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!

See the 2027 tour dates

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