What cultural sites and activities are typically included beyond the festival?

Most tours take you to explore Munich's rich history and the surrounding region. You'll visit places like the moving Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, the beautiful Frauenkirche cathedral in Munich's center, and the fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle. Many travelers mention really enjoying the guided walks through Munich's Old Town and trips to small Bavarian villages like Oberammergau. Your tour might also include day trips to nearby Salzburg in Austria or up to the Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden. This gives you a much fuller picture of the region beyond just the beer tents.

When is the best time to book an Oktoberfest tour?

Book your tour at least 6-8 months before you want to go, ideally even earlier. Most people book during September and October for the following year. As one traveler told us: "Book early as the best tent reservations and central accommodations fill up quickly." The festival runs from mid-September to early October, and the opening weekend is especially popular, so you'll want to plan extra early if you're aiming for those dates.

How much should I budget for an Oktoberfest tour?

Tours range from basic 3-day camping trips at $394 USD to fancy 11-day guided experiences for over $5,000 USD. Budget tours usually cost around $131 USD per day, while premium tours can reach $924 USD daily. Remember to set aside extra money for things like bike tours ($30 USD), renting traditional costumes, and beer tent packages. The unlimited beer and sangria package in the tents costs about $11 USD per day.

What's the difference between Munich's Oktoberfest and Stuttgart's Beer Festival?

Munich's Oktoberfest is bigger, drawing 6.3 million people, while Stuttgart's Cannstatter Volksfest attracts 4 million. One traveler noted: "Stuttgart was less touristy than Oktoberfest but equally authentic. The Sonja Merz Zelt tent with its rotating bar offers a unique experience!" You'll find more locals at Stuttgart's festival, different beers to try, and some modern touches like the spinning bar. Munich focuses more on tradition and huge beer halls, while Stuttgart feels more laid-back and includes extras like spirits bars and contemporary music.

When is the best time to visit the beer tents during Oktoberfest?

Get to the tents early, around 9:00-10:00 AM, especially if you want to visit the popular Hofbräu tent. One experienced traveler told us: "It's highly recommended to make it to the first morning session. Getting there early ensures you get good seats and can experience the full day of festivities." The tents stay open until 11:00 PM, but they're most crowded from 2:00-8:00 PM. Some tours include both morning and evening tent bookings, and the Armbrustschützenzelt tent offers great views from its balcony.

What traditional Bavarian experiences are included in Oktoberfest tours?

You'll get to experience real Bavarian culture in many ways. Tours often take you to historic beer halls like Augustiner-Festhalle and Schottenhamelfestzelt, where you can join German cooking classes and visit local breweries in towns like Murnau. Travelers often mention fun moments like learning drinking songs in the beer halls and dressing up in lederhosen and dirndls to dance to Oompah bands. Many tours also include visits to places like Neuschwanstein Castle and Ettal Monastery to round out your Bavarian experience.

Oktoberfest Tours & Trips

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10 best Oktoberfest tour packages

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City & Culture
Prague & Munich Oktoberfest
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Prague, Munich
Age Range
Ages 18+
Operated in
English
Operator
Euroadventures
From
US$489per person
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Festival & Events
Oktoberfest Munich (3-Star Hotel Senator)
4.6 (76 reviews)
"Everything was excellent and well organized; we got vouchers for beer and food with perfect view from level 1."
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Munich
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English
Operator
Thirsty Swagman
From
US$1,508per person
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- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Festival & Events
Oktoberfest (Start Munich, 4 Days)
4.8 (6 reviews)
"Great way to experience Oktoberfest with amazing company! Very close accommodation to the Oktoberfest."
Maneesha, traveled in September
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Munich
Age Range
Ages 18-35
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English
Operator
Contiki
From
US$955per person
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Festival & Events
Oktoberfest (Road Trip To Oktoberfest, Start Amsterdam)
4.8 (6 reviews)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
England France Netherlands Belgium Germany
Age Range
Ages 18-35
Operated in
English
Operator
Contiki
From
US$1,555per person
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Contiki offers 5% discount for past passengers, saving $78
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Festival & Events
Munich Springfest - Hotel & Hostel Packages
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Munich
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English, Spanish
Operator
Euroadventures
From
US$489per person
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Festival & Events
Stuttgart Beer Festival (4-star Hilton Hotel)
4.8 (14 reviews)
"Top drawer from start to finish. Amazing event as described!"
Joe, traveled in October
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Stuttgart
Age Range
Ages 18+
Operated in
English
Operator
Thirsty Swagman
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US$1,340per person
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- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Food & Wine
Highway to Helles
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Munich, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Stuttgart
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English
Operator
Thirsty Swagman
From
US$3,352per person
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- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Festival & Events
Beer or Bust
4.9 (38 reviews) award winner
"Fantastic time. Thanks for the memories."
Jean, traveled in October
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Munich, Regensburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Stuttgart
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English
Operator
Thirsty Swagman
From
US$4,473per person
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- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Festival & Events
Oktoberfest (Road Trip To Oktoberfest, Start London)
4.8 (6 reviews)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
England France Netherlands Belgium Germany
Age Range
Ages 18-35
Operated in
English
Operator
Contiki
From
US$1,555per person
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Price based on Private Double Room
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Oktoberfest Munich (4-Star Eurostars Book hotel)
4.6 (28 reviews)
"This Oktoberfest tour was a last minute thought, so I took a chance on Thirsty Swagman and they lived up to and exceeded my expectations."
Phil, traveled in September
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Munich
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English
Operator
Thirsty Swagman
From
US$2,237per person
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- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Festival & Events
Munich Oktoberfest - Hotel & Hostel Packages
4.9 (5 reviews)
"The Euro Adventures team did a fantastic job with organising accommodation. The detailed information sent via email for Octoberfest was really useful."
Constantinos, traveled in September
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Munich, Dachau, Neuschwanstein
Age Range
Ages 18+
Regions
Tyrol Bavaria Alps
Operated in
English
Operator
Euroadventures
From
US$525per person
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Oktoberfest Munich (5-Star Le Meridien hotel)
4.9 (60 reviews)
"They took wonderful care of us on our trip and were available to answer questions and help with travel issues."
Lori, traveled in September
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Munich
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English
Operator
Thirsty Swagman
From
US$2,012per person
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- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Festival & Events
Oktoberfest (Start Munich, 5 Days)
4.8 (6 reviews)
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Munich, Dachau Concentration Camp
Age Range
Ages 18-35
Country Region
Bavaria
Operated in
English
Operator
Contiki
From
US$1,205per person
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Contiki offers 5% discount for past passengers, saving $60
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City & Culture
Oktoberfest, the Germanic Experience
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Berlin, Dresden, Nuremberg,Munich,Salzburg,Berchtesgaden,Melk,Wachau,Durnstein,Krems an der Donau,Vienna+8 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
River
Danube
Operated in
English
Operator
Insight Vacations
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US$5,995per person
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River Cruise
Oktoberfest & Danube Delights
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Germany Austria Slovakia Hungary
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ship
Emerald Star
River
Danube
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
19% off
From $6,565
US$5,317per person
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