Oktoberfest 2010 - the essential information

[floatright][/floatright]This is the big one. The world's largest beer festival. For 16 days nearly seven million Oktoberfest visitors will consume more than six million liters of beer in 14 giant beer tents.

The Oktoberfest 2010 runs from:

Saturday 18th September
... until ...
Sunday 3rd October inclusive

The Oktoberfest site is located in central Munich, Germany. The site is less than 15 minutes walk from the central railway station (the "Hauptbahnhof" in German). See the location here: Google Maps - Oktoberfest site

Opening times: The beer tents and the associated fun fair rides are open from about 10am until 10pm every day of the festival.

Specifics:

• Accommodation adverts (rooms offered, rooms wanted)
  
• Table reservations wanted/for sale
  

For lots of further general information in English, see the following links:

• oktoberfest.de - the official website
  
• Oktoberfest - Wikipedia
  
• Oktoberfest chat forum - right here on TT
  

Hi Toytown members,

i found a second website with information about the oktoberfest 2009 in munich it's oktoberfest info...
the portal offers a possibilty to search for hotels at the whole oktoberfest time and you can get a job at the biggest festival in the world.

What a beautiful place to work, live, sleep and drink a lot of beer!

Bahn.de has information about 2009 longer distance train travel to the Wiesn - only in German.
PDF of 2009 additional train services

@Regensburgers

if you do not catch the train before 11:44 to Munich on friday , saturday, and sunday then expect to stand .

Found this really neat iPhone app about Oktoberfest, also available in English My linkOktoberfest 2009

ok, question time:

We've always gone on the first Saturday, usually ending up in the Ochsenbraterei, since it's closest to the U-bahn. We always went along around 8:30 - 8:45am, and could walk in and get a table with relative ease. Now the problem is, we haven't done that for two years, and colleague told me that 8:30 last year was too late!! They went at 8:15 and all tents were full.

I do find that a tad hard to swallow, but I have friends coming from UK for this first Saturday next week, and cannot take the risk of not getting in/a table.

Anyone have any experience of last year on day one? (Actually, I thought the doors didn't open till 8:30....)

Ta.

Last year on day one I was outside the Fischer Vroni along with eleventy brazilian other people. If I remember rightly we met at 7:45 at the u-bahn and were at the door by 8:00. The crowd at the doors was a good ten to fifteen deep at that stage.

I don't believe that the tents were full at 8:15. Any I've been to generally don't open until 9. Yes of course there are a lot of people who can get in beforehand, but not the general public.

If one was to go on the opening day this year I would say that you should be there latest 8am and setup at the side doors. This year will be my twelfth consecutive Wiesn and definitely it has been getting earlier and earlier that you'd need to be there, especially over the course of the last 4 or 5 years.

Went last year, same tent, first Saturday. They opened the doors IIRC about 8am and it was rammed within 15 mins although the doors stayed open about half an hour. They didn't open all the doors at the same time and we were just lucky to be by one of the first to open so got a table with relative ease. This year we'll be on the site again 07:30 to repeat the same exercise, walk around coughing and sneezing and complaining about a hellish fever hoping to put a few off , get an idea of who's where then make a choice. I made a post already about tactics for getting in, try to search for it.

Ochsenbraterei is a good choice because it's relatively unknown, last year we first scanned the site and everything else was already shut or so deep in people there was just no point trying - at Schutzen it was fairly crowded round the tent but not too bad, the Lowenbrau beer effect we thought, and so we thought we'd be in with a chance until we realised that the doors had already been opened and shut again because the tent was uber full .

Advice if possible...

I am hosting a table for 10 at Hippodrome on Monday 28th. We finish at 6.30pm which is pretty early. Anybody have any suggestions as to what we could then do...I know if the weather is fine we have a better chance of getting a table after our reservation...should I play it by ear or try and organise something else in town? I have guests coming from UK/Belgium/Netherlands and Germany and am trying to have it run as smoothly as possible...and normally everything I do falls apart anyhow so am attempting to be prepared...

Ta

First, it's highly likely that after an afternoon swilling beer even in Hippodrom some in your party will be living in their own beer induced version of reality, some will have gone home already, some will be simply missing in action so 'planning' in this state needs to be a bit flexible.

As for carrying on on the Wiesn: Nobody is going to force you to leave the tent so you can try to find place at another table but the chances are slim. Patience is a virtue and Monday isn't a big day so you'll probably find something. The problem is if you leave the tent you may not get in anywhere else - even on Mondays the tents can fill up, especially if the beer gardens are shut because it's raining or most people want to be inside because it's cold out. It's up to you if you want to take the chance, of course, but if you decide to leave and try another tent then go early as they only get more full as the evening wears on.

An amusing suggestion with a beer filled gaggle of guests is to take them on the rides a bit, you never know some hendl may fly again . Particularly good for this is the Insider ride, but don't miss the traditional amusements of Toboggan and Teufelsrad which are well worth a visit and very amusing for all concerned.

...cheers HellesAngel...appreciate the advice....

Monday is usally quite nice, Hippodrom seems to still take [url=http://www.hippodrom-oktoberfest.de/de/wiesn/hippodrom/reservierungen/]reservations for 3:30-6:30 on that monday so I wouldn't worry too much about finding another place in the non-reservation area. Try too look for one a little bit earlier.

If you want to stay after that time, then you need to look for a table well before you get kicked out. It may also be worth tipping your waiter/ess well and then asking him/her if they can find something unreserved for you.

cheers people....I actually did ask them when I picked up my tickets etc if I could reserve another table again for after we had finished the first...however I think as has been pointed out that a generous tip could help sway a free table in a favour...

Bring it on then!!!

Yes, generous, ahem, tips are the way the Wiesn works these days

Has anyone been to or seen any Wiesn Kantine at the Wiesn this year? If so, I'd like to know where it is?

Indeed and not the "look left , right, left when crossing the street " kind of tip we mean a proper one.

For clarity, could someone define 'generous'?

I always give €20 for my first beer. That never fails to give good service for the rest of the evening. If I want to get someone into the tent after the doors are closed I'll give the security guy a €20 and that works too. If I want a table I'll give the waitress a €50 and there's never been a problem. Too much, don't know, but it gets the job done. Been doing those for the last 2 or 3 years.

Thinking of Saturday whereby, a further reservation or holding of table after one's own reservation has expired is in all probability totally unrealistic.
Oh well, will try and park my dirndl clad butt on a table with amenable and friendly occupants.

First visit to the Wiesn. In Munich on biz on the 2nd (Friday) and staying the weekend. We'll be finished early on the 2nd and have all day on the third. Did I read somewhere that there are no reservation on the 3rd since it is a national holiday? Does this mean the lines are extra long, or it is actually easier to get in? I'm confused. Sorry for being suck a noob

"Sorry for being suck a noob"

The new TT game apparently.

not to put a dampener on things, but remember personal safety at the Fest.
women should be careful not to wander off alone when completely wasted (more info here).
there are loads of pickpockets around so certainly avoid taking bulky wallets/purses full of credit cards etc. even in the crowded U-Bahn there are pickpockets.
Fest police reports from previous years.

@Geeper,

I would say it is rather impossible to get in a tent on saturday the 3rd. Perhaps if you wait in line from 8AM you might be lucky. I heard that this years only the side entrances will open up, but one never knows for sure. Anyway, for me 8 AM is way to early.

For the frida, I also recommend that you enter the tent around noon!

As moonboot says bad things do happen at the Wiesn but the most likely thing to happen is stuff gets stolen. I don't know how the fuckers do it but even stuff tucked away at the back under the tables somehow seems to get fingered through and anything of value gets lifted. It's not like you can get hoardes of gypsy, sorry pikey, children into a Wiesn tent at night but somehow these bastards get away with loads of stuff every year, even from big groups who are all looking out for their stuff.

Anyway, don't take anything that you'd be sad to lose, especially not your passport, handbag, wallet, expensive phone, camera, backpack, coat in to the tent unless you have it tied to you at all times. Otherwise you will lose track of it for a moment and someone will very likely steal it. Leave that sort of thing it at the luggage lockers in Hauptbahnhof, or on the Wiesn site, do not take it to the tent.

Oh, and two more things: If you cycle to the Wiesn here's some advice. First, park your bike in a busy area, ideal is somewhere near Theresienwiese U-bahn or expect stuff to get lifted from it. Otherwise replace all quick release bolts on wheels or your saddle with old-fashioned hard to undo ones or lock everything together. I don't know why but it seems that there is a shortage of saddles near the Wiesn and they get stolen frequently .

Second, and this is rather obvious when sober but not altogether so easy when drunk, remember that the Polizei have been cracking down on drunken cyclists. Every year they make a ring around the site at a distance of about 500m that covers all roads and they breathalyse as many motorists as they can, this year you can expect cyclists to be treated the same. There are many stories of cyclists getting very harsh punishments for being drunk - several thousand euro fines, banned from cycling and driving etc. - so don't follow these poor souls into a world of avoidable trouble. I do know one guy who was thrown off the U-bahn for being 'too drunk' but still it's the safest way to travel.

Enjoy.

Thanks for pointing out the typo Keydeck

Good advice. I also advise to read this as well for everyone especially those having friends visiting that cannot speak german or are new to the city.

Some of the tips that I send my clients:

• Ladies, use the buddy system! Sad but true, some men consider all women at the Oktoberfest fair game. Take a friend at all times, no matter if you’re buying postcards or visiting the ladies’ room. Perform wise caution and if you are molested inform Security at once.
  
• Listen to Security! If the security guards come around and ask you to cease any kind of behavior that might be disturbing other guests, don’t argue, stop it. If you have any complaints against Security or the waiting staff, contact the management (Büro).
  
• Protect your property! The Oktoberfest attracts a fair amount of pickpockets and petty thieves every year. Keep your money on your body at all times, don’t bring more than you think you will need. €100 is the utmost, especially if you are on vouchers.
  
• If you lose something, don’t panic! There is a special Lost and Found at the Oktoberfest grounds. If you bring a camera or other apparatus it’s a good idea to write down the model and possibly serial number. Such information makes relocating lost items much easier for the staff.
  
• Warning, beer contains alcohol! Seriously, German beer is pure and strong, and alcohol dehydrates the body. Having a pint of water between two Maß is not considered sissy; it floods your system and lowers the blood alcohol content.
  
• Last but not least: Note down the name and location of your hotel or bring along a business card with its address. Munich taxi drivers are generally fairly competent at recognizing slurred speech but why make life hard on both parties? After all, you’re here to have a good time!
  

For first timers at Oktoberfest, a tip I give my visiting friends is that mobile phones are not as useful for meeting up as they are say for a beer in the city. Good to have your plan for meeting up worked out ahead of time with specifics and then to use text messages if there are any important updates. Noise makes conversations or even hearing your phone ring a bit of an issue. A meeting point of "in front of the HofBrau tent" can also be surprisingly vague if it is crowded.

As entertaining as I find listening to people repeatingly yelling into their phones "I AM HERE...WHERE ARE YOU", there will be enough people doing it that you don't have to be one of them.

No, it doesn't flood your system and lower the BAC. It just stops you drinking more beer while your liver works on removing the alcohol from your blood. Basically its just "time" that will lower your BAC so don't think that you can suddenly lower it by knocking back a litre of water.

Anybody know if there's funding for this year, apparently there wasn't in 2008. Ridiculous considering the revenue they make they can't shell out 20k Euro.

If you enjoy drinking beer and want to prolong your evening, especially if you arrived early, as already mentioned, drink a sissy water after the 1st one or two beers. You will last longer and remember more and lose less.

Stomach lining: Get your chicken in early. After the first beer say. Consider a Brezn or Käsestange as a back up or even grab something from a stall when the tent closes.

By all means shove a small mobile phone in your jeans pocket as long as it can vibrate. But tell friends to SMS you if they need to find out where you got to.
Also check the sent messages the next day to see what you sent, and to whom. That is always a laugh!

Less useful, but none the less popular:

Feeling tired? There is a grassy knoll out the back of the tents where you can grab a few minutes kip. Mind you don't slip there though. And dont be surprised if it is bright sunshine when you wake up. It does that.

Feeling peckish? Spend 30 minutes looking for a taxi and go with you mates for a curry. Get a load of the guy's expression when you walk in the restaurant. And order more beers for some reason.

And if you do grab a nap on the grass, as many do, don't be surprised if your wallet is gone when you wake up. In short, don't do it.

Have a good Oktoberfest, everyone!

Is she going to drink all those?

im a bit of my rocket and cant be bothered reading stuff, so can someone blurt it out, at what time should, say a group of 10, go to the tents? Do we need to honestly get there at the crack of dawn to get a seat/table?

forgot to mention we're planning to go next sat

Earlier the better.. So yes. (Esp on Fri/Sat/Sun)

Saturday is incredibly difficult. You can try wait at the doors at 8 AM but even then you have to be lucky. I also heard they will open up only the side doors on saturdays, and not the main entrance, but I don't know if that's true.

For the record it was true at Ochsenbraterei, they opened the side doors at 9am but then all at slightly different times so if you're a big group then spread out. All the tables were gone by 9:02am and if you were more than 2 it would have been pretty tricky until much later when the first casualties had fallen...

Does anyone know if the Nymphenburg wine tent only does seats with reservations, or can you turn up on the day and try to get something? I've looked on their website but it doesn't say.

You know I have never brought a bottle of water with me before. Is it allowed? Most festivals allow you too but I have never tried at the Weis'n.

You can get in on the day, at least I've managed it in the past, but it will depend on which day and the time chosen.

perdido, I've seen water confiscated at the tent door by security as a general rule, but permitted on the first Saturday morning pre-start until about 10am. Drink your water outside the tent and make someone who collects deposit bottles happy.

The SZ has some general facts about the Oktoberfest including info on opening times, tipping, singing, dancing, & flirting. They've translated it into English, so you can read their humorous take on the Wiesn too.

Some examples:

• Anyone wanting to order another beer after 22.30 hours can wail and whine as much as he likes – he won't be served any more beer.
  
  
• In the beer tent the band plays one song after another and the visitors bawl along. If you're not sure of the words to sing you won't be popular with your neighbours on the bench. Here are the key songs and lines of songs you ought to learn by heart:
  "Ein Prosit, ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit" (beer tent hit)
  "Life is life - nanananana" (Life is Life - Opus)
  "Da sind wir dabei! Das ist prima! Viva Colonia!" (Viva Colonia - Höhner)
  "Alice, who the f*** is Alice" (Who the f*** is Alice - Smokie)
  "It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A." (YMCA - Village People)
  "Sierra, Sierra Madre del Sur" (Sierra Madre - Zillertaler Schürzenjäger)
  "Hey hey baby! Uh! Ah! I wanna know if you'll be my girl" (Hey Baby! - DJ Ötzi)
  

You can read the whole version in English here: The Oktoberfest for beginners (or the German version: Oktoberfest für Anfänger)

Thanks, it's for a non-beer drinking friend and his mates (who all like beer). I couldn't think of any other large tent where there is alcohol other than beer on offer.

Question, first timer to oktoberfest (this year, been plenty of times so far) Will the tents be really full today on the count of it being the last day and all?

Lots of Lost and Found ads recently...

The lost and found at Oktoberfest is still open, I checked.

http://www.muenchen.de/Rathaus/kvr/oktoberfest/101003/lostandfound.html#5

I was there on Saturday and as Gen mentions they're open this week, with all the property being transferred to Munich City's lost and found thereafter. Worth a look if you have lost something - very helpful staff.

Its over go home now.