Oktoberfest 2023

Hi Bryan.
I don’t recall that thread, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t exist, lol.

My buddy Scott Stephens runs various tours that include Oktoberfest with table reservations, but that is obviously not what you are looking for since it seems you are planning your own tour (bayerntrips.com).

Last July I was poking around the various tents’ websites looking to grab a table for Oktoberfest. Surprisingly numerous tents still had tables available, but mostly for the afternoon sessions mid-week. Availability came and went and came again. How big is your group?

There is a very good chance I will be at Oktoberfest when you are there. My daughter insists on going! She found her late mother’s Dirndls, and plans on wearing them at Oktoberfest.

Prost!

Chris Kaine

 

Can't imagine you'll have much problem getting a table on stated dates (Tue-Thur).

Here's the link with all the tents listed. Probably the same link that any tour company would use if it's really a larger group which would need more than one table.

 

I hope it will finally be a cheerful and happy fest, as in the good old days.

 

My plan is to also fly into Frankfurt or Düsseldorf, and home from Munich. If you don't mind me asking, what was airfare? For my dates, I'm seeing around $1,000 out of O'Hare for non-stop. In the past I've paid as little as $500.00 for my same route.

And since you will be in Cologne, will you also be visiting Düsseldorf? To do one but not both would be a sin.

 

You can take a regional S-Bahn for 30 minutes and be in Düsseldorf. It makes for a good day trip.

 

And Altbier is better than Kölsch!

 

We have the same opinion on that.

 

It really depends on the Kölsch. Drinking packaged Kölsch versus drinking draught Kölsch in the brewery is like watching a video of church bells compared to actually being in the bell tower.

 

But watch out for the bats!

 

Frankfurt is tough for beer, my best suggestion is head to Sachsenhausen (in and around Schweizer Strasse) for shopping and food/drink. Two best places are Wagner and Zum Gemalten Haus.

Four days in Koblenz feels like a lot. Maybe add Trier, Baden Baden or Freiburg/Strasbourg to the itinerary. Not necessarily beer oriented destinations, but good places to discover for a day.

I'd definitely suggest train over water.

EDIT: Don't feel afraid to stay outside of large cities, train systems are awesome, easy to maneuver, clean and inexpensive.

 

There was a thread on Frankfurt (and Wiesbaden) a few months back that might help as to your stay there:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/wiesbaden-frankfurt.669729/

I'd definitely travel by water if the option exists. I've never been on the stretch of the Rhein between Cologne and Koblenz, but I have been on the stretch south of Koblenz (heading towards Bingen). It is a UNESCO world heritage area, and if you have a day, this is definitely a boat ride worth taking. The Cliffs of Lorelei, etc... It seems like every hillside has a castle ruin. You used to be able to get on and off as you wish, stopping at any nice town that catches your eye. At the end, you can catch the train back to Koblenz. Highly recommended.

 

I just spent a week in Cologne last fall for work. It may be one of my favorite large German cities to stay in. The train station is located right on the edge of the old town, with the fantastic cathedral right out the front door. I agree with the other posters - drinking a fresh kolsch in a 100+ year old venue is so much better than bottled. Our favorite spot was Fruh am Dom. I'd also suggest the local outpost of Delirium. If you're into history, there's the Romano-Germanic museum about the Roman era of German history. There's also a chocolate museum (sponsored by Lindt) right on the river. Cross over to the east bank of the Rhine to watch the sun set behind the cathedral. Food-wise I'd suggest Frankie's churros for fresh made dessert while you walk the town, and the Turkish neighborhood just north of the train station. Tons of cool restaurants and some of the best doner I've ever had.

I'd agree that 4 days in Koblenz itself is too much, but I've used it as a gateway to the rest of the Rhine/Mosel river areas. Tons of quaint towns and castles like Marksburg and Rheinfels. Along the Mosel you have Burg Eltz and Trier (again, chock full of Roman history).

If you're there for Oktoberfest, I'd also suggest a detour to Stuttgart for Canstatter Volksfest if your dates line up. Comparing the two giant events, I thought Volksfest was a bit more "authentic" with more locals. We were definitely in the minority as two non-German speaking Americans. Finally, keep an eye out for local wine or harvest festivals. We stumbled across a fall wine fest in Boppard where we were literally the only non-locals. Really fun night of eating street food and watching several thousand Germans get drunk off riesling and sing along with bad 80's cover bands in the town square. So.Much.Riesling.

 

If you can't get reservations in the classic Wiesn tents, you will have a much better chance booking in a tent in the Oide Wiesn. Which is the historic area with 3 tents at the far end of the main Oktoberfest. I was there last year, and there were so many empty tables. So I expect they are keen to book rather than have empty spaces. Don't expect Fridays or Saturdays though.
Info on the Oide Wiesn
Reservation links at the 3 tents:
https://www.herzkasperlzelt.de/reservierung
https://www.oktoberfestzelt-tradition.de/festzelt-tradition-reservieren.html
https://www.stiftl-oktoberfest.de/o...ngerzelt-schuetzenlisl-auf-der-oidn-wiesn.php

 

On that note, I highly recommend stopping in for 30 minutes or so (you can hang out as long as you want, no food or drinks served though) at the TEUFELSRAD. You'll wonder why no one has signed a waiver, and immediately will realize that this would never happen in the US. Except maybe at Action Park, NJ.

 

I am of the opposite Jerry - I'm more of a fan of the Peters Kolsch.

As far as a spot in a tent w/o reservation, go in the 1 - 2 pm time on a weekday, there are open tables in most tents. You can hold the spot as long as you keep buying....

 

Partially true. Many tables will be open in the early afternoon and up for grabs but will have a sign indicating a reservation at a specific time. When the party arrives (and probably before that) you will be required to leave.
Look for a table without a later reservation and you can drink and stay!