Munich, Germany
Do you know your Knödel from your Käsespätzle? Your Steckerlfisch from your großmutter? Well, have no fear. We’ll show you how to do like the deutscher Bürger do at the only Bavarian Volksfest worth its weight in sauerkraut. Yes, it’s time to head to 48.13° N, 11.58° E, home of the one true Oktoberfest.
Quick tip: Steckerlfisch is grilled fish on a stick, a German specialty. Your großmutter is your grandma.
Do
Oktoberfest 2016
From September 16 to October 3, it’s you and 14 big beer tents filled with good, clean German fun. The first Oktoberfest, held in 1810, was basically a giant wedding reception for King Ludwig and the lovely Princess Therese von Saxe-Hildburghausen. So make sure to raise your mug to the royal couple, for their holy union is your 206-year-old excuse for fun.
Quick tip: Festivities start early and end late, with beer served as early as 9 a.m. and stalls open till midnight. For hours and more, visit Oktoberfest.de.
Traditional hair braiding
You can easily get into the spirit of Oktoberfest without going full drindl. Get your hair braided like a pretzel — a beautiful, expertly woven pretzel! — at the Löwenbräu-Festhalle beer tent for a creative, folksy look.
Quick tip: The giant, roaring lion in front makes it easy to spot (and hear) the Löwenbräu tent.
Eat
At the festival:
Schottenhamel
No one — not you, not Angela Merkel, not the resurrected Princess Therese von Saxe-Hildburghausen herself — gets even a sip of beer until the mayor of Munich taps the first keg inside the Schottenhamel tent, home to Oktoberfest’s official opening ceremonies.
Quick tip: The inaugural keg-tapping happens at noon on Saturday, but people line up as early as 9 a.m to get inside.
Marstall
This family-owned tent honors the city’s equestrian heritage with carved wooden horses out front and a carousel-themed stage inside. Enjoy your Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu with live Bavarian music.
Quick tip: Even the biggest big tents fill up, but you can usually reserve tables directly through their websites.
Käfer’s Wies’n-Schänk
More like a wooden farmhouse, it’s smaller and a little cozier than the other tents. But don’t let the quaint style mislead you — it’s a hip scene where you may even spot a celebrity or two.
Quick tip: Serving champagne as well as beer. Also, famous for its roast duck.
Augustiner-Festhalle
One of the most traditional tents, it also has a reputation for being the friendliest. Beer is drawn from wooden barrels instead of steel kegs, and always served with big, bright Bavarian smiles.
Quick tip: Family-friendly, too. Bring the kids!
Around Munich
Restaurant 181
Located 181 meters above the city at the top of Olympic Tower, this revolving restaurant features views of the Bavarian Alps in the distance and the Olympic stadium below. But with its Michelin star rating and exquisite tasting menus, the food is likely to command the majority of your attention.
Tantris
There’s more to German fine dining than pretzels and beer. Or is there? The cuisine at this stunning restaurant has earned it two Michelin stars and includes such delights as roasted lobster paired with wines from southern Austria. But during Oktoberfest, they’re also offering a special five-course menu with beer pairings. So, more beer, it is.
Quick tip: The food is French/European, but the name is Eastern philosophical, meant to reflect the chef’s search for perfection.
Bistro Organic
Everyone knows airport food’s the best, right? Well everyone on Level 4 of Terminal 2 at Munich International does. The only thing between you and a certified organic, verifiably delicious mango lassi is the security checkpoint’s metal detector.
See
Neuschwanstein Castle
Take a day trip to the German countryside and explore a nineteenth-century palace that looks like it sprang right out of a fairytale. (In fact, it was the other way around: this real-life castle partly inspired Sleeping Beauty’s.) With dramatic views inside and out, you won’t miss Munich’s beer tents for a day or two.
Quick tip: It’s about an hour and 45 minutes by car to the village of Hohenschwangau, which serves as the castle’s entry point. Or take a train and a bus.
Shop
Manufactum
From carbon steel chef knives to hand-woven squirrel nests, the products at this eclectic, high-end German retailer all reflect a love for the artisanal and an obsession with good design.
Quick tip: The Manufactum catalog has long enjoyed a cult following.
Viktualienmarkt
At the center of Munich’s daily life since 1807, this massive farmers market is a gourmand’s paradise — 140 stalls filled with sausages, cheeses and every other kind of delicacy you can imagine.
Quick tip: The market’s open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. But individual vendors may open earlier and close later.
Stay
Hotel Louis
Sure, location, location, location. But you also get custom, handmade queen beds, French balconies, and a friendly, attentive staff. Conveniently located and eminently comfy, this chic boutique is the perfect place to recharge.
Quick tip: Ask for a room overlooking the Viktualienmarkt.
Average stay per night: $299
Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich
Boasting five-star luxury in a historic setting, the hotel has hosted such international luminaries as Queen Elizabeth II, Vladimir Putin, Sophia Loren, and Puff Daddy — as well as Elisabeth of Bavaria, the Empress of Austria, Queen of Hungary and Queen consort of Croatia and Bohemia (yes, that’s one person). Located right on Maximilianstraße in the center of Munich.
Average stay per night: $360
Mandarin Oriental, Munich
Featuring 48 impeccable rooms and 15 palatial suites, it’s not the biggest luxury hotel, but it may be the most splendid. And you can always count on the hotel’s legendary service. Centrally located, but on a quiet street rather than a main avenue.
Quick tip: The China Moon Roof Terrace offers an unbeatable 360-degree view to go along with a matchless Thai curry.
Average stay per night: $724
The Obvious
BMW Welt
Get up close and personal with all the latest models in the showroom of this architectural marvel, the heart of the Bavarian Motor Works. Or visit the museum and take a factory tour.
Quick tip: Test drives by the hour are available. Book ahead.
Englischer Garten
This big green spot at the city’s center was designed in the style of an English country park and features a Japanese teahouse, a Greek temple, Munich’s oldest beer garden, and acres and acres of quiet meadows and winding paths. A little peace amid the revelry.
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