Hofbräu beer tent
The Hofbräu tent is known all around the world. The English, Australians and Americans come here to drink, sway from side to side, drink, sing, drink, dance to oompah music and drink some more. Back home they will tell the wildest stories of the Hofbräu Tent. For those of you who want to meet new friends from around the world, the Hofbräu tent is definitely for you!
Schottenhamel
Traditionally the Mayor of Munich opens the Oktoberfest at midday on the first Saturday in the Schottenhamel tent, with the ceremonial tapping of the first barrel and the words "Ozapft is". On the following days mostly local high schools students attend therefore you will find young Munich people here. The Schottenhamel with 10,000 seats is one of the biggest beer tents but is always one of the first to close its doors in the weekend due to overcrowding.
Käfer's Wies'n- Schänke
Käfer's Wies'n-Schänke is the celebrity tent par excellence, here you can rub shoulders with football stars from FC Bayern or if you are lucky you might see the legendry tennis player Boris Becker. If you feel that hobnobbing with the in-crowd is beneath you or whether the Käfer tent and beer garden with less than 3000 places is the right venue for you, we will leave you to decide.
Ochsenbraterei
If ox is your favourite food then you definitely have to go to the Ochsenbraterei, also known as the Spatenbräu-Zelt. Only here can you get the famous ox meat rolls, and you can watch the ox being roasted to perfection. As soon as you step into the tent your mouth will start watering because at the entrance there is a huge revolving ox on a spit. Although this one is made from plastic.
Hacker beer tent - probably the nicest decoration.
(Foto: szgrafik)Hacker-Festhalle
Do you like the atmosphere of a beer tent but find it all a bit too hectic and stressful? Then you will feel like you are in seventh heaven in the Hacker-Festhalle called "the Bavarian heaven". The light blue ceiling is decorated with white clouds. This Bavarian heaven will make you feel relaxed and comfortable but nevertheless still offers a good party atmosphere. The Hacker-Festhalle is surely the most beautiful of the beer tents.
Have fun at queer Oktoberfest and party with the locals
Augustiner-Festhalle
For most of the people of Munich, Augustiner beer is the best in the world. It is not an international conglomerate but more of an institution. In the Augustiner tent the beer still flows from a 200 litre wooden barrel. Beer lovers will make a beeline to the Augustiner-Festhalle. This is where the locals celebrate.
Löwenbrau-Festhalle
Everybody finds their way to the Löwenbrau tent. Mainly due to the oversized lion with a beer stein in his hand standing on a tower almost forty meters high, roaring ever louder and deeper "Lööööawenbräääääu!" Traditionally the football players of TSV 1860 Munich team party here. They are the underdogs with no hope of beating Bayern Munich FC. Many fans of the 60's cavort here.
Bräurosl
The first Sunday of the Octoberfest is party time of lesbians and gays at the Bräurosl. Also in the following days it is a favourite meeting place and hot spot for the Munich and international queer scene. The tent is named after "Rosie" the daughter of the former owner of the Pschorr brewery.
Fischer-Vroni
Usually when you go to a beer tent you want to have your fill of beer. The Fisher-Vroni is different because you should go there when you are hungry. The fish on spit (called "Steckerlfische") have acquired a reputation all around the world. The Fischer-Vroni is comparatively quiet being one of the smaller tents. Except on the second Monday of the Octoberfest when it is the meeting place for the Munich queer scene.
Oktoberfest for families, crossbow shooters and the wine addicted
Marstall
Right at the beginning of the Oktoberfest area there is the youngest tent called Marstall. It is located were once was the famous Hippodrome with guests like Paris Hilton. Now, the new Marstall has a different concept: during the afternoon, it is a tent for families. There will be enough space for baby carriages and diaper changing stations. The tent has a horse and cart on its roof.
Armbrustschützenzelt
Marksmen from the whole of Bavaria meet in the Armbrustschützenzelt, the crossbow shooters tent. For more than a hundred years the tent has had its own shooting range where crossbow shooters fight it out every year. Since 2007 the Armbrustschützenzelt has a retractable cabriolet roof allowing better ventilation during good weather.
Winzerer Fähndl
From far away you can see what is the main attraction of the Winzerer Fähndl. On a 25 meter tower you will find perched a gigantic Paulaner beer stein. The Winzerer Fähndl is the perfect location for sun worshippers because its beer garden has a southerly aspect so you can sunbathe in the late summer sun and get a tan while you drink a mass. It is also a little quieter than the other tents and the crowd is somewhat older.
Schützen-Festzelt
The Schützen-Festzelt is situated directly next to the statue of a strong woman wearing a lion's fur, "Bavaria", female personification of the Bavarian homeland. The tent is becoming a more and more popular meeting place. The ceiling is coloured in red, yellow and green and allows the light to pass through. This is a clean and well maintained tent and is therefore suitable for all those who find the other tents a little too lively.
This is Bavaria. Well, the statue version.
(Foto: Getty Images)Weinzelt
If you really can't stand beer, then go to the wine tent. There are 15 different wines to choose from, as well as sparkling wines and Champagne. The only beer available is wheat beer. Instead of benches, you can stand on or sit back in armchairs. You can party here until one in the morning - no other tent is opened until this late.
