The first thing you should know before you go to Oktoberfest in Munich is that you are going to have the time of your life.
The second thing? There will be crowds.
Each year during the festival, millions of people descend on Munich to drink, eat, sing, drink some more and generally be merry to the max.
That doesn't mean you can't have an off-the-beaten-path experience though, as there are still a few slightly lesser-known Oktoberfest experiences to take part in.
Spend Time at the Tiny Tents
Oktoberfest beer tents can generally be divided into two categories: big and small. It can definitely be tempting to spend all your time inside the big ones, as these are the bad boys you have most likely read about or seen on television.
On average, the big tents hold around 6,000 people, but the small tents can be just as much fun. They feature a calmer atmosphere yet retain the same magical combination of music, food and drinks.
There is no better way to start a day at Oktoberfest than a trip to Café Kaiserschmarrn. This sugar castle of a tent looks like something from Candyland on the outside and serves up pastries and Bavarian breakfast specialties inside. Try their signature Kaiserschmarrn, a pancake dusted with icing sugar and served with custard or their decadent line of sweet pretzels and donuts.
Two other chilled-out options are the Wildstuben-a wooden "tent" known for an intimate hunting lodge atmosphere and delicious venison dishes-and the Wiesn Guglhupf-a small carousel in the shape of the cake that slowly rotates while customers sip their drinks.
Browse the Lesser-Known Big Tents
There is a division among the big Oktoberfest beer tents too: Those with world-famous names versus the rest.
Imagine it's your first trip Oktoberfest, and you are walking through the throngs of revelers on the fairgrounds. Are you going to gravitate to a beer tent with a name out front you recognize-like Hofbrau or Lowenbrau-or one less familiar, and hard to pronounce like Armbrustschützen?
Exactly.
Seek out the lesser-known names to get off the beaten path. You will be surrounded by more locals here, and that will lead to a rewarding experience.
A trip to the Winezelt is also highly recommended, as even though this "wine tent" is right in the smack in the middle of the fairgrounds, it still feels like a secret.
[READMORE]READMORE: Can't-Miss Oktoberfest Celebrations[/READMORE]
Don't Overlook the Oide Wiesn
The Oide Wiesn is a separate section of the festival dedicated to Oktoberfest nostalgia.
Here you can experience Oktoberfest as it used to be, with historical costumes and vintage rides in addition to a throwback beer tent. While there is no entrance fee to Oktoberfest in general, it costs $3.50 to enter the Oide Wiesn, (which certainly helps keep the number of random revelers down).
Do a Round on the Rides
In addition to the beer tents and food stalls, carnival rides occupy the most real estate at Oktoberfest. There are tame rides like chairoplanes and bumper cars but also hair-raising and stomach-churning ones like roller coasters and log flumes.
A spell on the rides will serve to balance out all that beer-drinking and show you another side of the festival.
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