2019 Oktoberfest Tents Guide: Comparing the Best Oktoberfest Tents

I’ve been to Oktoberfest before, so for this year’s trip I didn’t need to read a million pages of festival tips to prepare.  I just wanted to pick which Oktoberfest tent to go to!  Unfortunately, it took reading through a thousand websites just to find the basics I needed, so I thought I’d compile all of it into a single best Oktoberfest tents guide so that no one else had to re-create the wheel.

This article will be short and sweet…just the facts (although if you have questions, let me know in the comments.  I love talking about Munich, beer, and travel!)

Oktoberfest Tents Guide: Everything You Need to Know in One Quick Chart (2019)

If you’re looking for specific band names, longer descriptions of each tent atmosphere, or information on smaller tents, you’ll find more at the Oktoberfest festival guide.

So What are the Best Oktoberfest Tents?

★ Armbrustschützen-Festhalle is the sightDOING pick for Oktoberfest 2019.

It’s everything I wanted Oktoberfest to be: good beer, cheerful visitors, great oom-pah-pah music (with some international hits thrown in), and 5,000+ of my new friends singing Ein Prosit.  I highly recommend it and consider it the best of the best Oktoberfest tents.

In my experience, no other tent has the same international, social flair as Armbrustschützen-Festhalle.

However, it’s worth checking out a few tents to decide your own favorite. You’ll hear different bands, meet other people, and try different beers! What’s not to like?

My other favorites were Marstall, Oschsenbraterei, and Augustiner Festhalle.

More importantly, you’ll probably want to keep in mind that the “best” tent is probably the one with open seats, unless you planned ahead and paid for a reservation.

Where to Stay for Oktoberfest

If you’re going this year, look NOW and book ASAP. Some hotels are probably already sold out or have high rates. If you’re not 100% committed to going yet, I still recommend booking a (refundable) reservation while you can.

Oktoberfest 2019 runs September 21 – October 6, 2019.

If you’re planning ahead for next year, you’ll have more options.

My Favorite Munich Hotels

Booking your hotel through these links helps to support this site.  It also means you’re getting a hotel I’ve personally stayed at and recommend at the lowest price publicly available.  Thanks for your support if you choose to book.

My favorite hotel in Munich is the Hilton Munich City.  It’s easy to reach from the airport, the Marienplatz, Theresienwiese (Oktoberfest), and just about anywhere else since it’s situated right on top of the Rosenheimer Platz subway station.  Rooms are comfortable and service is helpful.  If you hold Gold or Diamond Hilton status, the lounge with (free) evening drinks and full breakfasts is wonderful.

>>>>> Book the Hilton direct for free internet and the best prices.

Even though the Hilton is my favorite, I’ve stayed at the Holiday Inn Munich City Centre twice during Oktoberfest (2011 & 2017).  It’s essentially the same location as the Hilton, but they have semi-reasonable prices during the festival which means more money for beer 🙂  Book direct to save 5%.

Things to Do in Munich Other than Oktoberfest

There is so much to see in Munich other than just hitting up the beer tents.  Remember, Oktoberfest is a huge festival, with rides and food and carnival games.

Outside the festival, you’ll find plenty to enjoy in the city itself.  If you only have one day, the best thing you can do is a bike tour through the city to see all the highlights (with a stop at an outdoor biergarten, of course!).

For day trips, I prefer Zugspitze in the mountains rather than Berchtesgaden/Eagle’s Nest.  And of course, Neuschwanstein castle is a classic day trip that makes you feel like you’re in a fairytale (skip the Linderhof combo version – it’s nice, but your time is better spent at Neuschwanstein).

*      *     *

Any last questions on the best Oktoberfest tents?  I’m happy to help with your planning!

*      *     *