More Than Beer and Brats: An Oktoberfest Adventure
When Stephanie Rook and her husband, Chris, were deciding how to celebrate his 40th birthday, they didn’t want just any trip. Oktoberfest had been on Chris’s bucket list, so they headed to Munich for four days of beer tents, Bavarian traditions, and a whole lot of fun.
What Stephanie didn’t expect? To fall in love with Munich.
Staying in Munich
Stephanie and Chris stayed at the Platzl Hotel, right in the heart of Munich and just steps from the famous Hofbräuhaus. That location made it easy to explore the city on foot, which they quickly took advantage of.
Before even heading to Oktoberfest, they wandered through markets and beer gardens, enjoyed a leisurely dinner at the Ratskeller, and got a feel for the city.
And that became one of the biggest surprises of the trip: Munich was much more her style than she expected. Stephanie had always gravitated toward destinations like Italy and France, but after this trip, Munich officially made the list of places she'd happily return to.
Seeing Oktoberfest for the First Time
Rather than trying to figure out Oktoberfest on their own, Stephanie and Chris booked a guided tour for their first day.
It turned out to be one of their best decisions.
The tour helped them understand the history and traditions of Oktoberfest, learn proper etiquette, explore several different tents, and get comfortable with how everything worked. They even made friends with other people on their tour.
That knowledge made the next day even more enjoyable when they returned to Oktoberfest on their own.
One of Stephanie's favorite parts was how easy it was to meet people. The beer tents have long communal tables, and rather than sitting at your own reserved table with your own group, people often squeeze in together and make room for one another. Stephanie and Chris ended up sitting with a couple from Australia. What started as sharing a table turned into six hours of conversation and a memory they'll never forget.
That's the kind of travel experience you can't always plan.
Oktoberfest Isn't Just for Adults
One of Stephanie's biggest surprises was how family-friendly Oktoberfest actually is.
Along with the beer tents, there are rides, games, and plenty of activities for kids. They even saw a school visiting Oktoberfest on a field trip!
It's a very different picture from the stereotypical "giant beer party" many Americans imagine.
Of course, there is plenty of beer and traditional food (think sausages, pretzels, and more beer) but every tent has its own personality and atmosphere. Stephanie did some research ahead of time so she had an idea of which tents would be the best fit for them.
And the Trip Didn't Stop at Oktoberfest
Stephanie and Chris also made time to experience more of the region.
They took a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace by luxury coach, then traveled from Munich to Prague with a private Daytrip driver. Along the way, they even had time to stop at the Pilsner Museum.
Listen to the podcast to hear more!
In Prague, they celebrated Stephanie's birthday with a Best of Prague walking tour and cruise, explored the city's history, enjoyed a meal at Café Imperial, and took a Prague foodie tour that introduced them to foods Stephanie says she probably wouldn't have ordered on her own.
And then there was the beer spa which, naturally, we had to ask Stephanie about when she joined us on Where She Goes.
The Biggest Takeaway
Oktoberfest may have been the reason for the trip, but it wasn't the only reason the trip was memorable.
Stephanie's experience is a great reminder that a bucket-list trip doesn't have to mean checking one thing off a list and moving on. Give yourself time to experience the destination, meet people, try something new, and let the trip surprise you.
And sometimes, the place you didn't expect to love ends up being the place you can't wait to return to.
Want to Hear the Whole Story?
Stephanie joined us for our first guest episode of Where She Goes, where we talk about Oktoberfest, Munich, Prague, traveling for a milestone birthday, the benefits of taking a guided tour, and all the things Stephanie didn't expect to discover along the way.
Listen to "Oktoberfest in Munich: More Than Beer, Brats & Big Tents" wherever you get your podcasts.
And if Oktoberfest (or any European bucket-list adventure) is on your list, find a travel advisor who can help you plan more than just the headline attraction. Because sometimes, you don't know what you don't know until you have someone asking the right questions.