The Oktoberfest attracts millions of visitors from all over the world to Munich every year. It's not just the good beer that's to blame, but also the very special atmosphere at the world's largest folk festival.
When you think of Munich, you immediately think of the Oktoberfest. No other festival in the world is as famous as the “Wiesn“, as the people of Munich affectionately call it. Every year from September to October, the Theresienwiese is the venue for more than two weeks of toasting and celebrating. Construction begins as early as July, around ten weeks before the start. All the major Munich breweries are represented at the Oktoberfest and brew an extra strong Wiesn beer for the time.
In addition to the almost 40 beer tents, visitors can also choose from over a hundred rides. The real originals include traditional Munich exhibitors, most of which have been at the Oktoberfest for more than a hundred years – such as the Flea Circus, the Schichtl or the Devil's Wheel. The Oiden Wiesn is also traditional. Here, historical rides and three small, quieter beer tents await you for one euro admission.
For all those who have always wondered why the Oktoberfest starts in September: It simply has to do with the better weather. At the end of September, the chances of getting a sunny spot in the beer garden are simply better – although the people of Munich are sure that the weather gods are always particularly kind to them at Oktoberfest time.
What many visitors don't know: We have King Ludwig I to thank for the Oktoberfest. On the occasion of his wedding to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen in 1810, a festival was organised for the people on a meadow outside the city. The people of Munich liked it so much that they celebrated it every year from then on. The meadow is still called Theresienwiese after the princess.
You can download the map of the Oktoberfest as a PDF file here.
