Before going to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany we had read a lot of things about the festival, some were true and some were way off.
Most of the Oktober tips and some of the horror stories have some truth to them, but after going to Oktoberfest, we have a much better understanding of how the festival actually works. Here is what we learned after going to Oktoberfest in Munich..
Myth #1 – You have to get to the festival hours before the tents open to get a seat
This might be true on the weekends, but visiting on a weekday (as I would advise anyone traveling to do) is pretty easy as long as you are there before the after-work crowd comes in.
We were all excited and ready to wake up bright and early to get in line and hopefully get a table at the great Munich Oktoberfest. Even with our early rise and planning, we still managed to arrive later than planned (10:30 am). Expecting to have to fight for a table now, instead, we walked right into a nearly empty beer hall. It’s Wednesday, not Saturday.
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Myth # 2 – You have to be seated to get a beer
In most tents, this is true, but we found a few tents that had a window to buy beer for the poor lost souls without a table; Lowenbrau’s tent was one. For the tents that do adhere to the no seat, no beer rules, there is still a way around it.
Make friends with someone that has their poster planted and have them buy you one. Or if your social skills are lacking, bribes work well, too.
Myth #3 – The HB Hofbrauhaus tent is the best tent
Although it may be the best marketed and nicely decorated with real hops hanging everywhere, there was just a bad vibe in that tent.
We only spent about 15 minutes in the tent to take some pictures and saw several counts of douchebaggery, mostly by the security guards.
I saw one security guard walking down the alley’s outside the tables, he went out of his way by at least two-step to purposely shoulder check a guest. Then, as we were leaving, I saw what I thought was a fight, but it was two bouncers shoving one small Oktoberfest goer.
Myth #4 – You have to be in full Bavarian gear
Lots of people are, but it’s not a requirement. As a side note, not all outfits are created equally. If you are going to do it, do it right and get a decent get-up, or you might look silly instead of in style.
Myth #5 – It’s going to be like the world’s largest frat party
Contrary to what you may have seen in the movies, it’s not quite like that. The tents are very organized and good at handling the crowds.
People are drunk, but spirits are high, and it’s a fun atmosphere. If someone gets out of hand, they are tossed out.
The efficiency of the beer tents amazed me, from the beer-filling area that operates with army precision to the industrial-sized bathrooms that take it all away. They know what they are doing at Oktoberfest.
