Munich Oktoberfest 2025: Everything You Need to Know for the World’s Biggest Beer Festival

If you’ve ever dreamed of raising a stein of golden beer while an oompah band plays in the background, surrounded by thousands of people in lederhosen and dirndls, then Munich’s Oktoberfest 2025 should be at the top of your travel list.

The festival returns for its 190th edition from September 20 to October 5, 2025, and it promises to be bigger, louder, and more unforgettable than ever.

A Quick Look Back: How It All Started

Oktoberfest isn’t just a beer party, it began in 1810, when Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria married Princess Therese. The city of Munich celebrated with horse races, music, and lots of beer. Over two centuries later, the royal wedding has turned into a global phenomenon attracting over 6 million visitors each year.

The locals still call it die Wiesn (after the Theresienwiese, the meadow where it takes place), and it remains one of Germany’s proudest cultural traditions.

The 2025 Edition: What’s New

This year’s festival has a few exciting updates:

Four brand-new rides will join the funfair lineup.
A new music competition will bring fresh energy to the traditional brass and folk sounds.
Fewer unreserved seats in the beer tents, so planning is more important than ever.

If you’ve been before, you’ll find new reasons to return. If it’s your first time, get ready for sensory overload in the best possible way.

Beer, Food & Festivities

Let’s be honest: most people come for the beer. Only Munich’s six traditional breweries are allowed to serve here, and each produces a special Oktoberfest brew that’s stronger than your average lager. A liter (the famous Maß) is the standard pour—so pace yourself!

Food is equally important. From crispy roast chicken (Hendl) to giant pretzels, sausages, pork knuckles, and sweet treats like roasted almonds, Oktoberfest is a foodie’s paradise.

But the festival isn’t just about eating and drinking. Between stein-lifting, you’ll find:

Amusement rides (from nostalgic carousels to wild roller coasters)
Traditional costumes (except for seas of Lederhosen and Dirndls)
Live music and parades
The Oide Wiesn (“Old Oktoberfest”), a calmer corner showcasing Bavarian traditions

Practical Tips for Visitors

Book early: Hotels in Munich sell out months in advance. Consider staying a little outside the city and commuting in.
Reserve a tent table if you can: Especially for evenings. Otherwise, go early in the day to grab a spot.
Use public transport: The U-Bahn will drop you right at Theresienwiese. Don’t even think about driving.
Dress the part: You don’t need Lederhosen or a Dirndl, but wearing them makes the experience way more fun.
Bring cash: While cards are accepted more often now, cash is still king at many stalls.

Why You Shouldn’t Miss It

Oktoberfest is more than just a party—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience. It’s the moment when Munich becomes the center of the world, where strangers become friends over a shared toast, and where centuries-old Bavarian tradition meets pure joy.

Whether you come for the beer, the food, the music, or just the atmosphere, Oktoberfest 2025 is set to be one of the highlights of the year.

So pack your bags, polish your stein-raising arm, and get ready to shout: “O’zapft is!” (It’s tapped!)

Official page

Sponsored by Wombat’s Hostel Munich