Do's and Don'ts at the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany

If you're planning to visit the Oktoberfest for the first time, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Following these tips will help you to have a pleasant stay at Munich's famous beer festival.

Do's

1. Always take a friend or more with you
Even though most of the people are friendly and peaceful, there is the occasional drunk that can cause you trouble. Being with a friend makes your stay much safer (especially a woman should never go alone). Furthermore, it's a lot more fun to celebrate with your friends than with strangers.

2. Drink a lot of water
The old rule "one beer, one water" also applies for the biggest beer festival in the world. The beer tents are hot and you'll be thirsty. Drinking only beer makes you drunk much faster than you even notice, especially when you're not used to the strong German beer.

3. Be friendly to the waitress
Waitresses in the beer tents are the secret queens of the Oktoberfest. They decide if you can stay or have to leave. And they definitely decide if you get a beer or not. Remember that you can only order beer once you sit at a table. No beer is sold to persons standing in the alleys.

4. Do everything that requires coordination before the second beer
It's not funny to be trapped inside a roller coaster after the second or third beer. Owners of the attractions will not let you inside anyways, because they know what can happen.

5. Enjoy!
Dance and sing as much as you want and have a lot of fun.

Don'ts

1. Don't bring valuables
Bring only the amount of money you're planning to spend. Don't wear expensive jewelry. Wherever there are masses of people, there are also pickpockets. Be on the watch out.

2. Don't drink and drive
Use the public transport for your sake and the sake of everyone else who could be involved in an accident with you. Drunk driving will cause you to lose your drivers license and get you into a lot of trouble. Germans are very tolerant with alcohol but not in connection with driving.

3. Don't try to get into the tents at the main entrance
Despite their size beer tents fill up quickly and are closed for security reasons. Chances to get in through the main entrance are nil. Your luck will be better waiting at the side entrances where security sometimes lets people enter when someone else leaves. To avoid closed tents either have a reservation or come early, preferably during weekdays.

About the Author

Marion Kummerow is the author of http://www.inside-munich.com/oktoberfest-2006.html . She's been living in Munich for many years and has intimate knowledge of the city and the famous Oktoberfest.