Oktoberfest - visiting for a few hours

Hi !! On that first Sunday, you will absolutley be able to walk around & drink & eat. There are various little biergartens & food stands all over the place. Even though it is opening weekend, that Sunday you may even be able to get into a tent if you're early enough. Try the Hofbrau tent, they are the only tent that has standing room tables inside. The tents have their own biergartens outside as well. Good luck & have fun !!!

Will you arrive that morning? Try to make it downtown to the Oktoberfest parade. We saw it by accident one year and it was one of the highlights of our trip. I think it starts around 10am and ends around 1pm, on that first Sunday of Oktoberfest. You'll see people from tiny towns in native costumes, bands, oxen ... amazing sights. Then it's a short walk over the Oktoberfest grounds, which is definitely worth seeing even if you can't get into a tent. It's like a huge carnival, with lots of rides and food stands, and plenty of places to buy beer even outside a tent. Try the pretzels and the sausages. It's a fun thing to see.

I second the parade suggestion,great parade! Lots of fun!

My impression of Oktoberfest ---- It's like going to the State Fair. Instead of big livestock tents/buildings they have big beer tents. There are also food booths, etc. I think 4 hours is plenty. And if you can see the parade (I didn't), even better!!

Why do they call them tents? When I was there they looked like permanent wooden buildings. But I've also seen pictures, I don't know how old, that looked like real tents.

Go for it and drink a few for me. Corporate tents have come to be the rule vs exception but the Munich fest is still a fantastic scene to experience anyway. A food and beer heaven on earth. And yes their parade is worth watching.