Oktoberfest: 5 Things Women Need to Know

Ladies if you’re planning to attend Oktoberfest, in Munich, Germany,  there are a few things you need to know before you go.

I’ve learned from experience, trust me.

5 Things Women Need to Know About Oktoberfest

Me and a friend at Oktoberfest in Munich.

1) Wear a Dirndl:  It’s not required, but is a lot of fun.  If you live in Munich or plan to attend Oktoberfest multiple times, it’s worth it to buy a real dirndl.  It will set you back at least €200 or more, but you’ll have it forever.  Angermaier is known for their quality traditional dirndls and have 2 locations in Munich. If Oktoberfest is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for you then, buy one of the costumey dirndls for less than €50. You will find a variety of stores around Marienplatz.  Another alternative is to buy a second-hand dirndl from Kleidermarkt, (Im Tal 30) one of the largest second-hand stores in Munich.  Insider travel tip: Go on a Tuesday between 10:00 – 3:00pm and save 30%.

2) Indicate Your Marital Status with the Tie on your Dirndl: Knot it on the right to show that you’re taken.  A knot on the left shows that you are single, while a knot in the front middle means you are a virgin.  A knot in the back means you are widowed.  Unfortunately there is no way to tell a man’s marital status from his lederhosen. But if you tie your dirndl on the left, you’ll have no trouble attracting some drunk dude’s attention.  Believe it or not, there’s something really sexy about getting hit on by a guy wearing lederhosen – as long as he’s still coherent.

3)Wear flats.  A huge part of Oktoberfest is dancing to songs like this one, on the benches.  Trust me you do not want to be doing this in heels.  I did this once and only once! The benches can be wobbly with 12 drunk people jumping up and down on them.  Not only is it difficult to dance on a wobbly bench in heels, it’s also very easy to lose your balance and end up spraining an ankle.

4) Bring a small cross-body purse.  I made the mistake of bringing a regular size purse the first time I went to Oktoberfest.  This was a really bad idea. First, there’s no place to put your purse. The floor is dirty and covered in beer, plus it  isn’t safe (you never want to leave valuables at Oktoberfest), and the table which is covered in beer. Your only option is to hold your purse the entire time, which is much easier to do when it’s a small cross-body purse, with only a few essentials.

5) Leave your coat at home. There is nowhere to put your coat and the tents can get really hot with up to 8000 dancing people.  Your only option is to wear it and sweat like crazy or put it on the floor and have it get dirty and soaked in beer at best or at worst stolen.  If it’s really chilly, bring a light sweater.  In my opinion it’s better to be chilly while getting to and from Oktoberfest and to be comfortable while you’re in the tents than the other way around.

If you’re over 30 and going to Oktoberfest, read this first.  Also be sure to check out my Oktoberfest page for more handy tips and get my FREE guide to Oktoberfest in Munich.