munchen Oktoberfest or not

The grounds where the festival is held (Theresienwiese)
is extremely crowded, but the rest of the city doesn't seem to be anymore crowded than usual. Your biggest problem will be trying to find lodging, as many hotels are booked up way in advance and prices are at the peak. Is it something not to miss? Well, if you really like to party, then this is the place to be. I think Oktoberfest is definitely worth going to .... it's one of those 'once-in-a-lifetime' experiences.

Do NOT go on a weekend, and go for lunch ( before 2pm). You should definitely go!

It is a "must" in my opinion. If you like beer and chatting with all kinds of people - it is so much fun. Yes it is very crowded at the fairgrounds. I have never gone on a weekend and quite frankly, if I can ever help it - I won't ever go on a weekend. The weekdays are best. The rest of the city of Munich does not feel that crowded and there are a lot of things to see and do in and around Munich. Get your hotel reservations immediately and be prepared to pay. And I think it is worth noting that the atmosphere of Oktoberfest is that even though people are definitely over-indulging a bit, no-one gets violent or inappropriately rowdy. Just appropriately rowdy :) I have met so many really nice people from all over and just had a great time.

Yes you should go! It's so much fun. We were there this past September. If you don't have reservations for a tent you will most likely not get in. Go around noon or just before and you'll you'll be able to get into a tent. We returned in the evening just to walk around and take it all in. It was very crowded but the sights were worth it. If you don't have lodging reserved it may be very hard to get a hotel. You may want to consider booking further out and taking the S-Bahn into the city. Look at the S-Bahn map to see which cities are on the line and check out lodging there.

Vito, as someone who has attended the Munich Oktoberfest 3 times I guess I have to recommend it. Yes, the fairgrounds can be crowded. If you get to there before noon on a weekend you have a good chance to get in to a tent. If you can go during the week then try to make it before 2 p.m. If you don't get into the tent then wander around the grounds. There are stands that sell seasonal wine and shots. Wear clothes that you don't care about getting dirty because when the crowd Prosts (toasts) the beer flies and stains. Here is a hotel you can check out: http://www.seibel-hotels-munich.de/en.html The Seibel Pension and the Seibel Hotel are right in Munich. The Park Hotel is nice but it is in West Munich near the Pasing S-Bahn station (about 20 mins. away from the center). The Seibel Hotel is literally right across the street from the fairgrounds. Definitely book your hotel room a.s.a.p. Good luck.

If you're looking for a town nearby I recommend Rosenheim, it's about a 45 minute ride on the Deutsche Bahn to Munchen.

We've been to Oktoberfest twice and highly recommend it. Even if you don't drink beer, it's a memorable experience and really not overly crowded. In fact, if you can schedule yourself into Munich for the opening weekend of Oktoberfest, be sure to see the Oktoberfest Parade on that Sunday morning. It's the most amazing sight .... animals, bands, people in native Bavarian costumes. One of the highlights of our trip!

Do you like German beer? Ever been to a state fair? The festival is crowded, particularly on weekends and later in the afternoon / evening. Getting a table during the busy periods can be next to impossible as most are reserved months in advance. I wouldn't miss it for the world, but it is a personal preference.

"Ever been to a state fair? " Lol...that was my impression of Oktoberfest too. A state fair with a lot of big beer tents!!! I don't drink beer, but I was more than happy to accompany my hubby so he could check Oktoberfest off of his bucket list. We went mid-week, arriving around 2:00. We found a table in a tent that was reserved at 4:00, so that gave us 2 hours there. After that we wandered around for awhile. Munich did not seem more crowded than normal during Oktoberfest, with the exception of the fair grounds, and maybe the train station. It is a very unique experience.

Looks like I'm in the minority here, but I was in Munich in early October, JUST after Oktoberfest was over, and was kind of glad. Huge fan of Munich here (been there twice, 2nd time was a few yrs later, at xmas time); the art, people, museums, parks, cathedrals, important WWII memorials, the culture, etc. and also LOVE beer (especially German beers!), but was glad not to have to deal w/ the crowds, higher hotel prices, difficulty securing a hotel resservation, harder time getting tables at desirable restaurants, etc. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it would be very fun to see/experience, but I'll make a comparisson to Mardi-Gras. Happened to be in New Orleans on a biz trip that overlapped by 1 day w/ Mardi Gras, so stayed an extra day. After a few hrs experiencing Mardi Gras, was MORE than ready to leave. For me, personally, I think Oktoberbest would be much the same. Maybe it has to do w/ age. When I was in my 20s, idea of a huge beer drinkng festival would prob have been heaven on earth, but now that I'm 40, not so much anymore!

It's w/o a doubt an event to experience HOWEVER it's full of tourist traps. And I'm not even referring to the hotel prices. And yes the tents are very hard to get into. Waiting in line to eat/drink is not my idea of a vacation. I would not do it again. I love Munich and their beer however.

My wife and two young adult sons timed our visit to Munich so we could visit this huge event. We reserved rooms months in advance and they were at a premium. We arrived early evening without any tent tickets, as we were arriving many were trying to leave. We found seats outside a tent and wanders into a tent. These people were having a blast. My wife and took it easy. My sons jump in and we separated from them for the night. This is world event you will meet people from everywhere!
Yes go and experience it and you don't have to get blasted to enjoy. There are plenty of other Munich beer venues where you can have a controlled drunken Bavarian experience.

My wife and two young adult sons timed our visit to Munich so we could visit this huge event. We reserved rooms months in advance and they were at a premium. We arrived early evening without any tent tickets, as we were arriving many were trying to leave. We found seats outside a tent and wanders into a tent. These people were having a blast. My wife and took it easy. My sons jump in and we separated from them for the night. This is world event you will meet people from everywhere!
Yes go and experience it and you don't have to get blasted to enjoy. There are plenty of other Munich beer venues where you can have a controlled drunken Bavarian experience.

Crowded? Yes. Worthwhile? Yes. Especially if you like/know the words to lots of John Denver and Abba songs. Seriously. We solved the lodging dilemma by staying in Garmisch (worthwhile in its own right, and close to Linderhof, Neuschwanstein and Innsbruck) and taking the train into Munich. The hauptbahnhof is about 8 blocks from the Theriesenweisean easy walk, follow the crowd. DB offered a special discounted RT fare during Oktoberfest called the Bayerischertikt. Plus, we didn't have to worry about driving after 2 liters of beer. For other alcohol-based entertainment, there are wine festivals running at about the same time in the Mosel/rhein area. Reisling in half-liter glasses! Bad Durkheim (W of Heidelberg) is a good bet. Germans seem to be amiable drunks, much less stern than normal :-). I actually got to use the tongue-twisters and other silly phrases in Rick's phrasebook with my tablemates at the weinfest and Oktoberfest.

Vito, some of the tents have "standing room only" sections. If you don't mind standing at a table as opposed to sitting you might get into a tent quicker. There's also more room to dance if the feeling happens. You actually meet more people in the SRO sections because you can move from table to table. Just don't go outside of the barrier with your beer. In 2005 I met some people from Michigan too. The one guy actually lived 5 blocks away from me. The guards count people as they enter or exit. Make friends with the people in-line and you can piggy-back your way in.
The second weekend of the fest is unofficially "Italian Weekend." It looks like everybody from north of the Po Valley is in Munich that weekend. Be warned, the Italians try to match their beer drinking skills with the Germans and usually come out on the bottom. :-) Prost!

Absolutely go. It is one of those things that if you choose NOT to go, you will always wonder if you made the right/wrong decision. In a sentence, it is one of those "once in a lifetime travel experiences." Have been there twice without regret. Go for it!!

Yet another vote for go. Great experience. I would take issue with Munich not being any more crowded than usual. I lived in Munich for some years and it was definitely more crowded during the Oktoberfest, but as others have said its an amiable and generally well behaved crowd.

In my opinion as a German Oktoberfest is the worst tourist trap. For a visitor it most likely is a fantastic lecture in social studies of us Germans. Go there, preferably during the week and early in the day. For me (and my friends in Munich whom I visit) it means less crowds at the Antikensammlung, Pinakothek der Moderne and Ethnology museum. For accommodation I always suggest renting an apartment (if >=2 people for >= 1 week) - lots of freedom and cost efficient.
München is a nice town, lots to see and do and it makes a nice base for day trips, too.