What is the best to city in Germany to visit during Oktoberfest to avoid the big crowds?

Question

I'd like to avoid the big crowds and visit one of the city's that has a classic style Oktoberfest. I hear that Munich is way too crowded and I was hoping that there are some smaller towns that have a boisterous celebration that might be less visited by the average tourist (like me)

Answer 1

I'd go for the Wasen in Stuttgart. It still pretty crowded. By crowded I mean 3,000 people.

But if you're looking for something like 400 to 1,000 MAX on a good day ( and i do mean on a GOOD day). Go to Scherers Oktoberfest auf dem Hahn (near the airport).

here's the website. http://www.scherer-oktoberfest.de/

It located in Hunsruck, but the area is really beautiful. You also won't be far from the Mosel wine country (Zell/ mosel known for the zeller schwarz katz wineries is like 10 min away)  You will also be close to Trier and other ancient roman cites.

Answer 2

Seems that Trent has not much of an idea.

Go to Stuttgart to the Cannstatter Volksfest which is running about the same time as the Oktoberfest does in Munich. The Oktoberfest is the largest and the Cannstatter Volksfest is the second largest fair in Germany.

It's smaller and not that much crowded but unfortunately has about the same prices in drinks and rides.

Certainly, the Oktoberfest is "more stylish" but this is only done for the tourists with such things like Lederhosen and Dirndl and yodeling around.

Stuttgart is around 230 kms away on the Autobahn A8 via Augsburg and Ulm. And Ulm is not just 50 kms away from Munich as already mentioned but around 140 kms (as Ulm is 90 kms away from Stuttgart).

Answer 3

Ulm is great it has lots of attractions and is only  50 mins away from munich

Answer 4

Have you ever been at the octoberfest? I do not think so. Go there during the week and before noon and you will get the octoberfest you want. Just avoid the weekend and evenings.