Oktoberfest 2023. An über event not to be missed!

Oktoberfest 2023

An über event not to be missed

When is Oktoberfest 2023? 

Oktoberfest 2023 will begin in Munich Germany on Saturday September 16 and lasts until Monday October 3, 2023. With over six million people visiting each year, this definitely qualifies as is the biggest beer festival in the world.  And it’s not just about the bier.  Tasty German food and people packing the Oktoberfest tents in their lederhosen and dirndls give a truly authentic vibe to the foundation of all German festivals.  Additionally, every year, new rides and attractions are offered at Oktoberfest which is many describe as the carnival event of a lifetime.

What to Wear?

Many people attending Oktoberfest get into the mood of the event and will wear traditional Bavarian clothing.  You will see a wide array of colorful dirndls for the ladies and swanky lederhosens for the men.  If you do not have your own German costume, but want to get into the spirit of the event, you can grab one of our 3-D faux t-shirts which is the quickest way to get an instant dirndl or lederhosen that looks legit.  An easier way to gear up is to simply wear a hat.  Our mantra is: "wear a hat, and be German for the day." We've got you covered if you want a more economical fedora by shopping our extensive selection of felt fedoras.  Looking for something fancier and more authentic?  Then shop our full selection of German style wool hats.  If you want to top your wool hat off with German hat pins, we have USA's largest selection of collectible German hat pins.

What Are Some German Beers Served at Oktoberfest?

Six traditional breweries offering their beer at Munich Oktoberfest are:

Hacker Pschorr.  This brewery was founded in 1417 which was divided after the death of the couple Joseph Pschorr and Maria Theresia Hacker who ran the brewery during the 18th century.  Years later, during the 1970’s, the brewery was merged together once again.  At Oktoberfest, this brewery offers the Hacker-Zelt & Pschorr-Bräurosl which are the lightest beer offered with 5.8% alcohol.

 Augustiner.  Founded in 1328, Augustiner is the oldest brewery in Munich with roots going back to a midevil monastery which still uses wooden barrels to store its beer.  The classic Augustiner beer has 6% alcohol and is sold in the beer tents Augustiner-Festzelt and Fischer Vroni.

Spaten.  Founded in 1397 with roots in the Neuhauser Gasse during its infancy.  That said, the brewery is now located in the Marsstraße which has been managed by the Sedlmayr family for the last 200 years.  Not only is the 5.9% alcohol content beer offered in the in the Spaten Zelt tent but also in the Marstall, Schottenhammel and the Ochsenbraterei tents.

Löwenbräu.  Sold at Oktoberfest as Löwenbräu-Zelt and Schützenzelt, this 6.1% alcohol content beer has roots going back to the 15th century at the brewery in Löwengrube.  This brewery is well known for it’s logo of a lion which finds itself in the well known location as a mechanized lion on top of the Löwenbräu tent featuring the ability to move its tail and roar.

Hofbräu.  The iconic HB brand founded in 1589 at the brewery in Platzl, with Hofbräuhaus location definitely being one of the more popular stops on tourists itinerary who are visiting Munich.  The beer sold at Oktoberfest (in Hofbräuzelt) is the strongest beer offered at 6.8%.

Paulaner.  Offered in the Armbrustschützen-Zelt, Winzerer Fähndl, Wine and the Käferzelt tents, this 6% alcohol content beer dates back to 1634 when it was brewed in the Paulaner monastery.  Originally it was only sold to the public on holidays.  This greatly enjoyed stout beer has its origin being attributed to Brother Barnabas.

Can I Dance?

Of course! It is no problem to dance on the benches, but steer clear of the tables where dancing is prohibited.  If you want to dance the chicken dance, grab one of our fun chicken dance hats to round out your dance moves.

Best Days to Attend Oktoberfest 2023

The ideal way to enjoy the event is to spread your visit out over 2-3 days during the course of a week so that you can enjoy Oktoberfest, but also not neglect visiting the wonderful sites of Munich.  As might be expected, Oktoberfest 2023 will be most busy during the weekends, so get there early if you want to beat the crowds which can result in lines to some of the tents that have wait times of three to four hours!  The least busy times are during the week, however if you are going for the excitement of the crowds and people watching, evening is the best time to go.

How is the Weather?

In a word, unpredictable. It is Fall time in Germany which means the days can be quite pleasant with sunshine and blue skies, or cold and rainy.  You will not regret bringing warm clothing.  If you are not able to attend Oktoberfest this year, but would like a unique collection of the four seasons of Germany, collect all four of our "Seasons of Germany" beer steins.  This is an exclusive collection that cannot be found, even in Germany.

Where are the Restrooms?

With all the beer being consumed, of course each tent has its own bathrooms which are pointed out with statues of Cupid pointing the way to the bathrooms (lines for the ladies restrooms can result in a 20 minute wait so be prepared).

How Much Will Beer Cost at Oktoberfest 2023?

Depending on which tent, beer will be served in glasses or beer steins.  We have a full selection of German Beer Steins being offered that will without a doubt will have you ready for Oktoberfest 2023.  If you want a German beer stein without a metal lid, check out this selection of hand crafted quality steins.  One liter of beer (The Mass) will cost you around 12.60€ & 14.90€ during this years Oktoberfest.  

If you are looking for the cheapest beer, this likely can be found at the Ammer tent or at the Museum Tent at the Old Wiesn.

There is no charge to enter the Oktoberfest fairgrounds or tents.  Veterans of Oktoberfest provide a rough estimate that around €100 will do the trick to cover the costs of food and five steins of German beer.  The following table provides general pricing for beer at Oktoberfest 2018 and is subject to change.

 

 Lose something? 

Every year, more than 4000 things are turned into the lost and found!  You can retrieve lost items the Lost & Found Office which is at the Service Center of the Theresienwiese .

How to Get to Oktoberfest 2023 in Munich

Since it is nearly impossible to find parking nearby the Oktoberfest 2022 area, the best way to get to the Oktoberfest event is to use Munich's excellent public transportation system. The walk from the Central Train station is around 10-15 minutes.

  • Via Streetcar / Straßenbahn:
    Line 18 or 19 to Hermann-Lingg-Straße  or Holzapfelstraße
  • Line 16 an 17 to Hackerbrücke
  • Via U-Bahn:
    U3 or U6 to Goetheplatz or Poccistraße
    U4 or U5 to Theresienwiese or Schwanthalerhöhe
  • Via S-Bahn:
    S1 - S8 to Hackerbrücke
    S7 and S20 to Heimeranplatz, and then U4 or U5 to station Theresienwiese or Schwanthalerhöhe
  • Via Bus:
    MetroBus-Line 53 to Schwanthalerhöhe
    MetroBus-Line 58 to Georg-Hirth-Platz, Beethovenplatz or Goetheplatz
    MetroBus-Linie 62 to Herzog-Ernst-Platz
    or Hans-Fischer-Straße, Poccistraße
  • StadtBus-Line 134 to Schwanthalerhöhe or Theresienhöhe

Not Able to Attend Oktoberfest 2023?

No worries.  You can throw your own Oktoberfest party!  We've got you covered with one stop shopping from Oktoberfest party decorations to apparel.

 

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