Oktoberfest, Munich: a walk round the Theresienwiese

The biggest folk festival in the world. A short walk of about 4 km round the Theresienwiese in Munich, where the Oktoberfest takes place for about two and a half weeks from mid-September to the first Sunday of October. The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810 for the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese, which gave the meadow its name. Today about six million visitors come.

What you see. The big beer tents, each run by one of the six Munich breweries – the beer is served only by the litre, in the Maß – the fairground with its rides, and above the meadow the statue of Bavaria with the Ruhmeshalle (Hall of Fame).

Good to know. The best times are weekday afternoons; on weekends the big tents are full from the morning. Dress is usually Tracht (dirndl and Lederhosen), but it is not required. Outside the Oktoberfest the Theresienwiese is an empty field used for other events.

Picture: A beer tent at the Oktoberfest, 2009, Schlaier, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.