Munich Travel Forum

Hello all,

Myself and 2 friends will be going to the Oktoberfest this year arriving at 8:05 AM on Friday Sept 19th and Leaving on Monday Sept 22nd. We already have flights and a hotel room arranged but are looking for advice on what to do on Friday. Are there any pre-Oktoberfest events going on that would be good for 3 crazy 40 year old guys? We would like to go to the Hofbrauhaus on Friday but otherwise we are open to suggestions. Also, we would like to see the Keg tapping ceremony at the Schottenhamel Tent. Are there seats available without reservations if we get there early enough? Finally, since there are only 3 of us there are no opportunities for making a reservation in a beer tent. Has anybody ever tried to make a reservation for 8 or 10 or whatever the minimum is and paid for the vouchers and then tried to recruit people at random? If so, did it work out?

I did get the opportunity to go to the 2006 Oktoberfest and had a great time but it wasn't on opening weekend. I assume it will be a lot more crowded. Anyway, thanks in advance for any suggestions/information.

Hi!

First of all, let me tell you that I have been living in Munich for 11 years, 7 of which within walking distance to the Oktoberfest ;o)) (Even if I do not like beer!) ;o))

I don't know of any pre-events held on friday before the Oktoberfest starts. Depending on what you like, you could i.e. make a city tour by bus. On these lines there are many so-called "drop off"-stations. Ther you can get out, see what's in there and once you're done, you can take the next bus arriving. They come every 20 minutes and you buy the tickets for the whole day (right in front of the main entrance to the railway station, just at one side exit of a big store called "Hertie")
http://www.stadtrundfahrten-muenchen.de/eng/munich-grand.html

Or perhaps you like art? There are plenty of great museums in Munich. One of my favourit is "Lenbachhaus", with paintings by the artist of the "blue rider" (At "Königsplatz"-Subway station) Another one? Maybe the BMW Museum???

Oh!! There are soooooo many things you could do in Munich...

However I think Hofbräuhaus (in short "HB") is really a tourist trap. The very few times I went there I found it very noisy and nowhere germans. Well I suppose it is a matter of taste and I don't like it. Much instead I would go i.e. (besides to do what I suggested before) to the very nearby located "Viktualienmarkt".

About tapping ceremony: The Schottenhamel tent is so crowded, that most probably you won't be able to see the ceremony. Even if you are there by sunrise ;o))) as most of the places (and these are the most wanted ones) are reserved months in advance. If you want to see it very well, I suggest you to watch it on TV. This takes place always at 12:00 o'clock on saturday and represents the end of a beautiful procession with the broweries. On sunday there is another one, very nice too, with some thousand of people, all wearing typical clothes of different regions (not only bavarian and not even only germans!)

About reservations: It is not a matter of how many people you are, but WHEN did you made it. And already now afaik you are much too late for it.

Yes, the very first weekend (and also the last one) it is really very, very crowded and it happens very often that by midday, at the tent doors hangs a paper saying "closed due to overfilling". And no way to get in, as there are security people taking care of that.

Perhaps you want to read this link about the oktoberfest:
http://www.oktoberfest.de/en/index.php

Please ask me if you want some more information.

Enjoy Munich!!!
Have a good trip!
Helena

Hiya,

if I were you I would concentrate on non-Oktoberfest activities on Saturday and try your luck on Sunday. Even if you won't have the chance to get into a tent during the afternoon you should be fine in the evening. Been there on a Sunday night before and every tent was open then. I normally prefer to go during the week though but as that's not an option you will have to fight for a place in a tent.

As for Friday, Hofbräuhaus is great fun. It's touristy but whenever I am there I meet lots of locals too, mostly old guys drinking their beers here. Love the party atmosphere and I am sure that the day before the Oktoberfest starts you will feel like you are at "Wiesn" already there.

Hope this helps and I hope I can come to Munich this September again, too. After two years in a row on Wiesn I am addicted to Oktoberfest ;)

Ein Prosit!
Sabs