How To Enjoy Munich Oktoberfest – And Keep Up With Work

After a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Munich Oktoberfest is back this 2022! The traditional Wiesn tapping of the first beer barrel is set for September 17, marking the start of the 187th Munich Oktoberfest that will run until October 3. The world-renowned festival is being held in the Theresienwiese, the largest fairground located right at the center of Munich and southwest of the city center. From the parade onto the festival grounds and the procession of traditional costumes to the stand-up concert and the shooting of firecrackers, this legendary beer festival provides an experience like no other. Here are some top tips to make the most of the Munich Oktoberfest – while still keeping up with work.

How To Get To The Munich Oktoberfest Location

Theresienwiese or the Wiesn is easily accessible by public transportation. Although the Munich subway stops at Theresienwiese, getting off at an alternate stop is recommended because it’s often overcrowded here. Here’s a comprehensive guide for traveling to the Munich Oktoberfest via public transportation:

• • S-Bahn (Suburban train): S1 to S8 to Hackerbrücke

• • U-Bahn (Subway): U3 or U6 to Goetheplatz or Poccistraße, U4 or U5 to Theresienwiese or Schwanthalerhöhe

• • Bus: MetroBus line 53 to Schwanthalerhöhe, MetroBus line 58 to Georg-Hirth-Platz, Beethovenplatz or Goetheplatz, MetroBus line 62 to Hans-Fischer-Straße, Poccistraße or Herzog-Ernst-Platz, StadtBus line 134 to Theresienhöhe or Schwanthalerhöhe

• • Straßenbahn/ Tram: Lines 18 or 19 to Holzapfelstraße or Hermann-Lingg-Straße, Lines 16 and 17 to Hackerbrücke

Knowing the different routes and modes of transportation to get to the event will help you save a lot of time and get on with doing other things within the day.

Where To Stay For The Munich Oktoberfest

One of the most important things to consider to enjoy the festival even if you have to work is your accommodation. Ideally, you’d want to stay in central locations or someplace where public transportation to the Munich Oktoberfest grounds is readily available. The earlier you book your accommodation, the better. You can opt for a place within reasonable distance to the Wiesn. If you intend to work while enjoying Oktoberfest, it’s also great to have access to coworking facilities. Focus Lounge by King’s is one of the favourites of digital nomads, freelancers and entrepreneurs who need a cozy place to work while traveling. Besides its reliable, high-speed internet and very convenient location in central Munich, the space also offers healthy and tasty meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This serves as a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the festivities and a central space to get work done efficiently. What’s more, Focus Lounge by King’s is located in the gorgeous 4-Star King’s Hotel First which offers fabulous air-conditioned rooms complete with Wi-Fi, desks with charging points and much more. It’s the flagship of the King’s Hotel group which also operates the superior comfort 3-Star King’s Hotel Center; and the superb self-contained apartment hotel AdvaStay by King’s – ideal for longer stays!

What You Need To Attend The Munich Oktoberfest

You don’t need a ticket for the Munich Oktoberfest – it’s absolutely free! You can go into beer tents that are still open and haven’t filled up to capacity, buy food and drinks, and explore the fairgrounds freely. If you don’t have a beer tent reservation, get to the Munich Oktoberfest grounds early in the morning on weekends and before 2:30 pm on weekdays and sit at available space at any non-reserved table you find. Making friends when sharing tables and guzzling delicious pints of beer can make the experience even more unforgettable. During the weekends, it becomes increasingly difficult to get a table as the tents get filled up sometimes as early as noon. Some popular tents are mainly for reservations only. So if you’re working and have a flexible schedule, it’s recommended to avoid busy hours and weekends, particularly ‘the Italian weekend’. The second weekend is called such due to the number of Italian tourists arriving in the tens of thousands. During this time, the grounds become especially packed. Hence, if you want to avoid rowdy crowds, you can use this time to keep up with work deadlines. The experience during off-peak hours and days is tamer, and you won’t have to battle for seats, but it’s no less authentic. There are 14 main tents in the Munich Oktoberfest grounds, and each can fit between 5,000 and 11,000 people. They offer different atmospheres, with some giving off a more family-oriented vibe, others focusing on food, and some staying open late to give tourists a chance to keep partying late at night. If you want to have a blast, find the perfect tent that suits your personality and interests.

Go Easy On The Drinking

If your visit to Munich for the Oktoberfest is not all about leisure and you have to work, it’s wise not to overdo it and go easy on the drinking. Since this is a beer festival, there’s no shortage of great brews available. All the available beer is brewed by the six breweries in Munich namely, Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu München, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, and Spaten-Franziskaner. Mind you, they are special Munich Oktoberfest beers that are slightly stronger than regular brews at 6%. Hence, if you drink too much and too fast, you’ll be in bed before the parties even start in the evening! So if you want to improve your beer-drinking capacity, you can drink some Radlers in between or combine your beer with lemonade. If you haven’t tried this concoction yet, you must give it a go! Not only does it taste great, but it also helps keep you hydrated and drink for an extended period of time. Remember, the Munich Oktoberfest is best enjoyed when you look at it as a marathon, not a sprint! Ignore this piece of advice of pacing yourself when drinking, and you’ll find yourself at the Kotzwiese, or ‘puke hill’, located at the feet of the giant Bavaria statue that overlooks Theresienwiese. This is where people who’ve drunk more than they can handle drag themselves to take a nap. Don’t be a “bierleichen” or ‘beer corpse’ – you’ve got work to do!

Final Thoughts

The Munich Oktoberfest is back! If you’ve been scouring the internet for useful Munich Oktoberfest information, we hope this guide will help you enjoy the best beer festival on the planet – while at the same time keeping up with your work. What else is there to say but.. Prost!