Planning Your Oktoberfest Trip

When does it happen? 

Where does it happen?

Top foods to eat at Oktoberfest

• Brezen - otherwise known as a pretzel, you can find these in every size wherever you look. they can be plain, served with mustard, or even split open and filled with things like butter.
• Fischbrötchen - a little bit lighter than most other fare on this list, fischbrötchen are basically little seafood sliders, usually using fish, shrimp, or crab.
• Hendl – these roasted chickens are smothered in butter, parsley, and paprika and in high demand at Oktoberfest.
• Knödel - a potato or flour dumpling that is often served as a side dish. Potato dumplings are a staple at any big eating event in my house. 
• Obatzda – a soft garlicky cheese spread that is often served with pickles or pickled onions, but it’s awesome with a brezen.
• Ochs am Spieß - ox on a spit is a traditional meat kebab that has been around almost as long as Oktoberfest. It’s often covered in a red wine sauce.
• Schweinshaxe - roasted pork knuckle that is generally served with sauerkraut and a potato dumpling, or other potato side.
• Spätzle - you’re probably pretty familiar with this grated, boiled dough, though probably not the way they serve it in Munich: in a heaping helping and topped with fried onions and/or bacon, or even smothered in cheese.
• Steckerlfisch - a variety of different marinated fish that is grilled. Every stand has their own version with their own spices.
• Weisswurst – a white sausage made from minced veal and pork back bacon and various seasonings. Served in a pair in a pot of hot water with a pretzel, mustard, and a wheat beer.

• Späten
• Augustiner
• Paulaner
• Hacker-Poschorr
• Hofbräu
• Löwenbräu

How to save money

• My number one tip for saving money is by limiting your beer consumption. This might be a bit easier for grown-ups who don’t tend to go to pound drinks back to get as drunk as possible. A liter of beer can run you $10-13, but they also tend to have double the alcohol content of regular American beers (6% vs 3%). Bring along water to stay hydrated. You can purchase it there, but it will still run you about $7/liter.

• Try to hit up the festival on the weekdays, as it will be easier to find a seat in a tent than on the weekend, especially if there are only a few of you. Weekends are always the most popular days.

• Only bring the amount of money you want to spend, because it can be easy to lose track of your purchases. This makes it easier to budget.

• Stay outside of Munich or look for an affordable Airbnb on the outskirts, because the closer you get to Theresienwiese (the park it takes place in), the more premium the rates. Train travel is convenient and can be a lot more affordable if you’re trying to save money. 

• Food portions are large, so look to split meals. Unless you’re starving, you’ll find it difficult to finish some of these entrees. You can always supplement with pretzels, which will also help you soak up some of that beer you’ve been imbibing in.

Staying safe

• Drink responsibly. You already know this. Remember your limits. Remember to eat (and drink water!). Remember your budget. If you find yourself doing poorly, there are recovery tents available that help hundreds of people every day.

• Don’t bring all your money. Bring cash, but bring just as much as you plan to spend, so you can’t go overboard, but also because if you get robbed, you won’t be screwed for the rest of your trip.

• Beer tents all have their own serveware. Do not take the steins/mugs. This is a crime. There are plenty for sale throughout the event to take home as souvenirs.

• Know your way around. Make sure to do your research, so you know how to get back to the train station and your hotel/rental. Keep a backup battery on you, because you don’t want to get lost without a phone that could have all your important info in it. Get a multi-day train ticket and save yourself some money and hassle.