Oktoberfest

I think the grounds open at 11am maybe, so I would be there at 11 sharp. Go straight to either the Hacker Pshorr tent or the Lowenbrau tent. Those are my favorites. The 'no reservation' table for the Lowenbrau is right at the center by the band stage. At the Hacker Pshorr it is in the back. Both are marked. If that fails, be outgoing and make friends. We went into a crowded tent on an evening and on a whim I asked a group if we could join and they squeezed as tight as they could and made room. I can't say it enough, Oktoberfest astounds me with the generousity and niceness of everyone we met. No-one in our experience got mean or violent or anything like that. Just warm fuzzy niceness. Genuinely great people from everywhere. So other than that, dress the part. You won't regret it. Oh and on what I think is the west side of the grounds is a hill that people go take a much needed break from their day (passout). I took a picture of that hill at about 1pm and I wish I had gone back at around 6pm. Its pretty funny. Try to learn at least some German. After experiencing the big tent until your heart is content, try a small tent - they can be just as much fun. I don't know how to guide you to the small tent I went to - but I keep going back to that one...it is really fun. A guy and his keyboard playing Bob Denver with everyone singing along. ;) You will have a great time. Each year at about this time, my husbands eyes glaze over with dreams of going back again.

My wife and I went once on the weekend. We got there about noon. It was pretty busy but there was a nice group of Norwegians that slid in for us. We're meeting them again this year during the week. Short answer. Since it's just the two of you I wouldn't worry about finding a seat. Look forward to making some new friends. Enjoy! Prost!

Oooh - opening weekend......8:00am might be about right...I've read as early as 7:00am, and the official website says 9:00am............However, you can forget about getting into the Schottenhamel tent! In all but one tent, you MUST be seated to order beer. If necessary, squeeze in next to someone at a table (ask permission first!) in order to get a beer - then wander until you find a more permanent home...Every tent has non-reserved seating inside; many have seating outside. My advice - sit where you can, and don't get too picky! I prefer going during the week on Family Day - smaller crowds = easy pickins' ;-)..................PROST!!! [[Mom here - drink lots of water and EAT SOMETHING ;-) ]]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! We LOVE John Denver, so if anyone knows the name of that tent, we'd love to check it out! Otherwise, we will just roam about and hope to find it!

Well I tried to tap my husband's brain about the small tent we were in but we couldn't find it exactly. What we remember about it though is that it was directly across from the Hacker Pschorr Tent. Out front they were selling weiners from an open grill (specfically even a half meter weiner). Inside there were picnic tables lining two sides of the room and the singer/keyboardist was down front with a little area for dancing. Hope that helps.

Amy, I was in Munich last year on opening weekend and a group of 20 of us went into a tent about noon and had no trouble finding seats. The seats are usally all reserved after 4pm in most tents but 5 of us stayed until after 8 pm and still had seats. Most people don't sit down anyway. You will have an amazing time and I still laugh at some of the things I saw. You said you will be in Munich on Sun of opening weekend. If so, please make it a point to see all or part of the Oktoberfest Parade thru downtown Sun morning. That was a highlight of my trip last year. Best parade you will ever see.

My technique is to arrive late afternoon. Eat a big meal about 3 pm then head to one of the less touristy tents at least an hour before sunset......This is about the time the "first wave" of tent goers are being carted off to hospitals by the EMTs (you think I'm joking) and there is space available. If you wait til after dark, you will wait in line but get in eventually. You must be seated to order a beer and the whole thing is closed (and I mean empty) by 10:30 pm. Local party goers then head to night clubs while everyone else goes home. Whatever you do, balance eating with drinking or you will be carted off too (again not joking).

I like Eileen suggestion about not being picky. It's better to find a seat, sit in it and let the fun come to you, than look around for your best options. Hofbrauhaus will be the most touristy and longest line. I've always liked Lowenbrau but people say that's a touristy one too (I guess I was there).

Yes James, I actually loved Bonnfest back when it was still the Capital - much more of a local event and two stages so no break time between music (one oompah band and another that played mostly Abba hits). Plus we didn't leave until 4 am (and it was still going strong) and no requirement to be seated to order a beer. I'm not sure if they still have it, I can never find any info online.

Ah, Oktoberfest Märzen, oompah, and ABBA ...Das ist zehr gut...(staring wistfully...)

Be prepared for loads of people and many are hopelessly intoxicated. My wife and two adult (late 20's sons) arrived early evening as the afternoon crowd was leaving. It reminded me of fresh troops marching into battle as the wounded were left to return to camp. We were able to find tables outdoors and were quite happy there at least my wife and I. To enjoy the indoor tent activity one really needs to arrive early without a ticket, acclamate youe sober state with the others and then everyone gets blasted as the night goes on. Just remember, you are in a unfamilair city, they speak german, and your not rationally thinking...important if you want to get home. Never ever will you see anything else like this. My son had been to previous Octoberfests says the most popular, universally known sing along song was...Country Road (West virginia)....sure as hell. An hour after we arrived the band started playing and the mass chorus started! Have fun

...and that's why I chose to go on Family Day and early in the afternoon - I don't need someone's vomit and spilled beer on my shoes...that's what I go to rock concerts for 8-(