oktoberfest 2011

Yes, there are sites for making reservations, I do not recall the details, but I do recall that in order to do so, you need to reserve a table (10 or 12 reservations) instead of just two. When we were there, we did go on a weekday, and after lunch, we were able to get seats in a couple tents easily. We did this by finding tables that were reserved for the evening only and asking the "beermaid" if it was OK to sit. Nearly always it was fine, we had our beer and whatever else and moved on. Granted, if you want to go on the weekend or busy weeknight, goodluck, but even then, finding a free spot may work.

We are planning on going during the week and would be leaving Munich by the time the weekend came about. We (husband and I) were hoping we would be able to get tickets ahead of time and forgo the waiting in line ups. I don't really mind going just after lunch if that seems to be the best way to get in. Is there one festhall that is better than another?

My advice is go to your local library or just buy the book: The Beer Drinker's Guide to Munich. I purchased it on Amazon for $15. The sixth edition. By Larry Hawthorne. On page 217 is a listing of the major beer distributors and their respective Oktoberfest tents. Along with advance reservations phone numbers and respective web sites. It was our experiences that unless you had reserved a table (5 hours each) you could NOT get a beer. Standing room only was not allowed in many of these tents. Stupid for sure but that's what we experienced this year.

Darlene - the only reservations you can make is for an entire table. As said before, if you go during the week, during the day, you chances of finding a seat are pretty good. You can ask to sit at a partially filled table, or sit at a table that has a reserved sign on it for evening reservations.

You may have to wander around a bit, but you should eventually find a seat. Many people already seated will gladly let you sit with them.

Thanks everyone, I guess that means I won't have to worry and stress about making the reservations since there is just the 2 of us. We will wander around (which may be better in the long run because we can play it by ear) and go when we want depending on weather and how we feel.

Just to give detail on my experience, we went the Monday after opening weekend in 2009. Maybe everyone was hung over from the weekend, but the crowds were moderate, enough to feel like a fest, not so many to be crushing. We were able to walk into just about any tent to look around (well worth it since they are really something) and in most cases the tables were just over half full even though it was lunch or just after. In two tents (Hacher-Pschorr and Spaten I believe) we went into a pretty vacant aisle and saw that the cards on the tables indicated they were reserved for 5:00 PM on. We saw the Beermaid for the row, pointed to the table and she motioned for us to sit down. I am sure if the place was crowded, it may not have happened, maybe we were lucky (or dumb) but it worked for us. I would certainly investigate reservations, especially if you would like to do an evening thing. But if all else falls through, you can always try what I did.

Thanks Paul

I will look into reservations but I won't stress over it now. We plan on being in Munich on the Tues, Wed, Thurs (dates could change still but I am thinking a Tues is probably not a big party day). It doesn't really matter to us whether we attend in the evening or during the day, it's all just a matter of being able to say that we took part in it. We have a large Oktoberfest celebration here in Kitchener so it will be fun to compare, in fact we will be coming home in time for the start of Oktoberfest here.

to restate what others have said - you really cannot make a reservation in a big tent without at least 10 people. If you go on a weekday, you will be perfectly fine. Anytime mid-day on a weekday and you should be able to find a spot.

My first experience at Oktoberfest we had a group of 4 and no reservations. We went to the Hacker Pshorr tent and were able to sit at a table all day until we were booted out because of a 6pm reservation. Which was fine actually - we moved onto a smaller tent and had the time of our lives!

The second time we went to Oktoberfest, it was just me and my husband. We went pretty much as soon as the fairgrounds opened and found the seats in the big tents that are without reservations and we stayed all day until we felt like moving on.

Our favorite tents are the Lowenbrau tent and the Hacker Pschorr tent.

Even in the evening when there was not a spot to be had - we were friendly and asked complete strangers if we could squeeze into their table and they gladly let us join. So moral of the story is, don't be timid, smile and make friends. That was our second time there. The first time we were like little scared bunnies not sure how to get a seat in a packed tent. :)

I suggest you dress up in lederhosen and dirndls. We got ours on E-bay before the trip.

I did read this year that the last weekend of Oktoberfest was the most insane with crowds. People were turned away at the train station because they couldn't handle anymore people at the fairgrounds. I personally would ALWAYS go on a weekday or I could end up a very sad girl in a dirndl sitting at the train station.

What Amy said! That was our exact same experience at Oktoberfest 2007 & this year. Also someone recommended the Beer Drinkers Guide to Munich --- get it! We got great use out of it. And if you are going to be in Munich, take a half day trip out to Kloster Andechs. Monastery about 45 minutes out on the S8 line... great beer and best roasted pork I've ever had.

We went this year on a Wednesday, around 2:00 p.m. While the tents were crowded, we did what others have suggested and sat at a reserved table. We didn't have to leave until the reservation time. Do wander into the various tents. They are all different.

What Amy said. My wife and I have gone the past 3yrs. Never had a problem. Just squeeze in and you'll make a lot of new friends. See you there next year (on a week day). Prost!!