The largest festival in the world, had its origin in the wedding of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese on October 12 in 1810. The horse racing of the wedding was repeated the following year and so the tradition of "Oktoberfest" started.

The fairground was named after the bride "Theresien Wiese" (Wiese = Meadow). In Munich the "Oktoberfest" is just called "Wiesn". The Oktoberfest is  annually visited by 6 million people. The two-week festival begins in September and ends in early October.

The "Festzelte" (marquees) are huge halls with hundreds of beer benches. In many tents there are VIP areas where you can celebrate a little more comfortably. The seats in the beer tents are highly sought after, if you go to the "Oktoberfest" with a group, you should reserve long time in advance. There are 14 beer tents and at the most of them you can reserve online. During daytime you might get a table without reservation.

Online-Reservation

www.hb-festzelt.de

www.kaefer-wiesn.de

www.hacker-festzelt.de

www.fischer-vroni.de

www.festhalle-augustiner.com

The Oktoberfest begins with the arrival of the Oktoberfest innkeepers on beer coaches. Then the puncture is carried out by the Munich Lord Mayor. The following day, the members of the national costume clubs and bands march over the Oktoberfest.

The Munich beer mug is called Maß, the "a" is pronounced briefly. Even as a tourist you should not say Maaas! This inevitably leads to mocking comments of the seat neighbors. Order: A Masss! The Wiesn beer is stronger and more expensive than regular beer. The barley juice flows after the mayor announces the words "O'zapft is". One Maß is roughly equivalent to one liter of beer.

The roast chicken is called "Hendl" or "Gickerl" in Munich. Other typical Oktoberfest dishes are Schweinshaxsen (pork knuckle), Steckerlfisch (smoked traut), Brezn (pretzel), Schweinsbraten (roasted pork), Spanferkel (suckling pig), Weißwurst (white sausage), Brotzeitplatte (snack plate) ... 

A popular souvenir of the Munich Oktoberfest are the gingerbread hearts (Lebkuchenherzen) with sugar sweet sayings. Other souvenirs include beer mugs, felt hats and costume jewelery.

Numerous attraction await the visitors. The offer ranges from roller coasters to ghost trains and other rides. Also famous is the "Münchner Rutsch'n", a white-blue, nine-lane slide.

You barely see people in Munich wearing traditional bavarian costums. But at the "Oktoberfest" almost everyone is wearing "Dirndl" (dress) or "Lederhosen" (leather trousers), even Asian, Africans or Americans. The unmarried woman wears the loop on the left side.

If you want to see the Oktoberfest from above, you can take a ride on the 50 meter high Riesenrad (Ferris wheel). The view extends in good weather over the whole city. In the lofty heights you can escape the hustle and bustle on earth for a while.