A Guide to Celebrating Oktoberfest in Munich, Where Local Breweries Host Epic Tents

Oktoberfest is the world’s largest folk festival, an annual 16-day celebration of traditional Bavarian culture dating back to 1810, with homages throughout the U.S. It’s no wonder then that the real deal is on so many bucket lists — Oktoberfest is the party of a lifetime that’s equally familiar and singular.

From the last week in September through the first week in October, from the calm and family-friendly mornings through the unbelievably boisterous nights, millions will descend upon Munich, Germany’s Theresienwiese fairgrounds (typically shortened to the “Wiesn,” which rhymes with “reason”). They come to socialize, dance, show off lederhosen and dirndls, applaud performances, eat, shop craft stalls, ride amusement rides, and drink millions of liters of specially brewed Oktoberfest beers by the Maß, as the dimpled one-liter beer glass is called.

It’s all good fun, and the massive, temporary tents run by the six official Munich-based Oktoberfest breweries — Paulaner, Spaten, Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Löwenbräu, and Hofbräu — are charmingly unique, from Hacker-Festzelt’s iconic ceiling design, “Heaven of the Bavarias,” to meals of rotisserie ox at Spaten’s Ochsenbraterei.

Choosing the best tents to visit is an important part of the experience. As a former Munich resident, Oktoberfest regular, and Teufelsrad survivor, here are the three that I consider a well-balanced starter pack. Pro tip: it helps to reserve a table in the tents in advance.

Hofbräu Festzelt

Hofbräu is easily Munich’s most recognizable brewery, keeping the spirit of Oktoberfest alive 365 days a year at the Hofbräuhaus and exporting the vibes around the world via its many raucous beer halls. So it’s no surprise that the rowdy Hofbräu Festzelt is the ultimate destination for young internationals eager to party — and, fair warning, to fling underwear onto the angel Aloisius hanging from the ceiling, a well-established tradition. Most tents require attendees to find a seat before ordering a beer, but here, in addition to the typical 10-seat tables, there’s plenty of standing room by the stage, which makes it a good bet for anybody who neglected to make a reservation or wants to share “Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit” (roughly, “a toast to coziness”) with new friends every time this drinking ditty breaks out between pop songs.

Pschorr Bräurosl

The Hacker and Pschorr breweries have been connected for centuries through somewhat complicated family dynamics, but the modern hyphenated incarnation resulted from a merger in 1972, which is why you’ll still see the individual names on different tents carrying the same Hacker-Pschorr beer. Pschorr Bräurosl stands out for its popularity with the LGBTQ+ community, particularly on the first Sunday of Oktoberfest. Known as Gay Sunday, it’s an occasion when thousands of queer revelers congregate, building community and growing a tradition started in the 1970s by the Munich Lions Club. The Rosa Wiesn website calls this “the gayest Sunday of the year” — so beloved that the gathering reconvenes the following day, called RoslMontag. And if you’ve already checked some of the most famous Oktoberfest dishes like roast chicken and Schweinebraten (roast pork) off your list, try the resche bayerische Ente (crispy roast duck) with rosemary sauce, red cabbage, and potato dumplings here.

Festzelt Tradition

An important aspect of Oktoberfest is preserving cultural traditions like brass music. The Oide Wiesn takes this mission even more seriously, harking to a time before songs like The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” infiltrated the festivities. While most of the modern Wiesn has free admission, Oide Wiesn charges a small entry fee until 9 p.m. for access to attractions like amusement rides and a marionette theater. The venues here also prioritize nostalgic entertainment. Debuting in 2024, for example, the Boandlkramerei tent will present established and upcoming folk musicians. At the Herzkasperlzelt, English speakers may not understand all the jokes told by comedians, but clapping and stomping along to the Schuhplattler performed by such groups as the Schwuhplattler, the only gay troupe dedicated to the percussive folk dance, is a universal experience.

The tent you can’t miss at the Oide Wiesn is Festzelt Tradition, which is known to be relatively relaxed, welcoming families, showcasing classic customs like whip cracking, and even setting aside some seats exclusively for Munich residents. It’s run by Augustiner, Munich’s oldest brewery, founded by Augustinian monks in 1328. Augustiner is the last brewery still using traditional 200-liter wooden barrels for all of its Oktoberfest beer, leading to a mellower lager with lower carbonation, served at Festzelt Tradition in stone mugs instead of the typical glasses. This is a perfect place to settle if your agenda includes enjoying the festival’s best beer and crossing paths with locals.