Ringwizard

We're considering a two week trip to Germany and on researching Munich I found that Oktoberfest is on at that time. So we'd certainly give Munich a miss (unfortunately). But my wife wondered how busy is Germany more widely at that time, does Oktoberfest drag in so many tourists that more than just Munich is crowded/busy?

Thanks!

swandav2000

Hi Ringwizard,

Do you mean all over Bavaria? Is so, then, yes, the whole of Bavaria is noticably busier and more active.

If you mean outside of Bavaria, I would say, no.

Have fun as you plan!

s

spaarne

You are going to find a number of wine festivals in the vineyard areas at that time. Directories are published, usually in German. Google it.

Why give Munich a miss? Oktoberfest is a great week-long party.

Cowboy1968

You will find most action and crowds focused on the Munich Oktoberfest grounds.
It also affects train travel in Bavaria (in the morning hours) and from Munich (from, say, 6pm on). So local/regional trains on the lines to Nuremberg, Salzburg, Ulm, Garmisch will be busier than on regular days.
Otherwise you hardly feel any impact at all. The shopping streets of downtown Munich are more crowded on fridays and saturdays. But even at the major Munich sights, e.g. Museums, you hardly encounter any longer lines at any time.
Ouside Upper Bavaria or outside a 100km radius around Munich you won't notice Oktoberfest at all.

annhig

we were in Germany in the autumn of 2011, in the area south of Berlin; as it was lovely weather there were quite a lot of people around, but it could hardly have been described as crowded.

it may even be that the Oktoberfest sucks people away from other areas.

nytraveler

Late Sept/early Oct is not high season - but it's not low season either - as is the dead of winter, except in the ski areas. You won't find huge mobs but there will be a moderate number of tourists in all the typical tourist sights - and a huge number at Oktoberfest and a good number at the various other festivals.

Pegontheroad

My experience has been that hotels are a bit harder to come by in Munich during Oktoberfest, but I haven't seen a lot of difference otherwise.

Munich is always a tourist destination, but it's a big city, and I don't think it will be much more crowded than it would have been otherwise.

Cowboy is German, so he is the expert here.

bilboburgler

Munich Messe can suck in a lot of hotel rooms in the Autumn

Ringwizard

Thank you everyone, very helpful.