What are the opening hours?
The date of the 188th Wiesn is from 16.9. to 3.10.2023. Depending on the day, tent and stand the opening hours are between 9 am and 1 am - read more
FAQs for Wiesn visitors
From opening hours to reservations to lost and found office
When is the Oktoberfest open, do you have to make a reservation, where is the lost and found office? On and around the festival grounds, there are all kinds of things that Oktoberfest-goers want to know. The answers to the most important questions can be found here - and in the official Oktoberfest app!
Does the Oktoberfest cost admission?
No, access to the festival grounds on the Theresienwiese is free. This also applies to the tents. However, the historical Oktoberfest section "Oide Wiesn" costs four euros admission. More info
What security measures are there at the entrances to the festival grounds?
There are security staff at the entrances who will check you if necessary. This is because you are not allowed to take large bags or dangerous objects to the Wiesn. All info
On which days is Oktoberfest less busy?
There is always a lot going on at the Theresienwiese. But there are also times at the world's largest folk festival when it's a bit quieter and more leisurely. The Oktoberfest barometer shows for each day how busy the Wiesn is expected to be.
Do I have to make reservations in the tents?
Basically not. Admission to the tents is free of charge. A quarter of the seats in the tents may not even be reserved in principle. On weekends and public holidays, even half of all seats are exempt from reservation until 3 p.m., after which 35 percent are still exempt. The Käfer Wiesn-Schänke and Kufflers Weinzelt are exempt from this rule. By the way, reservations can only be made inside the tents, not in the beer gardens. Read more
How long are the queues at the entrances?
That depends on the day and the time. For this, it is best to look at the Oktoberfest barometer, which gives hints of how busy the Oktoberfest is. Of course, the tents generally fill up faster in bad weather.
Supporting program: When are the top events at Oktoberfest?
The tapping of the Oktoberfest 2023 (opening ceremony) with the Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter is on September 16, 2023 at 12 o'clock in the Schottenhamel festival tent. Traditionally, there are these other parades and events at the Oktoberfest :
- Entry of the Oktoberfest patrons (September 16, first Oktoberfest day, immediately before the tapping).
- Traditional costume and hunter's parade (September 17, first Sunday of the Oktoberfest )
- Oktoberfest church service in the Marstall (September 21, first Oktoberfest Thursday)
- Concert of the tent bands (September 24, second Oktoberfest Sunday)
- Gun salute at the end of the Oktoberfest (last day of the Oktoberfest )
All dates in the overview: https://www.oktoberfest.de/en/information/events
How to reserve seats on the parades?
Tickets for the spectator stands for the parades of the Wiesnwirte (first Oktoberfest Saturday) and the Trachten- und Schützenzug (first Oktoberfest Sunday) are available in advance from München Ticket GmbH and all known ticket agencies. More information here
If you want to participate in the parades, you can find all the information here
What rules for the Oktoberfest should I follow?
To ensure that celebrating together with thousands of people goes smoothly, the Oktoberfest organizers has drawn up 10 golden rules for the Oktoberfest: Here you can find out in a nutshell what you should bear in mind when visiting the Oktoberfest.
Traffic and travel: What is the best way to get to the Wiesn?
There is a comprehensive security and traffic concept for the Munich Oktoberfest to increase the safety of visitors and improve the traffic situation around the festival grounds.
What traffic restrictions will there be at the Theresienwiese?
For the Oktoberfest, a cordon will be set up around the Theresienwiese with road closures and stopping bans. This will be limited by Lindwurmstrasse, Herzog-Heinrich-Strasse, Paul-Heyse-Strasse, Schwanthalerstrasse, Schießstättstrasse, Heimeranstrasse, Ganghoferstrasse, Hans-Fischer-Strasse and Poccistrasse. Bavariaring and Theresienhöhe will be closed to motor vehicle traffic, and the side streets leading into them will become cul-de-sacs.
How do I get to the Oktoberfest by public transport?
It is recommended to travel by public transport. You can find all the information about travel times and prices on the MVV here: https://www.oktoberfest.de/en/information/getting-there/travel-times-and-fares-with-mvv
Which stops are there around the Wiesn?
- U4/U5: Theresienwiese and Schwanthalerhöhe
- U4/U5 or S-Bahn S7 / S20: Heimeranplatz
- U3/U6: Goetheplatz and Poccistraße
- S-Bahn: Hackerbrücke
Where can I park?
There are no parking spaces directly at the Theresienwiese. If you are coming from outside, you should park at the P+R facilities. More infos
Where are mobile home parking spaces?
There are no parking spaces for motorhomes at the festival site. Special parking lots and camping sites with good connections to the Oktoberfest can be found here.
Corona: What are the pandemic-related restrictions for Oktoberfest?
As of mid-August, there are no official restrictions for the Wiesn. The current Corona rules for Munich
Do I have to have proof of vaccination/testing with me?
No.
Police, first aid, lost-and-found department: the Service Center
Just behind the Schottenhamel tent is the Theresienwiese Service Center. Here the most important contact points for those seeking assistance can be found. Among others you can find:
The Oktoberfest Guard
The central police station, from which patrols are continuously on the move at the Oktoberfest, can be directly accessed at the Service Center. The Oktoberfest station is manned around the clock. More info on security and controls at the Oktoberfest.
First aid
For minor injuries, you can get a plaster or more at the Service Center. In case of emergency, please always dial 112 and give as many details as possible. The tent entrances are marked with a letter for the cardinal direction and a number, this information helps the emergency services to find you.
Safe Space for Women
For female festival guests, the "safe Oktoberfest" campaign offers a contact point in the form of the Safe Space in the event of harassment, theft or if contact with the group has been lost. A cab can also be ordered here.
Children's Lost and Found
Lost children can be dropped off and picked up here. Changing and breastfeeding facilities can also be found here.
When is the Oktoberfest lost and found office open?
Lost items are turned in to the lost and found office at the Service Center, where they are stored and returned. However, the visit is only useful one to two days after the loss. The Oktoberfest lost-and-found office is open to the public daily from 1 to 10 p.m. throughout the Oktoberfest. In addition, it will be accessible on Tuesday, October 4, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. via the Theresienhöhe pedestrian underpass. Telephone information will not be provided during this time. More infos
Gallery: The highlights of the Oktoberfest
Can I take luggage and strollers to the Wiesn?
Which handbags am I allowed to take to the Oktoberfest?
If you have large luggage with you, you are not allowed to take it to the festival grounds. Bags and backpacks may have a maximum volume of three liters and be no larger than 20 x 15 x 10 centimeters.
Where can I drop off luggage?
Several luggage storage facilities are located at the various entrances to the Oktoberfest.
Can I take a stroller to the Oktoberfest?
Yes, but on Saturdays, Sunday, October 2, and October 3, "German Unity Day," strollers are not allowed all day. On the other days of the Oktoberfest, this ban on strollers applies from 6 p.m. onward. However, security personnel may check strollers. Parking a stroller at the baggage storage facilities costs a fee.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Is there anything to eat at the Oktoberfest?
Yes, for sure! There is something for every taste, in addition to the classics such as chicken and pork knuckle, there are now also many vegetarian or vegan dishes: Read more
Can you also get wine or non-alcoholic drinks?
Yes, of course! It is always best to drink some water with the Wiesn-Maß. More about the offer for non-alcoholic drinks can be found here: https://www.oktoberfest.de/magazin/essen-und-trinken/wasser-marsch-alles-ausser-oktoberfestbier. Wine is also served in the small tents and several festival halls. The Wiesn even has its own wine tent.
Are you allowed to bring your own snack to the beer gardens of the tents?
According to Bavarian tradition, you are allowed to bring your snacks to beer gardens, but not your drinks. This also applies to the beer gardens at the Oktoberfest. There you can bring, for example, the fish sandwich you bought at the stand or your own snack. However, only small bags or mini backpacks are allowed on the festival grounds (more about this). Therefore: Rather try the special Oktoberfest delicacies that are only available here.
Are there still free rooms during the Oktoberfest? Where?
Hotels near the festival grounds are usually fully booked months before the start of the Oktoberfest. Getting a room in the city center during the Oktoberfest is difficult, but not completely impossible. The sooner you book, the better. Munich Tourism offers a hotel search
Where can I withdraw cash from the ATM at the Wiesn?
Want to enjoy chicken and beer but no cash in your wallet? No problem. Around 12 ATMs belonging to different banks and savings banks can be found at the entrances to the Oktoberfest grounds. In most of the large beer tents there are also ATMs, which also take MasterCard and Visa. The upper limit for withdrawals is 1,000 Euro and the machines are located in quieter parts of the tents – the security staff keep an eye on them. The quickest way to find the nearest ATM is on the map on the Oktoberfest App in the section “Service”.
What does the Oktoberfest app offer?
Wiesn in the pocket of your Lederhosen or Dirndl is found in the form of the official Munich City Oktoberfest app. Here there’s not just information, news and dates but also an interactive site map, which you can use to easily find all tents, rides, stalls and vendors and service stations like ATMs, toilets or first aid stations.
Download:
Is it compulsory to wear traditional costume?
Of course, you can go to Oktoberfest without traditional costume, it's just not as much fun. All about "Dirndl" and "Lederhosen"
Where can you buy Dirndl and Lederhosen?
For example, here: https://shop.oktoberfest.de/ or in many Munich stores.
What do you need to know about the history of Oktoberfest?
When did the first Oktoberfest take place?
On October 17, 1810 - The first Oktoberfest was a horse race on the occasion of the wedding of Prince Regent Ludwig of Bavaria, later King Ludwig I, and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. Read more: https://www.oktoberfest.de/magazin/tradition/die-geschichte-des-oktoberfests
Why is the Oktoberfest called Oktoberfest?
Because the first festival was held in October and remained so until 1871.
Why does it take place in September, although it is called Oktoberfest?
Because the weather in October was usually already cooler, one let the Oktoberfest begin since 1872 already in September - and always on the first Saturday after 15 September until the first Sunday in October.
Individual and group tours around the Wiesn
If you want to get to know the Oktoberfest properly, you can let professionals show you around and also take a look behind the scenes. The official guides of Munich Tourism offer tours for groups and open tours for individuals, which last about an hour and a half. Of course, they are also available in various other languages.
Are there historical tours?
Yes. An offer from "Universum Oktoberfest" - there are various packages, from classic to zünftig (here you can join in) to "Schützenliesl" with crossbow shooting or "Knödel und Kultur" with lunch in the Munich Knödelei on the Festwiese. Individual wishes are also taken into account. Children can participate as well as people with mobility restrictions. More info
Where can I take individual tours?
Yes, if you want a completely individual tour, you can contact the "Münchner Gästeführer Verein e.V." and choose the right guide from a list of qualified guides. In addition to contact details, the website also lists the qualifications and foreign languages offered by the guides. More info
Are there any discounts for people from Ukraine?
There are no special discounts for Ukrainians. On Family Days (Tues, Sept. 20 and 27), they can take advantage of the reduced ride, admission and snack prices until 7pm. The rides at the Oidn Wiesn only cost a family-friendly 1 euro admission.
How can I work at the Oktoberfest?
If you want to get a job at the Wiesn, apply as early as possible – by early summer most jobs are gone. There are different ways to find the right job at Oktoberfest. Here you can find more information on the subject.
Who organizes the Oktoberfest?
Organization and event management:
Festleitung
Landeshauptstadt München
Referat für Arbeit und Wirtschaft
Fachbereich Veranstaltungen
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