Who's for Oktoberfest?

domcq

Myself and 2 mates are heading to Germany for Oktoberfest 09. This will be our 2nd year there. Flying into Memmingen with Ryanair seems to be cheapest (€100 ish) option and then the 1 hour train to Munich.

We made the mistake of not booking a tent pass in advance last year and spent much of the time skulking around the tents on the off chance that somebody would let us in - no chance.

We only gained access on the final day (Sunday) of the festival when the crowds had died off. That one day was enough to justify our return visit.

Nothing quite like dancing on a table with a tankard full of beer bending your wrist while jigging away to a Bavarian house band :pac:.

We are heading over on Sept 25th which is the 2nd last wknd of the festival. 10 is the minimum number you need to get a test pass because this number fills a table inside. So if anyone is thinking of making the trip, post here and we'll see if we can make up 10. We need to be quick as the most popular tents are already gone. Bring on the beer

oconn

you wont need a pass to get in but you do need to be there WELL before 10am on weekend days.....else go midweek when its not so busy. the opening and closing weekends are busiest=> go the middle one ?

capprygirl

Whats the latest time you would need to be into the tent on a sunday? We're going to the hippodrom!

BeerNut

Depends on which Sunday, I'd say. On the last Sunday of the 2005 festival we arrived in at 9.50am and every tent was full. Hippodrom is the smallest so get there as early as you can, I guess.

oblivious

capprygirl wrote: »

Whats the latest time you would need to be into the tent on a sunday? We're going to the hippodrom!

queuing before 8 am this year

oconn

if you are going on the last Sunday you could try leave it till after 3 o'clock a lot of the locals will be heading off to catch trains home and it free's up space but dont rely on it. Think it shuts at 10 on the closing day ( but if you are daring/lucky enough you may be able to get a lock in with the staff as they polish off any open barrels after official closing)
Also its worth offering a bribe to the door staff it has worked for me before Try speaking a bit of German when trying to blag your way in as they are more leanient to those who put in effort .

oconn

think you can always bluff intothe Pig pen in the Hoffbrau tent ..the only one with standing table area