The 190th Oktoberfest is set to take place from September 20th until October 5th at Munich's Theresienwiese as usual.
Oktoberfest, or Wiesn as the locals call it, is very much an international affair, attracting millions of visitors from around the world each year. In 2023 the festival received well over seven million visitors.
Whether you're travelling from another country specifically for the festival, or have lived in Germany for some time but haven't yet experienced Oktoberfest, it's helpful to know some of the key 'dos' and 'don'ts':
Don't chug your beer
This may come as a surprise, but being seen chugging a litre of beer in one go is a sure-fire way to get yourself kicked out of a beer tent at Oktoberfest.
Chugging is discouraged because it can lead to public intoxication, or maybe it's better to say it leads to the over-the-top kind of public intoxication often associated with aggression and other problems.Â
Yes, most everyone at Oktoberfest is there to drink a lot of beer. But the party goes late into the night – pace yourself.
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Do come prepared to sing and dance
Internationally Oktoberfest is primarily known for beer, but as anyone who has been before (or to any other Volksfest in Germany) knows, it's equally about song and dance.
The Wiesn contains six large beer tents and several smaller ones where guests gather around wooden tables to eat and drink, and as the day turns to night, increasingly to sing and dance.
Live bands in the tents play music during the festival, often performing a mix of traditional music, Schlager (think German drinking songs), and classic rock hits.
Earlier in the day most guests in the tents may be seated at the tables, eating half-chickens or Wurst along with their beers. But as the day goes on, more and more people will take to standing on their benches to clap and sing and dance along to the music – often still with a litre-sized Maßkrug in hand of course.
While standing on the benches is practically a must, standing on the tables is not allowed. When in doubt, look around and do what the Germans do.
READ ALSO: Dirndls, tents and 'Radler' - How to do Oktoberfest like a German
Don't bring your luggage
For security reasons, luggage and large backpacks are not allowed in the festival grounds.Â
According to the event website, permitted bags can be up to three litres in volume or no bigger than 20 x 15 x 10 centimetres. (For those coming from the US, that's about 8 x 6 x 4 inches - so pretty small.)
Security personnel at check points at the festival entrances will stop you if you try to bring a larger backpack inside.
There are luggage storage areas at some entrances, where people with large items can store them for a €5 fee. But these could also fill up at busy times. You're better off limiting yourself to small bags and your pockets.
Note that pushchairs (strollers) are not always allowed on the grounds: They are only allowed until 6:00pm Sunday to Friday, and are completely prohibited on Saturdays and also on German Unity Day (October 3rd).
Some other items that aren't allowed include aerosol cans and glass bottles. You can bring walking aids, medical devices, umbrellas. Find more information here.
Do bring cash
For maximum convenience and enjoyment, you would be advised to come with a fair amount of cash.
The price of a litre of beer this year will set you back between €14.50 and €15.80, to give you an idea about how much to calculate for.
Card purchases are increasingly common at Oktoberfest. In fact, this year the "MĂĽnchner Stubn" tent is switching to electronic only payments for food and drinks.
READ ALSO: Everything that changes in Germany in September 2025
But this being Germany, and Bavaria at that, you can expect that some vendors will only accept cash payments.
There are some ATMs on site, but these could have long queues on busy days.
Don't come by scooter
As part of the fest's updated security concept, e-scooters will not be allowed to be parked or rented around the Wiesn from 5pm on.
In previous years too many inebriated guests tripped over them on their way out, resulting in some serious injuries.
Skating, scootering and cycling are also strictly verboten within the festival grounds.
It's easy enough to come by public transportation. A good tip is to avoid the nearest U-Bahn station (Theresienwiese) which will be packed.
Instead, the clever visitor might consider taking the U3 or U6 from Marienplatz to PoccistraĂźe. The festival is only a short walk away.
Or take an S-Bahn to HackerbrĂĽcke, from where you can follow the crowds on the ten-minute trek over the bridge to the festival.
Do dress properly
For international guests, Oktoberfest is at least partly about immersing yourself in Bavarian culture. So why not dress for the occasion in traditional clothing (Trachten).
But whatever you do, DO NOT wear a cheap "costume".
Real Trachten is impressively ornate and every detail is tied to regional traditions and customs. Some life-long Bavarian's can tell you, for example, which region someone is from based on the details of their dress.
Whether its Lederhosen or Dirndl, authentic German traditional wear is expensive. In some shop windows in Munich you can see outfits that cost as much as a used car.
If you want to buy your own for less, you can try to find something second-hand. Lederhosen can sometimes be found in thrift stores in major German cities.
For most Oktoberfest visitors you'd be better off renting an outfit. Shops in Munich and surrounding cities offer this service, and then you can be sure you're wearing something authentic.
If all else fails, just dress casually. Plenty of people do so, and you'll be more respected by the locals in jeans and t-shirt than you would in a fake-looking costume.
Don't be a menace
No matter how much beer you drink, the golden rule applies here too: Treat others as you would like to be treated.
Festival organisers say they have established special task forces to pay special attention to cases of sexual harassment including non-consensual touch or taking voyeuristic photos.
Urinating anywhere outside of designated bathrooms (Wildbieseln)Â is also not allowed and can earn offenders a ticket.
It's also worth mentioning that smoking cannabis is not allowed at Oktoberfest, despite recreational use being legal in Germany generally.
Do tip your server
Serving at Oktoberfest is a hard job. (Have you ever carried several litres of beer in each hand and tried to walk around a crowded hall full of stumbling drunkards?)
It's customary to tip the servers who bring the beer and food to your table – typically at least a euro or two for a couple of beers.
READ ALSO: How the 'tip button' is disrupting Germany's tipping culture
A pro-tip is to tip your server especially well early on the first couple rounds to ensure that you receive good service for the rest of your stay.
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