Blog Article:
Prost! Munich at Oktoberfest 2027
Beer tents, Bavarian kings, and a walking tour
you can do in an afternoon
The first time I hopped off the U-Bahn at the Theresienwiese, I expected beer tents. Instead, I found a 100-acre empty lot without a tent in sight. Wrong month! Learn from my mistake: Oktoberfest 2027 runs Saturday, September 18 to Sunday, October 3.
The Wiesn in a Nutshell
It all started in 1810, when Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese and invited the whole town to the party. Locals still call the meadow the Wiesn. Entry is free. The 14 big tents pour beer only from Munich’s six breweries, and a one-liter Mass cost €14.80 to €15.90 in 2026. The fun starts at noon on opening day, when the mayor taps the first keg and shouts “O’zapft is!“
No reservation? Don’t despair. Every tent keeps some seats unreserved. Go on a weekday morning, find a spot on the bench, and share with strangers. Everyone does. Leave the backpack at the hotel, and tip your server.
Don’t Let the Tents Be the Whole Trip
Munich is a royal city with lots of history. Start at Marienplatz, where the Glockenspiel’s knights and dancing barrel makers perform at 11:00, 12:00, and 17:00. Climb the 306 steps of St. Peter’s tower for a view all the way to the Alps.
Then wander the Viktualienmarkt and find the blue-and-white maypole. Its sign honors Munich’s own beer purity law of 1487, almost 30 years before Bavaria’s famous law of 1516. Peek into the tiny Asam Church, where much of the “marble” is cleverly painted. And end, of course, at the Hofbräuhaus. It’s loaded with people, most of them loaded as well. Even if you don’t like beer, you gotta have one here!
Getting around is easy. A day ticket covers the whole city, and a group ticket for up to five adults is a super value.
Join Me for Oktoberfest 2027
Rather let someone else handle the hotels, trains, and tent strategy? My Germany, Austria & Switzerland in 12 Days tour, September 13–24, 2027, ends in Munich during the festival’s first week. We’ll visit imperial Vienna, Salzburg, Neuschwanstein Castle, the Swiss Alps in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, and medieval Rothenburg. Then we’ll stop at the Dachau memorial before two days in Munich, with my old-town walking tour and time at the Wiesn.
- September 13–24, 2027: from $4,849 plus air
- September 22–30, 2027: alternate route, price coming soon
- Small groups of 18 or fewer, with all tips included
Our September 2026 departure sold out, so don’t wait too long!
Take My Munich Guide Along
My new Munich Destination Guide has the full walking tour, a sketch map, Oktoberfest tips, and my favorite Bavarian dishes. Save it to your phone, and it works even without a connection. Open the Munich guide.
See you at the Wiesn. Prost!
David
David’s Book:
Sneak Peek at Chapter 2
ning in Europe, way back in 1977. I hope you enjoy it! And I welcome comments and suggestions along the way. My hope is to keep typing away and sneak a chapter into my newsletter every month.
Explore the grand imperial city of Vienna, famous for castles, kings, music, and cuisine. Then, you’ll have two relaxing days in Salzburg’s famous city center. A visit to Neuschwanstein Castle and nearby Reutte rounds out the fifth day of the tour. We’ll head to Switzerland for my favorite alpine village experience in the beautiful Lauterbrunnen valley. Leaving the Alps, take a turn to the north and follow the Rhine River valley through the Black Forest to the cute little town of Rothenburg. Finally, visit Hitler’s first concentration camp in Dachau before capping off your tour with two days in Munich, the capital city of Bavaria.
Christmas Markets in Germany & Austria
8 days, Dec. 5-12, 2027. $3,789 plus air.
8 days, Nov. 28 – Dec 5, 2027. $3,789 plus air.
Christmas Markets pop up all over Europe during the first weeks of December. Each year, we feature a winter wonderland tour to Germany and Austria during the Christmas season. These outdoor markets feature unique decorations, beautifully handcrafted arts, and endless opportunities to sample great food and countless varieties of glüwein, punch, and spiced drinks, served piping hot in souvenir mugs. But there is more to this tour than snow and markets! Enjoy visiting many destinations that, in the busy tourist season, are packed shoulder-to-shoulder with sweaty tourists. Traveling “off-season” means easy access to castles and sights in Salzburg, Schwangau, Rothenburg, Munich, Nürnberg, and more. There has never been a better time to visit Europe’s winter wonderland destinations.
Tour Reviews and Testimonials:
Germany, Austria, Switzerland Tour
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 2018
Germany, Austria and Switzerland Tour – April 2018 – This tour was a breath of fresh air. After being on several tours with a wake-up time before dawn and on and off a bus until evening, I felt that I did not miss out on anything in any of the places we visited, while still having some time to process everything we saw and have time to relax. David did an excellent job of making sure we got to see the highlights of each place and then made recommendations for other sites to see on our own. It was nice to have 2 days in most places, one day guided and the second open for us to choose our own adventures. He was available for advice and questions. The hotels we stayed at were very comfortable. The food was excellent.
Most memorable to me was Vienna and Switzerland. Would definitely tour with him again.
David’s Travel Tip:
Contactless Payment
Contactless payments are the way to go, especially since the evolution of COVID-19 and pandemic panics. If you are not sure what this is, you need to study before going on your trip.
Contactless payment technology enables payment transactions via a contactless chip embedded in payment cards, tags, key fobs, watches, and mobile phones. The chip communicates with a reader device that uses radio frequency or Near Field Communication (NFC) standards.
Contactless payment “machines” and devices can be found in restaurants, bars, pubs, public transportation vending machines, food and soda machines, parking meters and payment machines, taxi cabs, buses, hotels, and many other locales.
Recently issued credit cards will have a “fan-shape” icon (like shown above) printed on them if contactless-enabled.
iPhones, Smartphones, Apple Watch, GooglePay, and ApplePay will need to be “set-up” with credit card and account information BEFORE LEAVING HOME.
In Restaurants, split the bill, no problem!
If you are out dining with a group and want to split the bill, try this:
- Don’t worry about telling the waiter beforehand. Everyone should order their meal “on one tab.”
- Enjoy your meal.
- Ask for the check when you are ready for it. Don’t ask for it to be split!
- Look at the check, take out your calculator, and add up the total for what each person (or couple) is paying. Add 5%-10% tip if you want.
- Ask the waiter to bring the “machine.” He will show up with a portable credit card device.
- Tell the waiter how much you want to pay. Swipe, insert, or tap the machine and that about will go on your card.
- Repeat the process with the others at the table.
See this Travel Tip and many more on my Instagram page.
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David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe ©2026 |Florida Seller of Travel #ST-35037 |Terms of Service | Privacy
COMPANY INFO
TRAVEL RESOURCES
David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe ©2026 |Florida Seller of Travel #ST-35037 |Terms of Service | Privacy