This weekend heralds the start of the 179th Munich Oktoberfest, and if you are looking for some beer drinking, thigh-slapping, tabletop-dancing action then you need to pack your bags and head on down to Bavaria – and fast!
Attracting more than 5 million people from across the globe, the Munich Oktoberfest is undoubtedly Germany’s most popular attraction, and if you don’t mind squeezing into a beer tent with thousands of ‘well oiled’ Aussies, Yanks, Brits, and, of course, the odd German, you will have the time of your life singing along with the world-famous bands.
Visiting the Oktoberfest is great fun, but it is not cheap! Hotels in Munich generally fill up months (even years) in advance, and as always, when there is a demand the prices inflate. However, if you are lucky enough to get into one of the many guesthouses on the outskirts of the city, you can expect to pay a ‘normal’ price for your stay, and the transport network is superb.
Once you get into the beer tents, you can expect to pay between 9.10€ and 9.50€ for a litre of beer, but the glass is always half full (or half empty – whichever way you look at it!) by the time it reaches your table, as the overloaded waiters and waitress do their best to get through the all-singing, all-dancing crowds.
If you are a teetotaler, and do not wish to swing a Mass of Beer along with the rest of the crowd, you can treat yourself to a litre of water instead, for a mere 7.00€!
Traditional Bavarian snacks are on offer all day, every day, and while they are completely delicious, they are not for those on a diet! Wiener Schnitzel with fries, roast pork knuckles with crispy skin, dumplings, and of course, super-huge pretzels all pack a punch when it comes to calories, and when you combine it with a Mass (or 2), you are definitely getting into ‘fat pants’ territory!
The Munich Oktoberfest comes but once a year, and if you are heading over for the first time this year, we can pretty much guarantee it will be Wunderbar!
Oh my goodness, those photos bring back many happy memories from our visit in the mid 80’s! It certainly is a fun experience! 🙂
I am sure it hasn’t changed much since the 80’s Eleenie! Except for the beer prices 😉
And if you live in Texas, you can just hop down to Wurstfest in New Brunsfel and get pretty much the same thing without the cost of airfare, but with a whole lot of UT Longhorns.
Texas certainly knows how to put on an Oktoberfest! 🙂
Oh, yes please!!!
Munich- lovely city- lived there for a while- visit in December!
It is a great city, and beautiful in December with the Christmas markets – enjoy!