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Given the enormity of it, there are probably so many things you don’t know about Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. I’m sure you know by now such commonplace Oktoberfest facts like how it doesn’t actually take place in October (and I hope you didn’t find that out the hard way). And that it actually started out as a wedding celebration back in 1810. (Blah blah, BORING!)

But do know which days at Oktoberfest are half-price? Or in which tent you can buy emergency shoes? Or what exactly that white powder is people keep snorting? If not, you’ll definitely want to read on.

Can you spot what’s wrong with this picture? Read on.

Besides being a full-time blogger, I also moonlight (September-light?) as a tour guide at Oktoberfest. In this position, I get asked a lot of Oktoberfest questions. It’s when this happens that I remember not everyone knows all the fun Oktoberfest facts that I get paid to know. (It’s a weird world we live in, I know.)

So, without further a-brew, here are the 26 things you probably didn’t know about Oktoberfest, but definitely should! (Plus some bonus Oktoberfest facts too!)

If you have any Oktoberfest questions not answered in this post, feel free to ask them in the comment section, send me an email, or book a session with me for one of my one-on-one Oktoberfest trip planning sessions!

Oktoberfest hotel views

1. Where exactly Oktoberfest takes place

I’ll start with a basic Oktoberfest lesson here. The place where Oktoberfest takes place within Munich, Germany is called the Wiesn. (pronounced: vee-zin) Just get used to saying that now. Its full name is actually Theresienwiese, but you won’t hear anyone call it that.

The Wiesn is the large park—or as we would call it here in the U.S., the “fairgrounds”—where Oktoberfest takes place each year. On the map, it’s the big green kidney bean.

Oktoberfest facts: Theresienwiese translates to “Therese’s Meadow” as it’s the green space where the first “Oktoberfest” took place – i.e., the wedding celebration between Crown Prince Ludwig I and her dirndliness Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. (Who thus became queen of Bavaria.)

Don’t miss these popular Oktoberfest posts: 49+ super-detailed Oktoberfest tips from an Oktoberfest tour guide and What NOT to do at Oktoberfest, ever.

Waking up at the Schottenhamel tent

2. What happens to the Oktoberfest beer tents

Despite what many think would make sense, the Oktoberfest beer tents actually get rebuilt and then torn down each year (in what must be the world’s most high-stakes game of Minecraft).

Beginning in July each year, 3,000 workers take 10 weeks to construct “Oktoberfest.” (*jazz hands*) Immediately afterwards, they take about half that time to tear it down. (…which makes perfect sense if you’ve ever built a sandcastle, a house of cards, or, in the spirit of Oktoberfest, a beer can pyramid.)

Construction pretty much never stops

The fact that these massive structures are put together and taken apart each year may be a little disconcerting to some, but I assure you the instruction manuals are better than the one for your Ikea bookcase.

The tents are constructed out of wood and steel on top of a concrete foundation that’s re-poured every year. Much of the construction is regulated by German building code—and I think the Germans know a thing or two about engineering. (*coughBMW*)

Check out this time-lapse video of the Paulaner Oktoberfest tent being assembled or this timeline of how they construct the Hofbräu tent each year to see the process.

Larger than life Paulaner brew

3. Oktoberfest… for kids?

It’s true – Oktoberfest is actually a family-friendly event. Despite what most international visitors probably assume about Oktoberfest, it isn’t entirely a raucous beer-swilling festival. (Not entirely, I said.)

In fact, during the daytime hours, you’ll see a good number of children at Oktoberfest with their families. There are tons of games and rides for them (plus, ponies!), and they are even welcome in the beer tents. (Are they more mature than about 1/3 of the people in there already? You betcha!)

Field trip to the Wiesn!

Head to Oktoberfest early enough in the day and there’s a good chance you’ll even spot an elementary school class trip at Oktoberfest. What they’re learning about, I have no idea. But next time I see this I’m certainly going to ask all my many questions.

Bonus Oktoberfest facts: the beer-drinking age in Germany is 16 (and 18 for liquor).

Oktoberfest Ferris wheel

4. Which days at Oktoberfest are half-price

On a related note, Oktoberfest’s “family days” are a great way to save some cash (for beer). Tuesdays and Thursdays each week are dubbed “Family Day” and all rides at Oktoberfest are half-priced.

I personally don’t encourage the riding of rides at Oktoberfest all that much (I mean, duh), but there are some exceptions. For instance, taking a trip up the giant Ferris wheel is the best way to really grasp the enormity of Oktoberfest and provides some amazing views. But this ride is relatively pricey – so save it for Family Day.

Bonus Oktoberfest facts: The Ferris wheel at Oktoberfest can hold 400 people at a time and is wheelchair accessible.

Oktoberfest main entrance

5. Cost of admission at Oktoberfest

That being said, it should be noted that rides are one of the few things that you actually have to pay for. At Oktoberfest, all you pay for is what you eat, drink, and ride – be that in dollars or dignity.

In other words: Oktoberfest is a free event to attend. There is no admission price for Oktoberfest. There are no Oktoberfest tickets or passes to acquire. Entering the beer tents is also free. And anyone trying to tell you differently is a scam artist and you should probably stop sitting next to them in the break room at work.

Always looking out

I realize ‘free’ can be a hard concept for some people to accept, but it’s true. And because of this, so many scammers out there make a bundle by selling “Oktoberfest tickets” to otherwise clueless visitors. (Which you are not, having read this post.)

To learn more about the many other ways people will try to rip you off at Oktoberfest, check out my post on the most prevalent Oktoberfest scams you need to know about now!


6. Cash is king

One of the most important Oktoberfest facts you should know ahead of time is that Oktoberfest is a cash-only event. While you can certainly use your credit card all over Munich, at Oktoberfest cash is könig. (That’s, um, German for ‘king.’)

In the beer tents, you’ll pay for everything in cash. Make sure to have small bills and coins to hasten the beer-getting process and to keep it as simple as possible. (Beer + math do not mix well.)

Oktoberfest cookies

How much cash you need to bring to Oktoberfest depends on how much you plan to eat and drink, so I can’t tell you how much to bring. But my advice would be… more than you think you’ll need. But also… not so much that you’ll be screwed if you lose it. You’re welcome.

There are ATMs all over Oktoberfest for when you do need more cash. But, obviously, the ATM fees can be astronomical. Get yourself a travel-focused credit card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Capital One Venture X that offers no foreign transaction fees and ATM fee reimbursement if you want to be extra careful.

I’ve got everything you want to know about booking a hotel for Oktoberfest right here in this link.

Real stone mugs in the Oide Wiesn

7. What kind of beer is served at Oktoberfest

For starters, German law dictates that only beer brewed within Munich city limits can be served at Oktoberfest. There are 6 of these:

  • Augustiner
  • Hacker-Pschorr
  • Hofbräu
  • Löwenbräu
  • Paulaner
  • Spaten
Prost-ing at the Hofbräu tent

The beers they serve at Oktoberfest is a very special kind of beer. It is brewed specifically for the festival, and is served only at the festival. In other words, you can’t buy these festbiers anywhere else. Sure, you can find Spaten Oktoberfest or Paulaner Oktoberfest beers at your local beer store, but those are different.

The Oktoberfest festbiers are a special marzen/lager whose alcohol contents range from 5.8% (Hacker-PShorr) to 6.3% (Augustiner and Hofbräu).

Oktoberfest festbier is sweet and smooth, and even though it’s around 6% ABV (perhaps a little higher than you’re used to), it’s hella drinkable.

German beer is superior

Bonus Oktoberfest facts: Germany brews beer strictly according to the Reinheitsgebot – a 500-year-old law that decrees beer can only be brewed with four simple ingredients (water, hops, yeast, malt).

While you will have some choice as to what you can drink at Oktoberfest (more on that here), your beer choices will be super limited. Each beer tent is run by one specific brewery serving one specific festbier.

There are Hofbräu tents and Augustiner tents, etc. And you won’t have choices like dark beer, wheat beer, light beer, IPA, sour, and so on. When you walk into a tent, you commit to drinking the festbier from that specific brewery and nothing else. You order “ein bier” and that’s the end of that.

Get everything else you need to know about the beer at Oktoberfest here!

Oktoberfest food is the wurst

8. The name of the thing you drink out of at Oktoberfest

At Oktoberfest you drink beer and you do so by the liter. These giant glass liter mugs of beer are called maß or mass. (pronounced moss)

To get technical, maß is the term used to describe a liter of beer (as in the amount). Maß is also used as an abbreviation for maßkrug – the word used to describe the actual liter-sized glass mug you’re drinking out of.

What these are not called are steins, despite however tempted you are to do so. ‘Stein’ translates to ‘stone’ and is used to describe beer mugs made out of stone or clay, not glass – you know the ones.

However, there are a couple of places at Oktoberfest where you can drink out of actual steins, but 99% of the time you’ll be drinking out of a maßkrug.

Bonus Oktoberfest facts: You can drink out of actual steins at Oktoberfest inside the Festzelt Tradition and other Oide Wiesn tents.

Stein

9. The beer police

YES – you read that right. There is absolutely a beer police squad at Oktoberfest whose job it is to make sure that you don’t get underpoured. I kid you not.

The beer in your maß is supposed to come up to the top line on the glass, equaling a full liter. Sometimes, however, if only by accident, you may get a glass that’s not as full as it should be. (Let the record show that this rarely happens as the beer-pourers at Oktoberfest are legit masters of their craft.)

The perfect pour

For this reason, there’s the beer police squad, officially known as Verein Gegen Betrügerisches Einschenken (the Association Against Fraudulent Pouring). This team visits the many tents at Oktoberfest and other beer gardens around Munich to ensure the establishments are practicing only lawful beer-pouring. Basically, if there was a beer-drinkers’ union, this would be it.

Bonus Oktoberfest facts: The VGBE has been protecting beer drinkers from fraud since 1899 and even posts photos of their findings on their Facebook page. (FWIW, the biggest offender at Oktoberfest appears to be the Augustiner tent, which I can personally attest to.)

Look at those Augustiner underpours!
These are BRAND NEW mugs of Augustiner. Shameful.

10. Whether or not you actually need beer tent reservations

I’d say probably the most asked Oktoberfest question I get is “Do I need beer tent reservations?” And the answer to that is no. But also yes. Having fun yet? Do you see why there’s so much alcohol consumed?

Some people will tell you “beer tent tickets” are mandatory. Read my post on Oktoberfest scams to see why that’s entirely false.

No, you do not need beer tent reservations if:

  • You show up early in the day
  • You go during the week (instead of the weekend)
  • You’re just a couple of people or small group
  • You’re perfectly fine winging it
The Hofbräu beer tent at Oktoberfest

Yes, you should try to get beer tent reservations if:

  • There are 8-10 people in your group and you want to stick together
  • You want to attend Oktoberfest at night or on the weekend
  • You suck at winging it
  • You’re hella patient and enjoy jumping through hoops

Oktoberfest is 100% doable by just walking in unannounced—but also by slow strutting and waving your arms in a flourish because you’re at Oktoberfest, bitches! In short, you do not need beer tent reservations to attend Oktoberfest. And, honestly, it’s an unnecessary headache I wouldn’t even bother with.

Bonus Oktoberfest facts: Every Oktoberfest beer tent is required, by law, to keep a good portion of its seating open to walk-ins.

Criteria for reserving beer tent tables

However, should you want beer tent reservations, that too is possible. To acquire beer tent reservations you must meet a few criteria:

You must reserve an entire 8- or 10-person table. If there are two of you, this is ludicrous. If there are 10 of you, this could be super fun. Who doesn’t like feeling like a VIP? And by that I mean Very Important Pretzel-eater.

View of Oktoberfest from the Ferris wheel

The reservation is free but… You don’t have to pay for the actual reservation, but they do require you to purchase the equivalent of two beers and one meal for each of the 10 people. (This ends up around 45€ each.) This is why it’s dumb to reserve a table for just two people, regardless of how well you performed in the hot dog eating competition that one time.

You can only reserve tables directly through the beer tent owners. This process involves a lot of paperwork and time, possibly some phone calls to Germany, and even sometimes a fax machine.

An empty Oktoberfest beer tent

Oktoberfest fact: It’s illegal to buy beer tent reservations/”tickets”/spots at a table through a third party. If you’re going to get kicked out of Oktoberfest, let it be for your drunken tabletop rendition of “Gangham Style,” not for trying to scam the system.

You can only reserve for certain times of the day. And as a newbie, it’s almost certain that the only reservation you’ll be able to get is for a weekday at lunch. In other words, literally the time when reservations are the least needed of all.

Very excited about my mystery lunch

11. What to eat for lunch at Oktoberfest

One of my favorite things to have learned at Oktoberfest is that the Oktoberfest beer tents offer lunch specials. I mean, if you lived nearby, wouldn’t YOU stop by the Wiesn on your lunch break? I certainly would.

During the week, the beer tents each offer their own unique lunch specials, and they’re all delicious. This is a great way to save some money and try new amazing foods you may not have otherwise. Half the time, I don’t even know what I’m ordering, but I’m always open to finding out! (I knew the Oktoberfest pretzels were going to be awesome, but finding out about dampfnudel was a special surprise!)

Lunch specials at the Hofbräu tent

These meals typically come with sides and cost less than one of the larger meals you’ll find in the rest of the menu. Each day offers something new so your options are endless between 15 big tents. There’s a good chance you’ll love whatever it is they offer.


12. Where to buy shoes in an emergency

Ok – so you wore some super cute heeled shoes with your dirndl and, 8 bench-dancing hours later your feet are KILLING you. Well, Oktoberfest has a solution.

Inside the wine tent (Kuffler’s Weinzelt) you’ll find a vending machine for comfy ballet flats. Twenty euros will get you a new pair of flats to wear around or out of Oktoberfest, for when your paws just can’t take it anymore. (You know exactly what I mean.)

Shoe vending machine at Oktoberfest

Whatever you do – do NOT under any circumstances take your shoes off at Oktoberfest and walk around like that. By the end of the night, there is so much broken glass you basically have to wade through it as they shuffle you out at closing time.

If the going gets real tough, get yourself some vending machine shoes from the wine tent. But if you want a smooth ride from beginning to end, check out my post on the best Oktoberfest shoes (and socks) for both women and men. I only recommend the most functional and comfortable styles!

Getting stormy at Oktoberfest

13. There’s a crossbow shooting range inside a beer tent

I know, this list is getting more unbelievable by the minute, but it’s true. Inside the Armbrustschützenzelt (aka – the crossbow shooter’s tent) there’s an honest-to-goodness crossbow shooting range. Where they hold Oktoberfest competitions. You cannot make this stuff up.

Just when you think Oktoberfest has gone all mainstream and international, you learn they still pride themselves on keeping many an-Oktoberfest tradition alive.

Inside the crossbow shooters’ tent

Each year the Armbrustschützenzelt holds their annual Oktoberfest crossbow shooting competition. On the last day of Oktoberfest, the winners take part in the Boellerschiessen at the foot of the Bavaria statue, the traditional gun salute marking the festival’s end.   

So, can anyone go there and shoot crossbows? I’m not 100% on this, but I’m going to wager a big fat NO. This isn’t like that time I attended amateur night at a bull-riding saloon in Arizona. Oktoberfest has standards, duh. And probably like so much red tape.

Munich town hall

14. Looking to play cards?

The Armbrustschützenzelt doesn’t stop at crossbows, oh no. They also have a card-playing room where any ol’ sucker is welcome to sit down and play.

But we’re not talking about poker or blackjack here. At Oktoberfest, you play Schafkopf. Hosted by the Schafkopfschule of Munich, anyone (even you!) can make a beer tent reservation in the Schafkopf room as an individual or a group. You can be a professional card player or a casual one, but I’m pretty sure you have to already know how to play.

It’s free to participate, and you can redeem the €25 pp reservation cost for food/beer. And, naturally, there’s a tournament.

See the cupids?

15. How to quickly find the nearest bathroom at Oktoberfest

Inside the beer tents, locating the restrooms is not all that difficult. They’re usually super far away on the opposite end of the tent from you, through the sea of super drunk people, each of whom tries to dance with you on the way there. Just look for the giant “WC.”

Outside the beer tents though it gets a little tricky. Or does it? If you know the secret way to quickly find the bathrooms at Oktoberfest, you’re way ahead of like half the people there. All you have to do is follow Cupid’s arrow. And no, I’m not drunk right now.

The giant naked babies sitting on what I can only assume is a crock of French onion soup are actually pointing the way to the nearest bathrooms with their arrows. (A sentence I never thought I’d say.) Can you see the line of them on the left in the photo above?

Follow the arrows…

I’ve asked everyone I know who I thought might know why this is so—the internet, Germans, Munich-dwellers—and bupkis. However, while I don’t fully understand their vibe, I do understand their purpose and it’s one of the most important ones at Oktoberfest.

They appear as giant statues that stand high above the crowds but also as painted symbols found here and there around the Wiesn. Where there’s a naked baby with an arrow, you’ll find a bathroom.

For everything else you need to know about Oktoberfest bathrooms (and some other stuff you probably don’t), I have a full post in that link!

You can find them in the English Garden as well

16. Oktoberfest has a mascot

Oktoberfest has a mascot, but probably not the kind you’re thinking of. Oktoberfest’s mascot is a monk.

The Münchner Kindl (“Munich Child”) is the symbol of Munich, Germany and can be found on the city’s coat of arms as well as all over the city, easter egg style. Keep your eyes peeled and you’ll see this black and yellow icon all over Oktoberfest. (In 2024 she’s back on the official Oktoberfest poster.)

Entrance to the Oide Wiesn

This monk has been on the Munich coat of arms since the 1200s and has evolved over time. What once was a monk eventually was represented by a little boy, then a gender-neutral child, then a young girl.

Today, the Münchner Kindl is always played by a beautiful beer-toting young woman (because obviously). She leads the Oktoberfest parades on horseback and is present at the first keg tapping and other fun events. Umm, can you say dream job?

Some girls grow up dreaming of becoming Disney princesses while I always aspired to be the Münchner Kindl.
me in a green and yellow dirndl next to the munchner kindl
In 2022 I got to meet her!
In 2023 I got to watch her lead the opening day Parade

17. The Hofbräu tent has a mascot too

The Hofbräu tent at Oktoberfest has a mascot of its own too, and he is a drunk mailman angel. A far cry from a monk, no?

Allow me to introduce you to Aloisius, the unofficial but, like, pretty much official mascot of the Hofbräuhaus. And while he may seem totally out of place inside an Oktoberfest beer tent, he was actually sent here by God. True story.

Red face, tiny feet

As legend has it… Aloisius was a man who, once upon a time, lived in Munich and frequented the Hofbräuhaus, as one does. After what I’m guessing was a tiny-feet-related emergency, he died and went to Heaven which, in the most shocking turn of events since that kid saw dead people, does not have any beer. Seriously, I did not see that coming.

So Aloisius spends his days sitting on his cloud, playing his harp, and complaining his ass off until God is all like, “Ugh, fine!” He works out a deal where Aloisius can be the official messenger between Heaven and the Bavarian government. (I didn’t know such an alliance existed but, sure, I can see it.) This job will allow him to visit his beloved homeland.

Inside the Hofbräu tent

Fast forward to his first official day on the job when, the minute he arrives back in Munich, he heads straight for the Hofbräuhaus where he sits to this day. Aloisius: terrible messenger angel, fantastic bar patron.

Today, you’ll find him spinning on his cloud high above the crowd inside the Hofbräu beer tent. (And various other locations.)

Bonus Oktoberfest facts: The official Oktoberfest poster for Oktoberfest 2022 featured the Münchner Kindl and Aloisius (the festival’s two most prominent mascots) holding hands and staring off into an Oktoberfest sunset, full of anticipation after two canceled years.

RIP Oktoberfest post office

18. You can send your souvenirs home from Oktoberfest

Update: As of 2022, they no longer operate Oktoberfest post office. Booo! It was cool while it lasted though.

Along with the beer tents, a dedicated Oktoberfest post office pops up at the Wiesn each year. From here, you can buy and send postcards, buy stamps, and mail your Oktoberfest souvenirs straight from the Weisn to your house.

One year I sent myself a postcard to see who would make it home first. (I won.) You can find the Oktoberfest post office near the main entrance, in the big yellow building.

Bonus Oktoberfest facts: When you send mail from the Oktoberfest post office, it gets marked with a unique Oktoberfest cancelation stamp. #nerdalert

Oktoberfest bombing memorial

19. Oktoberfest’s sad history

On September 26, 1980, a right-wing extremist whose name I won’t mention killed thirteen people and injured more than 200 in a terrorist bombing at the entrance to Oktoberfest. The terrorist also died in the explosion that destroyed an area the size of a football field.

Just before the main entrance to the Wiesn, over on the right-hand side, you’ll find a large memorial to the victims of the bombing. Each year a commemoration ceremony is held at the site of the memorial.

In 2022 they had an all-new exhibit about the bombing outside the Wiesn main entrance
Inside the Festzelt Tradition

20. Where to party at Oktoberfest like it’s 1899

As I mentioned earlier, Oktoberfest is a totally free event to attend. But there is one exception for those in the know. (Like you, because you read my blog.)

Look, this is a secret, okay? So mind who you tell this to: there’s an exclusive part at Oktoberfest that almost no one knows about. It’s called the Oide Wiesn and you have to pay a small admission to get into it. (I’m talking €4 here.)

Outside the Festzelt Tradition

The Oide Wiesn is a time warp, intended to transport you back to the Oktoberfest of the 1810s. (Need more information? Watch Oktoberfest: Beer & Blood on Netflix!) There are old timey rides and games and beer tents that serve beer in actual steins. Basically, traditional gemütlichkeit galore.

There are stages for choreographed dancing you can totally join in, whip-crackers, traditional brass bands, grown men slapping themselves. It’s just all so magical. But, shh, don’t tell anyone, got it? It’s a mostly local affair but such a breath of fresh air after the insanity of the well-known beer tents. If you want to experience the real Oktoberfest of yore, this is where you do it.

Oktoberfest beer tent decor

Don’t miss my free Spotify Oktoberfest playlist – it’s got all the Oktoberfest hits straight from the Wiesn for your at-home Oktoberfest party or just to get you in the mood while travel planning!


21. Not all beer tent tables are created equal

While most of the Oktoberfest beer tents have the same standard “beer garden” tables, there is one that is superior. The tables inside the Schottenhamel tent are unique.

Rather than long narrow tables, the tables inside the Schottenhamel beer tent are actually square, offering you a better chance to mingle during your visit.

But the best thing about the Schottenhamel tables is what’s under them. Attached to the tables underneath is a mesh pouch where you can store your purse, jacket, souvenirs, whatever!

To say the Oktoberfest beer tents get packed is an understatement, and these tables make it so much easier to enjoy your time without having to hold all your belongings in your lap or worry about them falling onto the floor into the abyss of broken glass.

Schottenhamel tent tables

22. Don’t eat the cookies

Given how much beer you’re going to drink, you’ll certainly be tempted by all the the heart-shaped gingerbread cookies covered in colorful icing and cute messages floating around Oktoberfest. But these lebkuchenherzen (as they’re known in German) aren’t actually for eating. One of the many Oktoberfest facts I learned the hard way.

Yes, they’re still cookies; and yes, they are technically edible. But… trust me on this, you don’t want to go there. As tradition mandates, a man gives one of these to a woman as a token of his love. (But this is 2024, anyone can give anyone a lebkuchenherzen. In fact, just go buy your own.)

Oktoberfest heart cookies

They are meant to be worn as an Oktoberfest accessory, not consumed. Thus, they’re manufactured for durability, not taste. Look, I get it, 12 hours of beer drinking will cloud all this knowledge and you’ll still rip that sucker open on the walk back to the hotel. Just let the record show, you’ve been warned.


23. Do you have to dress up for Oktoberfest? Should you?

I get asked this all the time: Do you have to dress up for Oktoberfest? And my answer is always the same: “Well…………………………………………….. no. But should you? Abso-freaking-lutely.”

Dressing up in a dirndl/lederhosen is a great way to become part of the whole experience of Oktoberfest, rather than Oktoberfest just being a weird party you went to once. Dressing up adds a whole other layer to the fun you’ll have in Munich. Plus, everyone’s doing it.

I wrote an entire post that answers the question: “Do you HAVE to dress up for Oktoberfest?” Check it out in that link. It covers all follow-up questions too!

groups of girls at oktoberfest all wearing oktoberfest clothing
Inside the Schottenhamel tent

There are no rules about whether you have to dress up or not. There’s no Oktoberfest dress code. But with that being said, you definitely should dress up. If you’re afraid you’ll look foolish, put that idea out of your head. As long as you stick to a traditional look, and not a tacky attempt at humor, you’ll fit right in!

If you’re afraid you’ll be the only one in Oktoberfest clothing, you’ll soon realize you were dead wrong. The vast majority of Oktoberfest-goers wear traditional-style outfits. It’s the people in jeans and t-shirts that stand out here.

For everything you need to know about what to wear to Oktoberfest (and more importantly, what NOT to wear), click that link to read my complete guide to outfits for Oktoberfest. And then head to my post on where to buy outfits for Oktoberfest (both in Munich and online).

me showing off a teal apron I made
Dirndl bow on my right

24. How you tie your dirndl bow matters

Ladies (and applicable gents), when tying your dirndl apron, make sure you’re tying it in the right place, lest you send the wrong signals. Hear me out.

Tradition has it that where on your body you tie your dirndl bow tells the world your relationship status and the fellas take note. For instance:

  • Tying your dirndl bow on your right means you’re taken.
  • Tying your bow on your left means you’re single.
  • Putting your dirndl bow in the front/middle means you’re a virgin
  • And having your dirndl bow in the back/middle means you work there and that you’re already in the weeds getting me a beer.
  • Need a visual? Watch this quick video:

Also don’t miss my guide to buying a dirndl online. It covers 9 very important things you need to know before you shop.


25. You don’t have to drink beer at Oktoberfest

Among my top 3 most frequently asked Oktoberfest questions is: “But what if I don’t like beer?” And to that I say: Rubbish! But also, “You don’t have to drink beer at Oktoberfest!”

Yes, Oktoberfest is billed as the world’s largest beer festival, but there’s so many more options. Whether you simply don’t like beer, are gluten-intolerant, prefer wine, whatever… there’s an Oktoberfest solution for you.

hand holding up glass of champagne inside oktoberfest beer tent
Drinking bubbly at Oktoberfest

To the surprise of just about everyone – you can find anything you want to drink at Oktoberfest. Wine, cocktails, frozen drinks, non-alcoholic beer, soft drinks, tea and coffee, Red Bull, schnapps, liquor of all kinds, martinis, a $5,000 15-liter bottle of champagne, literally whatever you want. You just need to know where to go. Enter: Ashley *curtsies dirndl*

For all the information you could possibly want on NOT drinking beer at Oktoberfest, check out my post on the subject: Oktoberfest for Non-Beer Drinkers: 15 Important Things You Need to Know (That Most People Don’t!)


26. Don’t freak out over the white powder

It’s not what it looks like, I swear. I can explain! No really, I can.

The white powder you see being passed around and, um, snorted at Oktoberfest is (almost assuredly) not cocaine or any other illegal drugs. It’s wiesnkoks, so…, Wiesn Coke. Okay, not my best save there. Hear me out.

Snorting the white powder at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany
Oktoberfest white powder

Wiesnkoks is a mixture of menthol and grape sugar that people snort as a means to awaken and revive themselves after hours and hours of drinking and virtually inhaling platters of spätzle. It’s sold in small jars by the official beer tent employees, not a sketchy dude you encountered on the walk over.

The effect is cool and refreshing with a nice little jolt of alertness and cleared-up nasal passages. Because of this, sometimes when I’m sick with a cold on any given day of the year, my husband shouts, “Bust out the wiesnkoks!” See? It’s multi-purpose.

That being said, if you want to try it, my advice would be to purchase your own little jar of it from the beer tent staff. In other words, don’t just snort any ol’ white powder that a stranger passes to you. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR HARMFUL LIFE CHOICES. All caps. Bold font. Red text.

Sunset at Oktoberfest

More info for your Oktoberfest trip


I hope you learned something new from this list of fun Oktoberfest facts and helpful tips! Have a great time at the – where, folks? – that’s right, the Wiesn!

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6 Comments

  1. Ashley, “thorough “ doesn’t begin to describe your detailed post. It was the first one I have found that discussed finding the WC!!!! Kind of important when you don’t buy but really only rent the beer.
    I have tried to find information about entrance(s) to the grounds. GoogleMaps takes you in on the east side. Are there other options?

    1. Thank you so much, Ed! I agree – a very important thing to know.
      Check out this Oktoberfest map: https://www.oktoberfest.de/gelaendeplan And look for the P entrances. The main entrance is P2, and you’ll see six additional entrances around the perimeter. Hope that helps! They don’t have any addresses listed but when you get there they are easy to find.

  2. Hi Ashley! Thank you so much for all your incredibly detailed information! Heading to our first Oktoberfest this fall and reading your blog has made me feel so much more prepared. I have one burning question after seeing this pop up repeatedly in the posts – the pretty cookies are for decoration, but please tell me there are consumable sweet treats to be found around the festival *fingers crossed* 🙂 Do you have recommendations for the best desserts to try? I (and my sweet tooth) appreciate you!

    1. Hi Sharon, Thank you so much for saying that! So happy I could help. 🙂 Yes, there are PLENTY of sweets to try at Oktoberfest. My absolute favorite is dampfnudel – you can get an idea of what it is in this post. There’s even a small Oktoberfest tent that’s decorated like a gingerbread castle that’s full of great desserts like kaiserschmarrn. Check it out here. You’ll love it.

  3. Jeannette says:

    Hi!
    Enjoy your content very much!
    Could you tell me whether dancing on the benches happens during the daytime (lunch) slots too?
    And do people dance on benches in the balconies or gallery tables??
    Thank You!

    1. Hi Jeannette! Dancing on benches does happen during the day, but it depends on the tent. For instance, the Augustiner tent skews older and calmer during the day, but the party at the Hofbräu tent gets going pretty early. The dancing on benches though doesn’t really happen until the more modern bands show up later in the afternoon. (During the day the tents play mostly traditional-style music.) And yes about the balconies, but only at the tables that aren’t close to the balcony edge, for obvious reasons! Further back from the edge, you’re good to go. 🙂