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Why Oktoberfest is a Must-Visit Tourist Attraction?

Visiting Oktoberfest Munich As a Tourist's Spot

By SamreenPublished 8 months ago 4 min read
Why Oktoberfest is a must-visit tourist's attraction?

At its core, a tourist mindset seeks new adventures, and what's better than experiencing it all—food, culture, traditions, and language—under one roof at Oktoberfest? The world’s largest folk festival is also Google's top suggestion for travelers looking to experience a new festival. Besides just the Google suggestion, there are tons of solid reasons for every tourist to visit it once in a lifetime, a few being that it offers:

  • Witnessing Decade-Old Traditions
  • Unforgettable cultural experience
  • World’s Famous Beer and Food
  • It’s a Global Gathering
  • Unmatched Vibes

Reasons Why Oktoberfest is a Must-Visit Tourist Spot

Here are some compelling reasons to visit Oktoberfest if you are a tourist looking to shortlist your next destination.

Witnessing Decades-Old Traditions

Studies show that 63% of tourists crave to experience ancient traditions. The world’s largest folk fest has been ongoing for 200 years. The festival has many traditional highlights that visitors can experience nowhere else.

Parade of Landlords and the Breweries

This magnificent event has been taking place for nearly a century, led by Münchner Kindl (Munich child) on horseback, and is a treat to tourist eyes. This parade is the first major traditional highlight of the festival, witnessed by hundreds of thousands of tourists.

On the first Saturday, the decorated horse-drawn carriage of the six Munich Oktoberfest breweries, landlords of the large and small tents, showmen, and brass bands make up the procession.

The mayor of Munich also participates in the parade, sitting in the Schottenhamel tent carriage, where he taps the first barrel afterwards. All in all, it is a colorful display, a sight every tourist wants to see once in a lifetime.

Costume and Riflemen Parade

The parade of Costumers and Riflemen was first organized in 1835 to celebrate the silver wedding anniversary of the King and Queen of Bavaria. In 1895, another parade was organized with 1,400 participants in 150 traditional costume groups.

It was not until 1950 that it became an annual event, treating visitors to magnificent spectacles. It takes place on the first Sunday of the Oktoberfest, and this traditional highlight displays. Traditional costume and rifle clubs, musical bands, marching bands, flag-wavers, and about 40 carriages with decorated horses and carts participate in the parade.

What makes this a tourist must-visit event is the cultural amalgamation with the participation of German states, Austria, Switzerland, Northern Italy, and other European countries

The Keg Tapping Ceremony

The beer served at the festival begins with the mayor of Munich's first keg tapping. What is absolutely thrilling about this whole experience is the number of times the Mayor hit the mallet to finally be able to tap the keg in the beer barrel.

The former Munich mayors, Christian Ude and Dieter Reiter, share the record of tapping the keg in two blows. At 12:00 sharp, the Mayor starts trying out in the Schottenhammel tent.

The mayor proclaims, “It has been tapped,” and 12 gunshots signal other tents to start serving beer. This longstanding tradition has been part of the festival since 1950, and tourists look forward to it.

Unforgettable Cultural Experience

Many people join the celebration to experience an unforgettable cultural aspect. The 17 large beer halls filled with visitors in lederhosen and dirndl make Oktoberfest a tourist attraction.

Every beer hall has a personality and a specialty. These marquees are especially built for the festival, and once the celebration is over, they are deconstructed. The mesmerizing architecture of these beer halls narrates the 200-year-long history of the Oktoberfest.

The famous tourist tent at Oktoberfest is the Hofbräu beer marque, which draws International visitors from Australia, America, Italy, and other parts of the world. This point, Oktoberfest is surely a must-visit tourist destination.

World’s Famous Beer and Food

Oktoberfest serves the best beer in Germany, making it a must-visit. Six major Munich breweries craft special beers just for the festival. The beer served is pale yellow in color with a white head. These brews follow the 1516 Beer Purity Law. The Oktoberfest beer has pure, rich flavors and a smooth drinking experience.

Marzen lagers and ales are served in huge one-liter steins called Maßkrug. These Beer glasses have a different logo for each brewery or the Bavarian coat of arms. The sight of the beer police witnessing if the beer is poured up to the top of the German beer mug is seen nowhere else.

The food itinerary for Oktoberfest is unbelievable, and vegetarian and vegan options are also served. In short, Oktoberfest is a tourist food and beer heaven where all kinds of German food and beer, even wine and schnapps, are available.

It’s a Global Gathering

Travel makes you meet all kinds of people, but generally locals. It’s different for the Oktoberfest. 6 million people gather to celebrate German culture, and 21% of them are International tourists. Here you can meet people from outside Germany and hear from them about their travel experiences.

If it’s your first time at Oktoberfest, you can get tips from them, as they have already been to the festival many times. Oktoberfest is a great way to meet new travel buddies and stay connected with them over social media.

Electrifying Festival Atmosphere

Oktoberfest’s lively atmosphere is the reason for it being a must-visit festival for tourists. People from around the world gather in Munich, creating a joyful vibe. In huge beer tents, you’ll share tables with strangers who become friends. E

Everyone shouts “Prost!” (Cheers!) and sings together, spreading happiness. The energy is contagious, pulling you into the fun. The polka music and traditional dances like the schuhplattler make the Oktoberfest a total touristy thing.

Wrapping It Up!

Tourists looking for a new travel destination for a cultural experience should not miss out on adding Oktoberfest to their bucket list. The celebration attracts so many International travelers ready to experience the German cultural experience in terms of food, authentic Oktoberfest beer served in beer steins, and traditions like parades and keg tapping tied to the festival. All in all, Oktoberfest is a must-visit tourist attraction!

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