Any travel recommendations for Oktoberfest in Munich?

Question

Any secrets of where to stay, which tent to visit, sights or events to see?

Answer 1

My only advice is to get there in Sept.. Stupid me went in Oct when it was all over

Answer 2

If you have not got a room sorted out yet then you may have to consider finding a room in somewhere like Augsburg and travel to Munich by train - it's not far.

Answer 3

If you don't have a room yet for this year, you are going to want to get cracking.  We book our rooms 6 months in advance and even then, usually one of the 3 hotels that we stay at is booked.  

The Augustiner tent is the most popular tent for locals.  But frankly, any of the tents are great.  Get there early (like noon) to get a table, and expect others whom you dont know to join you as the day progresses.  

You best bet for 'sights and events' around Munich is to get a guide book.  I use the Fodor's Gold guide and it gives the best walking tours and restaurant recommendations.  If you like Museums, there are plenty of them to visit.  If you like beer, there are plenty of beer gardens to visit.  If you like history, there's pleny of it.  You can also travel down to Neuschwanstein and visit King Ludwig's most spectacular castle.  Or, take a day trip down to Hitler's Eagle's nest and into Salzburg.  

There is a ton of stuff to do, so that's why I strongly urge a guide book.  : )

Answer 4

For more info on the Oktober Fest and the city of Munich(auf Deutsch München) check out www.oktoberfest.de - it has all the info in English. You can even order your t-shirts and beer mugs online.

You can do a search here in Yahoo Answers on questions  asked about München and the Oktober Fest for a variety of information.

You can still find a hotel(depending on how many nights?), but as stated in an earlier answer many hotels are all booked up. But, I have learned after 17 years that you can still find a hotel last minute in that bus/group tours going to the fest often have 'No Shows' so hotels are left with free rooms. Also another good option is stay in Garmisch(about and hour by train) or another surrounding town. That way you avoid the travel, and parking problems. During the Oktober Fest I will be paying 19 Euros a day to park my car in a parking garage not far from the main train station(Hauptbahnhof).

For the Oktober Fest here the main things I have learned to have a good time;

Whichever tent you want to sit in - get there early!

Do not try to drink as many beers with persons from the United Kingdom, Ireland, or Australia.

If a 'tent' with 8 to 10 thousand drinking and singing people is not your thing, then ride the roller coaster, walk around, and maybe(weather permitting) sit outside the 'Tents'.

The Löwenbrau tent get very crazy so if you do not like watching MTV type shows, then do not go in that tent!

Avoid groups of Italian men unless you enjoy aggravation, maybe a fight, and the disgusting things they do and say to women(I know that is not nice to say and could be considered Racial Profiling, but after 17 years that is what I have seen and experienced First Hand).

Good Luck and have fun!