Welcome to the Oktoberfest! The Munich Oktoberfest is the biggest public festival in the world and is attended, each year, by around 6 million visitors, who will drink around 5 million liters of beer and eat over 200,000 pairs of pork sausages. The festival started on October 12, 1810 when crown prince Ludwig of Bavaria (laker to be King Ludwig I) married princess Therese of Saxon-Hildburghausen. The official festivities lasted five days, with much eating, drinking and merriment and ended with a horse race held on the "Theresienwiese" (Theresa's green) in honor of the bride. Over the next years the horse race was repeated and the Oktoberfest, also called "Wiesn" was born. At the foot of the Bavaria statue, at the "Theresienwiese", the huge Oktoberfest grounds house the "beer tents" put up by the traditional Munich breweries as well as carousels, roller coasters and a full fair for the enjoyment of visitors. The Oktoberfest beer is a stronger ("bock") beer brewed specially for that occasion.

The fest kicks-off with an impressive parade of large horse drawn carriages in original costumes, then the mayor of Munich hammers the bent bronze spout with a wooden hammer into the first keg of the fest, without spraying the press and himself to avoid being ridiculed by a very observant crowd (the tapping has been cancelled this year because of the terrorist attacks in the USA). There is a whole program of events, including the Grand Entry of the Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries, the Costume and Riflemen's Procession, and a concert involving all the brass bands playing at the "Wiesn". 

No beer can be served at the Oktoberfest before 12 o'clock. The beer tents are open Mondays to Fridays from 10am to 11.30pm, Sundays and holidays from 9am to 11.30pm. However, beer is only served until 10.30pm. The only exceptions are the wine and the champagne tents as well as Kafers Wiesnschanke: they are open until 1am. Especially on the weekends, you should get to the tents early - when they become too crowded, doors are closed. Beer tents do not have any entrance fees. The most important thing to keep in mind: at the Oktoberfest you can only pay in (German) cash! Credit cards are not accepted!

OKTOBERFEST WITH AUSTRIA - 6 night itinerary  Classic Visit
A beautiful discovery from Vienna along the Wachau to Salzburg, then through Chiemsee to Munich and its famous Oktoberfest. From 1415.00 US $ per person sharing. Departs September 18, 2004

OKTOBERFEST & THE EAST - 6 night itinerary  Classic Visit
A romantic tour of the East starting in Berlin and reaching, via Prague, Munich and its Oktoberfest. From 1549.00 US $ per person sharing. Departs September 24, 2004