Munich Oktoberfest 2015
Information for visitors to the 2015 Munich Oktoberfest
Munich Oktoberfest
It’s time to dust off your Tracht – Oktoberfest is upon us once again. Spanning over two weeks, the traditional Bavarian festivities offer something for the whole family. If you are planning to make the best of what the “Wiesn” has to offer, do your research beforehand including checking our travel advice for useful information and contact details. This year we are publishing useful tips and information on our twitter site @UKinGermany throughout the fortnight and recommend all Oktoberfest visitors to follow us and follow the advice.
The tapping of the first beer barrel will be by the Mayor of Munich on 19 September. From late morning up until 22:30 each day the Oktoberfest will be open to visitors wishing to immerse themselves in Bavarian traditions. The festival ends on 4 October when organisers will almost immediately start taking reservations for 2016!
To whet your appetite, last year 6.3 million people from around the world visited the Oktoberfest and a staggering 6.5 million litres of Bavarian beer was consumed.
The majority of the visits to the Oktoberfest are trouble-free but consular officers from the British Consulate General stand ready to offer assistance where it’s needed. We have been liaising with the local authorities to ensure that British visitors know how to access help in the event of an emergency.
You can make the most of your visit if you take some simple precautions and follow the advice of local authorities. You should:
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take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Germany, even if you’re only going for a few days;
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keep on your person a separate record of your passport details, preferably a photocopy of the details pages with the next of kin details, and the name, address and telephone number of your accommodation;
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take care of your personal possessions at all times. Crowded areas such as the Oktoberfest can attract pick-pockets;
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And remember, the beer served during the event is much stronger than most beer served in the UK (typically around 6%) and the traditional Stein glass holds nearly two pints. So please bear in mind the consequences and risks of overindulging which can lead to accidents and difficulties with the local authorities.
If you are visiting, have a good Oktoberfest 2015. For further information please visit the below websites and follow our updates on Twitter.
British Consulate-General, Munich
Get travel updates on Twitter from either @ukingermany for Germany specific information, or @fcotravel for general information.