ChrisV- right about Oktoberfest meaning what...?

cguest88--thanks for all the detail. V. helpful!

cguest88/anyone: Does Ocktoberfest consume the city or is it a more isolated-type event?

It is isolated to a large open park fairly well removed from the major hotels and tourist areas (Unlike Mardi Gras in New Orleans). Outside of the fact that Munich is packed during the Fest it is unlikely you will be inconvenienced though you might run into a few revellers returning to their hotels. We were there for the 1st weekend 2 years ago and spent 1 day at the Fest and one day exploring the sites. It seemed like all the tourists were at the Fest so the sites were relatively tourist free.

Charlie B is pretty accurate. The festival doesn't consume the city like Mardi Gras does. The crowds are in and around the festival site and 5-6 block vacinity. The rest of the town was empty. Typically, I went and did a site in the morning like dachua and then in the afternoon I would meet up with friends at a Beer tent.

I have been to both a ton of times ( have family in Leipzig- so we would fly in to Berlin) and have friends all over so have been to Munich and surrounding areas lots of times. It really boils down to what you want to see and will you rent a car- Munich is in Bavaria and you have the Apls and other cool cities near by like Fussen ( King Ludwig's Castle) and Saltzburg. The scenery is spectacular. The Oktoberfest is one of the best parties in the world ( and it does not consume the whole city) If you have not had a chance to experience...it really is awesome...I have been about 4 times. The Bavarians are very warm and jovial. There are so many things and places to get to around Munich that makes it my favorite area.

Like I said- I have family in Leipzig which is not to far from Berlin. Berlin is in Saxony and not too far from Poland. We used to go for a few weeks in the summer and that was before the wall came down. Things have changed drastially in post-Communist Germany. There are some cool things in and around Berlin as well- such as Wittenburg, Dresden and Meissen. Berlin does remind me a lot of New York and you do have a lot of WWII history there...

I am going to Berlin/ Leipzig in Sept. and I am wishing that I could get down to Munich and the surrounding area for a few days...I really love the mountains...

I hesitated a long time to jump in, b/c I am a Dresden resident and would of course suggest to take Dresden into consideration for the German city.

However, I am not really in love with both Munich and Berlin (btw, Berlin is NOT in Saxony, it is its own state). Berlin is much more cosmopolitan, a vibrating city, a real capital. It is changing every day, very modern, busy. Munich is more cosy, busy in a different way. Sometimes with a southern flair (especially with blue sky :-)), but on the other hand with a strong influence of the surrounding rural countryside (especially the Viktualienmarkt).

I would not see a problem with Oktoberfest. With a side view on the distance I would decide for Berlin/Krakow. And this combination offers a significant contrast of two completely different cities.

Ingo