Oktoberfest 2017
 

Munich picked this years design today: http://www.muenchen.de/veranstaltung...estplakat.html

Winzere Fähndl started accepting entries for reservations two weeks ago: http://winzerer-faehndl.com/reservierung.html

The other large tents usually open reservation (requests) sometime around end of March/ early April.

Hmm, a bit langweilig, no?

Do these posters sell out? Should i try ordering my favorite now, or ship one home after vacation?

Looks like I will be in the area for business on the first day of Oktoberfest, Sept 16.

Just me and a friend flying in from Zurich. I have a decent rate at the Westin and seems like a decent location on U4 line.

With 2 as I have read, it looks like we might not really need a reservation per se.

I am trying to see if some local work colleagues have any ideas.

Don't know if the parade on the first day or second day are worth catching. The parade on the 17th looks interesting for me to see before I have to book it back to the airport.

So really only Sept 16 is all I have.

I suppose it's silly to try to get into Schottenhamel to see the tapping of the keg?

Either way, I have read around and appreciate the tips.

I won't be worrying about dressing up and less concerned about getting intoxicated than taking in the atmosphere and perhaps having some food on the grounds area.

Cheers, KJ

Nice to have a work trip intersect with the festival. ^

I have a great time at O'fest and it is certainly something to experience.

I don't even bother trying to get reserved tables at the tents. There are open-seating tables just outside most (all?) of the tents. With just two of you, should be able to find a couple open seats and make some new friends. Pic below to show a typical setup. If you don't manage to find a couple seats inside, I have never had difficulty outside. Only risk is of bad weather.

I will be there on the 16th as well. It will be my first time making an appearance on opening day....though more due to finding a hotel available on points than anything special about the start of the festivities.

Hope you have a great time!

I've always been temped to go to Oktoberfest, it's one of those real "bucket list" things. Only worry is I don't know how well I would fare knocking back 1L steins of 5-6% beer...

Just pace yourself and maintain a gentle buzz...and eat lots of pork.

Dependent on what you're used to drinking, that the German beer isn't full of most of the crap that you'd find in the UK/ROI which actually causes the hangovers, you'd be fine

I'm glad I did read up on the higher alcohol content. I'm a skinny guy so I'll be sure to eat lots of food with lots of fat. :)

You have to prepare a foundation: eat pretzels and roast chicken during the first round, don't drink on empty stomach. 3x 1L will go in easy over 2-3 hours. The 4th one is tough.

Ah well I was thinking more of the extra alcohol content rather than the hangover.

1. Tent reservations are only needed for Saturday nights
2. Augustines is most popular tent but mist lager beer similar at festival
3. Go to Schneider Weisse haus in Marienplatz for best local beer
4. Parade opening weekend only so worth seeing if you haven't
5. Hotel prices are astronomical in Munich during Oktoberfest
I was there in May when reasonable and fly in Sept 20th........on good airfare deal but no place to stay yet.
Munich is no ,longer as special due to higher prices, lines at each tent and security at festivals denying bags when entering.

I have got a table for 10 in one of the boxes at the Hacker tent - quick query, should for whatever reason only be 9 of us, how much trouble you think the tent guys are gonna give us? I am asking as the official T&C's state that the full 10 people need to be sitted in the table within 15mins from the your designated shift's start time...
Thanks!

You'll get no grief. At worst tell him he's having a pee and will join you soon. What they don't want is a group of four blocking a whole table where otherwise six more people will be drinking.

I can second everything but number 3. While the Schneider Brauhaus is very good it brews and serves Weizenbeer. If you are looking for the other typical beer the "Helles" you should visit another Brauhaus. A very traditional place is Beim Sedlmayr, or Georgenhof. For Friday or Saturday evening you should reserve a table.

The past several years, I have been able to find a weekend night for a hotel available using points. Marriott and/or IHG. Great redemption value, of course.

Otherwise, yes. Hotels in the city are expensive.

As for "best local beer", I would have to put a vote in for Augustiner am Platzl, across the street from the big Hofbräuhaus.

While an admitted fan of Augustiner beer in general, when I visited they were tapping a fresh, wooden keg of Helles at the bar every afternoon. Can't confirm they still do it, but I have very fond memories...

Of course, when I visit O'fest it is for the atmosphere of the Wiesn tents. Unless I was in town for an extended visit, I would save other locales for other times.

I'll be returning to Oktoberfest this year, after falling in love with it last year. The only thing to be aware of on the 16th is that's also the Rosaweisn, the gay day at the Braurosl tent. That one will be packed and have a line all day, so check out one of the other tents. Last year was rainy but there were plenty of spots in all the other tents. A nice sunny day would change that by a lot though!

Unless I am mistaken, it is actually the first Sunday of the Festival, which this year makes it Sept. 17th.

Can't wait, and like you, hoping for very good weather!

Will try to find these two places but curious how far from Marienplatz square?
- Seidmayr - looks like it's neat Hoffbrau in Marienplatz right?
- Georgenhof - in Schwabing which I'm familiar with area but not the street. Near Roxy/Hoffbrau on Leopold Strauss?
I know Leopold/Ludwig Strauss

Helles beer in Germany isn't my favorite as I prefer Pilsner from czech far better.
but willing to explore a few more on recommendations. Weiss beers (Franziskanner, Aventinus, Schneider weiss, Erdinger, Hacker-Schoor ) are exceptional in Munich and even Gutman. Want to find many new local places in Munich even to try Helles so I really appreciate like ideas above.

Are you in Munich Sept 20-25 this year?

I was in Bamberg for 5 nights in May--- had many Pils & Rauch biers. have you been?

Octoberfest runs from 3rd Saturday of September to first Sunday of October.

You re correct about the parade date:
"The traditional costumes parade takes place Every first Oktoberfest Sunday. In 2017, the parade starts at 10 o'clock on September 17."

let me know of any good hotel redemption deals. I'll be in Munich area Sept 20-25. Looking for hotel deals. have SPG, MR and IHG award points if good deal which I can't find so far.

This one is rather 'new' in MUC https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpres...wt/hoteldetail
Currently at 219E/night ihg-rate for the dates mentioned - not too bad for Oktoberfest season, I think.

Next to S-Bahn "Stammstrecke", Stop Hirschgarten (2min walk).

Very steep if you ask me but norm for Oktoberfest. I've been to 8 Oktoberfest.....and keep asking myself why return when it's such a tourist trap. last year I met up with a running group event so was something different besides the festival. This year I got a good airfare into Germany via Munich so that's why i start here.

Thanks for the hotel suggestion.

Could you recommend a few of the local pubs/beer halls around MUC center you think are good places to drink beer? Beim Sedlmayr,(Marienplatz sq) or Georgenhof (Schwabing) are 2 places fly suggested.

I know Marienplatz Sq area and Schwabing very well so easy to get too.

danke

Seldmayer is close to Viktualienmarkt.
Georgenhof is close to Leopoldstraße, between subway station University and Giselastraße.

Around Marienplatz are
Tegernseeer im Tal
Doinsle

Not far from Marienplatz around Frauenkirche is
Andechser and Augustiner

Great, could you advise on which beers you recommend?
I've had Augustines often and Andescher I've had in draft here in Seattle.

Have you tried the rauchbieer from Schlenkerla and Spezial from Bamberg?
Very interesting as clearly a local taste bud to acclimate too.

What is your opinion of Gutman Weiss beer,a s on a blog many raved about it but I thought similar to Erdinger Dunkel?

I've been going to Munich so long I tend you hit just Schneiderweiss & Hoffbrau(walk through not drink) in Marienplatz then head to University or Schwabing area for other bars, so appreciate the new tips.

You will just have to keep checking the chain's websites for award redemptions. For a 4 night itinerary, you might have to get creative and potentially change hotels during the stay...admittedly a pain, but it would be worth it to me based on hotel room costs.

Honestly, you may have already missed prime opportunity to snag rooms. Festival is only a couple months away now.

I stayed at this hotel last year during O'Fest (on point redemption :))
Decent hotel and very good location for easy access to O'Fest.

The Oktoberfest app just launched. It's quite cool; dynamic tent occupancy levels, find friends, you can even use it to pay for things.

http://www.oktoberfest.de/en/article...-_de+App/4023/

My friend and I will be staying at the Le Meridien. We will only be there for one or two nights on Tuesday the 19th and the 20th. Is that too far to walk to the tents? Any suggestions on that area? Thanks

Its definitely walkable. The Meridien is besides the Hauptbahnhof, which in all major European cities is a relatively shady area. Walk a few 100 yards and you are in Munich downtown. More here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star...er-thread.html

I have the misfortune of having an overnight layover in Munich during Oktoberfest and would prefer to avoid the festivities and crowds as much as possible. However, I also have a dinner reservation at Tantris. Is there some recommended area to stay that would be easy to get to and from the airport, and also easy to get to and from the restaurant, giving the timing? Never been during Oktoberfest so not sure how available taxis are, etc.

Usually during my layovers in Munich I take the S Bahn in and stay somewhere near the HBF. Seems like given my preferences, that area would be best avoided this time.

I suspect all the hotels will be pretty packed during Oktoberfest. You could try the (uninspiring) Westin or Sheraton, both of which are close enough to Tantris. Hyatt will soon be opening up a property very close by. The Innside is also not all that bad.

Thanks. I bit the bullet and made a reservation at Fleming's which is also very close to the restaurant. Online reviews are hit and miss, so will adjust my expectations accordingly.

Never stayed there, though my one Flemings experience in Frankfurt was simply OK.

Munich continues on normal during the ofest days. You should not have any issues getting a taxi or using public transport.