Best Things to do in Munich and at Oktoberfest
Experience Munich from its best side:
A list of our personal favorites and all-time favorite recommendations
Hello there! You might have just finished our
Oktoberfest Tour
and now you wonder what else there is to do in Munich? Besides learning about the traditions and having an amazing time inside the Oktoberfest tents of course.
We put together a list for you with our favorite things to do at Oktoberfest and also in Munich in general.
We want to share the best places in Munich to eat, drink, party and some cool places to explore.
If you wonder what the English
translation of the wooden Oktoberfest clothespins
are,
you can find the meaning here.
We hope you had a good time on our Oktoberfest tour!
By sharing your experience and giving us a five star review on Google you would help us tremendously.
Oktoberfest in Munich is our favorite time of the year! There is much to explore as the festival offers a big variety of activities.
We want to share our favorite things to do at Oktoberfest and the best parts of the famous festival outside of the beer tents.
Especially during the day you will find that Oktoberfest is very family friendly and we also loved to visit the festival when we were children ourselves. There is a family day at Oktoberfest on Sep. 19th and Sep. 26th until 7pm. On those days you can get all the ride entrances for a cheaper price even as a grown-up.
Teufelsrad - The Devil's Wheel
The Teufelsrad is for sure our favorite thing to do at Oktoberfest outside the beer tents!
You pay entrance once you get in and you can stay for as long as you want. The commentator tells in Bavarian dialect who is allowed to participate each round. Kinda similar to a rodeo machine the aim for the participants is to stay on the rotating board for as long as possible. Each round it changes who is allowed to participate - for example "Women between 30 and 40" or "Everyone who wears a Lederhosen". If you want to participate and you're not fluent in Bavarian you can just get next to people who are able to translate for you.
It is a really fun thing to do for any age group - children as well as grown ups.
We love to participate but it is also so much fun to just watch.
Fairground Rides
- Toboggan
This is for sure more fun to watch than to actually do it yourself. You can watch people trying to get up a fast-moving conveyor-belt which is really hard to do without falling. Only a few people are succeeding in not falling and it is especially funny to watch participants who have consumed some beers before. For this reason this might be more fun to watch the later it gets.
- Rotor
Fun experience and very special way to experience the centrifugal force. As it begins to spin you will "stick" to the wall. The floor drops away, leaving you suspended against the wall. It's a thrilling gravity-defying experience which promises unforgettable fun for thrill-seekers.
Oide Wiesn - "Old Oktoberfest"
There is a special part at the Oktoberfest called "Oide Wiesn" which translates to Old Oktoberfest. There is a small entrance fee for this part of Oktoberfest and it tends to be less crowded and more traditional. The decoration and the theme is like traveling back in time and get to know the festival like it used to be.
You can experience some nostalgic ferry rides or enjoy the atmosphere in the traditional beer tents where their beer is served in 1 liter stone glasses like back in the days.
Here you can find more information about the Oide Wiesn or "Old Oktoberfest".
Eat, Drink and Party
You know by now that we love Oktoberfest. But also apart from our favorite festival, you can experience so many amazing places in Munich! From traditional beer gardens and beer halls, amazing bars, restaurants with delicious food and trendy as well as cute cafes - Munich's gastronomy scene has a lot to offer.
Beer Gardens and Beer Halls
Beautiful beer garden located close to Munich central station. We always sit outside if the weather is good, but it's also really nice inside the traditional beer hall. This place is amazing with any weather. If you have time you should also check out the historic basement that was used to store beer back in the days.
Our favorite: Schweinebraten (roasted pork with dumplings in a delicious sauce)
Address: Arnulfstraße 52, 80335 München
The world's most famous beer hall is a tourist magnet yet locals do love it too. Historic building and traditional atmosphere also thanks to Bavarian bands performing every day.
Address:
Platzl 9, 80331 München
Amazing beer garden for a sunny day to have nice Paulaner beer. Located right by the lake inside the giant inner city park you can enjoy beautiful sunsets here. Perfect destination after a stroll in the English Garden.
Address: Kleinhesselohe 3, 80802 München
Bars
A charming Bavarian gem that captures the essence of traditional Munich beer culture. This bar has a traditional and cosy vibe. Enjoy local beers and delicious burgers.
Everyone who did a tour with us is invited to a free shot at Lollo Schenke!
Address: Milchstraße 1, 81667 München
Opened Wed-Sat from 5 pm to 1 am
Tasteful bar with over 100 different kind of gins and DJs on Sunday. Gin City is located in a former factory site that is currently very trendy and popular.
Address:
Werksviertel, Speicherstraße 20, 81671 München
The whole bar is an amazing experience. Inspired by the tv show Breaking Bad you will find some special cocktails and a unique atmosphere.
Address: Biedersteiner Str. 6, 80802 München
Basement Irish Pub that is perfect to watch all kind of sport matches. They offer the typical Irish drinks as well as the local Bavarian Augustiner beer. There is also a nice outside terrace which is perfect on a sunny day.
Address: Sendlinger-Tor-Platz 11, 80336 München
Restaurants
Traditional Bavarian restaurant with a modern twist. The food and service are amazing and they also have vegetarian and vegan food options.
Our favorite: Kaiserschmarrn for dessert
Address: Rumfordstraße 35, 80469 München
Wirtshaus Maximilian is a charming traditional restaurant that offers classic Bavarian dishes in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. Known for its hearty Bavarian food, it’s an excellent spot to enjoy authentic local cuisine.
Westermühlstraße 32, 80469 München
This is a top choice for steak lovers, offering a range of perfectly grilled steaks in amazing quality. Located close to the Sendlinger Tor makes this a walkable restaurant option after exploring Munich's city center.
Address: Oberanger 31-33, 80331 München
Giorgia is a trendy Italian restaurant in Munich known for its chic ambiance and amazing Italian dishes. We love the stylish decor and the vibrant atmosphere in combination with amazing Italian food. Make sure to make a reservation before going there.
Address:
Weißenburger Str. 2, 81667 München
Street Food
- Türkitch
You can't visit Germany without trying a Döner Kebab! Türktich is our favorite Döner Kebap place in Munich with three locations. Their food is perfect for a quick meal. Sometimes there is also space to eat directly in the store but it is more for a take-away meal.
Addresses:
Bahnhofpl. 1, 80335 München;
Türkenstraße 21, 80799 München;
Feilitzschstraße 2, 80802 München
- "Schlemmen am Markt" at Vitkualienmarkt
Our favorite place for a Bavarian to go food at the Viktualienmarkt. Located in the city center close to Marienplatz and opened from 10am to 6pm. It is a place where you can enjoy simple, tasty food at the market. It's a nice spot to try Bavarian dishes and snacks while walking around.
Address: Viktualienmarkt 1, 80331 München
- All the German Bakeries ("Bäckerei")
A pretzel ("Breze" in German) is a quick and easy snack you can get in any bakery throughout the city. Besides the pretzel you can get amazing sandwiches, pastries and fresh bread which all makes an ideal breakfast or snack when you're on the go.
Cafes
Small place with such amazing coffee and sweet pastries. Not too many seats available and more a place for a take away coffee. Welcoming atmosphere and nice staff located in the city center next to the market Viktualienmarkt.
Address: Heiliggeiststraße 1, 80331 München
Nice cafe/restaurant/bar with a good view towards the beautiful city hall and the central square Marienplatz. The Glockenspiel that plays inside the town hall's clock tower can be viewed from the cafe. This happens at 11am, 12pm and 5pm. The Glockenspiel technology is from 1908 so it is a bit old school. You should make a reservation at the cafe to make sure to get a table.
Address: Marienplatz 28, 80331 München
Hipster coffee place with high quality products that has two locations. The baristas are amazing and really know what they are doing. Probably the best coffee in Munich!
Addresses:
Schellingstraße 18, 80799 München;
Müllerstraße 23, 80469 München
Clubs
Centrally located mainstream club that has long opening hours and they are completely fine for anyone to show up in their Oktoberfest outfit. During Oktoberfest this club opens every night.
Address: Sonnenstraße 27, 80331 München
After Oktoberfest parties at this big club with different floors are good fun. This club is located underneath the central bus station. Oktoberfest outfits are not only accepted but even wanted for after Oktoberfest clubbing.
Address: Arnulfstraße 17, 80335 München
Nice place to enjoy electronic music at an hipster and artsy place.
Address: Tumblingerstraße 45, 80337 München
One of the best places to enjoy electronic music in Munich, but no real comparison to good techno clubs in Berlin though. Do not show up in a Bavarian Oktoberfest outfit as they will not let you in. The bouncers are a bit strict sometimes and might not let you in for no apparent reason.
Address: Museumsinsel 1, 80538 München
Best Places to visit in Munich
Here are our top 3 places to visit in Munich. This is by all means not a complete list of all the sightseeing places - these are the places that we personally like the most in Munich and therefore recommend to visit.
What you will see a lot in Munich, especially on a sunny day is people drinking in public. Preferably for sunset we love to get a cold beer and enjoying it with a nice sunset view.
Our favorite Places
Yes, you can surf in Munich! The surfer wave is located at the edge of the English Garden and tends to attract a crowd of both surfers as well as spectators.
Address: Prinzregentenstraße, 80538 München
- Frauenkirche observation deck
One of the most recognizable landmarks of Munich are the twin towers of the Frauenkirche (lady church). Inside the church you can get tickets that give you access to the viewing point of the south tower. To reach the tower you need to climb 89 stairs and then you can take the elevator to the almost 100 meter high observation deck that provides stunning views.
Address: Frauenplatz 1, 80331 München
Amazing views over the roofs of Munich and on a clear day all the way to the Alps. This view is well earned after climbing the 306 stairs on the spiral staircase to the top of Munich's oldest church. The entrance price is 5€ per person.
Address: Peterspl. 1, 80331 München
On a sunny day you can see amazing sunsets from this hilltop viewpoint (don't forget to bring a jacket for after the sunset). On one side there is the beautiful Olympia park that was constructed for the 1972 Olympics and on the other side of the hill you can see the skyline of Munich. You could also bring a roady beer and enjoy the views with a drink in your hand (yes, public drinking is legal in Germany).
Address: hilltop viewpoint inside the Munich Olympia Park
Oktoberfest Guide
You want to find out more about the Oktoberfest and Munich? In our Oktoberfest Guide you can read more about Traditions, News, History, Music and much more!
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