Where to Stay for Oktoberfest: Best Munich Hotel Options + Expert Tips

Some of the questions I get asked most about attending Oktoberfest are about where to stay for Oktoberfest. Things like: hotel recommendations, staying near the festival versus farther out, and what about Airbnb?

Where to stay for Oktoberfest is definitely one of the most important things to consider when planning your trip. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it, babe—your choice here can potentially make or break your trip.

But that’s why you have me! Not only have I stayed at several different Munich hotels for Oktoberfest, but I also help hundreds of people plan their own trips each year. Let’s just say I’m much better at choosing the perfect hotel than I am at pretending to know the words to all the Oktoberfest songs. (I don’t think I’m fooling anyone actually.)

When to book a hotel for Oktoberfest

If you’ve been wondering when is the best time to book a hotel for Oktoberfest, the answer to that is yesterday. Given the number of people who attend this festival (millions) and the number of available hotel rooms (significantly less than millions), hotels book up lightning fast.

If you want a more substantial answer, March is typically when people start looking for hotels and solidifying their Oktoberfest plans. That being said, I originally wrote this in December and many of the Munich hotels I’ve searched today are already booked up for all of next year’s Oktoberfest.

When it comes to booking hotels for Oktoberfest, the absolute soonest you can do it is the best. It’s critical to book your Oktoberfest hotel as early as possible.

What to look for in an Oktoberfest hotel

This list is going to vary wildly between each and every person who reads this; we all have our own preferences and pet peeves. Regardless, as an Oktoberfest expert, frequent traveler, and someone who knows a thing or two because she’s seen a thing or two (things you’d never believe), I’m going to tell you what things you should look for when booking a hotel for Oktoberfest.

Fight me on these if you want, just don’t come crying to me come September when you can’t find your way back across town to the tent you’re sharing with 6 strangers. (I literally do help crying strangers on the streets of Munich every year though–I’m not a monster.)

1. Proximity to Oktoberfest

The Number One thing you should look for when deciding where to stay for Oktoberfest is how close the hotel is to Oktoberfest. I’m probably going to say this another 12 times in this post so just buckle in.

Yes, these are going to be some of the most expensive options but, when it comes to Oktoberfest, hotel proximity is worth its weight in [liquid] gold. Just think about all the other times you’ve consumed obscene amount of alcohol… and how desperate you were to just slither into bed afterwards. Now imagine that your hotel is 40 minutes and three trains away. (BOOOO!)

But now imagine that your hotel is just right outside the entrance to Oktoberfest. That means your bed, your pajamas, your snacks, and your toilet (no judgment) are just minutes away. What you’re experiencing right now is called Heavenly bliss. And this is worth every penny you’ve got to spend on this trip.

The spot where Oktoberfest takes place in Munich is called the Theresienwiese. Keep reading to see how to find hotels around there.

2. Proximity to transportation

Look, I get it; sometimes you just need to save some money and stay a little farther away from Oktoberfest. I’ve certainly been there. That’s where I started out. So, if this applies to you, then what you need to remember when deciding where to stay for Oktoberfest is to choose a hotel that’s within [a short] walking distance to public transportation.

Munich has an excellent public transportation system. It consists of subway trains (U-bahn), the above-ground trains that go farther out (the S-bahn), trams, and buses. They’re all super easy, cheap, and painless to use. Just remember “U” for underground and “S” for suburbs. That’s not what those letters officially mean, but just a way for you to remember them.

You can also find these stops on Google Maps. Look for the tiny blue symbols that correspond to the different transportation networks. Hover over them and it’ll say whether it’s a tram, bus, or train stop.

Super important helpful tip about using public transportation for Oktoberfest

As if the headline above didn’t say enough, I’m stressing this point again. If you do book an Oktoberfest hotel that requires you to take public transportation, do your best to limit the number of stops/changes it takes to get to your hotel.

Even if your hotel is right next to a train stop, if you have to change trains three times to get there, I’d absolutely consider something else. There’s so much room for error after you’ve had multiple liters of beer. Ahem, I’mma say it again: the closest hotel you can get to the Theresienwiese is going to be the best hotel for Oktoberfest.

Take a look at Munich’s train schedules and routes here to get a better idea.

3. Hotel amenities

After proximity, there really isn’t much I care about in terms of where to stay for Oktoberfest. But, I know many people out there do so I’m going to share some of the hotel amenities that might sway your decision one way or another.

Breakfast availability

Ok maybe I take that back. While partying it up at Oktoberfest, I absolutely must have a big ol’ breakfast every morning. And I don’t want to leave my hotel to get it. Maybe you’re not a big breakfast eater, but please please just try? You’re going to drink so much. Your body is a temple, not a trash can.

Every Munich hotel I’ve ever stayed at offers breakfast, but I’m sure there are some that don’t. Most of the time it’s included; sometimes it costs extra. Definitely pay attention to the breakfast availability when booking a hotel for Oktoberfest.

The parking situation

I’m definitely going to advise you to not have a car in Munich while you’re at Oktoberfest. It’s not like you’ll be able to drive to the festival and back, so it’ll really just be sitting in some lot racking up fees.

Cancelation policy

I used to never pay extra for free hotel cancelation or really even care about this at all. And then 2020 hit. To this day, I refuse to book a hotel that doesn’t have a decent cancelation policy.

Most hotels nowadays know how we feel about this and do offer some kind of cancelation. But, not every hotel does. And, even if they typically do, they might not during Oktoberfest because this is such an insane and busy time for them. Be sure to check up on a hotel’s cancelation policy for your expected dates before booking.

This is another reason I like to book exclusively with Booking.com (most of the hotels they have offer free cancelation). Plus, I can see super clearly what their cancelation policy is, unlike when you try to book direct and basically have to search the entire website for the policy info you need. It’s like they don’t want you to know that you’re not allowed to cancel your room, hmm.

Price of hotels during Oktoberfest

You probably noticed that “price” is not one of my determining factors when deciding where to stay for Oktoberfest. And that’s because MONEY IS NO OBJECT, MWAHAHA. Ok that’s a lie. Well, mostly.

The truth is, price should certainly be a factor, just not your #1 factor. If you choose your Oktoberfest hotel based on price alone, you’re likely to have a terrible, stressful, regrettable time in Munich. Or actually, chances are you won’t even be able to come here at all. So, know this…

Oktoberfest is expensive

The fact of the matter is that it’s expensive to attend Oktoberfest. Sure, getting into the festival and the beer tents is free (i.e., there’s no admission cost to attend Oktoberfest), but the plane tickets, massive beers, and, above all, your hotel are going to hit you where it hurts.

You must face the facts now—Oktoberfest is not a budget event. If you want to attend Oktoberfest, you need to prepare to spend more than you usually do for certain things, like hotel rooms. And your hotel room will be where most of your money goes for this trip.

Munich hotel prices

Because Oktoberfest is attended by literally millions of people from around the world each year, hotel rooms are at a premium. There are too many people and not enough hotel rooms; it’s about to get real supply/demand up in here.

I tell you this to hopefully help you manage your expectations. Hotel prices during Oktoberfest are going to seem, umm, batshit crazy to say the least. You’re going to see hotels that typically charge $80 a night going for $400+ or even up to $1,000/night. I have literally seen this with my own eyes.

So, even though you may be paying hundreds of dollars a night for a hotel, you should still keep your expectations low. During this brief period, you’re paying the big bucks for proximity and the chance to attend one of the greatest events in the world… not a shower that doesn’t leak or a TV that works.

How to choose the best hotel for Oktoberfest

Here’s where I teach you how to choose the best hotel for Oktoberfest. In other words, how to narrow down the many options and how to weed out the ones that’ll have you regretting your life choices more than your table-top chicken dance. Here goes.

I’m using Booking.com here to show you how to do this because it’s the booking site that I always use and because it’s the most user-friendly one, has the most hotel options by far, and usually has the best prices. You can certainly check Expedia and Hotels.com too for deals that suit you.

Step 1: Show on Map

After you input “Munich” and your expected travel dates, click on “Show on Map” on the left. Then, locate the Theresienwiese. (Find the town center, then look for the kidney bean-shaped park to the south and west a little bit.)

This way, you can choose from the hotels closest to Oktoberfest and work your way out according to your budget and other factors.

Pro tip: As you move farther out from the Theresienwiese, try to move north and east if you can. This will put you in or around the Old Town / main train station area where many of the best things to do in Munich are, rather than farther away.

Step 2: Utilize filters

Next, use the filters on the left to mark the things you must have in an Oktoberfest hotel. There are two ways to do this. You can either A.) leave them wide open and see what’s available, or B.) be super strict on what filters you apply which will narrow your options down a ton. From there, you can open up more filters one at a time until you find a hotel you like. I typically go with option B.

You may have to be a little more lenient than usual when booking a hotel for Oktoberfest. For example, I almost never stay at hotels that have less than an 8/10 rating. But, in Munich, during Oktoberfest, you may have to stay at some 6s or 7s.

You can also move the slider to where you would absolutely draw the line on a nightly rate. In this example, moving my budget to no more than $400/night vastly narrowed down my choices. If I change my filter to hotels with a Review Score of “Good: 7+” I get even more options. So, play around with what you’re willing to accept for an Oktoberfest hotel.

If you have the luxury of time (i.e., you’re booking well enough in advance that you actually have a wide range of choices) then you can shop around for the best hotel. If this is the case, please check out my full post on the 16 factors to consider to pick the perfect hotel every time. It’s got tons of pro tips that absolutely apply to deciding where to stay for Oktoberfest.

Staying next to Oktoberfest vs. farther away

And because this is a question that gets asked a million times a year, I’m going to address it here in more detail. Does it really make a difference if you stay right near Oktoberfest versus staying farther out? Is it really worth the extra cost? And to that I say, HELL YES ABSOLUTELY 100%

I’ve stayed at hotels on the other side of town to which I had to take multiple trains to get to after an entire day and night of drinking. To give you the understatement of the year: IT’S NOT FUN. I’ve since stayed at hotels that are no more than a 10-minute walk from the main entrance and I will never go back. Here’s why…

Sheer laziness

Maybe you’re cool with all the extra travel it takes to get across town, and I usually am too but… alcohol. Lots and lots of alcohol. When I’m done at Oktoberfest for the night, I am DONE. I want to be back in my room getting cozy AF ASAP.

I can’t even imagine having to walk all the way to the train station and then wait for a train and then make sure I don’t fall asleep and miss my stop. Which brings me to…

So much room for error

And that’s a best case / least hammered scenario. To put it mildly, there’s so much room for error here. I can’t even tell you how many people I’ve seen sleeping in the train station, on sidewalk benches, or just flat out on the curb because they couldn’t make it back to their rooms. Stay at a hotel next to Oktoberfest and eliminate this altogether.

Bad weather

If it’s sunny and warm out, you might not mind the extra walking it takes to get to and from Oktoberfest. But fantastic weather is not the norm here. There’s a good chance you’ll have to do that walk in super chilly temperatures and/or rain. The shorter that walk = the better.

Safety

After a full day of drinking and partying, you’ll want to get back to your room safely. The closer you are, the less likely you are to end up somewhere you’re not familiar with, get taken advantage of, or worse. (Especially if you get separated from your group and end up going back alone.) I do feel completely safe in Munich, but you can never be too safe.

Quick access

If you get to the gates of Oktoberfest and they turn you away because your purse is too big (which has definitely happened to me), then you can quickly run back to your room and ditch it if your room is right there.

If you’re at a hotel across town, going back to your room for an exchange is going to put a real damper on your day. But not everyone else’s because they’ll just be like “OK well we’re going in find us when you get back mmkay BYEEEEE?” (Or maybe just bring the right purse to Oktoberfest in the first place.)

I’ve seen this happen as well when people show up in ridiculous costumes that (surprise surprise) aren’t allowed in the beer tents either. What an embarrassing walk of shame all the way back to your budget hotel across town… dressed like a leprechaun or an inflatable chicken. (Both things I’ve seen.)

One other scenario I’ve heard about that may or may not apply to you is… “I don’t like to poop in public restrooms.” If this is you (your secret’s safe BTW) then you’ll want a super close Oktoberfest hotel so you can do your business in bliss. (But do check out my post on the Oktoberfest bathroom situation!)

The people watching is epic

Hotels near Oktoberfest also provide some of the best people watching on the planet. Oh, the things I have seen! And most of the time you won’t even need to leave your room.

You can also watch the Oktoberfest parades. (The official parades, that is; not the absolute mayhem that fills the streets after Oktoberfest closes, but definitely that too.) And you get to see the daily procession of horse-drawn beer carriages as they make their way to and from the festival. Beyond that, the whole area is just so full of energy. I love it.

What are the downsides?

There are a couple of teensy-weensy downsides to staying next to Oktoberfest versus staying farther out. For starters, yes, you’ll pay more. This is a given. The better the location (i.e., the closer to Oktoberfest) the more hotel rooms cost. That’s because it’s better this way. Just take my word for it.

The second is that it’s much louder here. From the moment Oktoberfest begins in the morning to a few hours after it ends, it’s all-out chaos around here. The good thing is that most of the hotel rooms are at least a little bit soundproofed. The bad thing is that they might not have air conditioning so you’ll need to leave your windows open anyway.

But, if you’ve come to Munich, Germany during Oktoberfest and booked a hotel next to the Wiesn hoping for a nice, quiet, relaxing vacation, well then you’re just beyond help already. The good thing is that you’ll hear the super loud ambulance sirens so often that you’ll stop even noticing them at some point. Good times.

But what if I can’t afford a hotel close to Oktoberfest?

I totally 100% understand this. And you shouldn’t have to miss out on this event for that reason. If you can swing it, get a hotel near the festival. If you can’t, don’t let that stop you from coming to Oktoberfest! There are plenty of budget accommodations available in or around the city.

As long as you’re prepared for the extra time it takes to get to and from the festival, and as long as you book your accommodations super early, you’ll certainly be able to find something that fits your needs and budget.

Full list of Oktoberfest hotel suggestions

And if you’d rather I do all the hard work for you and just tell you where to stay for Oktoberfest straight up, here you go. I’ve included some brief descriptions (and my opinions) in the following sections, but here’s the quick list of hotels I talk about in this post:

1. Hotel Senator – Near Oktoberfest
2. Eurostars Book Hotel – Near Oktoberfest
3. Residence Inn by Marriott Munich Central – Near Oktoberfest
4. Le Meridien – Near Oktoberfest
5. Motel One München-Westend – Near Oktoberfest
6. Arthotel Munich – Near Oktoberfest
7. Bayer 89 Vi Vadi Hotel – Near Oktoberfest
8. Maritim Hotel Munich – Near Oktoberfest
9. Hotel Bayerischer Hof – Old Town
10. Hotel MIO by AMANO – Old Town
11. Living Hotel Das Viktualienmarkt – Old Town
12. Excelsior by Geisel – Old Town
13. Unsöld’s Factory Hotel – Old Town
14. H2 Hotel München Messe – Farther out
15. NH München Messe – Farther out
16. ibis budget München City Olympiapark – Farther out
17. Holiday Inn Express Olympiapark – Farther out
18. NH München Unterhaching – Farther out
19. Hotel Amper – Farther out
20. Meininger Munich City Center – Hostel
21. Wombat’s City Hostel Munich Werksviertel – Hostel
22. Wombat’s City Hostel Munich Hauptbahnhof – Hostel
23. Meininger Munich Olympiapark – Hostel
24. Jugendherberge München City – Hostel
25. HI Munich Park Youth Hostel – Hostel
26. Smart Stay Hotel Station – Hostel
27. Oktoberfest and Springfest Inclusive Camping – Campsite
28. Lost Souls Oktoberfest campsite – Campsite
29. Oktoberfest on a budget campsite – Campsite
30. Munich Central Camping – Campsite
31. Munich Oktoberfest Camping & Dorms – Campsite
32. VRBO Munich – Vacation rentals

Where to stay for Oktoberfest that’s near the festival

I haven’t stayed at all of these, but I will give you my opinions based on my expertise in the hotel-booking and frequent traveling field. When deciding where to stay for Oktoberfest, give these hotels a try: (These are my personal favorites.)

Hotel Senator

I’ve stayed at the Hotel Senator many times and I love it. It’s super basic but the location can’t be beat. (It’s literally just a 5-minute walk to the Oktoberfest main entrance.) I absolutely love the staff; breakfast is included; and the rooms are cozy.

Eurostars Book Hotel

Another favorite of mine is the Eurostars Book Hotel. Super nice rooms, great breakfast buffet, friendly staff, and another fabulous location just 10 minutes away from Oktoberfest.

Residence Inn by Marriott Munich Central

I stayed here at the Residence Inn when it was the Sheraton but I can vouch for how great this location is. It’s a very well-rated hotel and a beautiful modern property that’s just a 5-minute walk to Oktoberfest. It’s also right next door to the super handy Forum Schwanthalerhöhe – a new shopping mall with a large grocery store where you’ll find me stocking up on Haribo and Milka bars on the daily.

Le Meridien

Another great splurge of a hotel for Oktoberfest is Le Meridien. This beauty is just across the street from the main train station and just a 15-minute walk to Oktoberfest. You can usually find me here at their restaurant Irmi a few times a year because it’s so damn good.

Other Munich hotel options

In addition to my favorites listed above, here are some more great Munich hotels for Oktoberfest worth checking out that I would totally stay at myself:

Motel One München-Westend

I stayed at a Motel One in Frankfurt in October 2023 and loved it. (Where we here in the U.S. think of “motels” as dumps, such is not the case in Europe. This is a super nice hotel.)

The Motel One München-Westend is an 18-minute walk to Oktoberfest. It’s on the main road and close to plenty of restaurants, transit stops, and other shops. (It’s pretty much right next door to Angermaier, one of my favorite Munich dirndl shops.)

Bayer 89 Vi Vadi Hotel

I’ve been watching the Vi Vadi Hotel over the years and it consistently has an 8.5-9.0 rating from reviewers. It’s in a great location (just 7 minutes to Oktoberfest and like two minutes to the main train station right across the street) and has simple cozy rooms for a great price.

Maritim Hotel Munich

I know tons of people who have stayed here at the Maritim Hotel Munich and they’ve all said great things about it. It’s just a 12-minute walk to Oktoberfest and a 5-minute walk to the hauptbahnhof. (That’s kind of the perfect location actually.)

Best Oktoberfest hotels map

This map contains all the suggested hotels, hostels, and campgrounds mentioned in this post. To save this map, click on the star ⭑ next to the map’s title to save it in your Google Maps.

Oktoberfest hotels in the Old Town

Maybe you’re in town for Oktoberfest, but you also want to explore Munich too. In that case, it definitely makes sense to stay at a hotel more towards the Old Town so you can get the best of both worlds. Oktoberfest is easily accessible from the Old Town by U-bahn, tram, and your own two feet (or whatever you’re working with in that area).

Where to stay for Oktoberfest farther out

If you do think you’d like to stay a bit farther away from the festival (either in order to save some cash or because there’s just nothing left), here are a few recommendations:

H2 Hotel München Messe – This is where I stayed for my very first Oktoberfest. *sighs with nostalgia* The Messe neighborhood is centered around the Messe convention center a bit east of Munich city center. I shared one of the bunk bed rooms with three other people and we had so much fun. It’s only about a 6-minute walk to the nearest U-bahn station.

NH München Messe – This is where I stayed for my second Oktoberfest and loved this one too.  There’s a tram stop right outside the entrance so catching public transportation is a cinch. The rooms are nice, the price is decent, and I really loved the breakfast buffet. I’d definitely stay here again.

The Olympiapark area is another decently-priced area that’s accessible to the festival via the U-Bahn. Check out the ibis budget München City Olympiapark and the Holiday Inn Express Olympiapark.

South of the city you have the NH München Unterhaching which is just a 10-minute walk to the S-Bahn and then a 20-minute ride to the festival. East of the city you have the Hotel Amper in Germering that’s just a 10-minute walk to the S-Bahn and a 45-minute trip overall.

As you can see, there are tons of options in terms of where to stay for Oktoberfest, especially if you branch out a little farther from the center. You’ll be sacrificing convenience but you will save a little bit of money and maybe find some hidden gems too.

Where to stay for Oktoberfest – Budget options

All of that being said, there are still ways to attend Oktoberfest on a “budget.” Munich does have several hostels and other cheaper options to consider. You can also find these on the map above.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that these are going to be no-frills options, most are not within walking distance to the festival, and “budget” is a term I use loosely here. Even though these are hostels, some of them still charge exorbitant amounts during Oktoberfest. Check them out for yourself below.

Here are some of the local Munich hostels for budget travelers:

Meininger Munich City Center – I stayed at a Meininger hostel in Brussels and I loved it! This one is just a 10-minute walk from Oktoberfest, has a fun game room, fully equipped kitchen, bar and lounge, and private rooms available.

Wombat’s City Hostel Munich Werksviertel – Has a “Superb” 9/10 rating, state-of-the-art property, located in a trendy neighborhood, and even has private rooms available!

Wombat’s City Hostel Munich Hauptbahnhof – Has a “Fabulous” 8.8/10 rating, is located just a 10-minute walk from Oktoberfest, super fun atmosphere, bar on site, private rooms available.

Meininger Munich Olympiapark – Another “Fabulous” rating, tons of rooms here (including private options), 24-hour staff, game room, kitchen and bar, near the cool Olympia Park area.

Jugendherberge München City – Has an 8.2 rating, a 24-hour front desk, free WiFi, and a bar.

HI Munich Park Youth Hostel – Has an 8/10 rating, breakfast is included, close to the U-bahn.

Smart Stay Hotel Station – Great location between the train station and the Marienplatz, en suite bathrooms and showers, breakfast buffet available, biergarten on site.

Oktoberfest camping

I’m going to talk more about Oktoberfest camping in an upcoming post (so subscribe at the bottom of this post so you don’t miss it!), but for now I’ll just give you a brief overview and list some Oktoberfest camping options.

If even the hostels listed above are beyond your wildest budget, there’s an even budget-y budget option = Oktoberfest camping. During Oktoberfest you can find several Oktoberfest-specific campgrounds around town. And they’re about as no frills as you can get. We’re talking actual tents in the grass, y’all.

We’re talking: “unlimited beer and sangria,” “carnival-type celebrations,” and oh did I mention those tents are communal? The promo image for the campground I’m about to mention is of a girl who has apparently lost her hand, spitting on another girl. But maybe this is the Oktoberfest experience you seek, and if so, check out:

What about an Airbnb for Oktoberfest?

I’m glad you asked. Even though I prefer to stay in hotels myself, I know many people who gravitate towards Airbnbs and other vacation rentals as a first option. Tons of people also think this will be a good idea and/or a great way to save some money in Munich during Oktoberfest. Lolz. So here are some things to consider before booking an Airbnb for Oktoberfest…

It ain’t gonna be cheap

I think maybe once upon a time Airbnb was a legit way to save money but I don’t think that’s anywhere near the case anymore. Especially in Munich during Oktoberfest where people can pretty much charge whatever insane number they can come up with.

By all means, do check to see what rates you can find, just cool your jets if you think you’ve just thought of some loophole around Oktoberfest hotel prices. Airbnb owners aren’t dumb; they’re greedy.

It’s super risky

I personally have never booked an Airbnb for Oktoberfest but I know plenty of people who have. And the vast majority of them have had incredibly negative experiences. The most common of which involves the owner canceling the reservation at the last minute.

I hear this same sob story all. the. time. Someone has an Airbnb booked for Oktoberfest and then a week before the festival the owner just up and cancels it for one baloney excuse or another. Often, it’s because someone else offered them more money.

Airbnb is notorious for not handling this kind of thing well and pretty much just screwing the customer (you) whichever way they can. But beyond that, you now have plane tickets to Munich and nowhere to stay, only a few days before Oktoberfest. When all the hotels are either sold out or charging $1000/night.

Even the thought that this could happen is not worth the risk to me. Book a hotel for Oktoberfest where this kind of thing is less likely to happen.

What questions do you have about choosing where to stay for Oktoberfest? Ask away in the comments below! Prost!

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