The exact cost can vary a lot depending on many factors – how far you are from Munich, how long do you want to stay, where do you want to stay and so on. But, we have done the maths for you and excluding the cost of getting there, you could spend as little as 350 EUR and up to 900 EUR for 2 days at Oktoberfest, including food, drinks, fun and accommodation.
The Oktoberfest in Munich is the biggest annual beer festival worldwide, and over the past few decades its popularity among foreigners has grown immensely, and so have the prices. For the locals, it is not a big deal to drop by for a beer with friends, but what would a visit to the Oktoberfest cost you?
Oktoberfest isn’t cheap by any means, but here is our breakdown of the costs, so that you can decide on your own, whether or not to visit. We also have some tips for budget travellers.
What You'll Find In This Post:
How to get to Munich (on a budget)?
Since getting to Munich is very individual, I am not mentioning prices, but here are the best options and some useful links for you, as well as budget-friendly tips.
Getting to Munich from Europe
Munich is very centrally situated in Europe, so it is in driving distance from most countries. Depending on the distance and how many people you are, it might be the cheapest and fastest way.
Otherwise, consider getting there by bus or train. Trainline
is a great place to start, because you can check out the different options for your journey – by bus, by train or combined, offered by various providers in Europe. You can compare operators to find the best price, and you can even directly book there.
Flying in is another possibility, but it is best to book in advance to secure a good deal.
Getting to Munich from overseas
Munich Airport is the biggest one in Bavaria, offering direct intercontinental flights. In case the flights to it are above your budget, you can also check some other airports in the area and then get to Munich by train/bus. The closest airports are Memmingen and Nuremberg (1-2 hours) or Salzburg and Stuttgart (2-3 hours). I recommend checking different options, and you can use a service like Momondo or Skyscanner before booking.
Tip: If feasible, avoid flying on weekends! Book as soon as possible, to get a better price!
Travel in Germany for only 49 EUR monthly
Since 2023 there is a great budget-friendly way to travel inside Germany – the D-Ticket (Deutschland-Ticket). It is valid for a calendar month for unlimited number of trips throughout Germany on all local public transport and all regional trains except ICE/IC/EC trains (faster service, but the regional trains are absolutely ok for distances of up to 300-400 km).
You can buy it online on the Deutsche Bahn website here, but you’ll need to register first. Foreigners and tourists from the EU states and some other countries are allowed to book, just check on their website if it is available to you.
However, bear in mind that the D-Ticket is only available as a subscription, but you can cancel it by the 10th of every month. So you can do it, even if you need it just for a month, but make sure to cancel it on time. For example, if you are in Germany only in September and book the D-Ticket, you will have to cancel it latest by the 10th of September, so that you don’t get charged for October.
Where to stay in Munich (on a budget)?
Campsite – around 150 EUR p.p. / 2 nights
Festival campsites are very popular among the younger tourists. They are the most affordable option, but you have to make a sacrifice with respect to comfort, because you only get a sleeping bag either in a solo tent or shared tent for up to 8 people! The most famous campsite is a bit far from the city centre, located 11 km (7 miles) from the Oktoberfest (about a 40-minute ride by public transport), but they have their own parties going on with lots of bars and live music almost 24/7. Here is a link if you want to check it out. This is a great option for party animals, but stay away if you want more comfort and privacy.
Hostel – around 350 EUR p.p. / 2 nights
Hostels are great for backpackers and people who don’t mind sleeping in dorm rooms, and what I love most about hostels is that they are very centrally located. Hostels are also usually reasonably priced, but sadly not around the festival, so you will be paying a lot more than expected. Since most of the hostels are already fully booked for Oktoberfest 3–4 months in advance, don’t wait too long with your booking!
Hotel – from 500 to 1000 EUR for double room / 2 nights
I think hotels are too expensive if you travel solo, because you pay almost the same as two people would. But for a group of two or more, there are good offers. Prices vary a lot depending on the location. For Oktoberfest, 900 EUR for a double room for 2 nights in downtown is the minimum you’ll have to reckon with. The further away, the cheaper it gets, but you won’t get a double room under 500 EUR for 2 nights in the underground/overground area of Munich. Another option is to consider staying in a nearby city, but I wouldn’t recommend more than an hour train ride.
AirBnB – around 600 EUR for two people / 2 nights
A lot of the locals offer their flats for rent, especially for the during Oktoberfest, so definitely check it out. It is almost always more affordable than a hotel and often in a better location for the same price.
How much do you spend at Oktoberfest?
Food and Drinks
Now let’s get to the most important part of Oktoberfest – the beer! The German beer and especially the festival beer is very good, and you will probably have a lot more than one. It is traditionally offered in the so called Maß/Mass (a massive glass with capacity of 1 L or 33 oz). The price for the Mass is adjusted yearly and in 2023 it was 14,50 EUR. As for the food options, there are mostly typical Bavarian dishes available, like Schweinshaxe (roasted pork knuckle) or Grillhendl (grilled chicken). For vegetarians, there is Käsespätzle (German mac and cheese) or Semmelknödel (bread dumplings). All of the above main courses are in the range of 18-35 EUR. For lunch or dinner in a festival tent with 1–2 beers and including tips, expect to pay minimum 60-70 EUR p.p. and up to 100 EUR if you stay longer and enjoy some more beers, cold platters or desserts.
If you want to reserve a table at a festival tent, have a look at our guide on how to do that here.
The budget-friendly option for enjoying the German beer and cuisine are the beer gardens and the outdoor food stalls. They have mostly different kinds of Wurst (sausages), pretzels, or Leberkäsesemmel (meat-loaf in a bun). Not only is the food outside a bit cheaper, but on top of that there is no service fee, and you are not expected to tip. For 1–2 beers and a meal outside, expect to pay around 40-45 EUR.
Attractions
Many operators run the different attractions at Oktoberfest, so you pay separately at each of them before riding. Prices vary between 5 and 12 EUR per ride, with most of them around 9 EUR. It is entirely up to you how many of them you’ll try. Beware, some of them are addictive, and you might want to do it more than once. Overall, I’d reckon that the minimum budget for fun activities at Oktoberfest is 20 EUR, with no upper limit.
Festive apparel
If you are considering visiting Oktoberfest, you will know what I mean – the traditional Bavarian costumes. For men, it is the Lederhosen (leather pants) and for women – the Dirndl (a feminine dress with a low décolleté). Traditional good quality costumes are quite the investment. But there are a lot of affordable options for tourists. You can either buy a costume online or at one of the many stores in Munich. The cheapest Dirndls are between 50 and 80 EUR, Lederhosen usually cost a bit more. A more sustainable option would be renting a costume for 1–3 days, with prices respectively 50-100 EUR. At Bavarian Outfitters, you can book online, and they have a wide selection of costumes that you can try in the store.
Of course, the Bavarian attire is not a must, especially if you spend less than a day at Oktoberfest. You will have just as much fun, even in your jeans and T-shirt.
Is Oktoberfest cash only?
While Oktoberfest is not officially cash only, it is essential to have some cash on you. Germany is notoriously conservative when it comes to paying by card and boasts many cash only restaurants, bars and cafés even in 2024. Moreover, at the places where card payments are allowed, for example the big festival tents, most of them only take German Maestro cards, and reject VISA, Mastercard or Amex.
There are ATMs around in case you forget to bring cash, but be prepared for higher fees than usual at a bank.
Is it expensive to visit Oktoberfest in 2024?
Oktoberfest is by no means a cheap experience. It also very much depends on your definition of what’s cheap or expensive. Personally, I find spending 900 EUR for 2 days (excluding transport) on the high end when it comes to travel, but you can also drastically reduce the costs by booking early, sleeping at a campsite, eating at the outdoor food stalls and going without a costume. In that case, you are looking at 350-400 EUR for 2 days.
Is Oktoberfest free?
There is no entrance fee and no entry ticket is needed for Oktoberfest. Everybody can get in on the festival ground after a quick security check.
FYI: Bags bigger than 20x15x10 cm (approx. 8x6x4 inch) are not permitted, but there are lockers available. Small children are also not allowed after 6p.m. or on some weekends. Make sure to check the restrictions on their official App beforehand.
It is free to wander around at the Oktoberfest, and you also don’t pay for entering a festive tent. You only bear the cost of your consumption, tips and rides.
Is Oktoberfest worth it?
It depends. I don’t think it is worth crossing the globe just for the beer festival, obviously because of the high cost, but you also risk huge disappointment in case you don’t really like it. Otherwise, I think Oktoberfest is worth visiting if you combine your trip to Bavaria with some other places from your Europe bucket list. If you happen to be in Germany at the end of September, you should definitely stop by in Munich and check it out. Oktoberfest is, even with its few disadvantages, a unique festival, that you can only experience in Munich. It is all about celebrating good beer, enjoying as many fun rides as possible and meeting people from all over.
If you are looking for some more info on what you can do and how much time you probably want to spend there, check our guide on How much time do you need for Oktoberfest.
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