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Munich OktoberfestMunich OktoberfestMunich Beer Festival - Oktoberfest - Package Deals
When you hear the word "Oktoberfest", it's almost certain that one thing comes to mind... Bavarian Beer!Oktoberfest, more commonly known as "Beerfest", dates back to 1810 and the marriage of King Ludwig to Therese of Saxon-Hildburghausen. The festival starts on the 3rd Saturday in September. A parade, the grand entry of landlords and breweries starts at 11am and includes the bands that will be entertaining the crowds in the beer halls, and waitresses dressed in traditional Bavarian costume. The first barrel of beer is tapped by the Lord Mayor at midday - and when the tap is in, he says "Ozapft is!", which is the keyword for everyone to start getting wasted. Oktoberfest 2009 : September 19 - October 4
Beerhalls are open from 10.30am - 11.30pm, with last drinks served at 10.30pm. Sundays they start even earlier, first drinks 9am!!! Many of the much smaller wine cafes stay open for an hour or so later. If you want to carry on into the small hours of the night, Munich is well equipped to cater to your desires. The area of Schwabing is in close proximity to the university, and offers a wide range of restaurants, cafes and bars, from ultra cheap to super trendy. Near the Ost Bahnhof (an underground station) you'll find Kunstpark, one of the best concentrations of nightclubs in Europe. Entrance and drinks can be pricey, but most of these clubs are extremely well decked out, and German dance music has always been noted for breaking new ground. Each of the 6 main breweries in Munich has at least one 'tent' at the Beerfest grounds, along with various other temporary structures erected to keep the estimated SEVEN MILLION visitors fed and watered.
As in most European countries, there is considerable froth, or head, on the beer. Expect to receive about a litre of beer, for around 12DM (£4). But Octoberfest is about a lot more than just beer. It is a celebration of Bavarian culture, and includes a giant carnival, which was a bigger attraction than the beer initially. Music is also central to festivities, and the bands that perform in each tent normally mix traditional German songs with more well-known contemporary music. Oom-Pah bands are a definite highlight, playing a brassy, grin-inducing variety of tunes, most famously 'Ein Prosit'. During the day, Munich offers attractions such as Neuschwanstein, a fairy tale castle commissioned by Ludwig II, also known as 'Mad King Ludwig'. Dachau concentration camp is only 20km's from the city, and is one of the more moving memorials to the horrors of WWII. In Munich itself, you have the Englischer Garten, a huge park in the heart of the city, complete with jogging, cycle and horse trails, and of course, beer halls. Nude sun bathing is also a popular pass time, although maybe not in October. Then there's the famous Glockenspeil, a clock that puts on a show at 10am, 12 noon and 5pm, located in Munich's main square Marienplatz. From there it's a two minute walk to the Hofbrauhaus, one of the most famous drinking establishments in the world. Oktoberfest with BusaboutOktoberfest with BusaboutBe part of the World's biggest Beer Festival!Busabout offer a range of package tours to Munich for the Oktoberfest - fly direct to nearby Stuttgart, where you will be met by a merry band of Busabout guides who will entertain you on the way to Munich. The Wombats welcome at our city-centre accommodation (a stone's throw from the 'Fest-site) is legendary. A free drink will be waiting for you and the best hostel facilities in Munich will be at your disposal for your stay. Includes ...
Available to book January 2009!
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