3 Days in Munich During Oktoberfest

We landed in Munich at 9 am and hit the ground running. After checking into the Platzl Hotel—where our room was ready upon arrival—we set out to explore the city. Just a short four-minute walk brought us to Marienplatz, Munich’s main square since 1158. We arrived just in time to watch the famous Glockenspiel chime at noon, a perfect introduction to the city’s rich history and charm.

After the Glockenspiel performance, we wandered just a few steps to the Viktualienmarkt for lunch, where many of us indulged in our first bratwurst of the trip. Without much of a plan for the afternoon, we found ourselves back near Marienplatz and decided to climb the 300 steps to the top of St. Peter’s Church (Alter Peter). The panoramic views were worth every step—we could even spot the Oktoberfest grounds, and on clear days, you can see all the way to the Alps.

From there, we walked about 25 minutes to one of Munich’s most unique attractions: the Eisbach surfers. Yes, surfers in the middle of the city! An artificial wave on the Eisbach River allows surfers to ride year-round, and watching them balance and carve through the water was such a fun and unexpected highlight of the day.

We continued our walk through the Englischer Garten (English Garden) and stumbled upon the Biergarten am Chinesischen Turm, a classic Munich beer garden and the perfect spot to toast the start of our vacation. With light rain and a midweek visit, the atmosphere was calm and relaxed—ideal for soaking in the surroundings over a cold beer. Later research revealed that this spot is often much livelier, with larger crowds and seasonal events throughout the year, making it a favorite among both locals and visitors.

After finishing our beers, we made our way to our dinner reservation at the iconic Hofbräuhaus Brewery, one of Munich’s most famous beer halls. We started with our first of many giant German pretzels, followed by hearty mains—most of our group opted for the Original HB sausage platter, a few chose the roast chicken, and I couldn’t resist the pork schnitzel. Every dish was delicious and perfectly complemented the festive atmosphere. After dinner, we called it an early night following a long travel day—thankfully, our hotel was conveniently located just next door.

We began the morning with breakfast at the hotel before meeting our tour guide in Marienplatz. From there, we navigated Munich’s public transportation together on our way to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. This was one of the most powerful and moving tours I have ever experienced. While the subject matter was difficult and somber, our guide presented the history with clarity, compassion, and depth, making the visit both impactful and informative. The tour lasted six hours, and though it may sound lengthy, I appreciated the thoughtful pacing and context provided throughout. Visiting Dachau is not easy, but it is important—I would highly recommend booking a guided tour rather than visiting on your own, as it made the experience far more meaningful.

After returning to Munich, we made a quick stop at Brezelina, located in the Marienplatz U-Bahn station, for what turned out to be the most delicious pretzel of the trip—highly recommended if you’re in the area. With Oktoberfest on the agenda for the next day, the rest of our afternoon shifted into celebration prep mode. The girls had a great time shopping at Almenrausch, where we tried on and purchased our dirndls, while the guys chose to rent their lederhosen from Bavarian Outfitters, a shop with multiple locations throughout the city. It was such a fun way to get into the spirit of Oktoberfest and build excitement for the day ahead.

By this point, we were hungry again, and as a group of eight Bostonians, we couldn’t have found a more fitting dinner spot than The Patriot Haus (Herrschaftszeiten – Das Paulaner im Tal). It was the perfect place to relax, enjoy hearty Bavarian fare, and fuel up for the days ahead. We ended the evening at a local cocktail bar called Vertigo, where the drinks were creative and delicious—a refreshing change of pace from all the beer. I ordered the salted caramel espresso martini from their secret menu, and it was hands-down one of the best cocktails of the trip. Highly recommend!

Oktoberfest was the highlight of our trip, and the excitement started early as we dressed in our lederhosen and dirndls before heading to the fairgrounds. Since we were a large group, we had made reservations about six months in advance at the Schottenhamel Spatenbräu tent—one of the festival’s most iconic venues.

We had preselected a meal package when booking, not fully knowing what to expect, but it turned out to be an incredible spread. The feast began with a massive meat and cheese board, followed by individual entrées for each person, and finished with Kaiserschmarrn, a traditional shredded pancake dessert. Each package also included two one-liter beers per person—because, of course, it’s Oktoberfest!

Shortly after our appetizers were served, the party truly came to life. The band began playing, and soon everyone was standing on benches (a fun tradition—but never on the tables!) singing, dancing, and soaking in the electric atmosphere. The energy inside the tent was contagious, and our neighboring table from Norway made the experience even more memorable as we laughed, toasted, and celebrated together.

Our reservation lasted about three and a half hours, and when it ended, we ventured over to another tent that had an open table available for a short window before the next group’s reservation. We managed to squeeze in another beer, enjoy more live music, and—of course—join in for a bit more bench dancing before moving along.

Most tents at Oktoberfest also have outdoor beer gardens, so we spent some time there as well. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t ideal—rainy and around 45 degrees Fahrenheit—but it didn’t dampen our spirits. Before heading back to the hotel, we explored some of the festival attractions. The highlight was the Toboggan, a classic Oktoberfest ride where participants attempt to run up a moving conveyor belt before sliding down. The guys in our group gave it their best shot but didn’t quite make it—watching them try (and fail) had us all in stitches. I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard in a long time.

After we had danced, toasted, and tobogganed our hearts out, we headed back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner. On our way, we noticed a restaurant right next to our hotel—Augustiner am Platzl—with a line out the door. It looked too good to pass up, so we asked the concierge if they could help with reservations. To our surprise, we had a table booked just 30 minutes later. Dinner was fantastic; I ordered the beef stroganoff, and everything we tried was delicious. One of the most memorable moments came when a member of our group was chosen to tap a new wooden beer barrel—a fun tradition that added an authentic touch to the evening.

After such a lively and memorable day, we called it a night to rest up for the next leg of our adventure—the German Alps awaited.