First-Timer’s Guide to Oktoberfest
After living in Germany for the past four years, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to experience both Oktoberfest in Munich and Volksfest in Stuttgart more times than I can count. I remember my first trip to Oktoberfest—wide-eyed, trying to figure out what exactly I’d gotten myself into amidst seas of Lederhosen, massive beer steins, and the unmistakable hum of the Oompah bands. Since then, I’ve come to appreciate not only the spectacle that is Oktoberfest but also the charm of Volksfest, which, in many ways, has become my favorite.
Both festivals have their own unique flavor, and after attending year after year, I’ve learned all the ins and outs—from how to get a table reservation to wearing a Dirndl (and whether it’s even necessary!). If you're planning a visit, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to have an unforgettable time at these iconic German Fests, whether you're in Munich for Oktoberfest or heading to Stuttgart for Volksfest. Trust me, you’ll leave with a full belly, new friends, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Oktoberfest vs. Volksfest: What’s the difference?
Oktoberfest began in 1810, when the citizens of Munich were invited to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The festivities included horse races and large feasts, and it was such a success that the event became an annual tradition. Over time, the celebration morphed and expanded, and today, Oktoberfest is the world’s largest folk festival, attracting millions of visitors to Munich each year to enjoy Bavarian culture, food, and plenty of beer.
Prior to living in Germany, I had never even heard of the Volksfest, so unless you’ve spent extensive time researching this beautiful country, I’m guessing you may not have either. From the outside, it doesn’t appear that there is much of a difference between the two. They both originated around the same time and are meant to celebrate the royal family, the local communities, traditions and the harvest season. Both festivals last about the same amount of time, and in modern times, are centered around feasting and drinking.
The main differences between these two German beer festivals are the location, festival size, cost and atmosphere. The first thing you need to know is that technically Oktoberfest is a Volksfest, which literally translates to “people’s festival.” While there are Oktoberfest-style celebrations all across Germany in late-September, the original and largest one takes place in Munich. The second largest festival, and is known only as Volksfest, takes place the next state over in Baden-Württemberg in a little city called Stuttgart. If Stuttgart sounds vaguely familiar to you, it’s probably because it’s the birthplace of both Mercedes and Porsche.
Getting into the Tents & Table Reservations at Oktoberfest
Now that you know you’re going to Fest, let’s talk about what’s arguably one of the most confusing parts: getting into the tents. First off, you don’t always need a reservation to join the fun. Yes, having one guarantees you a seat, but if you’re going during the week, during the morning session, or going as a couple, you can often slip into one of the smaller tents without one. It also depends on which Fest you’re planning to visit. Since Stuttgart is much less famous abroad, it’s significantly easier to get into the tents.
Booking a table is an adventure in itself. Most tents start accepting reservations as early as February or March for the festival that starts in late September, and the most popular tents will sell out in a flash. Keep in mind that reservations usually require a deposit, meaning that you pay for the whole table which includes food and drink vouchers. When our group went to Oktoberfest in 2022, the table reservation cost a little over $2,000 for 10 people. In contrast, our 2023 tent reservation for Stuttgart was around $550 for the same number of guests.
It’s important to note that you must reserve the whole table, even if you have a smaller group. This is why I only advise getting a table if you have six or more in your party. You can easily sell the remaining seats on social media prior to going, or you can enjoy the extra space and vouchers.
If you’re flying solo or with a smaller group, don't fret. There’s always room for walk-ins in the standing areas or non-reserved sections—just be prepared to share your table with some new friends. After all, that's the entire spirit of Fest!
To Lederhosen or not — what to wear to Oktoberfest
When you see pictures from Oktoberfest, you always notice the outfits. This is called Trachten, or traditional garments, in German-speaking countries. For men, this is usually leather shorts or capris called Lederhosen and for women this is traditionally a dress called a Dirndl (though if you’re not keen on wearing a dress, many women also wear Lederhosen that are a little shorter than the men’s style). Trachten is more common in Austria and German Bavaria, but if you travel to another Volksfest, a majority of the crowd will be in traditional wear.
Personally, one of my favorite parts about going to Fest is getting all dressed up in my Dirndl. Dirndls are made to highlight your best assets, and they honestly look great on everyone, especially if you are busty or have an hourglass figure. Since we live in Germany and go to Fests a few times a year, investing in Trachten was a no-brainer, but if you’re just visiting, you may not want to drop a lot of hard-earned cash on something you may never wear again. Luckily, if you’re interested in going all out and wearing the traditional clothes, you have quite a few options.
First, you may be able to score Trachten for a discounted rate. Europe loves second hand stores, and many of them will sell Trachten before and during Fest season. If you’re a common size, this may be a great way to get the whole outfit for a bargain.
The second way you can find affordable Trachten is to visit a specialty store. This is what we did when we first arrived. The store near our house was running a special for men, so my partner was able to scoop up his Lederhosen, shirt, socks, shoes and matching kerchief all for under 200€. For women, the store had a huge selection in the basement of last year’s Dirndl designs so I spent under 100€ for my Dirndl. Unlike the second hand stores, discounted Trachten often will have a larger range of sizes and they are all brand new so you won’t be dealing with any rips and tears. And if you’re keen on getting more than one wear out of your outfit, just start hosting Oktoberfest annually at your house when you get home!
The final way to look the part with the least amount of commitment is to rent your gear. That’s right. Just like your wedding tux, you can rent Trachten for your visit. There are many sites to choose from, but since we bought our outfits, I cannot personally recommend a company, so do your research. In doing a quick search, most rentals will run about 50€ and most have a book online option. Depending on the rental cost, it may be worth checking if the price is similar to what you can find on discount. Here are a few rental options based near Munich:
But the real question you may have after all of this is if you even need to wear Trachten at all, and the answer is absolutely not. While many decide to dress up, both Germans and tourists alike, it is not a requirement to enjoy Fest, nor is it disrespectful to not dress up. If you’re anxious about not fitting in, don’t worry, there will be plenty of other festival goers dressed in plain clothes; you will not stick out like a sore thumb. At the end of the day, Oktoberfest is all about having fun, and no one cares what you wear as long as you’re enjoying yourself, feel comfortable, and aren’t causing problems.
How to stay safe and respect the environment
I wish this wasn’t such a necessary section to have for this blog post, yet here we are. The folk festivals are fun. The beer is always flowing and everyone is out to have a good time. As with any event that involves drinking, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings. Petty theft is not uncommon in some of the bigger, busier tents, so don’t leave your phone out in the open where it’s easy to grab. As a woman, I usually don’t bring my purse to these events as it’s one more thing to keep track of and most Dirndls have pockets that are deep enough to hold a phone.
Whenever we’ve gone to the Fests, it has been decently cold so almost everyone wore a jacket or cardigan. One of our friends had the brilliant idea to bring a trash bag with us so that we could stuff everyone’s coat into one common place instead of keeping track of 10 different pieces of outerwear. Also, the floors are usually pretty gross, so this was the perfect way to keep everyone’s stuff clean and beer-free.
As far as how to conduct yourself, the standard rules apply here. No one will mind if you’re a foreigner wearing Trachten, but people will get upset if you lose control. Remember that the Maß are strong and usually hit harder than your standard Pilsner. Add into the fact that if you’re in the early session, your table reservation can begin as early as 11 a.m. and most people haven’t had much to eat, and it can be a recipe for disaster. Make sure you eat the meal that came with your reservation (again, you’ve already paid for it) and to mix in a water or two.
The final words of advice I’ll give you here are on tipping. Traditionally, Germany is not a tipping culture. At most, people will round up a bill when paying or add on a few Euros for Trinkgeld (literally drinking money). This is not the case at Fest. Depending on the rules of the tent, you may be expected to tip a certain amount for each Maß, even if you have drink tickets. Depending on where you go, this is usually 1-2 Euros, but can be up to 5, so make sure you have plenty of cash and coins on you before arriving to your reservation. If tips aren’t required in your tent, lucky you, but you’ll get far better service if you slip the waitstaff €20 when they bring your first round. Trust me on this one.
Getting to Fest
If you’re like most Fest-goers, there’s a good chance that you won’t be in any condition to drive after the event. While you should never drink and drive, please know that the laws regarding intoxicated driving are even harsher in Europe than they are in the states. Plus, many of the streets are narrow and winding, shared with pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit. Lucky for you, getting around Germany via public transit is fast, safe and cheap!
To find the best route to Fest, simply use the transit option on your mobile phone’s map app. It’ll even tell you which type of ticket to buy, which you can get either at a station kiosk or via the official Deutsche Bahn app.
Depending on how long you’re in Germany, you could absolutely do both Fests, as Stuttgart is only 2 hours away from Munich by train. This is especially helpful if you can’t decide which Fest you would rather attend. Oktoberfest is a classic and notorious, but it is often more expensive and crowded. Stuttgart on the other hand is significantly cheaper and less touristy, but it has less cultural sites to see if you’re planning to do some sightseeing after your day at the festivals.
Helpful phrases & songs
If you don’t know any German, that’s okay, you should be able to get by with English in both cities, though out of the two cities, Munich will be slightly easier. There’s a large American population in Stuttgart thanks to the military bases, but since it’s less of a tourist hub, you may encounter a little more resistance if you don’t speak German.
That said, knowing a few phrases before you arrive can significantly improve your experience. The wait staff will likely be a little more friendly, plus singing along to the songs is half the fun. Here’s some common words and phrases to know:
"Ein [Maß/Bier], bitte!" – One liter of beer, please!
“Noch einmal bitte!” – Another one, please!
"Prost!" – Cheers!
"Wo ist die Toiletten?" – Where’s the bathroom? (Important after a few Maß.)
Links/rechts – Left/right (So you can understand the directions to the bathroom.)
“Wie viel?” – How much?
“Danke/Danke schön/Vielen Dank” – Thank you (In ascending order of appreciation)
And don’t forget the music! The Oompah bands are a core part of the Fest experience, and you’ll hear traditional tunes as well as some pop hits. The bands will play many songs (don’t worry, you’re about to hear Take Me Home, Country Roads more times than you ever have previously in your life), but there are a couple that will have a call-and-response portion with the crowd. The one song you must know, though, is "Ein Prosit"—it’s short, easy to learn, and you’ll be singing it every 20 minutes:
"Ein Prosit, ein Prosit, der Gemütlichkeit!"
Translation: A toast, a toast, to good cheer!
Then, depending on which city you’re in, everyone will cheers the band. In Munich, the response is usually “Eins, Zwei, Drei, Gsuffa!”, whereas Stuttgart usually toasts the band with “Zicke zacke zicke zacke hoi hoi hoi.”
Conclusion
Whether you’re heading to Oktoberfest in Munich or Volksfest in Stuttgart, both festivals promise an unforgettable time filled with laughter, great food, and more than a few steins of beer. From figuring out your outfit and securing table reservations to belting out German tunes you never knew existed, the best advice is to go with the flow and embrace the Fest spirit. Even if it’s your first time, you’ll leave with memories—and probably a new love for Bavarian culture.
Now it’s your turn! Have you been to either of these festivals? Are you planning your first trip? Drop a comment below and share your experiences or ask any questions you have. I’d love to hear your thoughts, tips, and stories about Oktoberfest or Volksfest! Prost!
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