Oktoberfest Munich 2027: Dates, Tables, Getting There and What to Wear

Oktoberfest 2027 runs from 18 September to 3 October on the Theresienwiese, according to the official Oktoberfest site. Entry is free and a table is optional. The 18 guides Roam Munich read, in English, German, French and Spanish, agree that the easiest way in without a reservation is to go on a weekday and be at a tent when it opens. Dates, rules and figures below come from the official pages, not from those guides, and the festival changes details each year.

The tips follow how many guides give each one. A tip given by only a few is called a less common tip. For what else to do in town, see things to do in Munich, and for a bed during the festival, see where to stay in Munich.

The short list

Dates and hours

The 192nd Oktoberfest starts on Saturday 18 September 2027 and ends on Sunday 3 October. The opening-times page says the tents open at 9:00 on the first day and the first keg is tapped at noon. After that the tents open at 10:00 on weekdays and 9:00 on weekends. The last beer and music in the large tents is at 22:30 and in the small tents at 23:00. Käfer Wiesn-Schänke and Kufflers Weinzelt stay open until 1:00. That page still carries some 2026 details, so check it again closer to the date.

The visitor barometer rates each day in three time windows, and says weekends, the middle weekend and 3 October are the busiest.

A seat without a reservation

Said by 17 of 18 guides read for timing, and 11 for walk-in seats.

Almost every guide says the same thing. Weekday, before noon, and ideally right when the doors open. The booking page backs the idea of walk-in seats. On weekdays 25 percent of the seats in the big tents stay unreserved. On weekends and holidays it’s 40 percent until 3 pm and then 25 percent. The Oide Wiesn keeps a third. The same page says evenings, weekends and groups are the hardest.

Six guides single out late afternoon. The visitor barometer says the main entrances to the big tents are often closed during the reservation change, roughly 4 to 6 pm, so you have little chance of getting in then. Five guides add that a tent closes its doors once it’s full, and the official FAQ says that can happen at weekends from early afternoon. Six guides say to ask politely if you can sit at a table with free seats.

Reserving a table

Said by 10 of 18 guides read.

Each tent takes its own bookings, so there’s no single office. The booking page says most tents take requests by spring, at the latest April or May, and that you can’t book straight after the festival ends. Tables are for groups of eight to ten, and solo visitors and pairs can’t book one alone. The reservation is free, but you prepay vouchers that average about 350 euros a table, and some tents charge more. Munich’s own page adds that each booking covers a set time window, confirmed after you book, and tables seat up to ten.

Ten guides say to book with the tent itself, and five warn against resellers. The booking page names the official resale portal, oktoberfest-booking.com. Nine guides say to start early, and two say extra tables appear just before the festival.

Getting there

Said by 8 of 18 guides read.

Don’t drive. The official page says there’s no parking on the grounds and cars can be ticketed or towed. The U4 and U5 stop at Theresienwiese, but the site’s ten golden rules say to avoid that station. Three guides say the same. MVG lists these options:

• U4 or U5 to Schwanthalerhöhe or Heimeranplatz
• U3 or U6 to Goetheplatz or Poccistraße
• Any S-Bahn line to Hackerbrücke or Hauptbahnhof

Munich’s page puts most of these about 10 minutes on foot from the grounds and Hauptbahnhof about 15, and says a short-distance ticket covers the ride from Hauptbahnhof. The MVGO app plans the trip when you enter Oktoberfest as the destination, and it can pick a route to a named tent.

Bags and rules

Said by 6 of 18 guides read.

The security page caps a bag at 3 litres or 20 x 15 x 10 cm, and backpacks and large bags are generally banned. Glass bottles are out. Large luggage goes to storage at the P1, P5, P8 or P10 entrances for 5 euros, with no promise of space. Strollers are banned all day on Saturdays and on 3 October, and after 6 pm on other days. Bicycles, scooters, skateboards and pets are not allowed, except assistance dogs.

The FAQ says the Augustiner, Bräurosl, Löwenbräu and Ochsenbraterei tents take cash only, and that ATMs stand at the entrances. Eight guides say to carry cash, and five say to tip your server.

Tracht

Said by 11 of 18 guides read.

Nobody checks what you wear. The official FAQ sets no dress code and says dirndls and lederhosen are sold at the official Oktoberfest store and at many Munich Tracht shops. Eleven guides call Tracht optional and common. Four say to skip novelty costumes with slogans or flags, since the clothes are traditional dress and not fancy dress. Three explain the dirndl apron bow, and a few suggest buying rather than renting. Six say comfortable shoes matter more.

Less common tips

Four guides say the first and last weekends and 3 October are the busiest, and five say to eat and drink water between beers. Two warn about pickpockets. The site doesn’t state a beer price for 2027 yet, so check the beer price page before you budget. Roam Munich’s events page and map show what else is on while you’re there, and where to eat in Munich and day trips from Munich cover the days around it. More basics are in Munich travel tips.

Before you go

• Pick a weekday and plan to be at a tent when it opens.
• Book a room early.
• Use Schwanthalerhöhe or Hackerbrücke, not Theresienwiese.
• Carry cash and a bag under 3 litres.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Oktoberfest 2027?

From 18 September to 3 October 2027, on the Theresienwiese, per oktoberfest.de.

Do you need a ticket for Oktoberfest?

No. Entry to the grounds and the tents is free. The Oide Wiesn section costs 4 euros, and children up to 14 get in free.

Can you get into a tent without a reservation?

Yes. A share of seats stays unreserved, most easily on weekdays before the afternoon.

Which station is best for Oktoberfest?

The official site says to avoid Theresienwiese and use Schwanthalerhöhe, Goetheplatz, Poccistraße or the main station instead.