Oktoberfest Table Reservation Cost - Time Slots (2024)

FAQs

How hard is it to get a table at Oktoberfest? ›

The vast majority of Oktoberfest goers don't have any reservation at all as the large tents are obliged to offer large unreserved sections. However, a reservation can, of course, come in handy when you're arriving at busy times, especially with larger groups.

We recommend you budget around EUR80-EUR100 per day. Entrance to the Oktoberfest is free.

The average Oktoberfest visit does not include a table reservation, hence, without one, you're in good company. All the large tents, except the Weinzelt and Käfer, are obliged to keep large sections unreserved.

The Oktoberfest doesn't cost to enter; anyone can wander through the venue without needing a ticket. The reason there are sometimes queues at the entrance is that security personnel check visitors' bags so that everyone at the Oktoberfest can feel safe and relax.

In fact, it's not really a tip – it's more like a “service fee”. It should be not more than 10 to 15% of the beer or food price. And yes, giving a bit of extra tip will ensure that the waitress will always serve you in time and in quality. What beer is served at Oktoberfest?

Oktoberfest is certainly a major tourist attraction for the city of Munich. In 2022, 5.7 million Oktoberfest revelers consumed 5.6 million liters of beer (though that's nothing compared to the crowd in 2019, who downed 7.3 million liters).

What to bring? Entry to both the Oktoberfest and the tents is free. One exception is the Oide Wies'n – the historical part of Oktoberfest that takes you back in time with old-fashioned beer, food, and rides; to enter, you have to pay a small fee (4 euro). Make sure you bring cash, as credit cards are not accepted.

Since parking is almost impossible nearby, public transportation is the easiest and cheapest way to get to the Oktoberfest. In addition, the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, bus and streetcar run more frequently than normal during the Oktoberfest. Around the Theresienwiese you will find many stops to reach the festival area on foot.

Tourists generally stay longer, but to be honest, one can only consume so much beer and wurst! Booking out one or two days to spend at the Oktoberfest Festivities in Munich is more than enough.

You certainly should put something on, but the way you dress actually isn't important. A little advice for men, who are still eager to buy clothes for the occasion: you will often get told to buy checkered shirts, as they're so traditional.

What are the waitresses called at Oktoberfest? ›

Kellner /Kellnerin. German for Beer Maids and Beer Waiters. Staff at Oktoberfest Munich have to be incredibly tough!

Oktoberfest reservations themselves are free, but to reserve a table you must purchase food and drink vouchers for each of the “10” people attending. These vouchers typically include 2 litres of beer + 1 wiesnhendl (half chicken) per person, but each tent has its own requirements/kickass Oktoberfest food.

Arrive to the Theresienwiese early.

The gates to Oktoberfest open at 9:00 am on opening day, so you'll want to show up around 5 or 6am. At anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000 seats each, you'd assume there would be enough space in the tents to accommodate everyone who wishes to join Oktoberfest on opening day.

Generally, cash is king at the Oktoberfest. You may be allowed to pay for a whole reservation using a card at the end of the night, but that may only include debit cards, no credit cards. Apart from that, the acceptance of cards is still very low. You can't expect individual orders to be paid using cards.

Many people don't realize it, but you can attend Oktoberfest without a reservations as the festival is held in a large fairgrounds open to the public. However, tents fill up incredibly quickly and the luxury of having a reservation actually gets you a table at the tent and makes the Oktoberfest experience complete.

Socialising is a top priority and reservations are only accepted by the table, with eight to ten people sitting at one table. The vouchers for a table cost an average of around 350 euros, although in some tents it can be more.

There is no fixed pay per shift or day. On average, a waitress makes 10% per mug of beer and dish of food sold, plus tips. In other words, the more you sell the more you earn, which can come to a few thousand euros for the duration. In my experience, the drunker the customers get, the more generous they tip.