Munich Oktoberfest - oh come, all ye thirsty!

The Munich Oktoberfest is the biggest public festival on the planet attracting over 6 million beer swelling enthusiasts every year! It all started back in 1810 when Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig invited all the citizens of Munich to join in the festivities of his happy wedding day to Therese of Saxony – the tradition has continued on every year since! Nowadays Beer tents are erected by the locals for the event and we’re not talking your stock standard canvas type marques! No, they’re massive wooden structures taking 6 months to build and the largest holding 10,000 patrons a day!

 

This event has traditionally marked the end of the ‘Europe combi-van summer tour’ so faithfully driven by many antipodeans year on year and when you get to the Oktoberfest you’ll know why!

KEEN TO GO? 

 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

IS IT OKAY IF I TRAVEL ALONE?

Yes! Lots of our travellers travel alone, so don’t be afraid to turn up solo – you will certainly leave with a stack of new-found friends. The hostels and chalets used for all our coach tours are on a multi-share basis. Please note that although we are happy to take note of your room preference, we cannot offer any guarantees that your preference will be met but we can guarantee that you won’t get nabbed with that unwelcome, pesky ‘single-supplement’ to pay!

what is the accommodation like?

The hostels and chalets used for all our coach tours are on a multi-share basis.

In Amsterdam we stay at the Hotel Casa 400 which is a very comfortable and secure hotel with twin, triple and quad rooms with ensuite. The hotel is a short metro ride from the central attractions in town. Our Austrian hostel is a pleasant chalet with a fantastic late night bar that opens more or less until the last man is standing.

In Munich, we are very privileged to have exclusive use of the Meininger Hostel which is only a 5 minute walk from the Oktoberfest festival grounds; has a fantastic late night bar and all rooms have private ensuites. Currently our packages all stay at the Meininger.  You will not need any bedding for any of our hostels or chalets however it is advisable to bring your own towel.

what is the coach journey like?

Transport on our 6 and 8 Day tours is via coach and ferry. All of our coaches are executive models meaning they are equipped with a stereo, TV and video player, and a toilet. The coach journey from London to Munich is around 18 hours and of course we make stops along the way for food, drink and cigarette breaks. Please note: GOBUS festival tours are all about great parties so we do allow moderate drinking aboard the coaches.

ARE MEALS INCLUDED?

Breakfast is included in our packages and then you can explore the variety of snack bars and restaurants festival grounds and in central Munich! Those passengers travelling on the coach tours will have the privilege of visiting Andech's Monastery for lunch one day. The monks have been brewing beer here since the 15th century and serve the finest pork knuckles in the world!

DOES GOBUS CHARGE A LOCAL PAYMENT?

No.

how much money should i budget for?

€50-€60 per day - no less, a tight budget can easily blow-out in Germany!

what shall i bring?

The weather in Sept/Oct can be variable! You’ll need to pack a mixture of ‘could-be warm or chilly’ clothes and rain could definitely feature on the cards! Some years the weather can be outstanding in Munich and have you reaching for your t-shirt & sunnies, so a ‘sense of humour & open mind’ will be required. Oh, and for all you die-hards out there maybe some head-ache tablets  wouldn’t go a miss!

when & how should i book my oKtoberfest tour?

As soon as possible! This one is a big seller so if you don’t want to miss out then get your name down and your seat secured!

ARE MY FLiGHTS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?

We offer two coach packages or alternatively we offer 3 night accommodation weekend packages whereby you organise your own flights.
You choose!

 

 

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

  • VISAS - Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada can stay in Germany for up to 90-days without a visa. South Africans must obtain a visa in advance.
  • VOLTAGE - Standard voltage is 220V AC, 50 Hz. Sockets require European plug with a small diameter prong (two round pins). Pack a power adaptor.
  • MONEY AND TIME – Germany use the EURO. Like most European countries Germany is 1 hour ahead of GMT

  • HEALTH ADVICE – there are no recommended vaccinations for Germany.
  • CLIMATE – Variable during Sept/Oct.
  • FOOD – You certainly won’t go hungry at the festival grounds - breaded schnitzel burgers will feature heavily on all snack-bar menu’s, along with lots of other interesting choices such as rosti, dumplings, chicken, spiced sausage, spare ribs, pork & veal cutlets and mixed grills. Germany is a real meat-and-potato kind of country and lunch is the main meal of the day so make sure you leave room to experience the local dishes because we all know how filling beer is!


     

 

MORE ABOUT OKTOBERFEST... 

What's the history? 

The historical background: the first Oktoberfest was held in the year 1810 in honour of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festivities began on October 12, 1810 and ended on October 17th with a horse race. In the following years, the celebrations were repeated later the dates were extended and moved forward into September.

 

By moving the festivities up, it allowed for better weather conditions. Because the September nights were warmer, the visitors were able to enjoy the gardens outside the tents and the stroll over “die Wiesen” or the fields much longer without feeling chilly.

 

Last year the Oktoberfest was attended by 6.2 million thirsty visitors, who drank approximately 6.7 million litres of beer and consumed 104 Oxen - mostly in the "beer tents" put up by the traditional Munich breweries. At the foot of the Bavaria statue, the huge Oktoberfest grounds house a large area with carousels, roller coasters and all the spectacular fun of the fair for the enjoyment and excitement of visitors of all ages - PROST!

 

With more then 10 beerhalls to choose from it’s an early start in order to secure a seat to experience this amazing Bavarian festival. At noon the lord mayor of Munich will have the honour of tapping the first keg of Oktoberfest beer and then it will be time to quench your thirst.

 

No coach tour to Oktoberfest would be complete without a trip to the famous Andech's monastery. The monks have been brewing beer since the 15th century and serve the finest pork knuckles in the world. We also take the time to visit Dachau Concentration Camp just north of Munich. In total over 200,000 people from all races were imprisoned at Dachau and the death toll from Dachau murders is around 30,000. Our visit to this now peaceful place is a chilling reminder of the atrocities of war.

 

KEEN TO GO? 

ESSENTIAL INFO

Two weeks before departure, a festival fact file filled with tips, tricks and info, will be available for you to download online, be sure to know before you go!

 

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GOBUS is a young and dynamic travel company specialising in tours for spirited travellers who want to discover the world, experience different cultures, make new friends and have a lot of fun along the way!  Here's a list of all the trips we run:

 

 

 EGYPT TOURS: Egypt Group Tours, Egypt XMAS Tours, Egypt New Year Tours

RUSSIA TOURS: Russia Group Tours, Russia XMAS Tours, Russia New Year Tours

MOROCCO TOURS: Morocco Group Tours, Morocco TrekkingMorocco XMAS & NY Tours

TURKEY TOURS: Turkey Group Tours, Turkey Sailing, Turkey Hop-on Hop-off Travel

 

CROATIA SAILING HOLIDAYS:  Croatia & the Dalmation Coast

OVERLAND ADVENTURES: Trans-Siberian Express

 

FESTIVALS:  Oktoberfest, Pamplona, Las Fallas, La Tomatina

 

EVENTS: ANZAC Day Gallipoli, ANZAC day and Egypt, Dawn Service and Dahab

 

XMAS & NEW YEAR TOURS: Hogmanay, Berlin, Praque, Egypt Morocco, Russia

 SOUTH AMERICA: Peru, Brazil, Bolvia

 

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