How to Do Oktoberfest

Here is the route of the Sunday Sept 23 parade. The Mayor's box is in Odeonsplatz.
https://www.oktoberfest.de/manual/maps/einzug_und_trachtenumzug.html?lang=en&zoom=14
There are no tickets to get into the beer tents. Entrance is free. Reservations are problematic, since you need to guarantee a table of 8, with a one Mass (liter) and half chicken per person. If you are going to the opening day on Saturday could be an issue finding a place to sit as everything inside a tent will probably be reserved. You have to have a seat to get beer, I've been there 20 years ago and we sat outside, but fortunately was a pleasant sunny day. Get there early. You have apply for a reservation at each individual tent, they are privately owned and operated. Information on the Oktoberfest website.
https://www.oktoberfest.de/en/navitem/Beer+Tents/

You can get reasonably priced tracht at various Munich department stores. Not required, but adds to the festive atmosphere and have gotten much more popular in recent years. Most important, make friends with table mates and neighbors. Flirting is allowed. Everyone will be in a good mood after a Mass or two.

I've taken groups from 4-20 people to Oktoberfest and here is my advice:

Is there an "official" place to get tickets to the beer tents or do you just show up or is there some system that we should be looking for to make reservations, and do we even need reservations? (We already have air and hotel covered.)

As Sam says, each tent has their own reservation system and you have to purchase reservations for a whole table. But for opening weekend you are not likely to get a reservation as they are handled similar to season ticket holders where the previous reservation holders get priority. What we do is call a few travel agents who specialize in Oktoberfest and purchase their leftover reservations at a modest mark up. Also, check the toytowngermany.com Munich forums as people buy and sell table reservations there.

Is there an ideal spot to watch the parade on Sunday?

Anywhere along the route is fine. We usually watch it along Maxamilian Str.

Any other insider tips that you'd be willing to share with a fellow traveler on this bucket list item?

• Check out the Oide Weis'n section of the fairgrounds while you are there.
• Spend some time on the rides on the midway (It's like a big state fair).
• Work a self paced bike tour around the city in your trip.
• Attend a second or third tier soccer match (Bayern Munich tickets are too expensive)

DJ

You might want to consider going during the early part of the afternoon on a week day. That's what we did. The atmosphere, bands, and beer are the same as during the evening. Plenty of people, but not crowded with mobs of big groups. Went to several tents without reservations and never had a problem getting a seat.

Been there a couple times, both on Opening weekend, here is my take.

Yes, you can make reservations for a specific tent, but you need to reserve a table, someone mentioned 8 persons, but I believe it to be 10, if you pay for initial food and beer, amounting to about 200 euro for the table (probably a bit more now). Even now, Saturday and Sunday on Opening weekend will be tough. You can go through agencies, but figure that cost goes up quite a bit, especially for Saturday afternoon, Saturday Evening, and Sunday Evening.

If I really wanted an evening at a tent, then maybe Monday after opening weekend would be my target, for 5 people, a table reservation is OK moneywise, you can do two beers each plus extra food.

Otherwise, we had great luck hitting tents the Monday Afternoon after opening weekend between lunch and 5:00, in 2016 we went into three tents for beer, and could have went into any of them.

If cost is not a big issue, I would try for reservations on Sunday night (I like Ochenbraterei) then spend Monday hitting tents without reservations. If you wander into a tent, there will be open tables, all have a card, if the card says there are reservations at 17:00, you are free to sit there until then. Even then, if there is a table not full, you might be able to ask for a seat, though with 5, that is a stretch. If you do get a seat, I would offer to buy a round or two.

As for the parade, any spot along the route is good, even if you can not get into a tent, the grounds are great to wander, and there are some other beer gardens there. Otherwise, we spent the weekend hitting the great beer gardens of Munich, plus there are several breweries outside of Munich to visit. Basically, figure on at least 5 days (Friday through Tuesday) for an ideal trip, then there are great beer destinations beyond Munich that would make a great 2 to 4 week trip, if that is the case, I have many other suggestions.

If you want Lederhosen, try www.lederhosen4u.com, sounds cheesy, but good quality options.

If you

Thanks so much for your helpful advice. You answered all my questions and then some, and I really appreciate your ideas and experience. Oktoberfest sounds like a blast, and I'll be sure to have a beer in your honor, from one traveler to another. Thanks again and cheers from Peggy in San Diego.///