Oktoberfest

The Birth of Oktoberfest

It all started with a wedding — Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, who married on October 12, 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields before the city gates to celebrate the royal event. The event was so popular that the city decided to repeat it the following year — and thus a tradition that has endured for over 215 years was born.

From Horse Races to Beer Empire

The original celebration featured horse races — the Theresienwiese (Theresa's Meadow) was named after the princess where those races took place. The agricultural show that accompanied the festival was initially more important than the beer. But by the 1880s, beer had taken center stage. The first beer tent appeared in 1896, and by the turn of the century, breweries had built massive wooden structures that would become the iconic Festzelte (festival tents) we know today.

The Six Breweries

Only six breweries are permitted to serve beer at Oktoberfest: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, and Spaten. Each tent has its own personality — the Augustiner-Festhalle is beloved for its family-friendly atmosphere and wooden beer mugs; the Hofbräu-Festzelt is the rowdiest and most internationally known; the Schottenhamel tent is where the tradition begins with the mayor tapping the first keg and declaring "O'zapft is!" (It's tapped!).

What to Expect Today

Modern Oktoberfest draws 6 million visitors over 16-18 days. The festival grounds cover 42 hectares (104 acres) with 14 large tents and several smaller ones. Each tent can hold 5,000-10,000 people. The beer served is a special Oktoberfest Märzen brewed to the Reinheitsgebot (German Beer Purity Law) of 1516. Expect to pay around €13.50-€14.50 per Maß (liter). Traditional food includes Hendl (roasted chicken), Schweinshaxe (pork knuckle), Steckerlfisch (grilled mackerel on a stick), and Brezeln (pretzels).

Getting There

Take the U4/U5 subway to Theresienwiese station — your beer tent is a 3-minute walk. The main entrance on Bavariastraße gets the biggest crowds; the north side near the statue of Bavaria is quieter but equally atmospheric. Come early on weekends — the big tents fill by 2 PM and may close entry until capacity clears.

Nearby Attractions

The festival grounds border the Viktualienmarkt (Munich's famous food market, 10 min walk), the Sendlinger Tor medieval gate, and Theresienhöhe with the Bavaria statue offering panoramic views. The Munich Residence and Marienplatz (city center) are 15 minutes by subway.