Your first Oktoberfest should be legendary—but all too often, rookie mistakes turn what could have been an amazing experience into a stressful, expensive, or embarrassing mess. After talking to seasoned Wiesn veterans and learning from thousands of first-timer blunders, we've compiled the most common Oktoberfest mistakes and how to avoid them.
1. Not Booking Accommodation Early Enough
This is the number one mistake that can derail your entire trip before it even begins. Munich has over 80,000 hotel beds, but during Oktoberfest, demand is astronomical. Hotels book up months—sometimes a year—in advance, and prices double or triple compared to normal rates.
Wait until a few weeks before the festival and you'll face slim pickings, outrageous prices, or having to stay in suburbs an hour outside Munich. Book your accommodation the moment you decide to attend Oktoberfest, ideally six to twelve months ahead. Look for hotels near Munich Central Station, in the Altstadt, or with easy S-Bahn connections to Theresienwiese.
2. Buying "Tickets" to Oktoberfest
Here's a critical fact: Oktoberfest has no entry fee. Anyone can walk onto the festival grounds completely free. If someone online is selling you "Oktoberfest tickets" or "entry passes," you're being scammed.
The only thing you might legitimately pay for in advance is a tent reservation, which you book directly through the tent operators or authorized agents—never through random sellers on social media or sketchy websites. The Oide Wiesn section does require a small entrance fee, but you pay that at the gate, not in advance.
3. Arriving at the Wrong Time
Timing is everything at Oktoberfest, and first-timers often get it disastrously wrong. Showing up at 6 PM on a Saturday evening without a reservation is a recipe for disaster. Tents will be closed due to overcrowding, security won't let you in, and you'll spend hours wandering the grounds frustrated while everyone else parties inside.
The best times for walk-ins are weekday mornings and early afternoons, especially Monday through Thursday before 3 PM. If you're visiting on a weekend, arrive before 9 AM—yes, before the 9 AM opening—to secure unreserved seats. Friday evenings and all day Saturday are the absolute worst times to visit without reservations.
4. Showing Up Late to Your Reservation
If you're lucky enough to score a reservation, treating the start time as a "suggestion" is a huge mistake. Arrive 15-30 minutes late and the tent has every right to give your table away to walk-ins. On busy weekends, they will.
Your entire group doesn't need to arrive simultaneously, but you need the majority there on time to claim the table. If you have a reservation for ten people, have at least six to eight people present at the start time. Latecomers can join, but someone needs to hold down the fort.
5. Wearing a Ridiculous Costume
You think your "Carry Me to Oktoberfest" costume or that inflatable beer mug suit is hilarious. Security thinks it's grounds for immediate ejection. Every year, bouncers turn away people in novelty costumes, and once you're out, you're out—no refunds, no second chances, just pure embarrassment.
Oktoberfest has a dress code: traditional Bavarian clothing. Dirndls for women, lederhosen for men. If you're not wearing tracht, at least wear normal, respectful clothing. Save the wacky costumes for Halloween. Someone dressed as Jesus got kicked out of the Hofbräu tent—if he can't get away with it, neither can you.
6. Bringing the Wrong Size Bag
Security at Oktoberfest is strict about bag sizes, and bringing an oversized bag is one of the fastest ways to have your day ruined. Bags must not exceed 3 liters in volume or dimensions of 20 cm x 15 cm x 10 cm (approximately 8 in x 6 in x 4 in). That's about the size of a small purse or tiny backpack.
Bring anything larger and you'll be turned away at security checkpoints. Your options are to leave it at paid luggage storage near certain entrances for €5-10, which may involve long waits, or return it to your hotel—potentially wasting hours of precious Oktoberfest time. Plan ahead and bring only a small bag, or better yet, use pockets.
7. Not Bringing Enough Cash
Oktoberfest is overwhelmingly cash-only. While some tents might accept cards for full reservation payments at the end of the night, individual orders for beer and food require cash. Every. Single. Time.
Yes, there are ATMs on the festival grounds and inside tents, but many charge outrageous fees because they're not operated by banks. The few legitimate bank ATMs have lines so long they can kill your buzz. Bring plenty of cash before arriving—plan on at least €100-150 per person for a day of eating, drinking, and tipping. And keep coins handy for bathroom tips.
8. Forgetting to Tip (Or Tipping Poorly)
German servers at Oktoberfest don't have base salaries—they work entirely on commission and tips. Stiff your server and you'll get glacial service for the rest of your session. But tip generously on your first round and you'll become their priority customer all day.
Tip €1-2 per Mass (that's 5-10%), and always tip in cash. Round up and tell them to keep the change. The same goes for bathroom attendants—leave €0.50-1 every time you use the facilities. These people keep the bathrooms clean, stocked, and functioning for 7 million drunk people over 16 days. Show some appreciation.
9. Trying to Drink 10 Liters Before Noon
Oktoberfest is a marathon, not a sprint. A single Mass contains one liter of beer at about 6% alcohol—nearly double the alcohol content of two regular pints. Slam three or four before lunch and you'll be passed out in your hotel room by 2 PM, missing the entire party.
Pace yourself. Alternate beers with water. Eat substantial food throughout the day. The beer tents are open from 10 AM to 11:30 PM—you have plenty of time to get where you want to be. First-timers who treat it like a college beer pong tournament are the ones getting carried out by their friends.
10. Not Respecting the Mass or Local Customs
Nothing screams "clueless tourist" louder than certain behaviors that locals find disrespectful. Never clink your glass Mass with someone else's—these heavy mugs can shatter, spraying glass and beer everywhere, and potentially causing injuries. Instead, clink the base of the mug on the table while making eye contact and saying "Prost!"
Never ask for a "small beer"—there's only one size at Oktoberfest, and that's a Mass. Don't dance on tables (you'll be kicked out), only on benches. Don't try to steal a beer mug—security caught nearly 100,000 people attempting this in recent years. Just buy one at the souvenir stands.
11. Trying to Save Seats for People Who Aren't There
In Oktoberfest tents, the golden rule is simple: if your butt isn't in the seat, the seat isn't yours. Trying to "save" spots for friends who are "on their way" is a guaranteed way to start arguments with thirsty festivalgoers and irritate your server, who needs to fill every seat to maximize earnings.
Your group wants to sit together? Arrive together. Show up earlier in the day when finding adjacent seats is easier, or book a reservation in advance for groups of ten or more. Trying to hold multiple empty seats during peak hours will get you shut down fast—and rightfully so.
12. Ignoring the Unreserved Section Rules
Here's something most first-timers don't know: Munich law requires large tents to keep significant portions unreserved. That's 25% on weekdays, jumping to 35-50% on weekends and holidays before 3 PM. But once you're seated in the unreserved section, you can't just plant yourself there for 12 hours.
The unreserved section undergoes a "changeover" around 5-6 PM when evening reservations begin. If you're in an unreserved seat, you'll likely be asked to leave your table—and possibly the tent entirely—to make room for reservation holders. Don't argue with staff. Instead, arrive early, enjoy your session, and be prepared to move when changeover happens.
13. Visiting on the Busiest Days Without a Plan
Saturdays, German Unity Day (October 3 if it falls on a weekday), and Friday evenings are absolute chaos. Tents close their doors due to overcrowding, sometimes as early as mid-afternoon on Saturdays. Security checkpoints have long lines. Everything is more crowded, louder, and more stressful.
If you must visit during peak times, have a solid plan. Book reservations months in advance. Arrive extremely early—people line up before 9 AM on Saturdays. Use less popular entrances (not the main Bavariaring entrance). Consider experiencing the Oide Wiesn instead, which is calmer and has a manageable entry fee that keeps crowds down.
14. Passing Out on "Puke Hill"
Behind the beer tents sits a grassy slope that looks like a peaceful spot to rest when you've had too much beer. Don't be fooled. This area is infamously known as "Kotzhügel" (Puke Hill), and it's exactly what it sounds like—where drunk people go to vomit, pass out, and worse.
The grass may look inviting, but it's soaked in things you don't want to think about. Sitting or lying down there is genuinely disgusting and potentially unsafe. If you need to rest, find a bench on the festival grounds, grab some food to sober up, or head back to your hotel. Just stay off that hill.
15. Not Planning the Logistics
First-timers often underestimate the practical realities of spending all day at a massive festival. They wear uncomfortable shoes and regret it after hours of standing. They don't bring layers and freeze when temperatures drop in the evening. They forget that restrooms can have 15-30 minute waits during peak times, so they don't go early enough.
Wear comfortable, broken-in shoes—you'll be standing and walking for hours. Dress in layers since September weather fluctuates between warm afternoons and chilly evenings. Head to the bathroom at the first urge, not when it's an emergency. Bring a small portable phone charger. Plan your transport home in advance since trains and taxis get packed after tents close.
Bonus: Underestimating How Special Small Tents Are
While not exactly a "mistake," most first-timers never discover Oktoberfest's 21 small tents because they're too focused on the famous large tents. These intimate venues offer exceptional specialized cuisine, calmer atmospheres, more authentic Bavarian culture, and are often easier to access without reservations.
Missing the small tents means missing out on some of Oktoberfest's best food, most traditional music, and most welcoming family-friendly environments. Make time to explore beyond Hofbräu and Löwenbräu—you'll discover a side of the festival most tourists never see.
The Bottom Line
Oktoberfest is an incredible experience, but it requires planning, respect for local customs, and awareness of common pitfalls. Book early, bring cash, pace your drinking, respect the rules, and plan your logistics. Follow these guidelines and you'll avoid the mistakes that plague first-timers every year.
Do it right and your first Oktoberfest will be everything you dreamed of—and the first of many returns to the world's greatest beer festival.