Oktoberfest in Munich: The World’s Largest Folk Festival

Oktoberfest is the world’s largest folk festival and one of Europe’s most unforgettable cultural events. Held each year in Munich, Germany, Oktoberfest combines Bavarian food, traditional music, beer tents, parades, carnival rides, historic customs, and visitors from around the world.

Known locally as the Wiesn, Oktoberfest takes place at Theresienwiese, a large festival ground near central Munich. The festival attracts millions of visitors and offers far more than beer. Whether you want to enjoy traditional Bavarian meals, ride a Ferris wheel, hear live brass bands, wear a dirndl or lederhosen, explore Munich, or simply experience one of the world’s great celebrations, Oktoberfest offers something for every kind of traveler.

Oktoberfest 2027 is scheduled for Saturday, September 18 through Sunday, October 3, 2027.

What Is Oktoberfest?

Oktoberfest is an annual festival in Munich that celebrates Bavarian culture and hospitality. The event is famous for its large beer tents, but it is also a major fairground, food festival, live-music event, and cultural celebration.

The festival grounds include traditional beer tents, smaller specialty tents, food stands, souvenir stalls, games, historic attractions, family rides, thrill rides, and festival parades. Visitors can spend an entire day wandering the Wiesn without ever entering a beer tent.

Despite its name, Oktoberfest begins in September. The schedule takes advantage of Munich’s warmer late-summer weather and traditionally concludes on the first Sunday in October. When that Sunday falls on October 1 or October 2, the festival extends through German Unity Day on October 3.

Is Oktoberfest Only About Beer?

No. Beer is an important part of Oktoberfest, but it is only one part of the experience.

Oktoberfest is a celebration of Bavarian tradition, food, music, craftsmanship, entertainment, and community. Visitors of all ages can enjoy the festive atmosphere, historic parades, colorful decorations, live bands, fairground attractions, shopping, and local culture.

Popular Oktoberfest experiences include:

• Visiting the festival’s traditional beer tents and smaller specialty tents

• Listening to live Bavarian brass bands and singalong music

• Sampling classic Bavarian food and desserts

• Riding the Ferris wheel for views across Munich and the festival grounds

• Exploring carnival rides, games, and family attractions

• Shopping for souvenirs, gingerbread hearts, traditional clothing, and local gifts

• Watching festival parades, horse drawn brewery wagons, and Bavarian costumes

• Enjoying the historic atmosphere of Oide Wiesn, or Old Oktoberfest, when available

• Exploring Munich’s Old Town, beer gardens, museums, markets, and parks before or after visiting the festival

The Wiesn welcomes couples, friends, solo travelers, groups, food lovers, music fans, and travelers looking for an authentic Bavarian cultural experience. Families can also find rides, games, and attractions designed for younger visitors.

What Food Is Served at Oktoberfest?

Oktoberfest is one of the best places to enjoy classic Bavarian food. Each beer tent and food stand has its own menu, but visitors will find hearty regional dishes, lighter snacks, desserts, and vegetarian choices throughout the festival grounds.

Popular Oktoberfest foods include:

• Roast chicken, known in Bavaria as Hendl

• Giant soft pretzels

• Bratwurst, currywurst, and other regional sausages

• Schweinshaxe, or roasted pork knuckle

• Roast pork and dumplings

• Käsespätzle, a comforting cheese noodle dish

• Sauerkraut and red cabbage

• Obatzda, a Bavarian cheese spread often served with bread or pretzels

• Steckerlfisch, grilled fish served on a stick

• Roasted ox in selected tents

• Apple strudel, Kaiserschmarrn, and other traditional desserts

• Gingerbread hearts, often decorated with colorful messages

Beer tents are full-service restaurants as well as music venues. If you have a tent reservation, you will usually be seated at a table with service for food and drinks. Reservation arrangements vary by tent and package, and some require food and beverage vouchers.

Oktoberfest Beer Tents and Reservations

The famous Oktoberfest beer tents are central to the festival experience. These large temporary halls are decorated in Bavarian style and feature long communal tables, live bands, traditional food, and beer brewed by Munich breweries.

Entry to the Oktoberfest grounds is free. There is no general admission ticket required to walk around the festival, visit the rides, browse stalls, or enjoy the atmosphere. Beer tents also have nonreserved seating areas, but finding a table can be difficult during busy periods, especially on weekends, evenings, holidays, and opening or closing days.

A tent reservation provides designated seating for a specific date and time. Many Spyglass Tours Oktoberfest packages include tent reservation access, as listed on the individual tour page. Reservations may include required food and beverage vouchers, depending on the tent and the arrangement.

Tent reservations are especially valuable for travelers who want a more organized Oktoberfest experience. They allow you to plan ahead, sit with fellow travelers, enjoy a meal, and experience the atmosphere inside one of Munich’s famous festival tents without spending the day searching for open seating.

Oktoberfest Rides and Attractions

Oktoberfest is also one of Europe’s largest traveling funfairs. The festival grounds feature a wide range of attractions, from classic carousels and bumper cars to large Ferris wheels, roller coasters, games, haunted houses, and high-energy thrill rides.

You do not need to drink beer to have a great time at Oktoberfest. Many visitors come for the rides, food, music, shopping, and vibrant atmosphere alone.

Attractions can vary from year to year, but the festival typically offers:

• Ferris wheels with views over Munich

• Traditional carousels and family rides

• Roller coasters and high-speed thrill rides

• Funhouses, haunted attractions, and games

• Historic rides and nostalgic fairground entertainment

• Kid-friendly rides and family areas

• Food stands, sweet shops, and souvenir stalls

Oide Wiesn, or Old Oktoberfest, is a beloved historic section of the festival that features classic rides, traditional music, folk dancing, and a calmer old-fashioned atmosphere. It was introduced during Oktoberfest’s 200th anniversary celebration and remains a popular attraction in many years.

The History of Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest began in 1810 as a public celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, later King Ludwig I, and Princess Therese of Saxe Hildburghausen. The wedding took place on October 12, and the festivities concluded with a horse race on October 17.

The celebration was held on a meadow outside Munich that was named Theresienwiese, or Therese’s Meadow, in honor of the bride. That is why Munich residents still call Oktoberfest the Wiesn.

The event was repeated the following year, and an agricultural fair was added. Over time, the annual celebration expanded to include food stalls, beer stands, larger festival tents, rides, music, games, parades, and the traditional customs that define Oktoberfest today.

Oktoberfest has grown from a royal wedding celebration into a global event, but its roots remain firmly Bavarian. Its music, food, clothing, traditions, and communal spirit make it an experience that feels distinctly connected to Munich.

Who Should Visit Oktoberfest?

Oktoberfest is ideal for travelers who want to experience Bavaria at its most energetic, welcoming, and memorable. You do not need to be a beer expert or a party-focused traveler to enjoy the festival.

Oktoberfest is a great fit for:

• Friends planning a memorable group trip to Germany

• Couples seeking a festive European getaway

• Solo travelers who want a social, well-organized experience

• Food lovers interested in Bavarian cuisine and regional traditions

• Travelers who enjoy live music, parades, and cultural events

• Visitors who want to combine Munich sightseeing with a world-famous festival

• Families who want to enjoy rides, games, food, and daytime attractions

• Travelers extending their stay with day trips to Neuschwanstein Castle, Salzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, or the Bavarian Alps

Munich also offers excellent experiences beyond the festival grounds. Visit Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel, browse Viktualienmarkt, walk through the English Garden, explore museums and royal palaces, enjoy a traditional beer garden, or relax in a café between Oktoberfest celebrations.

Plan Your Oktoberfest Trip with Spyglass Tours

Spyglass Tours makes it easier to experience Oktoberfest with hotel accommodations, flexible monthly payment options, local transportation support, group orientation opportunities, and tent reservation access on qualifying packages.

Our Oktoberfest packages are designed for travelers who want the excitement of the Wiesn while still having time to explore Munich and Bavaria. Select from short opening-weekend, midweek, closing-weekend, and extended-stay packages, as well as multi-city European tours that combine Munich with destinations such as Budapest, Krakow, Prague, Amsterdam, and more.

International airfare is not included, allowing you to choose the flights and schedule that work best for you. For Munich packages, plan to arrive at Munich Airport, also known as Franz Josef Strauss Airport, using airport code MUC.

Reserve early to secure your preferred package, room type, and payment plan. Oktoberfest hotel availability and tent seating are limited, particularly during opening weekend and closing weekend.

Explore our Oktoberfest Packages to find your 2027 Munich tour, reserve with a low deposit, and make manageable monthly payments toward the Bavarian adventure of a lifetime.