brink

Hi all--
I've been reading up on the trains, lockers, etc, and now that I have a bit of a plan, I'm looking for advice.

I arrive in Munich at 7:55 AM on Sunday October 7, the last day of Oktoberfest. I need to get up to Erlangen Sunday evening because of work commitments on Monday, but I hate to miss out on the opportunity to check out Oktoberfest. I'm sure I'll be exhausted from the travel, but I figure I should try it.

So-- looking for advice...
1-- it it worth trekking there for just a few hours?
2-- Can anyone confirm that the train station near Oktoberfest will have luggage lockers? (And while I'll have a 21', my travel companion is likely to have a 26')
3-- what's the easiest way to get from Oktoberfest to Erlangen? (assuming an afternoon at Oktoberfest, i won't be driving! )

Thanks so much!

Dukey1

Just what exactly are you planning to do? Go to one of those beer tents some of which require reservations? Go to that carnival ride set-up assuming it is still operating? Go to the final day's parade depending on the time.

You can store all luggage in the main rail station.

michele_d

If you do not have tent reservations you will still be able to have lunch in one of the tents. Most of the tables are reserved for dinner. There is usually a sign on the table that states what time it is reserved for. As long as you are gone before that time you are fine.

You can roam around the carnival grounds and walk through the tents for free. It is fun to watch the families all dressed in traditional lederhosen. Ride a few rides, grab some lunch, have a beer or two. A few hours is plenty to get a taste of Oktoberfest, although most of the activity (drunks, fights etc) take place later in the day, when most of the drinking takes place.

brink

Fair question!
The only thing I'm dead set on is taking in the scene, watching people and drinking a few beers.
I don't think there's a parade (at least I couldn't find one on the event calendar) and while I'd love to see the rides/carnival, I don't think I'd partake in that.

brink

michele_d... great feedback. Thanks. If I had more time, I would have done it differently and stayed longer (I mean, who doesn't want to stick around and see a good fight??) But unfortunately this work trip just came up and I'm trying to make the most of it!

jscarbary

While you may be tired from traveling, I would think that once you get there you will wake up. It is so fun. People watching was great, as was the beer. As long as you have the time I would say go for it.

brink

thanks jscarbary.... seriously, we can sleep when we're dead, right?? haha. Thanks for confirming that my plan works. Now I just need to figure out how to get north to Erlangen after a few beers!

Bigfoot1972

Check www.bahn.de for train times. It shows that there is a direct train (ICE) from Munich Hbf to Erlangen at 00.01 hours which arrives in Erlangen at 02.21. That's the last , and in that case you can enjoy the Oktoberfest the whole day.

You should be able to get in on sunday, don't worry about reservations.

Watzmann

Leave your luggage at the main station, plenty of lockers there. The festival grounds are a few blocks south-west by foot or 1 subway station away (U5 or U4). Tents open at 9. If you're there at 9, you should get a seat. Not all of the tables can be reserved. In fact, only about 30-40 percent of each tent's tables can be booked in advanced and the ones in the centre of the tents can never be reserved and are free for those, who come first. There are many trains from Munich to Erlangen, most of them go to Nuremberg/Nürnberg first. At least, one every hour. ICE trains are the fastest, yet on this particular high-speed rail track, the regional trains really are a good options, since they use the same rails as the high-speed-trains. They only stop a bit more often (3 times, I think). It's something like 1h vs 1h20min travel time ICE vs Regional trains. Regional trains on this track are called Regionalexpress (RE). You can use the "Bayern ticket" for that, which is also valid for the public transport in Munich. So, you could buy a bayern ticket once you arrive at munich airport at a vending machine or at the counter, take the s-bahn to munich central station, leave your luggage there, take the subway to the festival and back and travel to Nuremberg - all with the same "Bayern-ticket" for something like 20€.

Travelforbeer

Brink

Watzmann has summarized a good way to see the 'Fest in one day.Since you are going on business, is there any way you can go a day earlier? That way you could arrive on Saturday 7 Oct, and not have to get to Erlangen until the next evening. You will probably have jet lag if you arrive Sunday morning and you will not be at your best. If you arrive Sat you could go to the 'Fest for a few hours on Sat afternoon, get a hotel close to the train station (which is only 5-6 blocks from the 'Fest), rest up Sat nite then spend 5-6 hours at the 'Fest Sunday and go to Erlangen early Sun evening so you will be rested for work Monday. Fortunately the weather forcast looks good with no rain Sat or Sun, just a little cool Sunday (55 degrees F for the high). From the main train station, exit toward the south side (Bayer Strasse) walk South on Goethe Strasse for 2 blocks, turn right on Landwehr Strasse for 2 blocks and look for Festival signs (or follow the crowd).

At any rate, don't miss this opportunity to attend the 'Fest and enjoy it. Beers are less than 10 E per L. the food is fairly good, and the people watching is outstanding.

soogies

saving for me

boneybuffalo

If you do need to crash a cheap last minute options is the "Hangover Hospital", which is apparently in walking distance to the city center. There is voucher code for mid-week nights — "Munich". It will probably be very basic, but cheap! tiny.cc/oktoberfesthostel

sparkchaser

Doable. Not ideal but certainly doable.


<i>I need to get up to Erlangen Sunday evening because of work commitments on Monday</i>

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