31 Things to Know Before You Go to Germany's Oktoberfest

While there are plenty of pretty darn good Oktoberfest celebrations in the USA nowadays, there's nothing like going to Germany to experience the genuine article. Attending Oktoberfest is true bucket list stuff for both lovers of beer and aficionados of German culture. Before you board the plane, however, you should definitely know the following 31 things.

Don't show up in Berlin or Dusseldorf looking for an Oktoberfest party. The world-famous festival is held in Munich-the capital of the beguiling state of Bavaria. Situated in southern Germany, Bavaria is filled with chocolate-box towns, romantic castles and breathtaking alpine scenery.

Each year, millions of people descend on Munich to experience the festival, and they all need somewhere to stay. Whether you are going to Oktoberfest as part of a bigger tour of Germany or are just flying over the 'fest, have your travel agent book your accommodations at least 3-4 months in advance.

Where's the best place to stay in Munich for Oktoberfest? As close to the fairgrounds as possible. The festival occurs on a large open space called the Theresienwiese, which is easily walkable from the center of Munich. Don't fret if you end up staying on the outskirts of town though-public transportation in Munich is the epitome of efficient and will zip you to the festival in no time.

While the name of the gathering may include the name of the tenth month, a large chunk of the partying takes place in September. In fact, in 2018, the festival runs from September 22 until October 7. Why? Well …

Oktoberfest began as a celebration of Prince Ludwig I of Bavaria and his wife Therese's nuptials. They tied the knot in October, but since everyone had so much fun, they decided to make the celebration an annual thing. Eventually, the starting date was moved up to September to increase the percentages of pleasant weather during the festival.

Ludwig and Therese got hitched in 1810 and Bavarians have been commemorating their special day ever since. Sure, a cholera outbreak here or a war there has caused a couple dozen festivals to be canceled, but the tradition has been going strong for well over two centuries now.

How many kegs does your local mayor tap? Each year, the mayor of Munich opens up the very first keg of Oktoberfest beer and declares "O'zapft is!" (it's tapped!) and the party proceeds from there. This takes place at 10 a.m. at the Schottenhamel tent on the first Saturday of the festival. If you want to witness this, you'll probably want to show up at 8 or 9 a.m.

If you want to fit in with the locals, don't call it Oktoberfest, call it the "Wies'n". This is the nickname for the giant field where the festival takes place, the Theresienwiese (Therese's meadow). How did it get its name? It's named after our favorite Bavarian blushing bride Therese.

There are over a dozen big Oktoberfest tents, and a large chunk of the festival's fun happens there. Each one of the big Oktoberfest tents has their own personality-with ones like Hofbrau and Lowenbrau attracting a large number of tourists, and "festhalles," like Armbrustschutzen, Schutzenl and the Weinzelt (Wine Tent), maintaining a slightly more local vibe.

You will also find tiny tents that specialize in seafood or vintage fun, and no trip is complete without sampling the atmosphere at multiple tents.

Some people will tell you that you need a table reservation to fully enjoy the beer tents, but that's not true at all. Reserving a table as a group guarantees you a seat and certainly lowers the stress-level of finding somewhere to sit, but you don't HAVE to have one to enter an Oktoberfest tent.

If you don't make a table reservation and you're just traveling in a small group, arrive at Oktoberfest early (we're talking 10 a.m. here), and you'll be able to sit at one of the many unreserved seats inside the tents. Which tent should you choose? Well, that's up to you.

If you happen to be at the festival on a sunny and warm day, you might just want to spend some time outside the tent. Nearly all of the big tents are surrounded by benches. This is a great place to people watch and meet people, as many people will be forced out here due to the tent being overcrowded inside. Basically, it's like one big beer garden that just happens to be located at Oktoberfest.

Don't expect to pay for steins of beer with your smartwatch, because cash is definitely still king at Oktoberfest. Be sure to keep some of your Euro coins handy in order to tip your server. That way, your face will stand out from the crowds when she/he circles back around to gather up orders for the next round.

You've seen the image of a waitress carrying dozens of beer at one time and at Oktoberfest, you will witness the feat in the flesh. Snap a picture from a distance if you must, but whatever you do, don't interfere with their work-it's serious business.

Keep in mind that no matter how much you've tipped your waitress/waiter, they aren't allowed to serve you unless you are actually sat down at a table. This is yet another reason why arriving early to plant yourself on a bench is a great idea.

When you get handed your first frosty stein of Oktoberfest beer, make sure you don't proceed to hold it by the handle. Veterans know this is a sure way to get a sore wrist. Wrap your hand through the stein and cradle the glass and you'll look like you've been coming to Oktoberfest for years.

The beer served at Oktoberfest is specially brewed specifically for the festival by six local breweries: Spaten, Hofbrau, Lowenbrau, Hacker-Pschorr, Augustiner and Paulaner. The suds are light and crisp and typically come in around 6 percent ABV.

In 2018, you will pay just north of eleven Euros (around $13) for a beer at all the big tents. We are talking a liter of beer here, but those costs can definitely add up over the course of a day. How much cash do you need to take with you to Oktoberfest? To have a great time without worrying about money and being able to afford food, a few carnival rides, and treat some new friends to a round of beers, around $200 per day should suffice.

Since you will likely be arriving early and leaving late from Oktoberfest, you definitely want to wear comfortable shoes. Shoes with a good grip will especially come in handy when you find yourself dancing on the tables with a group of new friends.

Don'y worry, it's not what it looks like. The powder is actually a "snuff" made of sugar and menthol that gives Oktoberfest revelers a mini-rush of energy. If you are sitting with locals and having a good time, don't be surprised at all if they shake some onto your hand in order for you to sample the goods.

It's a fact of life that when people are consuming beer by the bucketful, they are going to need to use the facilities. Luckily, it's not Munich's first rodeo and they have the entire grounds stacked with plenty of toilet facilities, so don't sweat it.

This might just be the most important tip for attending Oktoberfest: avoid the weekends at all costs in order to sidestep the largest of the crowds. More people means longer lines for the aforementioned bathrooms, more contentious fights for seating and less space. There are no "slow days" during the festival, so there will be plenty of fun to be had on Monday.

Not obsessed with beer but still want to have fun at Oktoberfest? It's definitely still possible! Pay a visit to the Weinzelt-which specializes in wine- or just sip a tall stein of lemonade or cola. And if you want to straddle the fence, sip a radler, which is a mixture of beer and lemonade.

Hanging out in the beer tents is only half the fun of Oktoberfest; riding the carnival rides is the other. You'll find everything from rollicking roller coasters to log flumes, and swings and haunted houses that will get your heart racing and offer up respite from all the reveling.

How many days should you spend at Oktoberfest? That's between you and your budget, but experience has taught this author that you probably want to take a day off after a couple days at the festival. Therefore, a "two days on, one day off" philosophy is recommended. What to do on your off day? Spend some time in the English Garden or head for the fairytale castles of King Ludwig II.

Deciding what to wear at Oktoberfest can be a conundrum. For guys: do you go all out in lederhosen or just wear jeans? For girls: do you dress up in a dirndl or just bust out your best party-casual clothes from home? In both cases, definitely choose the former. Dressing the part will make everything more fun and as long as you treat your traditional garb with respect, locals won't take offense at all.

The food is definitely NOT an afterthought at Oktoberfest. Drool-worthy roast chickens, pork knuckles and pretzels are just the tip of the culinary iceberg being served up in the beer tents. And, on the grounds of the festival, each walkway is lined with snack bars serving freshly grilled meats, tasty fish and German sweets.

Want to see how the OGs (Old Germans) used to kick it back in the day? Then make sure to swing through the Oide Wiesn section of Oktoberfest. Here, you will find vintage rides and a throwback beer tent alongside a museum dedicated to the history of the fest.

Hidden away at the back of the fairgrounds-near the Oide Wiesn-is Cafe Kaiserschmarrn. It is a fairy wonderland of pastries and baked goods and one of the best off-the-beaten-path places at Oktoberfest. It looks like a 'Candyland Castle' from the outside, and inside diners are surrounded by a myriad of colorful decorations and wonderful Bavarian breakfast treats.

"Prost!" is "cheers!" in German, so you will definitely want to practice using that phrase before you go. Essentially, if you run into a language barrier mid-conversation during the festival, just saying "prost!" and offering to clink beers will smooth it all over.

You should also know that the liter steins of beer served at Oktoberfest are called "masses", so knowing "ein mass, bitte" (one mass, please) will also get you far.

While you will hear traditional German "oompah" music at the tents, there will be a mix of all sorts of classic rock and pop being played, too. Expect to hear "Country Roads" by John Denver, "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams and "Angels" by Robbie Williams multiple times. If there's one song you should memorize though, it's the catchy German song "Fliegerlied", which comes with a collection of zany hand motions and dance moves and will stay with you long after you leave.