Oktoberfest is a familiar name for every traveler who loves to party and make new friends around the world. Munich’s annual signature festival is one of if not the greatest festivals on earth. If the Rio Carnival is “The Greatest Show on Earth,” Oktoberfest is the “Biggest Toast on Earth.” From the hearty cheers of beer steins and tasty delicacies to the organized traditional parades, the oompah music at the world’s largest beer festival will sway you.
A Brief History of Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is a stein-clinking, music-pumping, world-embracing celebration held annually in Munich, Germany. But unlike regular beer festivals, it attracts an average of six million visitors, four times Munich’s population. It starts in mid-September and lasts until the first Sunday of October and is the world’s largest beer festival. The Wiesn is organized at the 420,000 square meter vast Theresienwiese grounds in the Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt neighborhood, featuring several large and small beer tents, excellent Bavarian food, traditional brass band performances, and assembled parades.
The Oktoberfest event in Munich attracts many people worldwide, effectively turning the city into a global village. As a result, Munich’s tourist industry experiences a significant revenue boost. Over 13,000 jobs are created yearly due to Oktoberfest, with 8,000 of them being permanent. Oktoberfest makes up 2% of Munich’s GDP, generating approximately €1.2 billion in annual revenue.
Six Reasons You Should Add Oktoberfest to Your Travel Bucket List?
Now that you know the basics of Oktoberfest, let’s get into six detailed reasons why Oktoberfest should be your priority this coming September:
Deeply Rooted in the Bavarian Culture
As soon as you step foot at Oktoberfest, you’ll be surrounded by the hospitable Bavarian atmosphere. Everyone dressed in traditional Lederhosen and Dirndls, swaying to the oompah music and the attractive scent of pretzels and fresh sausages, welcomes you to be part of the authentic German tradition and culture. You can visit the large and small tents, dance atop the tables, and raise a stein with friends you made just 5 minutes ago. If you’re there on the first day, you can witness and be part of the iconic opening parade led by the Mayor of Munich. Experience the traditional Bavarian parade as 1000 people, dressed in traditional Dirndl and Lederhosen outfits, walk through the city to the Oktoberfest grounds where the Mayor taps the first keg at Schottenhamel Festhalle tent with the “O’zapft is” cry. They are accompanied by the six Munich breweries, their staff, beer wagons showcasing their product, and lively brass bands, all excluding the Bavarian charm.
Oktoberfest is a Wave Felt All Over Munich
Oktoberfest isn’t just at the Theresienwiese grounds. The atmosphere is widespread, and you’ll feel it as soon as you land in Munich. The Munich airport hosts Europe’s largest airport beer tent, the world’s only airport Brewery. At the Airbräu, they prepare their own beer, offer loads of traditional food, and provide live entertainment – a bit of everything you’ll find at Oktoberfest. This shows the affection of German people for their culture and traditions.
The Best Beer You Will Ever Have
If nothing makes you fall in love with Oktoberfest, the beer will. Oktoberfest is known for its top-quality beer, brewed for centuries to reach the ultimate perfection you witness at the Wiesn. The beer is brewed in Munich, especially for Oktoberfest, and follows a strict 500+ year-old German beer purity law. Only the six original Munich breweries serve the Oktoberfest beer. Depending on what beer tent you’re in, the alcohol content in the beer will be between 5.8% and 6.5%. Here are the top beers served at the Munich Oktoberfest that’ll make you raise a stein and dance like crazy:
- Augustiner: 6.5%
- Löwenbräu: 6.0%
- Hacker-Pschorr: 6.3%
- Hofbräu: 6.3%
- Paulaner: 5.9%
- Spaten: 5.8%
The Food is Amazing; Something Travelers Crave
Pork Knuckle, roasted pork served in a pool of gravy alongside a Knödel at Oktoberfest, is considered one of the most beautiful meals on Earth. The beer is so good that the food is often shadowed.
Oktoberfest food is some of the best you’ll find on your travels. From vintage pretzels and Hendl to sausages and Käsespätzle, Oktoberfest food has a unique taste, so good you’ll want to lick the plate. Although each of the 17 large and 21 small tents prepares the food separately, the original taste is kept alive. Every Oktoberfest delight has a history that will even strengthen the taste if you know. The variety of meat dishes and vegan delights topped with the traditional sweetness of deserts makes the Wiesn a memorable experience.
Sightseeing in the Beautiful City of Munich
In a city as beautiful and attractive as Munich, travelers can’t help but take short tours. You will find an ideal hotel within 3 km of the Oktoberfest grounds, and the public transport in Munich makes getting around even simpler. Munich will never disappoint whether you are a casual visitor or a special-interest sightseer. Just 2km from Oktoberfest is the Marienplatz Square. This vibrant area is known for its beautiful architecture, bustling markets, historic churches, and renowned pubs and restaurants. Despite its popularity, shopping in Marien Square is surprisingly affordable. You can also visit the New Town Hall to listen to the chimes and watch life-size puppets dance to the music and the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, Munich’s most famous beer hall. Most places are near Oktoberfest, making it easy and budget-friendly to take short tours in your free time.
The Gemütlichkeit Experience
Gemütlichkeit is a feeling that brings a smile to your face and warmth to your heart and can genuinely be understood only when you experience it. It is a German word that has no English translation. Gemütlichkeit describes a sense of warmth, comfort, and coziness that one experiences when surrounded by good company. When absolute strangers surround you at the Oktoberfest beer tents, but you feel like you are around friends and family, that welcomed feeling is called Gemütlichkeit.
Key Takeaway: Is Oktoberfest Worth Adding to Your Bucket List?
Oktoberfest is an all-in-one experience, whether you want the best beer, delicious food, vibrant culture, friendly atmosphere, or lavish parties. The annual Bavarian festival is so great that even the locals have to book in advance. If you’ve visited and enjoyed fantastic festive events like the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Oktoberfest should definitely be on your bucket list.
Millions of people dressed in Bavarian vest, Lederhosen, Bundhosen and Dirndls, dancing to the brass band music, raising steins, and the enchanting environment make Oktoberfest a must-visit destination at least once in a lifetime.
