork Bavarian sausage (Weisswurst) is significantly less popular than chicken. On average, 60,000 sausages are consumed during the festival. Sausages sizzling on the fire, smoked bull carcasses, thousands of chickens sitting on spits, all create an excellent appetite. Add potato or cabbage salad to the table and you have already undergone the gastronomic baptism of a Bavarian.

Drink responsibly or what to do at a festival besides drinking beer

In addition to the beer pavilions, the festival features an abundance of entertainment attractions, souvenir shops and exhibitions. Photo RAW, Jan Saurer

Every year, 5,000-7,000 people seek help from doctors and paramedics at Oktoberfest. And at least a third of them need emergency medical care, surgery and toxicology. To avoid being among these unfortunates, take a responsible approach to organizing your leisure time at the festival.

The fair is not limited to beer libations alone. Its official website maintains an up-to-date schedule of leisure and cultural events. The start of the festival always begins with a parade of breweries and a procession of hunters and landowners. At noon, the Lord Mayor gives the start to the fair by uncorking the first barrel of beer, and then the Munich sky is filled with the sound of 12 cannon shots. Only after this tradition is observed is it allowed to pour the beer, which is already greedily awaited by thousands of eyes and mouths.

The other days of the festival will also be entertaining. The Oktoberfest administration will organize a procession in the center of Munich, where you can find out what traditional costumes the Bavarians wear. Additionally, a folk music concert and even an ecumenical mass will be organized.

Not into culture? In addition to the beer tents, there are other attractions at Oktoberfest. They will provide an adrenaline rush for adults and will definitely interest children. Carousels, roller coasters, virtual reality rooms, water slides and a ghost palace will entertain no worse than Disneyland.

Looking for other locations for the perfect family vacation? Read about them in separate publications .

What to bring as souvenirs

Chicken hats are the most popular Oktoberfest souvenirs. Photo Reddit, tuturama

Oktoberfest will definitely become a vivid memory of your trip to Germany. But what if you want to preserve such strong impressions not only in your memory, but also in something tangible? Take a few souvenirs from the festival with you.

The most popular souvenir is the "chicken hat". Depending on your taste, you can choose the original chickens for your head, unplucked, or already cooked. And then a full-size grilled chicken will tower over you.

Another memorable gift for yourself and your loved ones would be a beer mug. Avoid the temptation to snatch it immediately after drinking its contents. Visitors may be subject to inspection when leaving the fairgrounds. And then you will have to explain the contraband. You can buy mugs on the official website or in trade pavilions.

An expression of your warm feelings will be a gingerbread heart, Lebkuchenherz, brought from the heart of Bavaria . They come with different icing and inscriptions.

Interesting facts about Oktoberfest

To carry the masses, liter glasses, requires heroic strength. Photo Munchen Tourismus, Jan Saurer

The festival with almost two centuries of history knows how to surprise. Who would have thought that:

  • At one time, the future genius of physics Albert Einstein worked as a waiter at the fair. And his father was involved in the electrification of the festival site at the end of the 19th century.
  • Every year, the festival consumes almost seven million liters of beer, eats half a million chickens, employs 12,000-13,000 people, and loses 4,000 items.
  • The traditional beer glass during Oktoberfest is the "Mass" - a liter glass. Given the increased strength of the drink, such volumes can affect health, so drink responsibly.
  • It was at the beer festival that the first roller coaster in Germany appeared. This happened in 1908.
  • Waiters can carry up to 10 liter glasses at a time. What a sight!
  • Thefts are common at Oktoberfest. But not pickpocketing (although those are also present), but of beer glasses. Whether in pursuit of a trophy, or in pursuit of emotions, or perhaps simply forgetting to return the container, the staff caught over 115,000 visitors trying to steal a glass last year. And how many more thefts were successful!

These are just a few of the secrets of the big holiday. The festival can become a place for a perfect bachelor party, a memorable gastronomic tour, or a family vacation — it all depends on your goals. And a tour to Oktoberfest 2025 from your travel assistant TravelHub will help you make your goal come true. Put your travel dream in the hands of professionals!

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