I decided to write this post on the best views of Oktoberfest because, since I attend Oktoberfest every year (and spend the whole two weeks here), I’m always trying to find new ways to experience it.
Most people only get to spend a couple of days at Oktoberfest so these lesser-known spots may go completely overlooked. So, I’m writing down my favorite places to go at Oktoberfest for amazing views of the festival in case you want to see it from a whole different angle or maybe just want to take a break from the madness.
Best views of Oktoberfest
Many would argue that the best views of Oktoberfest are the ones you see through the bottom of your beer glass. And while they’re not totally wrong, you can still do better. Especially if you’re both short and a slow drinker like me.
Everyone knows that Oktoberfest is one of the biggest festivals in the entire world, but to actually see it in its entirety is mind-blowing. The huge tents! All those people! The beautiful city of Munich you should definitely see more of while you’re here!
Luckily, there are a handful of places from where you can easily see all of this. When you hit up the Wiesn this year, be sure to check out these 12 best views of Oktoberfest.
Don’t miss this super important post: What NOT to Do at Oktoberfest in Munich: 19 Embarrassing Mistakes to Avoid This Year
1. The Bavaria Statue
I shocked a lot of people in 2022 when I posted this Instagram reel from the top of the Bavaria Statue at Oktoberfest. And not just first-time visitors, but also regular Oktoberfesters who had no idea you could go inside this monument.
The Bavaria statue is to Munich what the Statue of Liberty is to the United States – a symbol of the homeland and what it represents. It was built throughout the early 1800s and assembled here at the Theresienwiese in 1850. And just like Lady Liberty, fräulein Bavaria is hollow.
The Bavaria statue is considerably smaller than the Statue of Liberty, but the inner-workings are similar. It’s a hollow bronze sculpture with little more than air inside and teeny tiny windows up in her head. The observation area at the top can fit about 2 or 3 people, max. (Though the official number is ‘6.’ Go ahead, try to fit 6 people in here.)
How to visit the Bavaria statue
After you climb the stairs that lead up to the Bavaria statue, walk around behind her. At the back of the pedestal she stands on you’ll find a few steps leading up to a door. Inside, there will be a person inside a small ticket booth where you’ll pay €5 to enter.
Climb the corkscrew staircase (126 steps) until you reach the top where you’ll have to squeeze through a small opening to get inside her head. (This is definitely not for those with fears of tight spaces… or heights… or bronze for that matter. I’m sure those people are out there.)
At the top, there are four small openings for you to look out of. (And I mean small.) From up here you can get some of the best views of Oktoberfest. You can see the entire back half of Oktoberfest as well as the huge tents, the massive vendor parking area, the Munich skyline, the Ferris wheel, and inside some of the tents’ beer gardens.
When to visit the Bavaria statue
In 2024, the Bavaria statue is open daily from 9am to 6pm (last entry at 5:30), but only from April to October 6th. It is closed completely from October 7th through March. During Oktoberfest the statue is open until 8pm.
But if you go early enough in the day (like I did), chances are you’ll have the entire statue to yourself. That’s because no one knows you can go inside it!
Bavaria statue fast facts
In case you’d like to know a little more about Bavaria before you, dare I say, go inside her, here are a few fast facts:
- The Bavaria statue is 18 meters tall (60 feet). For comparison, the Statue of Liberty is 305 feet tall.
- Bavaria was the first “colossal” statue cast in bronze in the modern era which apparently was a major feat. (The Statue of Liberty didn’t step on the scene for another 30 years. That sentence is a lot funnier if you exclusively picture her walking through the streets of Manhattan, Ghostbusters 2-style, like I always do.)
- It was commissioned by King Ludwig I, the guy whose wedding reception evolved into what we know as Oktoberfest.
- It’s the only large bronze sculpture in Germany that you actually can go inside of.
For more Oktoberfest fun facts, check out: 26+ Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Oktoberfest (But Definitely Should!)
2. St. Paul’s Church
So maybe you didn’t think you’d be going to church during your rowdy few days at Oktoberfest, but here we are. I told you Oktoberfest was a religious experience! But yes, some of the best views of Oktoberfest come from the towers at the nearby St. Paul’s Church.
St. Paul’s Church is located just a couple blocks from the main entrance to Oktoberfest, and just outside the Theresienwiese U-bahn stop. (Address: St.-Pauls-Platz 11)
How to visit St. Paul’s Church
While the church alone is worth checking out, it’s up on top where you want to be for the best views of Oktoberfest. Enter through the main entrance, take a walk through this huge neo-Gothic church, and find the door to the stairway that leads up to the tower.
Pay a small donation of just a few euros then climb the 250 steps up the corkscrew staircase. You’ll come out at the top of the church at the base of the main tower. You can walk 360° around the tower for the best views of Oktoberfest, downtown Munich, and even the snowy Alps on a clear day!
When to visit St. Paul’s Church
St. Paul’s Church tower will be open during Oktoberfest. During the week: from 10am – 6pm; Sundays from Noon – 4pm; and Saturdays from 10am – 5pm.
St. Paul’s Church fast facts
Here are a few quick facts about Munich’s St. Paul’s Church:
- This church is known locally as Paulskirche.
- Its 97-meter (318-foot) main tower makes it one of the tallest buildings in Munich.
- It was built between 1892 and 1906.
- Again, many people don’t know you can go up here so you may be the only one up here like I was!
Also check out: Everything you need to know about what to wear to Oktoberfest
3. The Ferris Wheel
One of the most popular and famous sights at Oktoberfest is the massive Ferris wheel at the end of the main thoroughfare. Besides being a fun (and less-nauseating after a few liters of beer) Oktoberfest ride, it’s also from here that you can get some of the most amazing views of Oktoberfest. (One of my biggest Oktoberfest tips actually!)
It should be noted that, unlike most Ferris wheels that spin slowwwly around their axis a time or two, this one actually goes pretty fast. Instead of going super slow so people can get off and on without it stopping, this one fills up and then goes around and around a good number of times. This means you’ll have plenty of opportunities to snap the pictures you want from many different angles.
At the top you’ll find yourself 50 meters (164 feet) high and be treated to some of the best views of Oktoberfest down the main road. You’ll be able to see all the beer tents from above and the main street absolutely packed with people!
Looking in that same direction you’ll also be able to see the Bavaria statue, St. Paul’s Church, and the rest of Old Town Munich. Turn around and, on a clear day, you’ll get stunning views of the snow-covered Alps.
How to visit the Oktoberfest Ferris wheel
This is easy. You just walk up to it, pay your fare, and hop on. Each ride costs €10, so these views don’t exactly come cheap, but they’re definitely worth it if you have nice weather.
The Ferris wheel is also wheelchair accessible, making this one of the few overhead views of Oktoberfest you can enjoy as a wheelchair user. Read more about Oktoberfest’s accessibility here.
Additionally, the cars on the Oktoberfest Ferris wheel are pretty big and can fit 10 people. So yeah, there’s a chance you may be the solo rider among a bunch of other couples who thought this would be romantic but learned they were sorely mistaken as you crawl over them to get your photos.
When to visit the Oktoberfest Ferris wheel
For the most part, if Oktoberfest is open, the Ferris wheel is running. But to get technical, here are its set operating hours:
- On opening day, the Ferris wheel is open from noon to midnight.
- Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays it’s open from 10am to 11:30pm. The same goes for October 3 (German Unity Day, a national holiday), regardless of what day of the week it falls on that year. In 2024 it’s a Thursday.
- Fridays and Wednesday 10/2/24 you can ride it from 10am to midnight.
- On Saturdays it’s open from 9am to midnight.
You should also know that Tuesdays are “Family Days” and children and families get half off rides. “Do cat moms count?” she asks herself. So, if that applies to you, save your ride on the Ferris wheel for a Tuesday if you can.
Oktoberfest Ferris Wheel fast facts
Here are a few fun facts about the Ferris wheel at Oktoberfest:
- It’s officially known as the Willenborg Ferris wheel, named after the family that owns it.
- And it has its own Instagram!
- It was built in 1979 and hasn’t changed since.
- The Willenborg has 40 gondolas on it and, at 10 people each, that means the Oktoberfest Ferris wheel can hold 400 people at a time.
You might like: Oktoberfest for Non-Beer Drinkers: 15 Important Things You Need to Know (That Most People Don’t!)
4. Kettenflieger Bayern Tower
If you’ve ever wanted to get some views of Oktoberfest from a bird’s point of view, you can do that here too. But I mean, like, literally a bird’s-eye view. The Kettenflieger Bayern Tower helps you do just this. (This ride is NOT for those with a fear of heights, and I mean that with every ounce of my being.) Here’s a great video of it so you know what to expect.
The Kettenflieger Bayern Tower is one of the most recognizable rides at Oktoberfest, because you can see it from everywhere. It’s basically a giant swing that spins you around 300 feet up in the air. With just some small chains and a seatbelt between you and that dinner with Elvis you always dreamed of.
For real though, ride the Kettenflieger Bayern Tower and you will literally swing out over the Oktoberfest beer tents and crowds. You’ll get to see the Bavaria statue, St. Paul’s Church, the Ferris wheel, and probably all the way to Timbuktu. And yes, they will be some of the best views of Oktoberfest you’ve ever seen. If you can keep your eyes from closing.
How to visit the Kettenflieger Bayern Tower
Like the Ferris wheel, this is simply one of the Oktoberfest rides, so just line on up, pay your fare, and hop on. Fasten yourself in, say your prayers, and hold on to your butts! Each ride on the Kettenflieger Bayern Tower costs €9.
When to visit the Kettenflieger Bayern Tower
Like the Ferris wheel, the Kettenflieger Bayern Tower is open during regular ride operating hours:
- On opening day, you can ride it from noon to midnight.
- Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays it’s open from 10am to 11:30pm. The same goes for October 3 (German Unity Day), regardless of what day of the week it falls on.
- Fridays and Wednesday 10/2/24 it operates from 10am to midnight.
- On Saturdays it’s open from 9am to midnight.
Kettenflieger Bayern Tower fast facts
Here are a few things you probably wish you didn’t know about the Kettenflieger Bayern Tower:
- The mast of this ride is 90 meters (300 feet) tall and is built to resemble a maypole.
- This is just a few meters short of the main tower at St. Paul’s Church and 50 feet taller than the terrifying Skyfall ride. (…from which you can also get great views of Oktoberfest, but I promise that’s not what you’ll be thinking about, nor should you bring out your camera/phone for this one.)
- There are just 16 two-seater swings.
- The Kettenflieger Bayern Tower spins you 360° around the center pole at 40mph.
- Kettenflieger is German for Chain Flyer.
5. From the Hotel Senator
One of my favorite views of Oktoberfest has always been the view from the Hotel Senator. While you can’t exactly see into Oktoberfest (though you can still a great deal of it), you get something even better—the views of all the people going to and from Oktoberfest. To say this is magnificent people-watching would be the understatement of the century.
Yes, you can see the tents, the rides, the lights, and even the Alps on a clear day, but you can also see all the chaos of the park emptying on a Friday night. All the drunk people singing their asses off as they zig-zag down the street; all the people who’ve decided the sidewalk is the best place for a nap; all the people missing a shoe or half their suspenders; all the crying/lost/laughing/dancing people. And all the people who got turned away because they were wearing some dumbass costume and now have no idea what they’re going to do. It’s absolutely brilliant.
You also get to watch the horse carriages going to and from Oktoberfest since they pass right in front of the hotel. My favorite part of every morning.
How to visit the Hotel Senator
In order to get this same experience, you’ll need to actually stay at the Hotel Senator (and request a street-side room if they have one). This is a no-frills 3-star hotel but the breakfast is free, there’s a bar in the lobby, the staff is fantastic, and you can’t beat the location (just a 5-minute walk to Oktoberfest).
Book your stay at the Hotel Senator here. (And do it soon! Rooms go quickly here.)
Best Instagram spots at Oktoberfest
As a little bonus for those of you with a crippling fear of heights, I also wanted to include some of the *other* best photo spots at Oktoberfest. Not all of the best views of Oktoberfest have to come with barf bags, after all. So, here are some of the best Instagrammable Oktoberfest spots down here at ground level.
6. Inside the Hacker-Festzelt
The interior of the Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest beer tent is world famous—instantly recognizable by its “Bavarian Heaven” motif. While all babies beer tents are beautiful, this one really takes the Bavarian chocolate cake.
Listen to my totally free Oktoberfest Spotify playlis here to get yourself in the Oktoberfest mood!
7. From the balcony of any beer tent
Again, all the Oktoberfest beer tents are beautifully decorated and make great photo ops themselves, but it’s from the balconies (both inside and outside) where you can find some of the best views of Oktoberfest.
Up here, you can look down on the massive beer tent crowds that get up to 10,000-strong inside the Hofbräu tent. There’s nothing quite like seeing 10,000 people all singing the same song together, just absolutely drunk on gemütlichkeit.
Likewise, if you can get onto one of the tent’s exterior balconies, you’ll have great views of the Oktoberfest crowds on the packed main street.
8. Under the Oktoberfest welcome sign
Before you even make it into Oktoberfest, you’ll have to pass under the Willkommen Zum Oktoberfest sign at the entrance. This is a popular photo op for just about everyone passing through these hallowed chain link fences. You’re here! You finally made it!
9. Behind a beer and a pretzel
Regardless of where you are when you take this photo, you must get a photo with a beer and a pretzel. Back in 2014 my husband took this impromptu photo of me with my first ever Oktoberfest beer and taking a bite of my first ever Oktoberfest pretzel.
I didn’t even have a blog back then, but little did I know this silly photo would basically become the logo for My Wanderlusty Life that I’d have to look at a thousand times a day for almost 10 years. Really though, it’s iconic. (I even caught Arnold Schwarzenegger trying to copy me!)
10. Inside the Festzelt Tradition
OK, I’m circling back. I know I said all the beer tents are photo-worthy, but there are a couple that just stand out in their ability to turn your eyeballs into sparkling diamonds. And the Festzelt Tradition is one of them.
As one of the lesser-known Oktoberfest beer tents, the Festzelt Tradition is located back in the Oide Wiesn, the historical part of the part you have to pay an admission to get into. But it’s so worth it for one of the most stunning beer tents with its wooden interior and millions of twinkly lights.
11. The Oide Wiesn
In fact, the whole of the Oide Wiesn just makes for spectacular photos and views of Oktoberfest. Here, you’ll get to see (and photograph) the traditional schuhplattler (slap dance), the Goaßlschnalzer (Bavarian whip crackers), and more classic “Oktoberfest” stuff. The outfits! The choreography! The hilarious whipping boys! So many great photo ops here.
You can also visit the Museumzelt (Museum tent) where you can actually ride a penny farthing and other wacky bicycles of yore. Or check out the 1800s bowling alley or any of the old-timey carnival rides that would make for hilarious photos.
12. Next to some horses
Let’s be honest here, the real stars of Oktoberfest are the stinky, hairy ones that shit in the street—the horses.
Every day of Oktoberfest, the horse-drawn beer carriages from each of Munich’s make their way from their home breweries to the Wiesn, through town, just like the awesome days of yore. They trot through Munich, enter the Wiesn, then hang out in front of their corresponding beer tents for pictures and to just generally be cute but also kinda terrifying.
Chances are you’re inside a beer tent during this time and that’s why you often miss them. All the more wiesn (see what I did there?) to take a break and step outside for some fresh air. And by fresh air I mean the smell of horse poop and roasted almonds. Ahh, I’m getting excited just thinking about it!
You’re welcome to take photos with them (or simply next to them), just always stay alert of what they’re doing around you. (And what they’re leaving around you. Seriously, so many people accidentally walk through the poo before it gets cleaned up. Don’t be that totally oblivious person.)
I feel like now’s a good time to recommend that you read my complete guide (for both men and women) on What Shoes to Wear to Oktoberfest.
The horse carriages typically arrive at Oktoberfest between 11am and noon and leave around 4pm. (But times may vary because horses gonna horse.)
More info for your trip to see the view of Oktoberfest
- Hotels: Read my post on where to stay for Oktoberfest for all the inside info.
- Rental cars: Check out the best Munich rental car deals here.
- Don’t forget to pick up a Germany guidebook and this Germany customs and culture guide.
- Stay safe on your travels with this essential travel safety gear.
- Want more Oktoberfest? See all my Oktoberfest posts here.
- Need more help? I offer one-on-one Oktoberfest trip planning assistance!
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