Guide to Oktoberfest 2022 in Munich

 

After a two-year hiatus, Oktoberfest in Munich is back this year from September 17 – October 3, 2022! If you have an affinity for beer, music, making friends from all around the world, and celebrating for the sake of celebration, it’s time to start planning your trip to Munich. Originating as a days-long wedding celebration in 1810, the 212th Oktoberfest 2022 is sure to be one for the books. 

You’ll hear the locals refer to the festival as “the Wiesn”, a short name for the Theresienwiese fairgrounds on which Oktoberfest has always taken place. Oktoberfest 2022 is over two weeks long, but many seasoned festival-goers say that even just one or two days of celebration will fill your cup (or stein, if you will), so don’t feel like you have to attend each day. The festival and the tents inside are free to enter.

It’s essential to stay fed and hydrated throughout Oktoberfest, especially if you’re drinking heavily. You’ll find plenty of food options at every turn inside the festival: roast chicken, sausages, Bavarian soft pretzels, potato pancakes, and on and on. Some tents also feature nontraditional offerings like wine and Thai food. You shouldn’t have an issue finding water throughout the festival.

Oktoberfest is a celebration that revolves around beer, and drinking copious amounts of it. If a lively atmosphere and large crowds of (drunk) people aren’t your vibe, this may not be the right festival for you. However, there’s more to enjoy than just drinking, like live music, games, and carnival rides. Regardless of what’s brought you to Oktoberfest, don your best traditional Bavarian outfit (buy your own or rent onsite) and enjoy the celebration.

Oktoberfest takes place at the Theresienwiese fairgrounds in Munich’s Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt borough. Munich has a reliable public transit system, and locals recommend staying anywhere with easy access to either a U3, U4, U5 or U6 line. 

One of our favorite hotels in Munich is The BEYOND by Geisel, a luxury stay in the heart of the city with a private chef always at the ready to prepare your next meal. The Platzl Hotel is also a favorite of festival-goers for its proximity to the grounds, fantastic onsite restaurants, and balance of modern and Bavarian classic decor. The Mandarin Oriental Munich will offer something different than the traditional with its worldly elegance and culinary inspiration from legendary Chef Nobu Matsuhisa. We also recommend the Hotel Munich City Center by Meliá, a trendy and convenient stay for those who want a great hotel bar to keep the party going.

Most tents stop serving alcohol at 10:30 and close by midnight, but that shouldn’t be an issue when the kegs are tapped by 9 a.m.! There are 17 large tents (think capacity for 3,000 – 8,000 in each one) and 21 smaller tents. Experts say you can’t really go wrong with any tent, but each one does have its own personality and food/ beverage options. It’s recommended that you reserve tables ahead of time, especially in the evenings. The options can be overwhelming for first-time Oktoberfest visitors, but Zocha Group can help you make the ideal reservations for your party. 

Some notable tents include Käfer, which is the only tent open till 1 a.m. Try to get there before the other tents close at 10:30 p.m. to ensure it doesn’t reach capacity! The Marstall tent is the most modern of them all, offering vegan and vegetarian options and generally catering to a younger crowd. You’ll find that locals favor certain tents, like Schottenhamel, while international guests (particularly Americans) can be found at the Hofbräu Festzelt tent. True Oktoberfest tradition lives at the—you guessed it—Tradition tent, and the Weinzelt tent might be the least traditional, featuring things like wine and seafood.

Throughout Oktoberfest 2022, you can expect to find food, drink, and fun anytime of day, everyday of the week. However, there are a few stand-out events to make special note of. The first day of the festival, Saturday, September 17 this year, is one of the most exciting. Tents will open at 9 a.m., but the parade doesn’t begin until 11 a.m. At noon, the Lord Mayor of Munich officially taps the first keg, signifying that beer may be served and Oktoberfest has begun. 

Sunday, September 18 is known as “Gay Sunday,” an all day and night party that happens at the Pschorr-Bräurosl tent. What started as a small gathering of friends in the 1970’s is now an all-out Pride-style event for festival attendees. There’s also the costume and hunters’ parade on Sunday at 10 a.m. where costume clubs, hunter troops, marching bands and musicians from around the world march through Munich and end up at festival grounds. Oktoberfest’s traditional church service happens on Thursday, September 22 in which all guests are welcome to join.

Both Tuesdays of the festival, September 20 and 27, are Family Days. Rides and performances will be discounted for kids and families to join in on the celebration! Sunday, September 25 is the annual outdoor concert, and festivities wrap up on Monday, October 3. The closing ceremony features the customary gun salutes to say goodbye to Oktoberfest till next year.