Leather Lederhosen and a full traditional Dirndl may not be the usual attire – but in Munich during Oktoberfest, you will see them everywhere! Although this a a festival that is celebrated in a number of different places nowadays, the original Oktoberfest in Munich is certainly the best, partly due to Germany’s amazing beer culture!
Oktoberfest 2019 runs from Saturday 21st September to 6th October and, although the drive from our ferry ports will take between 8 and 9.5 hours depending on where you sail into, we promise that the road trip will be worth it! Spend time visiting the popular beer tents and watching Munich’s traditional Grand Parade, and then try out some of these more unique things to do in Munich during Oktoberfest too.
Try a Bavarian cooking class
Whilst spending time in Munich during Oktoberfest, you may find yourself partial to delicious doughy dumplings and meaty wurst that are perfect for soaking up beer. You don’t have to leave these tasty treats in Munich when your trip is over – grab an apron and learn how to recreate them at home in a Bavarian cooking class.
The Bavarian Basics course by Miomente is designed to make chefs out of English speaking visitors and is perfect for groups. As well as learning to cook traditional dishes with fresh and seasonal ingredients, you’ll get to enjoy an aperitif and two glasses of wine or beer each. Alternatively, Kochhaus hosts a variety of cooking classes which include a Hearty Tyrolean Cuisine menu with lots of bacon, cheese and booze – the dream trio!
In addition to learning to cook Bavarian dishes in Munich, there are a number of different food tours you can take which will give you the chance to taste some of the city’s most popular treats, and learn all about them too. These include a gourmet tour around the Viktualienmarkt, a Munich beer tour which will introduce you to some of the best places to grab a beverage, and an Old Town culinary tour which will show you historic sites and some of the tastiest food Munich has to offer.
Explore the Englischer Garten
Looking for a calmer way to spend the day in Munich during Oktoberfest after one too many mass’ of beer in the tents? Head to Munich’s huge Englischer Garten, which is even bigger than New York’s Central Park. Attracting both locals and tourists alike, this park boasts both wooded and grassy areas, with plenty of surprises to discover as you walk, jog, or cycle around it.
Get some fresh air by strolling towards Monopteros, a small Greek temple with fantastic views of Munich’s skyline, and if you need some serious Zen, find the Japanese Teahouse nestled in a corner of the park. The Japanese grandmaster of the Urasenke Tea School in Kyoto donated the teahouse as a gesture of friendship, with an aim to introduce the Japanese tea ceremony to Munich. Relax and learn from the best while sipping on Matcha tea in a calming, meditative space should you visit on one of the two days of the month it’s open.
You might also like to head to Kleinhesseloher See, a lake located in the centre of the park. here, you can rent either pedal or rowing boats, take a wander around the water’s edge, or feed the ducks. Alternatively, grab a seat in the Seehaus beer garden where you can enjoy a hot or cold beverage. This is especially wonderful at sunset.
Those after an extreme adventure will love the park’s Eisbach river which offers a more vigorous alternative. While Munich might not seem the location for surfing, that’s just what the locals have been doing on the river since 2010. Either pick a spot and watch the experts with a warm pretzel in hand or get involved yourself – but it’s mainly recommended for experienced surfers!
Relax in the Müllersches Volksbad bathing temple
Saunas are a major part of German culture – so do as the locals do and wind down after a busy Oktoberfest at Müller’sches Volksbad. The baths are one of the most beautiful in Europe thanks to its stunning Art Nouveau design with Baroque touches, and have been welcoming visitors since 1901. The baths were inspired by Roman Thermal Baths, hammams and mosques, and the exquisite detail has been well preserved throughout the decades. Its large pools are perfect for lengths, and the sauna facilities include a Roman steam bath with an open courtyard, a cold pool and shower, a range of ‘hot air’ rooms, a hot tub, and a Finnish sauna.
In the the Finnish sauna, an Aufgussmeister pours water on hot rocks and beats the warmth your way with a towel to the background of a soothing light show. Following this, you can cool down under the cold shower (or ‘Iron Maiden’), and warm yourself again in the pool. After some intense relaxing, refuel at the café, which offers coffee, mocktails, and plenty of great food options.
With all of these great things to do in Munich during Oktoberfest to choose from, book your ferry crossing today and start planning your cultural trip to Germany.
