München – It is considered the largest folk festival in the world and recently attracted more than seven million visitors – a record! Now the Oktoberfest is ready to go again. Here you will find all the information you need for the gigantic party!
From September 21 to October 6, 2024, the party will take place on the Theresienwiese in Munich – the 189th Oktoberfest will be celebrated for 16 days.
It all starts with the traditional tapping of the barrel by Mayor Dieter Reiter (66) at exactly 12 noon in the Schottenhamel festival hall.
BILD lists the entire program and shows the Oktoberfest on an interactive map!
Arrival of the Oktoberfest hosts
The arrival of the Wiesnwirte on Saturday, September 21st is the official start of the Oktoberfest – even before the famous “O’zapft is!”. The traditional costume and riflemen’s parade follows on Sunday from 10 a.m.
Traditional costume parade
Thousands of participants will be taking part in the traditional costume and riflemen’s parade on Sunday, September 22nd, from Maximilianstrasse to Theresienwiese. The traditional parade has taken place on the first Sunday of the Oktoberfest since 1950.
Prime Minister Markus Söder (57, CSU) and his wife Karin Baumüller-Söder (51) watched the traditional costume and riflemen’s parade on the festival grounds last year
Oktoberfest service
The Wiesn service is a firm tradition in Munich. It was held for the first time in 1956 by the head of the Catholic circus and showman ministry, Father Heinz Peter Schönig. The service itself is ecumenical and is led by Catholic and Protestant pastors.
The Oktoberfest innkeepers’ open-air concert
On the second Sunday of the Oktoberfest (September 29th) there will be a concert by the Oktoberfest hosts. The bands from all of the festival tents, with more than 300 musicians, will play together from 11 a.m. The concert is completely free!
On the second Sunday of the Wiesn there is a concert by the Wiesn hosts
Cannon shooting at the Bavaria
The Oktoberfest ends with loud gunfire on the last day of the Wiesn, Sunday, October 6th, at 12 noon. 60 gunners then fire their salute in front of the Bavaria. The party continues a little longer in the tents – the celebrations continue until late in the evening.
Using public transport to the Oktoberfest
During the Oktoberfest season, the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, buses and trams run more frequently than usual, but of course it can still be crowded at times. The lines U4 (on the Timetable in green) and U5 (yellow) take you from Odeonsplatz, Karlsplatz/Stachus or Hauptbahnhof in just a few minutes to the Station Theresienwiese.
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► Die U3 (orange) and U6 (blue) take you from Odeonsplatz, Marienplatz or Sendlinger Tor in about five minutes to Goetheplatz or, one stop further, to PoccistraßeFrom here it is only a few minutes walk.
► The lines of the main line (S1 bis S8) all go to Hackerbrücke: for example, two minutes from the main train station, five minutes from Marienplatz and ten minutes if you get on at Ostbahnhof. From Hackerbrücke station, it’s a leisurely ten-minute walk to the main entrance of the Oktoberfest.
More public transportation:
► Bus: Lines 53, 58/68, 62 and 134
► Tram: Lines 18/19/29 and 16/17
During the Oktoberfest season, the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, bus and tram run more frequently than usual, but it can still get crowded at times
The Oide Wiesn
On the Old Oktoberfestthe nostalgic Oktoberfest, there are four tents. They are each open from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., and beer is served until 10:30 p.m.
The “Oide Wiesn” from above – the nostalgic Oktoberfest, so to speak
Tents at the Oktoberfest
There are a total of 17 large and 21 small tents at the Oktoberfest and the “Oidn Wiesn”.
The prices for a liter of beer in 2024 are almost consistently higher than in the previous year
Beer prices in a major year-on-year comparison
Do you want to plan how much money you’ll have to spend on your Oktoberfest beer? No problem! You can find the prices for 2024 in the table. The column on the far right shows how the costs will increase this time compared to last year. But the calculation is actually quite simple: Oans, zwoa, gsuffa!
| Price for 1 liter | Price last year | change | |
|---|---|---|---|
Such price tags sometimes show how much a beer costs in the tents. This year, depending on the tent, it is between 13.60 euros and 15.30 euros
Tent reservations
Tourists in particular try to get a reservation quickly. But consumer advocates warn: Many offers on the Internet are no guarantee of actually getting into the tent. “Many Oktoberfest hosts stipulate in their general terms and conditions that reservations that were not bought directly from them are invalid,” points out the Munich Consumer Advice Center. The result: visitors are turned away at the door.
About the official portal oktoberfest-booking.com Already purchased reservations for the Oktoberfest can be resold as usual.
Midday Oktoberfest
Daily specials at a reasonable price: During the Oktoberfest lunchtime, most of the tents at the festival offer a different discounted lunchtime dish every day during the week. BUT: Some tents, such as the Wiesn-Guglhupf, only offer this service Monday to Thursday, but not on Friday, which is the busiest and most profitable day, and not at the weekend either.
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Non-alcoholic beverages
The average prices for non-alcoholic beverages are 10.48 euros per litre for table water, 12.23 euros for Spezi and 11.67 euros for lemonade.
New at the Oktoberfest
Among other things, the “vr4kids” project is being launched for the first time. This offers children and young people with disabilities a virtual visit to the Oktoberfest.
In addition, there will be three new rides, two show and amusement attractions such as a 12D-Cinemawhich surprises the audience with numerous special effects, as well as a new Wild water ride.
Willenborg’s striking Ferris wheel dominates the Wiesn skyline – and has done so since 1979
Symbol of Oktoberfest
Willenborg’s Ferris wheel has been at the Wiesn since 1979. It is considered a symbol of the Oktoberfest. Last year it became the scene of declarations of love.
Have fun celebrating!
