Entry on a Saturday
This is how the entry to the Oktoberfest works on Saturdays.
When Oktoberfest first-timers complain that they have not found seats during their visit to the Oktoberfest and that they have not even entered a tent because they were all closed due to overcrowding, one can assume that this failed Oktoberfest visit took place on a Saturday. Due to the large crowds, we always recommend avoiding Saturdays if possible. However, if you read this, it’s probably already too late for that. It's still important to note that this only applies to Saturdays. Queuing up on any other weekday is pointless.
Since 2016, Saturdays Start With a Morning Run
Due to the large crowd and the associated tent closings, tens of thousands of people stand outside the gates of the festival grounds on Saturdays until they open at 9 am to ensure they get seats. The Munich administration created this difficult-to-control entry situation with the introduction of the bag ban in 2016 and the associated closure of the festival grounds until 9 am.
The security service has done a better job regulating the admission since 2022. However, we would nonetheless like to prepare all those who consider it a good idea to stand in front of the entrances on a Saturday morning.
The queues can stretch around the entire grounds, from one entrance to the next. The biggest crowd is expected at the two northern entrances, the main entrance and Schaustellerstraße, and the least in the south at Oidn Wiesn and at Familienplatz at Beethovenstraße. You can get an impression of the situation at Esperantoplatz in this video.
Different Entrances, Different Procedures
We’ve seen something similar in the past at the two entrances to the left and right of the Bavaria statue. As a rule, most visitors will take their starting positions at the entrance closest to the tent they’re heading for. After all, once access is granted, the goal is to successfully participate in the new Munich Fun Run. However, since the entrances have often opened a few minutes apart in the past, it’s hard to be sure that you’ve actually found the most convenient entrance.
Our recommendation
We can therefore only recommend the following: As a rule, it is not worth appearing long before 9 am. It also makes no sense to line up in the long queues at the main entrance or Schaustellerstraße. If you want to avoid crowds, use the entrance at the Oide Wiesn (P10). Most people try to get seats at Schottenhamel, Schützenzelt, Hackerzelt, and, because of the significant number of tourists on a Saturday morning, also Hofbräuzelt. Fischer-Vroni and Armbrustschützenzelt seem not to be the first priority for most runners and might therefore be worth checking out. Since 2025, another reason not to run to Schützenzelt is the fact that they were allowed to abolish their unreserved section.
Despite everything, we wish you a nice Saturday. We would be happy to read about your experiences at the entrance in the comments below.