Bavaria embraces merriness and pomp, as long as it happens on its own terms. The people there like to indulge, and there is plenty to enjoy there. Munich, the capital of Bavaria, extends from Aschaffenburg, just east of Frankfurt, to the border of the The Czech Republic to the east, Austria to the south, and Switzerland to the southwest.
It’s by far the largest state in Germany, having once been a kingdom and still thinks it is. For Americans, consider it the Texas of Germany, and if you really start to compare them, you’d be amazed how close they compare. They’re very friendly, drink beer like water, and eat like it’s a competitive sport.
If you plan to be one of the expected 7 million attendees of Oktoberfest in Munich, you are going to need to plan ahead. That's because even though Oktoberfest is a time of celebrations and festivity, it can get extremely crowded in Munich. So if you are not careful, you can end up having a miserable experience just because you did not have all the aspects planned out beforehand.
But don't worry; we're here to help you do exactly that. We have put together five essential travel tips that are going to make your Oktoberfest trip enjoyable and easy. So if you have not attended Oktoberfest before and are a little unsure of how to go about planning the trip, you can simply follow these tips to plan ahead.
Even if you have attended Oktoberfest before, it's always a good idea to refresh some of the handy travel tips that are going to make this trip fun and easy.
So let's take a look at what you have to do to ease your trip to Munich for Oktoberfest.
1. Arrange Accommodation in Advance
Arranging your accommodations needs to be the first step in your preparation for the Oktoberfest trip. Even before you buy your Lederhosen or dirndl dress, you have to look up hotel names and prices on the internet and make booking for a hotel room. Don’t forget to consider the distance of the hotel from the Oktoberfest grounds before deciding on a final accommodation, since you don’t want to hike miles just to have stein of beer.
After all, there were almost 7 million attendees of Oktoberfest in 2018 alone and this sudden large influx of people into the city creates accommodation problems for many. That's why booking your accommodation right now is the smartest thing you can do to ease your Oktoberfest trip.
Not only will it guarantee a place for you to stay during the Oktoberfest days, but you will also be able to get a great price for a hotel room if you book it in advance.
If you already do not know, in most apartment each kind of garbage has its own bin. For example, plastic and packaging, bio-waste, paper and cardboard, etc. The glass bottles are to be disposed of in a completely different bin altogether. Even brown, clear and green glass needs to be separated.
2. Buy Genuine Lederhosen & Dirndl Dress Early
Now that you have your accommodation sorted, you can move onto purchasing your Lederhosen and dirndl dress. It’s best to follow the same principle for your Lederhosen outfit as it is for your accommodation; get it sorted as early as possible. Even though there are plenty of good quality Lederhosen for sale available with online retailers such as the Lederhosen Store, yet that won't be the case in a few weeks when Oktoberfest is here.
The best quality Lederhosen, made from genuine leather, sell out rapidly. That means you either have to settle for a low quality Lederhosen (something that is frowned upon by Munich locals) or will have to pay an abnormally high price for some good Lederhosen. That's why the best thing to do is to buy your Lederhosen early. Not only will it save money but will also give you time to wear them and get used to the feel of the fabric.
3. Keep Cash with you at all times
This advice comes from those who have attended Oktoberfest before. Even though Germany is one of the most advanced countries on the planet and its cashless system is as good as any, the convenience of cash cannot be matched especially in the Oktoberfest days. You can expect for there to be millions of people in the city and on the commutes traveling towards the event.
You might have already heard, cash is king in Germany and this is very true. In the last decade, it has changed quite a bit with many shops now accepting the cards. However, many small eateries and shops still do not accept cards. It is always a good idea to carry cash or confirm that the place accepts the card. That is why cash is the quickest way to conduct transactions and keep things convenient for the attendees as well as the administration.
4. Save Money by Using Public Transport
Oktoberfest is a pricey affair so you are going to want to save money wherever you can. One of the best ways to do that is to use public transport as often as possible to get to Munich. Buses, trams and local train lines cost a fraction of what you would pay to a taxi and get you to where you want to go just as quickly. So be sure to travel on the local travel options to save money.
5. Pack Lederhosen correctly to preserve their look
You don't want your Lederhosen or dirndl dress to be ruined by the travel, that's why you need to pack it properly. Men's Lederhosen usually are tough enough to endure the travel so you can pretty much pack them how you like, just as long as you make sure they are not packed with anything wet or crinkled up in the corner.
Dirndl dress on the other hand are made from fine and delicate fabrics such as satin, silk and net so you need to pack it in a hard shell suitcase or separately in your hand carry bag.
6. Underestimating the weather
German weather has mood swings like your annoying ex. One moment it is sunny and bright, the next moment it starts pouring. So always be prepared. Don't trust the weather apps either. The weather is highly unpredictable.
7. Walking in the bike lane
No matter how many times you repeat this to yourself and think you won't do it, you'll still do this. However, try your best to avoid walking in the bike lane. The bike lane is marked in a different color with the bike symbol drawn on it.
8. Pricing
There is no maximum retail price for products. Thus the same product and brand would be priced differently in different shops. Take your time to visit different shops and find an optimal price for the product you need. Also, there are pamphlet and brochures that you'll receive every week. They usually list the products on sale. Grab that opportunity if you are on tight budget.
These were just some of the travel tips that are sure to make your journey to Oktoberfest, not just easy but fun as well. Be sure to share these tips with your friends and family with whom you might be traveling so that they can get the most out of their Oktoberfest experience as well.