Munich Frühlingsfest (sometimes called Springfest by us lazy English speakers) is an Oktoberfest-esque festival that takes place in, you guessed it, the spring instead of the fall. It’s a little bit like Oktoberfest, but also totally different. (Read this quick and easy guide for all the stuff you need to know about it.)
If you’re curious about this lesser-known festival, here are 12 reasons I think you’d love attending Frühlingsfest in Munich. Enjoy!
Munich Springfest 2025 will take place from Friday, April 25 – Sunday, May 11.
Is Springfest worth it?
The first thing you may be wondering is if Springfest is worth a trip all the way to Germany? And I say heck yes! It may not be as world famous or epically huge as Oktoberfest, but that’s actually a good thing for many reasons (which I discuss below).
Frühlingsfest is a familiar experience, but it still has its own personality and vibe. And it’s still a large enough party to warrant packing your bags. Plus, it’s still in Munich which is an awesome destination worth traveling for alone.
For all the ways Springfest is different from Oktoberfest (and which one is better), see my post in that link.
1. A better Spring Break
Imagine if Oktoberfest actually took place during your Spring Break. Gasp! Amazing. I mean, the beach is fine, but that’s not the kind of salt I want on my pretzels. Munich Frühlingsfest presents the perfect opportunity (i.e. excuse) to both explore new destinations and cultures and party your arsch off. Can Florida say the same?
Start the party in Munich and you can head to tons of great destinations from here–like Salzburg, or Neuschwanstein Castle, or Regensburg (Bavaria’s biggest college town with the highest concentration of bars in all of Germany). Or even over to Prague where beer is cheaper than water. Spring break, woo-hoo!
2. It’s more manageable
Munich Frühlingsfest is often thought of as “Oktoberfest’s little sister.” And that’s because it’s a party on a much smaller scale. Instead of 17 large beer tents (and 21 small ones) like Oktoberfest, Springfest has just two: the Hippodrom and Festhalle Bayernland.
Don’t get me wrong; this is still a huge party by any means, it’s just not the same 7 million people that attend Oktoberfest. You won’t feel overwhelmed with how to spend your time and which tents to prioritize. It’ll be much easier to find space inside a tent or even book reservations if you want. Let Munich Frühlingsfest be your gateway Oktoberfest.
3. A more local affair
Given that Frühlingsfest isn’t as world famous as its big brother, it’s a much more local affair. In fact, you’ll encounter very few tourists at all, if any. Many people shy away from Oktoberfest, thinking it’s just a big tourist trap (It’s not! Don’t make me fight you!), but that’s something you don’t even need to think about when attending Springfest.
4. Better rates and availability
One of the biggest drawbacks to attending Oktoberfest is how ungodly expensive hotel rooms are during this time. I mean, just way too many digits on those listings. But that’s not something you need to deal with during Munich Frühlingsfest.
If you’d like to experience a real Bavarian volksfest but don’t want to shell out arms and legs to stay here, maybe consider attending Springfest instead. You also won’t have to deal with the issue of all the good hotels being sold out. (Food and beer are cheaper too.)
For where to stay for Munich’s Frühlingsfest, check out my list of best hotels here.
5. Great food, big beers
The food and beer offerings at Munich’s Frühlingsfest are everything you’d expect from a Bavarian festival. Big, hearty meals and liter-sized beers. (And of course the fan favorite half chickens.)
You’ll be able to try beers from all of Munich’s 6 main breweries, and one of the two beer tents here sells Augustiner, which is a huge bonus. Both inside and outside the tents you can find all your favorite food offerings too.
6. You get to wear your tracht again!
And you thought you’d never have an excuse to wear your dirndls or lederhosen again, pshh. The same traditional Bavarian outfits are also popular at Springfest as well. I personally look for any excuse to wear a dirndl, and if you’re the same, here’s another opportunity.
For more on this, see my guide on how to dress for Oktoberfest as well as where to buy dirndls and lederhosen (in Munich and online).
7. Big party atmosphere
Oktoberfest is fun and all, but sometimes the ultra-traditional stuff can kind of feel like a wet blanket. (At least, after attending every day for the whole two weeks like I do.) At Munich Frühlingsfest, party is the whole objective.
Inside the Festhalle Bayernland tent, the party starts immediately after you show up for the evening shift. The bands play fun Schlager hits and popular classic rock jams (and more) all night long. Even Rammstein which absolutely rocks. The atmosphere here at Springfest is really more along the lines of the Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart than it is Oktoberfest. (Simply put: More party, less boring traditional stuff.)
To get an idea of what music to expect, check out my Oktoberfest Spotify playlist.
8. Singers you’ve heard of
Well, if you’ve been to festivals like this or have spent any time in Germany already, I should say. Instead of just the same old house bands, the tents here (the Festhalle Bayernland in particular) has a rotating list of bands and singers, including the original artists of some of your favorite Oktoberfest songs.
In 2024, I just missed seeing DJ Otzi, famous for his rendition of “Hey Baby” which you’ve undoubtedly heard a thousand times (at least). And Mickie Krause, singer of “Schatzi, schenk mir ein Foto!” Look, if you’re already familiar with Germany’s Schlager hits, this is cool I promise.
9. There’s a flea market
For something totally unique to Frühlingsfest, head to the festival on the first Saturday to experience the largest flea market in Bavaria. Hosted by the Bavarian Red Cross, you can shop from around 2,000 vendors here. Drunk Ashley thinks this is a fantastic idea.
10. There’s a classic car show
Something else that feels totally random happens the next day (the first Sunday)—a classic car show. Hundreds of people come from all over to Bavaria to show off their classic and unique vehicles on the Theresienwiese.
11. There’s free beer!
I know, I buried the lede, sorry. On the first day of Munich Frühlingsfest you can attend the Opening Day Parade where brewery and tent owners arrive to the festival in their horse-drawn beer carriages. The first keg of the festival is tapped and there’s free beer for those lucky enough to make it there early.
12. You get to visit Munich in the spring
OK, I visit Munich every fall for Oktoberfest, but visiting in the spring just hits different. Visiting in the spring means not having to contend with Oktoberfest-level crowds everywhere you go. It also means things like sunshine, cherry blossoms in bloom, and just the whole vibe that comes with the start of spring and summer.
Plus, it’s asparagus season. Every restaurant you visit here will have a special seasonal asparagus menu and all of it is delicious! You’ll see asparagus vendors on the streets and people carrying bushels of the stuff around town. (I realize “asparagus” wasn’t one of the reasons to attend Frühlingsfest that you were expecting, but here you go.) Need to know: the German word for asparagus is Spargel.
There are a lot of great reasons to attend Munich Frühlingsfest, but really it all comes down to: it’s a smaller, less touristy party that you don’t have to wait until September for. Amen to that!
More info for your trip to Germany
Like this post? Have questions about attending Munich Frühlingsfest? Let me know in the comments below. Have fun in Germany!
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