At noon on the first Saturday, the mayor of Munich swings a mallet, hammers a tap into the first barrel and shouts O'zapft is!, "it's tapped!". From that moment, for a little over two weeks, the Theresienwiese is the busiest place in Bavaria, and locals simply call it die Wiesn.
The tents are loud and full, the waitresses are fast, and nobody has time for long sentences. Here's what to say to get a seat, a beer and a chicken, and what you need to know before you go.
When It Takes Place
The Oktoberfest mostly happens in September. It opens on a Saturday in mid-September and ends on the first Sunday in October. If that Sunday falls on the 1st or 2nd, the festival runs on until 3 October, the German Unity Day holiday.
Finding a Seat
Is this seat free?
Ist hier noch frei?
May we join you?
Dürfen wir uns dazusetzen?
Is this table reserved?
Ist der Tisch reserviert?
We have a reservation.
Wir haben reserviert.
How long can we stay?
Bis wann können wir bleiben?
Move up a bit, please.
Rutscht mal ein bisschen, bitte.
Practice these words
Ist hier noch frei?
Reservations: most tables in the big tents are reserved, especially in the evenings and at weekends, and reservations are booked out months in advance. Part of every tent is kept free for people without one. On a weekday morning or early afternoon you'll usually find a place.
Sharing is normal. You sit on long benches with strangers, and by the second Mass you're on du with half the table.
Ordering
A litre of beer, please.
Eine Mass, bitte.
Two litres of beer, please.
Zwei Mass, bitte.
A shandy, please.
Ein Radler, bitte.
An alcohol-free beer, please.
Ein alkoholfreies Bier, bitte.
Half a roast chicken, please.
Ein halbes Hendl, bitte.
A pretzel, please.
Eine Brezn, bitte.
The bill, please.
Zahlen, bitte.
Keep the change.
Passt so.
Practice these words
Eine Mass, bitte.
Mass is spelled Maß in standard German, but in Munich it's said with a short a, so you'll see both spellings. More Bavarian in regional German words. A Mass is always one litre, and there's no smaller beer in the big tents.
Tip: you pay the waitress when your drinks arrive, usually in cash. Rounding up generously is normal, and a good tip early on helps you get served quickly for the rest of the evening.
Raising a Glass
Cheers!
Prost!
Cheers, in Bavarian
Oans, zwoa, g'suffa!
To your health!
Zum Wohl!
To us!
Auf uns!
Practice these words
Prost!
Look them in the eye. When you clink, look at the person you're toasting, not at the glasses. Not doing it is said to bring bad luck.
Several times an hour the band plays Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit, a short toasting song. Everyone stands up, sings along and drinks. You'll know the words after an hour.
Wiesn Words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
die Wiesn | the Oktoberfest, short for the Theresienwiese where it's held |
das Bierzelt | beer tent; the big ones seat several thousand people |
der Masskrug | the heavy one-litre glass mug; taking one home is theft |
die Bedienung | the waiter or waitress, who carries up to a dozen mugs at once |
das Hendl | roast chicken |
die Schweinshaxe | roast pork knuckle |
der Steckerlfisch | fish grilled on a stick |
der Obatzda | a spread of Camembert, butter and paprika |
das Lebkuchenherz | a gingerbread heart with an iced message, worn round the neck |
das Fahrgeschäft | a funfair ride |
die Tracht | traditional dress |
die Bierleiche | literally "beer corpse": someone who has had far too much |
Dirndl and Lederhosen
traditional dress for women
das Dirndl
apron
die Schürze
blouse
die Bluse
leather trousers
die Lederhose
checked shirt
das Karohemd
traditional shoes
die Haferlschuhe
Practice these words
das Dirndl
Watch the bow. The knot of a Dirndl apron is said to carry a message: tied on the left, the woman is single; on the right, she's taken; at the front in the middle, she's a girl; at the back, she's a widow, or a waitress. Nobody checks, but many people know it.
You don't have to wear Tracht, and plenty of visitors don't. Cheap fancy-dress versions get a few looks from locals, though.
Rules Worth Knowing
- Children under six must leave the tents by 8 pm, even with their parents. Some weekdays are family days with cheaper rides.
- Small bags only: bags bigger than about three litres aren't allowed on the grounds. Leave rucksacks at home or use the paid cloakrooms at the entrances.
- No own drinks in the tents, and you need to order to keep your seat.
- Your own Oktoberfest: you don't need Munich. Stuttgart has the Cannstatter Wasen, and almost every Bavarian town has a Volksfest or Dult with a beer tent, the same songs and much shorter queues.