We’ve launched a new monthly column called Six Months Out where we will highlight a destination that is great to visit six months from the time of publishing. Why six months? It is the perfect amount of time to plan a trip. Enough time to save money, secure early booking discounts, and know what your schedule will look like. It is also close enough in time that you realistically see yourself there!
Our inaugural post will highlight where to travel in September and we couldn’t think of anywhere better than Munich, Germany to celebrate Oktoberfest!
What is it all about? The first Oktoberfest was held in October 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. Princess Therese is the namesake for the location of Oktoberfest today, the Theresienwiese (Wiese means meadow). Locals also refer to Oktoberfest as die Wiesn.
When is it this year? This year’s event runs September 18-October 3, 2010. And it will be Oktoberfest’s 200th Anniversary. As if you needed another reason to celebrate.
Getting there: If you are coming by plane, catch a flight into Munich’s Franz Josef Strauss International Airport (Airport code is MUC). If you opt to come in by train, Munich’s main station is München Hauptbahnhof.
Where to stay: Munich gets busy during this season so you’ll want to book your accommodations early. Some recommendations:
Logistics: Oktoberfest is held in Theresienwiese. You can get there by subway every 10 minutes until 2am on weekends and 1am on weekdays during Oktoberfest. The subway stop is Theresienwiese (lines U4 and U5).
Beer tent opening/closing hours are weekdays 10am-10:30pm and weekends 9am-10:30 pm. Tents close at 11:30pm with the exception of the “Käfer Wiesn-Schänke” and the “Wine Tent” which are open until 1am.
Beer starts serving at 12pm each day. Carnival and rides operate 10am until 11:30pm.
Cost: Admittance to the fest is free (you just walk right in) and so is being in a beer tent. Reserving a table may cost depending on the reservation. The beer price for 2009 ranged between 7.70 and 8 Euros per liter. Water and Soda prices are between 4 and 6 Euros. Bring enough cash with you as most tents and vendors will not accept credit cards.
Want to leave the details to someone else? Contiki Holidays offers a 5 and 7 day itinerary that incorporates the festivities.
- The 7-day Oktoberfest Munich departs September 16, 2010 from London. Transportation into Munich is included in the overall trip cost ($535 per person). On this trip, you will be camping in the Contiki Tent Village and will be provided with a hot breakfast daily and access to regularly scheduled shuttles to take you back and forth.
- Want something a little shorter? Contiki also offers a 5-day version that will give you three days to spend at Oktoberfest. The trip mirrors the details above but has a smaller price tag ($419 per person) and two scheduled departures on September 23rd and 28th.
Attire: Dirndl (women) and Lederhosen (men) are the traditional costumes of Bavaria and Austria. The lederhosen have always been made of leather but the dirndl originated in simple colors and fabrics as clothing for country folk. Later they became popular as costumes for special events and fests. They now come in all colors and fabrics and can range from 70 euro to 300+ euro in price. A very important factor for women is how to wear the pinafore that signals the marital status. A bow tied on the right side means the woman is engaged or married; on the left side she is available; and tied in the back she is a widow. The best shoes to wear with dirndl are black ballet flats or low heel Mary Jane shoes. Boots are also acceptable. Don’t want to wear a dress? Women can wear lederhosen too!
If you don’t get to get a costume, that’s ok too! Just wear comfortable clothing and shoes and bring a jacket as the mornings and nights are chilly this time of year.
Interested in buying a dirndl in Munich? Check out Wiesn Tracht und Mehr, Kleidermarkt, or Angermaier.
Day Trip Ideas: If you need a break from the action, why not consider exploring the attractions in and close to Munich. To see the sights within the city limits, check out Mike’s Bike Tours. With both half and full day tours, you will get the opportunity to see sights like Marienplatz, The English Garden, and Hofbräuhaus!
Take a 2 hour car ride and head down to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It is located at the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany, which overlooks four countries. This town gives you a nice flavor of Bavaria with the picturesque mountains. Great place for outdoorsy types as there are lots of activities here for summer and winter.
Also, close to Garmisch, is the Neuschwanstein Castle. Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle was modeled by this fairytale castle. The castle was created by Bavarian King Ludwig II, also known as, “Mad King Ludwig”.
Written by Kristina Wegscheider, DIWYY co-founder, and Christine Radvanyi, DIWYY Advisor.
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Your post is very brilliant. Could you post more about this please. Thanks!
This post is brilliant and so are you. Good job!
This trip sounds amazing! And great find on the recommendation for Wombat Hostel. I stayed in the Wombat Hostel in Berlin last year and it was great.
I love your blog!
Thanks for such a nice blog. This is what I looked for.
This is a great guide to Oktoberfest! There's no doubt that it's a great time to be in Munich, but don't be put off going at other times of the year too. You can still enjoy the beer in the many beer gardens and at the English Garden too, plus there are sights like the Olympic Park, the Residenz and the Frauenkirche to see. There's more here….
http://www.free-city-guides.com/munich/
Hi. I love your site. But just a comment to make. I was recently in Munich and was shopping for a Dirndl. I would recommend travelers not to go to Wiesn-Tracht und Mehr at 19 Tal. I had a horrible experience there as the so-called boss of the place was extremely rude. My German friends who have bought their Dirndls there have their embroidery flowers falling off after wearing their dresses once.
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