The large tents of the Oktoberfest
Here’s a description of the 14 legendary big tents (Festhalle) of the Oktoberfest. The origins, the distinctive characteristics, the features, the setting, the music, the entertainment, the culinary specialities, the capacity and the beer served.
Each tent is different from each other and in all of them, the Oktoberfest has a special atmosphere. It is important to choose in what tent you are going to spend the day at the Oktoberfest, depending on different factors. You can select a tent based on your preferred beer, or based on your culinary styles, or even your age. In some, a softer environment is found, suitable also for families and children, in others the atmosphere is more “frenetic” and lively, while others instead, are distinguished by their classier attendance. Additionally, a number of them hold some of the important events in the 16 days of the Oktoberfest programme, occasions not to be missed in order to experience the deeply rooted tradition, like the “O’zapft is!” for example on the opening day at the SCHOTTENHAMEL, or the mass and the carnies club of the HIPPODROME”.
They range from 2,500 seats in the WEINZELT (the smallest of the large tents) up to almost 11,000 in the WINZERER FÄHNDL with Paulaner beer.
This is the heart of the Oktoberfest, a true icon of the festival, and of course you cannot go to Munich without spending time in one of these 14 tents.
It would be an understatement to say that they are part of the Wiesn tradition, instead it must be said that they are the true exponents, that enhance the fame of the Oktoberfest making it the largest peoples festival in the world.
Entering the right tent especially for first time visitors should not be a dictated by chance, but a considered choice, decided on beforehand, based on your preferences, at any rate however each tent is steeped in tradition and immersed in the typical Wiesn atmosphere.

ARMBRUSTSCHÜTZENZELT

The Armbrustschützenzelt having a capacity of around 7,500 seats, is one of the favoured tents of Bavarians and has been at the Oktoberfest since 1895. The German Crossbow Championships have been held here since 1935, indeed the walls are adorned with hunting trophies, deer heads, bears, wild boar and other game. You can drink Paulaner beer and the food is excellent.
AUGUSTINER-BRÄU

There are over 8,500 seats in the Augustiner. For many it is the best tent in which to spend the Oktoberfest, it is certainly distinguished from the others by more than one element; indeed it is famous for the friendliness of its maids, and as can be imagined is a quality that is quite rare in the halls, given the number of customers that must be served, and also it is the only brewery that serves beer from the traditional wooden barrels!
BRÄUROSL

This tent has 8,400 seats after the latest extension in 2010. Since 1963, this tent has been managed by the Heide family, to date by seven generations, and is named after the owner’s daughter, Herr Pschorr. The logo above the door of the tent is a painting of his daughter Rosl on her horse with a beer in her hand. The distinguishing feature of this tent is the good high spirits…and of course the Bavarian Kaiserschmarrn! The Bräurosl brewery is the Hacker-Pschorr.
FISCHER-VRONI

The Fischer-Vroni is one of the smaller tents among the 14 of the Oktoberfest, with approximately 3,800 seats. The name gives away its identity, indeed great fish dishes are served here, mackerel is the speciality, and the Steckerlfisch, cooked fish on the grill and served on a spit with 15 different kinds of fish, but it generally offers a very wide variety on its menu.
HACKER FESTZELT

The Hacker tent has 9,300 seats. The ceiling was decorated in 2004 with clouds and stars in memory of a folk tale dedicated to Aloisio, a Munich citizen who dies and goes to heaven. After a while, he gets bored and starts to complain and ruins the good humour of the others. So he is sent on a special mission to the Munich town hall but ends up in an Oktoberfest tent, the Hackerbraeu.
HIPPODROM

The Hippodrom accounts for around 4,200 seats, and so is a relatively small tent but is famous for its special atmosphere. Its fame is due to the fact that it is said to be the tent where the greatest number of “flirts” occur in the whole of the Wiesn, especially in the beautiful “champagne bar”.
HOFBRÄU-FESTZELT

The Hofbräu tent is the second largest of its kind at the Oktoberfest. it accounts for a total of 9,992 seats. It is also the only tent with a zone where it is allowed to remain standing, just in front of the stage. It has been at the Oktoberfest since 1955, and the current tent was built in 1972.
KÄFER’S WIESN-SCHÄNKE

It is one of the smaller tents with approximately 3,000 seats, frequented by high society eager to stay away from noisy crowds. It made its entrance at the Wiesn in 1971, and is distinguished from the other tents being built in the style of a Bavarian farm with its huge logs. With the limited seating, special attention is paid to the cuisine, there’s also wine and champagne but the duck is definitely worth trying!
LÖWENBRÄU-FESTZELT

With around 9,500 seats, it is one of the largest tents at the Oktoberfest. Visible from both sides of the Wiesn with its 37 meter high tower, its distinguishing feature is however, a four and a half meter high lion that roars every minute just above the entrance to the tent.
OCHSENBRATEREI

OCHSENBRATEREI
The tent has a surface area of 4,200 square meters and has around 7,600 seats. The culinary speciality is the ox, cooked in a thousand different ways, and as testimony to this, a huge ox on a spit stands out above the main entrance.
SCHOTTENHAMEL FESTZELT

The Schottenhamel has 9,000 seats, taking into account the indoor seating and the Biergarten. It is here that the customary tradition “O’zapft is” is celebrated, and it is here every year that the Oktoberfest officially begins.
SCHÜTZEN FESTZELT

The tent has around 5,400 seats, including the Biergarten which was added in 2006. It was one of the first tents to make an appearance at the Wiesn, but the tent was rebuilt in 2004, while maintaining the traditional setting of geranium flower boxes. It is located at the foot of the statue of Bavaria and has a hall for crossbow shooting and as a result, only half of the available space is assigned to seating.
WEINZELT

With its 2,500 seats it is considered by many visitors to be the most beautiful tent at the Oktoberfest. Unlike the other tents, wine is consumed here with a selection of more than 15 varieties of wine along with sparkling wines and champagne. For those who cannot do without, beer is also served along with Paulaner white wheat beer, but only until 9 in the evening!
WINZERER FÄHNDL

This is the largest tent at the Oktoberfest with 10,900 seats (8,450 indoor!), as well as being the preferred choice of the Bayern Munich players and fans. The name originates from the era when it was the meeting place of the archers (currently the Armbrustschützen).
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Want to go to Oktoberfest but have no idea what days will have a greater turnout or which are the days when it will be easier to find a place to sit inside the halls? Here you will find the expected turnout during each of the days of the Oktoberfest.
BUS Trips

Disco Bus
AS A GIFT FOR EVERY RESERVATION
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1 Free Voucher for 1 person
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Kingdom of Dionysus SPA
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(valid for 3 months)
€110

Travel + Hotel
AS A GIFT FOR EVERY RESERVATION
-
1 Free Voucher for 1 person
-
Kingdom of Dionysus SPA
-
(valid for 3 months)
€145

Weekend Long
AS A GIFT FOR EVERY RESERVATION
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1 Free Voucher for 1 person
-
Kingdom of Dionysus SPA
-
(valid for 3 months)
€159

Travel + Hotel + Typical Village
AS A GIFT FOR EVERY RESERVATION
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1 Free Voucher for 1 person
-
Kingdom of Dionysus SPA
-
(valid for 3 months)
€145

Oktoberfest + Camping
AS A GIFT FOR EVERY RESERVATION
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1 Free Voucher for 1 person
-
Kingdom of Dionysus SPA
-
(valid for 3 months)
€145

Oktoberfest + Innsbruck
AS A GIFT FOR EVERY RESERVATION
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1 Free Voucher for 1 person
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Kingdom of Dionysus SPA
-
(valid for 3 months)
€150

Oktoberfest + Cannstatter Volksfest
AS A GIFT FOR EVERY RESERVATION
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1 Free Voucher for 1 person
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Kingdom of Dionysus SPA
-
(valid for 3 months)
€164

Oktoberfest + Neuschwanstein Castle
AS A GIFT FOR EVERY RESERVATION
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1 Free Voucher for 1 person
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Kingdom of Dionysus SPA
-
(valid for 3 months)
€169

Oktoberfest + Lunch
AS A GIFT FOR EVERY RESERVATION
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1 Free Voucher for 1 person
-
Kingdom of Dionysus SPA
-
(valid for 3 months)
€170

Deluxe
AS A GIFT FOR EVERY RESERVATION
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1 Free Voucher for 1 person
-
Kingdom of Dionysus SPA
-
(valid for 3 months)
€219

Oktoberfest + 2 Nights + Guided Tour
AS A GIFT FOR EVERY RESERVATION
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1 Free Voucher for 1 person
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Kingdom of Dionysus SPA
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(valid for 3 months)
€270

Travel only
AS A GIFT FOR EVERY RESERVATION
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1 Free Voucher for 1 person
-
Kingdom of Dionysus SPA
-
(valid for 3 months)
€70

Oktoberfest Roulette
AS A GIFT FOR EVERY RESERVATION
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1 Free Voucher for 1 person
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Kingdom of Dionysus SPA
-
(valid for 3 months)