Bavarian beer and traditional eats add up during one of Germany’s best-known festivals.
I ’ve never had any pastime in move toOktoberfest . I always imagined tents filled with drunk Americans in tacky costume , belt down right smart too much beer in the name of carbon monoxide gas - opting a hundreds - twelvemonth - old cultural custom . So when my brother ’s friend group ask round my husband and me to join them inMunichthis October , we were n’t sure we wanted to come along . Luckily , we had a last - moment change of heart — and even luckier , I was altogether wrong about what to expect from Oktoberfest .
As it turns out , the Oktoberfest that I had create in my head could n’t have been further from the reality of the event : a culturally rich , historically nuanced experience that move far beyond beer and costume — though yes , the beer is a big part of it . We make it in Munich to discover that most of the reveller were Germans take part in a completely wholesome celebration with not bad drinks and endless amusement — no frat party vibes to be base .
My group and I finish up pack a lot of activities into our unretentive head trip to Munich . From share in the local culinary art , to wandering around the city , to stool a pilgrim’s journey to the collapsible shelter and festival grounds of Oktoberfest , here ’s everything we did — and spend — while we were there .
Design by Maitane Romagosa for Thrillist
About the traveler
Job : change of location diarist , photographer , and video content creatorAnnual salary:$81,000 - 100,000 per yearLocation of manse : San FranciscoAge:39
About the vacation
Where : Munich , GermanyHow long : Four daysPlanned budget:$600
Upfront costs
Flights : $ 75 . My hubby and I were traveling in Slovenia before our Germany slip , so we ended up take a bus from Ljubljana to Munich . I spent 75,000 Lufthansa pointedness , plus $ 75 in tax , to fly to Copenhagen at the close of our Oktoberfest adventure . Hotels / lodge : $ 0 . We stayed at the Hampton by Hilton Munich City West for 147,000 Hilton points . Tracht : $ 112 . Tracht refers to the traditional article of clothing wear off in Bavaria and other Alpine regions of Germany ; think lederhosen and dirndl . It ’s accustomed to wear this garb during Oktoberfest . At first , I was idle set on buy our tracht in Bavaria , but after doing a piffling inquiry , I actualise the cost would be in high spirits , so I bought most of my turnout atHeld Over , a German - owned vintage shop in San Francisco . more often than not the dirndl were $ 60 but I come up one with a broken zipper for $ 10 , and a bodice blouse for $ 32 . I also decide to scoop out up a $ 55 twain of lederhosen for an extra selection . To complete the look , I put Dockers suspenders online for $ 15 .
Day by Day
Day 1 - Monday
full cost : € 168.48 ( $ 184.42)The trip started with a 9:41 am Flixbus bus ride fromLjubljana , Slovenia , where I ’d been traveling during the former hebdomad . The tickets cost € 22.99 ( $ 25.16 ) and we devote an extra € 10 ( $ 10.94 ) each for the panoramic seating in the front of the bus where you may see out of the giant windows . But when we got on the bus , our run-in number did n’t exist . evidently , our design jitney had been swapped and assign seats had been scrapped as a result . In the end , we just asked if we could sit down in the front anyway , though it ’s usually reserve for the bus operator . I also terminate up drop a flake more money when the motorcoach manipulator , visibly and audibly ball over by my 70 - pound old bag , charged me € 21.99 ( $ 24.06 ) extra .
The omnibus ride was stunning , specially throughSalzberg , Austria . We passed a castle and tons of Alpine scenery . About an hour into the trip the bus topology driver settle to put the shades down , so that our panoramic view became a restricted view . I would still commend these seat , though , as they were much more broad than the rest of the bus , and had a tiny table where you could set down any drinks and collation .
The bus stopped midway at Landzeit Gourmet Market & Restaurant , a classy cafe with amenities like Olea europaea oil on dab , plus stunning purview of the Alps . I ordered a tiny bowl of soup and threw some green onions on top for € 8.31 ( $ 9.09 ) . It help stave in off the hunger until we reach our destination .
After arriving in Munich , we met up with a party of 12 friends who had come up fromBerlin . Our protagonist Davy , who used to endure in Germany and knows the language and culture , took us to a no - frills Bavarian spot called Klinglwirt . We started off the meal with a respectable serving of dunkel beer . I thought I had recover my favorite German beer make , but it move around out dunkel just means “ dark ” in German . My hubby and I split the spinat - käsespätzle ( easygoing testis noodle with spinach and high mallow , topped with caramelized onions ) and the Vienna - style schnitzel with pork , cranberries , and deep-fried potatoes . We split the tab between all of us , which come in out to € 48 ( $ 52.53 ) per soul .
We followed up dinner with a trip to Hofbräuhaus München ( the Royal Brewery House of Munich ) . This is a famous Oktoberfest pregame and afterparty speckle , where the revelers drink from liter beer stein , sing , and clink glasses over and over , banging clenched fist on the tabular array until their beer release and the waiters tell apart them to stop . We find an incredibly various crowd there , from babies to 80 - year - old men .
I ordered a pretzel for € 5.60 ( $ 6.13 ) , and found it disappointingly cold and strong . I had been imagining a soft , salty mixture with gooey beer tall mallow , but it was at this second that I recognize that I had been indoctrinate by Wetzel ’s Pretzels and did not have naturalistic first moment . It may not have been financially pricey , but you ca n’t quantify the excited damage one endures from a trauma like this . gratefully , there was beer to soothe my desperation . We ordered a round of the Hofbräu Oktoberfest beer for € 10.80 ( $ 11.82 ) each . They were so large I could only drink half my fall guy before heading back to the hotel .
Photos by Courtney Lynn Muro
Day 2 - Tuesday
Total cost : € 177.19 ( $ 193.88)We awaken up quick to thrust ourselves into the Oktoberfest experience . Everyone come dressed in our traditional attire and ride the train two stopover from the hotel to the fete site ( € 3.90 , or $ 4.27 ) .
Once we arrived , I called Josef , a ally of a booster who say he would show us around the fete . He met us outside of the gate , looking dapper in his tracht , and walk us to the Augustiner Bräu tent to see his supporter work in a dance orchestra . As we walk , he explained the origin of Oktoberfest : In the other nineteenth 100 , Prince Ludwig of Bavaria was getting marry and decided he wanted everyone in the country to lionize with him . As a result , he throw off a version of the reception for the common folk : the carnival that we now call Oktoberfest . grant to Josef , the original apparel code was formal ( like a wedding ) and multitude only start dressing in traditional Bavarian garb in the last 15 yr or so .
We enjoyed watch Josef ’s friend dally music , then guide to lunch . Josef secured two tables for our group of 14 at the Schottenhamel Festhalle tent , where we pay € 70 ( $ 76.61 ) each for two very large beers , tiffin , and afters . The food was great . My husband and I burst Nurnberger rostbratwurst with sauerkraut and mustard greens and the house special . Then we got the rohrnudeln , kaiserschmarrn and the frische auszogne for sweet . I had no idea what these German dishes were , but they were heavenly . While we were in the tent , my husband bought a Tirolerhut hat for € 25 ( $ 27.37 ) and a plumage to go with it for € 12 ( $ 13.13 ) .
Photos by Courtney Lynn Muro
At 2:30 , Josef told us it was time for our behind - the - scenes tour of the Hacker - Festzelt tent . It ’s one of the most far-famed tent , and usually almost impossible to get a tour of duty or a board . The manager showed us the kitchen and enjoin us how the security worked . He also took us to a beer control room that looked and felt like an belowground bunker monitor war operations , but was literally just for make indisputable that the beer was flowing abundantly .
We sat down at Hacker and ordered another round of golf of elephantine beer while the lot played American pop music like Taylor Swift . The tab here was only € 13 ( $ 14.23 ) per individual , but the experience came with an unexpected monetary value . Our friend Natalie , while dance , swing an overzealous left-hand hip into my beer just as I was lift it to my lip . I heard a loud crack and found she had chipped a huge glob out of one of my tooth . luckily , Natalie ’s husband is a tooth doctor .
We put Natalie on time out and left the beer tent for the carnival and all its game . We hit up a toboggan game where you skip onto a conveyor belt and taste to maintain your balance while being thrust up 40 feet into the air . The cost is € 6 ( $ 6.57 ) , but it comes with the potential for a German infirmary bill . I also expend € 5 ( $ 5.48 ) on what turn out to be my all - metre pet secret plan : Teufelsrad , or Devil ’s Wheel . It ’s a Brobdingnagian spinning program where different group are call out ( for example , men with hats , kids under 10 , women fag out braids ) . Each group runs up to the platform when called , attempting to get as close to the mall as potential while it spins . Most the great unwashed fall off immediately , but the last few are left to duke it out for the victory of being the last man stand , while the operators attempt to lasso them and a formal on a rope rolls through the air , strike them in the head . It was the most entertaining matter I ’ve seen in my life , and wholly deserving the money .
Photos by Courtney Lynn Muro
When we ’d had our filling of the game , Josef took us to Rischart ’s Café Kaiserschmarrn : the afters tent and Oktoberfest ’s only catwalk . American and Latine pop music blared , and we got a few rounds of cocktail and split the three desserts that they had on the menu . The tab came out to € 239 ( $ 261.93 ) , or € 14.5 ( $ 15.89 ) per soul .
At the last of the Nox , Josef took us to Oide Wiesn , the nostalgic segment of Oktoberfest , which was created in 2010 to observe the 200th day of remembrance of the festival . Everything there focus on the traditional aspect of the festival and on Bavarian cultivation . We pay € 4 ( $ 4.45 ) to get in , then wandered around looking at attractively clanky replicas of early 20th - century rides , German folk bands , and a good deal of traditional Bavarian dancing . Even the beer there was brew using more traditional formula , and the vibration was quieter and more family - favorable .
While this part of the dark was passive , everything condescend into chaos when it started swarm rain just as the festival was close up . We all got separated , and I was wet , a small drunk , and my phone was on 1 % by the time my friends finally chance me . We throw together onto the crowded wagon train , and since our telephone were all in , we had to ask for directions back to the hotel . We forgot to make up for the train , and my brother - in - law threw up . But in the remnant , we made it safely back to our beds and lived to see another daylight in Munich .
Photos by Courtney Lynn Muro
Day 3 - Wednesday
Total price : € 199.80 ( $ 218.47)We spend the next day exploring Munich , though we decided to wear our tracht for the experience . We had breakfast at Viktualienmarkt , Munich ’s famous open - air market that go out back to 1807 . We started at Kleiner Ochs’nbrater , a cute counter - service outdoor seating spot . I got a bratwurst that came in the configuration of a bull for € 8.80 ( $ 9.63 ) and a beer for € 1.40 ( $ 1.53 ) . We followed this up with a little picnic of cheeseflower , which some dairy farm - obsess member of our group pick up for € 26.57 ( $ 29.10 ) split between 12 people . We sat on a bench and scarfed it down , along with an Altanzno wine from the Spanische Delikancan ( € 12 , or $ 13.16 ) . For afters , we had a small loving cup of ice pick from Zio Santo ( € 2.50 , or $ 2.74 ) .
We walked around the urban center , did a niggling shopping , and decided to take in some story , give up by the Residenz , which was the master abidance of the Wittelsbach dynasty . The castle houses a destiny of art , historical architecture , and very expensive jewelry . We paid € 9 ( $ 9.88 ) each to natter the museum incision of the Residenz , and were starve by the time we were done there , so we block off at the tea cosy , welcoming Caffe Vinca . I ordered truffle alimentary paste for € 18.90 ( $ 20.77 ) , a cappuccino for € 3.80 ( $ 4.18 ) , and a afters for € 13.90 ( $ 15.27 ) .
We then decided to head to the English Garden , which is one of the largest urban Mungo Park in the world . Though it was evenfall , the outdoor space was filled with people picnicking , biking , and even surfing . The Eisbachwelle is one of the most famous urban river surfing spots in the world ; we watch from the comfort of dry soil , fond in our furry lid and gloves .
Our last stoppage on the Munich tour was the Biergarten am Chinesischen Turm . This beer garden is go down around a wooden pagoda that was apparently built by Europeans in the Chinese manner . We commence a very mediocre edict of Roger Eliot Fry , two types of bratwurst , a side , and a beer for € 31.20 ( $ 34.28 ) .
At this point , my married man and I parted ways with our friends , who were ready to repose , and went back to Oktoberfest , heading straight to Oide Wiesn . We paid the € 4 ( $ 4.39 ) unveiling fee and the accompaniment handed us some farhchips ( ride tickets ) , which meant we were capable to hop on a few rides for no additional cost . We visited some of the tent and went shopping for pins for my husband ’s Tirolerhut hat , settling on four pins that came out to € 37 ( $ 40.60 ) total .
We then found ourselves drinking for free , since some topical anesthetic bought us some beers . They took us to the Pschorr Bräurosl tent , which is probably the most famous among erstwhile - timers and feels like traveling back in time . The decor has a lot of wood and Alpine motifs , and brass striation and Bavarian common people musicians play . The beer here comes from the Pschorr brewery , known for its traditional Bavarian beer . We danced with our new friends until the fete close for the Nox , then paid € 3.90 ( $ 4.27 ) each to hop onto the train .
We start out off at the amiss stop , where we heard some music coming from outside the train station . oddity piqued , we adopt a aspect around the corner and found a collection of graffitied stationary train cars . Past the train cars , we found the root of the medicine : a vintage shop moonlighting as a cabaret . We met the store proprietor and asked him if there was anywhere nearby where we could order a beer . He just turn over us four beer and told us we could pay him whatever we want . My hubby gave him € 10 ( $ 10.94 ) . Ten minutes by and by , the shop class owner occur back and gave us two more . We had a outstanding balance of our night at the vintage shop class .
Day 4 - Thursday
full price : € 85.71 ( $ 93.73)On our concluding daytime , we got up and headed directly for the airport . We paid € 9.70 ( $ 10.61 ) each for our airport gearing ticket , but when a womanhood in uniform checked them , she inform us that we had buy the incorrect types of just the ticket and that she would be giving us each a € 60 ( $ 65.58 ) fine . It would ’ve been a sight chintzy to just grease one’s palms the correct ticket !
When we got to the airdrome , the security line was the long I ’ve ever view in my intact life . We mystify a few beers to make the experience better , which be € 8.70 ( $ 9.52 ) each . This was our last Oktoberfest purchase and then we were off to Copenhagen .
How it all broke down
Upfront and go costs:$208.02Costs from the week:$690.50Final total:$975.87How I did against my original budget:$417.99 over budget
