Tips for Octoberfest

You may want to fly to Amsterdam and save some time.

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Go on a weekday

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This x100.
Start in hoffbrau tent and get in a Bench and meet some folks. Let the day take you from there.
Also, get authentic leiderhossn in Munich. Worth it

quote:

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Go on a weekday.

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This. Also, get there early. Like 2pm or before. Get there when the tents open at least once day. Most tents have non reserved tables inside at a decent place by the band. Get there before noon and get a spot at one of those tables and post up for as long as you dare.

If you get there after 4PM on a weekend go to the Dinner tents.

I would at least get an official Oktoberfest plaid shirt like this:


You will fit in and have an easier time getting a table.

Also, most of the tents have a theme and a food. Like one tent is Ox, one is chicken, one is duck, etc. The duck and ox knuckle is absolutely fantastic food.

Damn there is some great info in this thread

I'll give you some perspective compared to an SEC football game. The weekend at Oktoberfest is like a top 5 SEC footballl matchup, like grabbing a snack from the concessions in the first quarter. Except everyone is drinking liters of beer. If you don't wear one of those shirts above, you'll stick out like you are wearing a Bama shirt at an LSU home game lol. Not kidding. You'll find some nice people that don't mind and invite you in, but you'll also find some jackasses that don't want you at 'their table'.

Weekday nights are like a bottom of the top 25 SEC team playing a crappy Vandy. Still busy, still fun, just not hellacious.

Going during the week at open is like going to see LSU play Troy at noon type of crowd. But you are like a Troy fan that's never been to an SEC game. So you get great seats and have a great time no matter what.

Eta: the above goes for both the drunkenness level and the capacity of people. Don't wear open toed shoes, at night there is a decent amount of dropped liters. One of those broken is a shite ton of glass. There are a lot broken at night.

Oh, and they literally kick you out at 10. By 10:30 the Helgas serving beer will literally pick up your bench and make you fall off to leave. I've had it happen.

The biggest pro tips though:
1. Don't be afraid to ask to sit and more importantly just to plop down on open seats.
2. Learn to ask an employee where the non reserved seats are. Most of the balconies are mostly non reserved.
3. If you see a non German sitting they are likely at a non reserved table. Some really stick out like Italians, Americans, Etc. If they have an open seat just take it. If they complain just tell them you are just having 1 quick beer
4. You can only order beer if you are seated at a table. So again, don't be afraid to sit down.
5. The balcony is underrated imo because the view over the whole tent is awesome. Great people watching. People in the balcony usually are more likely to let you sit with them.
6. The waittresses can only serve to people in their section. Ask them if they have any open seats, and keep asking until you find one that says yes. Tip her big, but they want a full section.

I've been twice. If you can't tell, the first year I was waaay to hesitant to find good seats and just sit.

Also: Everyone fights when drunk. I've seen some crazy arse Oktoberfest huge German dudes go at it hard. Don't worry about it it's not often, I just mean don't be ignorant of it. If you see guys arguing don't assume they are opposed to fighting.

I'll be heading there from the 20th-27th this year. was supposed to be meeting my uncle there as he was going to be nearby for a conference, but its looking like his trip may get cancelled. i'm hoping to meet some fun people there so i'm not solo. i appreciate the tips in this thread. tickets on condor airlines out of New Orleans are fairly cheap, $639 round trip

2nd largest Octoberfest in the world : Denver , 350,000 people over 2 weekends. going this year. altitude ,beer and weed should be a good high.

How to not get a hangover: Langos. It’s a delicious flatbread served at some of the food-stands. Grab one. Eat. Grab another for the road as you leave. If your are too drunk and forget, there’s plenty of kebab shops just north of the grounds