Couples Oktoberfest help

I will share my experience if you promise not to laugh. On our first trip to Germany about 15 years ago we kept bumping into people either heading towards Munich and Octoberfest or who had just returned from it. We had never heard of it before (and of course did not have a reservation). We of course had to check it out and found several tents open and we were able to enjoy the unplanned experience and loved it. Naturally, that was a long time ago, probably not on the busiest night and pre-COVID so I am not sure my experience applies to your plans but it does hopefully give you some hope that you could have a similar experience without a reservation.

Since Oktoberfest opens on September 17, you have picked the single busiest day(night) of the Wiesn. I can only wish you good luck.

Thank you very much for the help

I know that September 17 is not the best day to visit Munich, but it is the only available day that we have.

Should I buy a package with a place in one of the tents to play it safe?

For opening night, you will not be able to get a reservation, those have been sold out long ago, and as you mentioned, you can only reserve, and pay for food and beverages ahead, for 10.

I am not sure that paying hundreds is worth it either, not being snarky, but if it were, then I would have planned it into my trip.

The fest itself costs nothing to go, getting in the tents is also free, you just cannot have a beer unless you are seated. Tents will close for a time if they are at capacity, but you can still walk in, see the tent, catch a bit of music.

If there are open tables, with no reservation for that time, you are free to sit; if you are a bit gregarious and see a table of 8 or less people you might ask if you might join them. In some of the smaller tents, you might find a place to sit, maybe especially late afternoon, before the evening reservations start. In any tent, look for the waitstaff responsible for that section, they know if there are free tables.

All that said, I would say "go", see the tents, wander the grounds, see the spectacle, try to get a beer in a tent. The beer gardens in town will be hopping, so a good time can be found. If you will be there earlier in the day, there is a nice parade as well.

Not sure what the rest of your trip involves, but the Monday after opening weekend (the 19th) is a good day to go without reservation (or most weekdays); and Stuttgart has the Cannstater Volksfest, which many claim to be better than Oktoberfest.

Thanks for the help

I still don't know what to do.

I don't want to miss the event during the night

Hi MBA88- Yes, 17 Sep 2022 is Saturday and the first day (and perhaps the busiest if the weather is nice) that the 'Fest is open. You could try to reserve seats inside a tent (and pay for 10 seats) this late, but I suspect you won't find an honest ticket broker that wouldn't have a 100% or more markup.

First of all, do you have a hotel reservation in Munich for 17 Sep 2022? This is critical for attending the "Fest as the hotel rates are about double the normal rates and many hotels are fully booked..

Second, there are free seats on a first-come first served basis in the Biergartens outside of the tents. Of course the ambience is different but the background noise is greatly reduced. The Bier and food is the same as it is inside of the tents (both price and quality). Also, with one exception, you need to have a seat to order a Bier.

Did you know that there are many carnival rides and eating opportunities scattered among the Bier tents? Even if a sear is not available you can walk around the 'Fest and enjoy the atmosphere without going into the tents.

Have a great trip!!!

You will not miss any of the fun/ambiance by not having a reserved seat. We did what others above have done -- wandered around and into tents when possible. I actually enjoyed the fairgrounds, food, and entertainment surrounding the tents even more.

Thank you all for your advice!

I already have booked the hotel and the flight

My only concern is to enjoy that one night without queuing for hours

MBA88, there is much more to it than just being inside the beer tents. Its like the biggest state fair you've ever seen. Go and you might get lucky, but at least you will have been there in person to see.

MBA88,

Please take my advice to heart as someone who has been to Oktoberfest 19 times (including this year) and who ran a company offering tours.

As has been said, you are picking the absolute worst day for crowds especially since there has been no Oktoberfest for the last two years. In all my visits we have only attended opening weekend once, what a zoo. I don’t like to say never, but it will be almost impossible to get a reservation. They don’t sell individual reservations and the tour companies provide tours, not necessarily tickets. With that said….

Since there are only two of you, just pick a tent, wander around a bit and look for a seat. Maybe you only find one where you can fit. Take it! Most everyone is drinking, having fun and are very friendly. If there is room they will let you in. Eventually you will both be seated. If you are unsuccessful, try another tent. Just be friendly, not rude and things should workout.

Some alternatives to the Wiesn are…

Augustiner Keller Bier Garden

A very large bier garden in a nice wooded area with Munich’s best bier.

Wirtshaus am Bavariapark

This is a great bier garden right across the street from the Wiesn. Behind the Bavaria Statue.

Just have fun and be patient.

Many thanks for your advice Keith and Stan

It is not that I chose that date to arrive in Munich, it was a coincidence

By chance, we will be doing a roadtrip through the Tyrol and the Bavarian Alps in those days.

My plan is to end the trip in Munich with a night at Oktoberfest before heading home.

Again, thanks a lot for the help.

Don’t worry about reservations. We were there on an opening night without them and did what the others have said: wander into a tent, try to find a table, chat with people, listen to music. Wander into another one. We had a beer right outside a tent, and enjoyed walking around, seeing all the rides and food stalls and people in costumes … actually, for us, we thought that was more fun than sitting inside a tent for hours.