Hello,
We will be traveling through Munich en route to Regensburg on a Friday during Oktoberfest. We’d love to spend a few hours experiencing the music, people, food and drinks. We’ll have 4 active adults in their 60s— can you please recommend any particular tent/location to visit at the event? Where could we try to park for a few hours, before we need to head out for Regensburg?
Thank you!!
Parking - driving - Oktoberfest?
Are you aware of the very high penalties and very low alcohol limits in Germany - strictly enforced and even more so around Oktoberfest?
FYI - The legal drink driving limit in Germany is 0.5 grams of alcohol per liter of blood or 0.25 milligrams of alcohol per liter of breath. Fines start at 500€.
I'm afraid I have to agree with Nigel. If you were spending the night or taking the train, I would feel differently. But drink drive laws in Germany are harsher than the US. Plus trying to find parking in Munich on a Friday during Oktoberfest would take up time.
You don't need to target a particular tent. You'll figure it out when you get there. And there's much more to see and do than just the beer tents.
Thanks for the advice! The driver in our group does not drink alcohol, and the rest of us aren’t interested in going because of the beer- only interested in trying a little bit.
Regarding parking. Not easy to find at the best of times, and certainly not on a Friday during Octoberfest. Perhaps if you tell us where you are coming from that day, we could suggest a suburb, from which you could take the train or sbahn into the city.
Take a look at Park & Ride car park Fröttmaning north of Munich. You can take the U6 back into Munich to the Goetheplatz and walk to the Theresienwiese. 18 years ago I stood in the rain at 09:30 for 1.5 hours and never got into a Bier tent. Haven't been back since. Please check the route. From Fröttmaning drive to Regensburg.
If you are flying into Munich, park at the station in Freising and take the regional train into town. It's also north of the city and a good jumping off point to get to Regensburg.
I would just wander around the festival, see what is interesting, and pop into whatever tent looks fun and has space. The later in the day you go, the less space you will find.
I would definitely say it's worth it and agree with the advice to park on the outskirts at a train station and take the train to the grounds. There are lots of things to do beyond the big tents which are only part of the fest. There are lots of rides, shops and places to eat and drink (alcoholic and non) all around Oktoberfest. The Old Weisn (a small fee to enter) is more laid back than the main area. Enjoy your trip!
