We will be in Munich on the first day of Oktoberfest this year; however, we are staying in Salzburg that evening. We plan to train to Salzburg later in the day.
Our questions:
1. Is it worth trying to spend a few hours at Oktoberfest on opening day?
2. Any tips or suggestions?
There is a Parade in the morning which is easy to access and watch, getting access to the grounds should not be a problem, but getting a seat in the tents can be a problem. I would suggest going to the grounds, even without a seat you can go into the tents for a look....unless due to the crowds they close off the entrance....and if you are only a couple, you might luck out and find room at a table. Otherwise look around then go hit one of the Biergartens in town and have your own fest.
As for getting a seat, generally groups reserve a table (10 spots) you can not reserve less than a table, and you set the time for the reservation. If for some reason a table is only reserved from 5 PM until close, it is fair game until 5 PM. If you are a friendly sort, you might also approach a table of 4 or 6 and inquire if they would mind sharing the spare seats with you (offering to buy them a beer is not cheap (~10 euro per) but might help your offer) You might find yourself making some friends.
Thanks for the reply. More questions:
1. What is "Tent Etiquette"?
2. Is food and beer served from a counter or are there waitresses?
3. Which Tents are most likely to fill fast?
4. What is the cost to enter the grounds?
First, I want to set your expectations for opening day. It will be extremely crowded and you will not get into any big tents, not even just to look around, without a reservation.
That said you should definitely go to check out the midway and get a beer at one of the outdoor Biergartens areas or on a Weißbier carousel (exactly what it sounds like).
- What is "Tent Etiquette"?
There are certain things not allowed, mostly related to excess drinking. For example, no standing on the tables (benches ok), no chugging a Maß (at least not publicly with people cheering), no excessive drunkeness or passing out, etc. The YouTube channel "Get Germanized" has a good episode of what to expect.
- Is food and beer served from a counter or are there waitresses?
In the tents you will order food and drinks from wait staff. Outside you order from counters.
- Which Tents are most likely to fill fast?
On opening day all tents are reserved. You can't even get inside the big tents without a reservation, you might have a chance to see inside a smaller tent but finding a seat will be extremely lucky. For more details on the tents see this map.
- What is the cost to enter the grounds?
Nothing, its free. Think of it like a large state fair.
Do the breweries have celebrations at their home buildings or just on the Oktoberfest grounds?
No really anything special other than the Fest beer will be available. On opening day each brewery has a traditional beer wagon in the parade that starts at either the brewery or a brewery owned keller. It's a good way to see the horses and beer wagon up close. We always go to Wienerplatz to see the Hofbräu wagon start from Hofbräu Keller.
DJ
To add more basic info to DJ's
Yes, opening weekend is a madhouse. If you can be there the Monday after opening weekend, then getting a seat in a tent from just after Lunch to 5:00 PM should be no problem. Saturday and Sunday it is less likely...but you never know. This year you could have gotten a seat in several tents on Saturday as attendance was way down (security concerns I believe)
You are allowed to enter a tent unless it is filled to capacity and they shut off entry. You can wander around and look, but cannot get a beer unless you are seated at a table. A few tents do have stand-up areas and outdoor biergartens though. Tables are generally reserved, but as I mentioned, if they are not reserved during the time you are there, then you can sit, but not past the reservation start time. Waitstaff will serve you, Beer by the Mas (1 liter), wine is usually available, then some menu is offered. Pretzels are a cheap option, chicken, Ox, and pork shank the likely meat options. People who reserve a table basically agree to purchase 10 beers and 10 meals, so if you try the tact of begging a spot at an underfilled table, offering to take on some of the cost, or buying a few beers is a good tact.
As DJ mentioned, standing on the tables is Verbotten, but standing on the benches, loud singing, and toasting your table mates with clangs of the glasses is expected. Trying to steal glasses is strongly frowned upon and you will get caught.
As for other biergartens, they will be busy, have bands, and almost as much fun as a tent. Not the same experience, but still one you need to have.
Thanks, it gives us a lot to think about. Since we are leaving Munich for Salzburg on opening Saturday, we will not have a great deal of time. We would hope to just get a feel of the Festival. The Brewery Parade on opening day does sound interesting.
Was not there last year but it sounds like security issues may have dented attendance numbers? Anyway the fest is a zoo big time. Corporate tents are everywhere and obviously not open to the masses. But if you like crowds then go for it.
Surely you will be able to walk around on opening saturday. Last year it was not so crowded so with a bit of lucky you will be able to get in a tent and find a place to sit down for a beer. If the tent is closed you can wait a bit in front of a door and you might be able to get in, depending on the situation.
Definitely go to Oktoberfest. We have done the very thing you are suggesting and it worked out perfectly. The parade is fantastic to watch. The beer wagons are very festively decorated and everyone is in traditional German costumes. We were surprised when we entered the fairgrounds that the beer tents were already full. People get there very early (don't watch parade) to get there places in the tents. We have had great luck asking people already seated if we could join them and made instant new friends. They clear out the beer tents late in the afternoon to get them cleaned up for the evening reservations.
Be prepared that trains leaving Munich may be very full. When we traveled to Salzburg there were many people standing in the train car entrances because the seats were filled. You might want to board early to ensure a seat.
Thanks for the train tip. Did not think the trains would be crowded. Would it be wise to get tickets early or at least earlier in the day?
You'll save money if you book your train tickets in advance, but those cheap tickets are inflexible so you have to be aware of timing. I would do it to get a seat reservation, otherwise you'll likely be standing and a lot of people start pre-drinking on the train and get a little rowdy, which can be fun or annoying, depending on your perspective.
The Wasen (Oktoberfest grounds) is walkable from the main train station. I would recommend watching the parade, getting a quick look at the fest, then high tailing to the Augustiner Biergarten which is also quite convenient to the train station (a couple of tram stops or a 20 minute walk) for decent food and fantastic beer in a classic Bavarian setting.
I really doubt you'll be able to get in a tent on opening day. I went on a weekday halfway into the fest and we had problems getting into a tent, but luckily my friend got chummy with a waiter from the Hacker-Pschorr tent on break, and he snuck us in, once inside we found a table with a few extra seats and they said we could sit with them if we bought them a beer. You can't have a beer yourself unless you're seated inside the tent.
