What Are The Best Oktoberfest Tents (And Do I Need Reservations?)

Know The Best Times To Go to Oktoberfest

There are plenty of theories on the best days, or even weeks to go to Oktoberfest.  At the end of the day, just know that there will never be a day that doesn’t get really packed and full of people.  The best you can do is try to find pockets of time with LESS people.

Oktoberfest lasts 16-8 days.  Naturally, the first few days are going to be very busy with all the opening events going on.  The last few days can be equally as crowded because people are getting their last minute fun in! So, the middle is when you should go, right? Well, let’s dig into that a bit deeper….

The Smaller Your Group, the Better

What is fantastic about Oktoberfest is that everyone gets real cozy with one another, even with strangers! If there are open seats, you just simply ask if you can sit there and if they aren’t taken, it’s customary for them to happily allow you to join them (even if the people sitting there had the table reserved for themselves). 

Obviously, this means that if you only have 2 people, it’s going to be so much easier to wiggle your way onto a bench rather than a group of even 5 or so people.

With that being said, one year we went on a Saturday (eeks, what were we thinking!?) and I thought for sure we’d have a nightmare of a time finding a table.  Luckily, we arrived before the gates opened and headed straight to the first tent and didn’t have an issue getting a spot for all TEN of us!

Avoid Weekends If you Can

Weekends are generally the busiest times at Oktoberfest.  One year, we went on a Sunday morning (we arrived at about 10am) and it was already extremely difficult to get a seat for 4 of us! I guess the Germans skip mass during Oktoberfest to get their Maß!

Tip: There is what the Germans call the “Italian Vacation Weekend” on the second weekend of the fest, which is often one of the busiest times. If you want to avoid the biggest crowds, be sure to go another time. 

Weekday Mornings Are Best

You might be asking a few things about going on, say, a Tuesday Morning, to the Wiesn.

“Is there going to be that great, Oktoberfest atmosphere at 10am??

“Will I be missing out on the fun by not going later?”

“Is it really ok to start drinking at 10am!?”

And the answer to all is a resounding YES!!!! I promise, there are NO days at Oktoberfest that you won’t be lacking for people. As soon as the gates open, the fest tents are flooded with Lederhosen clad folks ready for that first sip of liquid bread. And as for day (erm, morning) drinking? It’s just the norm at Oktoberfest!

Family Tip: If you are heading to Oktoberfest with kids, this is also the best time to come as well.  There won’t be as many people drunk and stumbling around in the mornings as there are in the afternoons and evenings and it is far less crowded, which is less overwhelming when trying to keep track of the littles in a crowd of 600,000 people per day!

Use the App To Know The Status of Seats

Where was this 10 years ago when I went to my first Oktoberfest!? The App is perfect for knowing what tents have open seats and it’s all in real time.  Therefore, when you arrive, check it out and decide on a tent that looks like you have the best shot of finding tables and just head straight there.  That way, you don’t waste time going from tent to tent in hopes of finding something. 

• The official Oktoberfest App for Android at Google Play
• The official Oktoberfest App for iOS at App Store

Avoid Rainy and Cold Days

Watch the weather and if it looks like it’s going to be rainy, if you can, go another day. It’s not that you want to avoid the rain, per se, but instead, when it is raining, everyone wants to get out of the rain.  So, where do they head? Into the tents! Even at times that otherwise should be easy enough to find seats, it is going to be difficult when all the people that are normally walking around outside or sitting out in the beer gardens are all flocking to get a roof over their head. 

Know Where To Look (The Secrets to Scoring a Seat in an Oktoberfest Tent!)

There are a few secrets in almost always guaranteeing that you’ll find some seats (at least during the day sessions). 

The first thing you’ll want to do is find the map on the wall of where the reserved tables are.  Depending on the tent, these are sometimes in a designated area (easier to do the following tricks) but often they are scattered throughout tables that aren’t reserved as well. Either way, if you can head straight to the tables that don’t have reservations, this saves you a lot of hunting time!

When you walk into an Oktoberfest tent, you can look for signs that say “Reservierung” or “Reserviert.”  These tables are, you guessed it, “Reserved.” However, not all tables are FULLY reserved. What I mean by this is that most tents require a reservation to be a minimum number of people (some are 8, some are 12). If you can find tables that had less people, you just might be able to sweet talk them into letting you bum a slice of seat for yourself.

Walk around the tables and you’ll see notes at the end of them which has the reservation details, such as time of reservation and number of people.

Here are some other top tips:

1. If you arrive early enough, try to find a table that has a later reservation in the day.  You are actually free to sit here until that time!
2. Look at how many people are on the reservation.  You can squeeze quite a lot of booties onto those benches, so look for a reservation that doesn’t have a big party and then hope that when they arrive, they’ll be willing to share the table with you (most people are if there is enough space)
3. If you still haven’t locked down a spot, start looking for expired reservations.  These are harder to come by, but if you spy one that is 30 minutes past the time of reservation…then the table is yours! 

Once You Get a Seat, Don’t Leave!

I know, I know.  You are at Oktoberfest! You want to go out and explore the world (well, festplatz!) and if you are like me, you may have a serious case of FOMO. After all, what are the other tents like!?

But, my friends, I can tell you that the grass is NOT greener in another tent (Nor is the beer colder or bigger).  While you’ll be tempted to see what the other tents may have to offer, DON’T! If you get up, your seat is free for the taking and you may not be so lucky to find a spare one elsewhere. 

Do I Need a Tent Reservation at Oktoberfest?

Many people ask “Do you need tickets for Oktoberfest?” First of all, there are no “tickets” (it’s free to enter Oktoberfest) but sometimes it’s easier to ensure you get a seat with a reservation, so then the question becomes “Do I need Oktoberfest tent reservations?”

Obviously, no, you do not. In fact, not only do you not need one, but it is actually incredibly difficult to even secure one!

Some tents open up reservations to corporations and large groups as early as January (yes, 8 months in advance). While Oktoberfest is full of tourists, it surprises a lot of people to know that actually, the majority of people attending are locals and Germans. Many people return year after year and so they actually will often get “first dibs” on reservations before it’s opened up to the larger public. 

Other tents don’t even offer reservations to newcomers. THey have enough repeat customers year after year that you can’t even get a spot as a tourist. 

Note: If a tent does reach capacity, then they will often just simply close the doors until the next session.  That means that even if a large group of people leave, they don’t always let more in. This is particularly important to know if you plan on going on any holidays (October 3rd, or busy weekends like the Italian Weekend) because it could be worth trying to get a reservation then.

How To Make Oktoberfest Reservations

Oooooh Germany! While they have gotten better at technology over the years, it is shocking that an event of this size doesn’t have a better, non headache inducing solution to reserving a table at Oktoberfest.  You know, like…..having it all online…in one place preferably! But no! They insist on making it as difficult as possible. Here is how you need to attempt getting a reservation.

1. Choose your top (several) tents
2. Use the info below to know when reservations open up.  Make sure you are on your computer exactly at that time! (I like to set Google reminders so that I can be ready)
3. Most reservations require either an email or a phone call. If it is an email, have a template drafted and ready to go so that you can just sent it to as many tents as possible.  
4. You’ll need to know the number of people, exact dates, and even a preferred location in the tent if you have one) 
5. Apply for a reservation to as many as possible. You only pay once they accept your reservation, so it’s worth trying for as many as possible and you can always decline ones if you get the tent you want.
6. Use the links below to head directly to their reservation information. 

Important Notes about Oktoberfest Tent Reservations

Germans are known the world over for their efficiency. So, someone please tell me why this system isn’t more efficient and in line with that stereotype!?

• Many Oktoberfest tents require a minimum of 10 people for a reservation
• Don’t ask me why they don’t have online reservation systems, but many still require you to send an email for a reservation request (or even make a phone call!) 
• Don’t expect replies immediately.  In fact, some may take up to 6-10 weeks to even reply yes (or no)
• As of the 2019 Fest (we’ll see if this changes for 2022) many require a bank transfer for payment.  EC and Credit Cards are not accepted for a lot of the tents. 
• Most will only mail the vouchers to a German address.  Some will require you to pick them up from central offices in Munich as well. Therefore, ask specifically about how to obtain their voucher so you know the correct process

What You Get With an Oktoberfest Reservation

If you actually do get lucky enough to score yourself a reservation, this just simply means that you are guaranteed a seat at a table in the specific tent that you got the reservations at.  Be sure to arrive on time though, because if you are more than 30 minutes late, they will give your table/seats up to anyone lurking around.

Almost all tents do have a cost to their reservations.  However, it’s not a straight-up charge just for the reservation.  You actually pay about the equivalence of 2 beers and a Hendl (chicken).  When you arrive, you’ll get a voucher for these drinks/ foods so you really aren’t out much (there may be a small handling charge or something like this, but it could be worth not having to deal with finding seats at prime times).

If you don’t want chicken and beer, you just have to pay a similar amount and you can get other food and drinks as well. The whole purpose of this is for the tent organizations to plan better for food as well as ensure they get paid. 

At the end of the day though, don’t stress too much if you don’t have a reservation.  In fact, out of the numerous times I have gone, I’ve always been able to weasel my way into some seats and have never gotten a reservation. 

How To Buy Oktoberfest Tickets 2022

Since the tents do not want to have to deal with refunds and the mess of having to cancel yet another year for Covid, many are waiting for official announcements from the city on if they plan on going ahead with Oktoberfest in 2022.  Last year, Munich made the announcement to cancel in May, therefore a lot of the tents are waiting until then to open up reservations. 

Use the following links to get info on the brewery’s fest tent reservation system. 

• Armbrustschützen-Festzelt: Reservations Open March / April 2022
• Augustiner-Festhalle: (Very hard to get Reservations) Open March / April 2022
• Festzelt Tradition: Email [email protected] after April 1st, 2022 for reservations
• Fischer-Vroni: Check for openings in May 2022
• Hacker-Festzelt: Check for openings in May 2022
• Herzkasperlzelt: Only full tables of 10 reservable at a time. No dates announced for opening reservations yet
• Hofbräu-Festzelt: Reservations open March 3rd, 2022- Send new reservation requests to reservierung@hb-festzelt.de
• Käfer Wies’n-Schänke
• Kufflers Weinzelt: Online reservations accepted but notification will not be given until official Munich announcement of opening
• Löwenbräu-Festzelt: Reservations open in April 2022.  Already all evening sessions are booked. Only lunch spots from 12pm to 4.30pm on weekdays (Monday to Thursday) are available at this time of writing)
• Marstall Festzelt: Reservations online available around April 2022. Only available dates will be shown.
• Ochsenbraterei: Reservations not yet announced. Minimum of 8 people for a reservation required
• Paulaner Festzelt: Reservations will open April 2022 through the online form only. Minimum of 10 people for reservations
• Pschorr-Bräurosl: Reservations already accepted. Send emails to [email protected] with your desired reservation date(s) and if you have a preferred area in the tent
• Schottenhamel-Festhalle: Reservations already accepted online through the form
• Schützen-Festzelt: Reservations already accepted online through the form
• Zur Schönheitskönigin: Use the online form for registration

The Lowdown on ALL the (big) Munich Beer Tents at Oktoberfest

Ok, so now that we’ve got all the logistics out of the way, let’s start looking at all the Oktoberfest tents, one by one. After all, while they are all going to be a great time, depending on what you want out of Oktoberfest, there is not a one size fits all in what one tent to recommend most. 

Note: In the seat counts, I’ve only included the number of seats INSIDE the tents.  Almost all the tents have at least a few thousand extra seats in their own Bier Gardens (just outside the tent) which are all relatively easy to get a spot at. However, it’s inside the tents that can be trickier in finding an open platz and where most tourists want to hang out in any way. 

Hacker Festzelt

I’m going to start with my favorite Oktoberfest tent: Hacker Pschorr! I’ve already laid my claim in my other Oktoberfest articles that I actually like this beer the best, so naturally, if I’m going to be consuming copious amounts of something, I want the best of the best! 

But what isn’t to love about the “Der Himmel Der Bayern” (The heaven of Bavaria)!? Look at how freaking adorable it is with its sky decor and beautiful scenes of Munich up and around the entire tent.  I think one of the reasons why I like the inside of this tent the best is because it is just so bright and cheery.  Some of the other tents seem darker and therefore just “feel” like you are in tighter quarters with the thousands of others in there with you.

The vibe at the Himmel Der Bayern is also almost always fantastic, no matter the time or day. It’s definitely a place to party and have fun, but hardly ever feels like it’s too much. 

Beer Served: Hacker 

Great For Ages: You can find all ages having a great time here but it is definitely more for people wanting a bit more fun

Seats: 6800 Seats Inside the Tent- you can find 1700 unreserved seats open on the weekdays and 4000 on Weekends 

Website: https://hacker-festzelt.de/

Paulaner Festzelt 

The Paulaner Oktoberfest Tent is another very popular tent.  In fact, Paulaner is considered to be the most consumed of all Oktoberfest beers. At this tent, there is actually a surprising amount of locals as well. 

During the day time, this tent has a bit more of a relaxed vibe.  However, in the evenings, it picks up to everything you would expect in a fun Oktoberfest night out. 

Beer Served: Paulaner

Great For Ages: Good for families during the day. It’s popular with the twenty-somethings in the evenings

Seats: 8450 seats inside

Website: https://paulanerfestzelt.de/

Hofbräu Festzelt

Another very well known tent is the Hofbräu Tent. This is probably because the Hofbräu Haus in the city center of Munich is like a beer hall mecca for tourists.  Therefore, just like the Hofbräu Haus, expect the Hofbräu tent to be the most popular with tourists.  That isn’t to say that there are no locals at this tent, but comparatively to the other tents, this one has far fewer Germans than the others. 

This is often why the Hofbräu tent gets a reputation for being a huge party zone.  Tourists want to come and really live it up at Oktoberfest. Unfortunately, this means a bit less of an authentic feel to the fest, less Trachten being worn, and more lads who think they could drink more than they actually can. 

One thing that does set the HBH apart though is that there is a standing room only section. It can fit around 1000 people in it (we’ll see if they allow it for covid times) so if you don’t have a seat, but still want in a tent, this is a good place to look. 

Beer Served: Hofbräu

Great For Ages: Older teens (can drink beer at 16 years old) and people in their 20s. 

Seats: 6,018  seats inside plus 1000 standing room section

Website: https://www.hb-festzelt.de/en.html

Ochsenbrauerei

If you are looking for a great, authentic feeling vibe to Oktoberfest, look no further than the Ochsenbrauerei (Oxen Brewery).  It often has juuuust the right amount of dancing, music, and Prosting, but with a more laid back feel compared to some of the heavier party areas. 

This tent is also especially known for its quality foods.  You can get unique meals, like (surprise, surprise) Ox! And they don’t just cater this in, they roast up to 7 Oxen per day right on site! In fact, you can find the sign that tells you exactly the “name” of the Ox they cooking up each day. Nothing like knowing your meat! 

Beer Served: Spaten

Great For Ages: Locals especially of all ages like to frequent this traditional tent

Seats: 5900 seats inside 

Website: https://www.ochsenbraterei.de/en