What cultural sites and activities are typically included beyond the festival?

Most tours take you to explore Munich's rich history and the surrounding region. You'll visit places like the moving Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, the beautiful Frauenkirche cathedral in Munich's center, and the fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle. Many travelers mention really enjoying the guided walks through Munich's Old Town and trips to small Bavarian villages like Oberammergau. Your tour might also include day trips to nearby Salzburg in Austria or up to the Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden. This gives you a much fuller picture of the region beyond just the beer tents.

When is the best time to book an Oktoberfest tour?

Book your tour at least 6-8 months before you want to go, ideally even earlier. Most people book during September and October for the following year. As one traveler told us: "Book early as the best tent reservations and central accommodations fill up quickly." The festival runs from mid-September to early October, and the opening weekend is especially popular, so you'll want to plan extra early if you're aiming for those dates.

How much should I budget for an Oktoberfest tour?

Tours range from basic 3-day camping trips at $394 USD to fancy 11-day guided experiences for over $5,000 USD. Budget tours usually cost around $131 USD per day, while premium tours can reach $924 USD daily. Remember to set aside extra money for things like bike tours ($30 USD), renting traditional costumes, and beer tent packages. The unlimited beer and sangria package in the tents costs about $11 USD per day.

What's the difference between Munich's Oktoberfest and Stuttgart's Beer Festival?

Munich's Oktoberfest is bigger, drawing 6.3 million people, while Stuttgart's Cannstatter Volksfest attracts 4 million. One traveler noted: "Stuttgart was less touristy than Oktoberfest but equally authentic. The Sonja Merz Zelt tent with its rotating bar offers a unique experience!" You'll find more locals at Stuttgart's festival, different beers to try, and some modern touches like the spinning bar. Munich focuses more on tradition and huge beer halls, while Stuttgart feels more laid-back and includes extras like spirits bars and contemporary music.

When is the best time to visit the beer tents during Oktoberfest?

Get to the tents early, around 9:00-10:00 AM, especially if you want to visit the popular Hofbräu tent. One experienced traveler told us: "It's highly recommended to make it to the first morning session. Getting there early ensures you get good seats and can experience the full day of festivities." The tents stay open until 11:00 PM, but they're most crowded from 2:00-8:00 PM. Some tours include both morning and evening tent bookings, and the Armbrustschützenzelt tent offers great views from its balcony.

What traditional Bavarian experiences are included in Oktoberfest tours?

You'll get to experience real Bavarian culture in many ways. Tours often take you to historic beer halls like Augustiner-Festhalle and Schottenhamelfestzelt, where you can join German cooking classes and visit local breweries in towns like Murnau. Travelers often mention fun moments like learning drinking songs in the beer halls and dressing up in lederhosen and dirndls to dance to Oompah bands. Many tours also include visits to places like Neuschwanstein Castle and Ettal Monastery to round out your Bavarian experience.

Oktoberfest Tours & Trips

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Festival & Events
Oktoberfest Munich (3-Star Hotel Senator)
4.6 (74 traveler reviews)
"The Hotel Senator is a very nice hotel. It's small and maybe not as modern as some but very clean, the staff super friendly and the location is fantastic."
Karen, traveled in September
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Munich
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English
Operator
Thirsty Swagman
From
NZ$2,559per person
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Festival & Events
Stuttgart Beer Festival (4-star Hilton Hotel)
4.8 (14 traveler reviews)
"The food and beer were amazing. The festival was definitely less touristy than Oktoberfest."
Tyler, traveled in August
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Stuttgart
Age Range
Ages 18+
Operated in
English
Operator
Thirsty Swagman
From
NZ$2,361per person
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Festival & Events
Oktoberfest (4 Days)
4.8 (6 traveler reviews)
"Great Oktoberfest with Contiki. Looked after us and made the trip."
Cain, traveled in September
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Munich
Age Range
Ages 18-35
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English
Operator
Contiki
20% Off
From $1,585
NZ$1,268per person
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Active
Oktoberfest (5 Days)
4.8 (6 traveler reviews)
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Munich
Age Range
Ages 18-35
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English
Operator
Contiki
20% Off
From
NZ$2,087per person
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Festival & Events
Amsterdam to Oktoberfest Weekender
4.0 (2 traveler reviews)
"The staff and location were great!! Wouldn't recommend for someone looking for a peaceful few days in Munich."
Kayla, traveled in September
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Amsterdam, Munich
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English
Operator
Stoke Travel
20% Off
From
NZ$741per person
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In-depth Cultural
Prague & Munich Oktoberfest
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Prague, Munich
Age Range
Ages 18+
Operated in
English
Operator
Euroadventures
20% Off
From
NZ$789per person
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Explorer
Discover Switzerland, Austria & Bavaria featuring Oktoberfest (Bern to Munich) (2025)
4.6 (59 traveler reviews)
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Switzerland Liechtenstein Austria Germany
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Mountain
Alps
Operated in
English
Operator
Collette
10% Off
From $6,999
NZ$6,299per person
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Explorer
Oktoberfest, the Germanic Experience
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Berlin, Dresden, Nuremberg, Munich, Salzburg, Berchtesgaden,Melk,Wachau,Vienna+3 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Insight Vacations
10% Off
From
NZ$8,050per person
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Festival & Events
Oktoberfest 10 Day Package
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Munich, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Murnau am Staffelsee,Kochel,Neuschwanstein,Oberammergau,Chiemsee,Salzburg,Berchtesgaden+6 more
Age Range
Ages 21+
Regions
Bavaria Alps
Operated in
English
Operator
All Things Garmisch
10% Off
From
NZ$9,878per person
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Festival & Events
Florence To Munich Oktoberfest - Short Weekend
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Florence, Munich
Age Range
Ages 19-30
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English
Operator
Smart Trip
10% Off
From
NZ$453per person
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Festival & Events
Oktoberfest Express
4.3 (88 traveler reviews)
"The team did an amazing job of taking care of everyone and making sure it was heaps of fun."
Kerri, traveled in September
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Munich
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English,German,Spanish+2 more
Operator
Stoke Travel
10% Off
From
NZ$356per person
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Festival & Events
Munich Oktoberfest - Hotel & Hostel Packages
4.9 (4 traveler reviews)
"The Euro Adventures team did a fantastic job with organising accommodation. The detailed information sent via email for Octoberfest was really useful."
Constantinos, traveled in September
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Munich, Dachau
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English
Operator
Euroadventures
10% Off
From
NZ$869per person
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Festival & Events
Oktoberfest
4.8 (4 traveler reviews)
"The overall schedule was good and not to cramped."
Jop, traveled in May
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Munich
Age Range
Ages 18-36
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English,Italian,Spanish+2 more
Operator
Yes-Trips
10% Off
From
NZ$257per person
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River Cruise
Danube Delights & Oktoberfest
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Hungary Slovakia Austria Germany
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ships
Emerald Dawn Emerald Star Emerald Sky+2 ships
River
Danube
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
45% Off
From $16,993
NZ$9,404per person
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Festival & Events
Oktoberfest Munich (5-Star Le Meridien hotel)
4.9 (56 traveler reviews)
"This is my 3rd Oktoberfest tour with Thirsty Swagman and it has maintained its thorough excellence."
Josh, traveled in September
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Munich
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English
Operator
Thirsty Swagman
45% Off
From
NZ$3,349per person
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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