Oktoberfest

I have few words to describe Oktoberfest. It was amazing, so much fun, a crazy experience, and better than I could have ever expected. 

We got super lucky and the day we went was a beautiful sunny day. Sometimes this time in September Munich can be rainy and miserable which makes getting to Oktoberfest and walking the grounds a little tough. 

We had absolutely no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Like many, we didn't have a reservation - which most large groups must have in order to get access to a table in one of the many tents. However, since we were just two people this ended up working out just fine- we sort of could sneak in and sit at two open spots at any table. 

Reservations are not necessary for Oktoberfest. I say this carefully, as if you're going in a large group (more than 5 people) you should look into the reservation process. I believe this involves contacting the tent(s) that you'd like to visit directly, and in plenty of time in advance. Reservations basically mean that you can book a table for a certain amount of time on a given day. For example, a table could be booked for the "beginning" half of the day (10:30-2) or the later half (2-6) or the evening (6-10). We walked up to many tables with signs on them saying "Reserviert" or reserved, and they'd say the time at which that table was going to be reserved, so we could essentially sit at reserved tables until it reached the beginning of the reserved time. 

No reservations basically means that you've got to meander through tents and politely ask the hostesses that you'd like to sit down and need to be pointed in the direction of the open, or non reserved, tables. We did this at 10:30 am (hah!) and found plenty of open tables in our first tent.

Get there early, get seats at an open table in your first tent and hold them for a while. Grab a beer and some food and take your first few hours slowly and enjoy whats around you. Beer begins being served at 10:30am and Oktoberfest closes at 10:30pm so plan accordingly. The music in the tents starts around 12/12:30. Definitely go on a weekday. Weekends are apparently crazy but doable - if you're willing to wait in long lines for practically everything (getting a table, bathrooms, food, and even gaining access to tents). 

Tents are organized by different beer labels/companies. Each brewery owns a tent and comes every year. Tents will open their doors around 10/10:30 in the morning and will close throughout the day as they near capacity. If a tent is closed - just wait it out and try to get in when they reopen in an hour or two. Generally since Oktoberfest is so popular, each tent is usually at the same capacity throughout the day. So if you're sitting in one tent and wondering if you should wander to another to find more open seats, the best practice is to stay put as all of the other tents are probably at the same capacity. I'd recommend doing a little research on all of the different tents - search their names and learn what makes each of them unique. Each has a different theme and a slightly different vibe. All are extremely friendly and serve amazing food and beer. 

The food is amazing. Its a foodie paradise. There are hundreds of food stands set up outside of the tents that serve a variety of traditional German eats. Don't be afraid to meander through the streets of the fest just to take it all in - I loved this part just as much as being inside the tents. 

Getting there was super easy. Just use public transit and avoid cars / taxis. If you're staying in walking distance thats even better. Munich is great about having public transport super available and readable for this event. We took the underground train and transferred once, then it was just a short walk to the fest.

Don't take any large bags, they don't allow them. Outside food is also not allowed - you also don't need anything because you can buy it all there. Prices are "festival" like - so we each portioned out about 100 euro for each of us throughout the day. We didn't use it all, however two beers, lunch, and a snack will land you at about 60 euro total. Don't dress like a true Bavarian unless you're going to do it right. Wear the proper attire and make sure you're extremely polite to everyone you talk to. There is nothing more unattractive than a bunch of Americans half dressed up and speaking English the whole time. Its a little ignorant and honestly insulting. 

I found this guide to be super helpful in breaking down literally every possible question there is about Oktoberfest as well.