Soon it will be time for Oktoberfest festivities to take place once again in Munich, as they have for the past 186 years at the end of September through the beginning of October. Of course, you will need transportation to and from the events, as well as to travel around Bavaria or to Austria if you have the time. Here you can find out why the SIXT app is a useful companion for Oktoberfest.
5 Quick Facts About Oktoberfest
- The first Oktoberfest was celebrated on the occasion of the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese in October 1810.
- Traditionally Oktoberfest takes place on the large open field called Theresienwiese and is therefore often only called “Wiesn” in Bavarian dialect.
- The beer consumption is over 6 million liters.
- More than 6 million visitors are expected again this year.
- With the barrel tapping by the Mayor of Munich and the call: “O’zapft is! Auf eine friedliche Wiesn!” the Oktoberfest is officially opened.
Take a SIXT Share to Oktoberfest
Since May 2019 our carsharing service, SIXT share, has been available in Munich. With it, you can easily get from your home or hotel to Oktoberfest together with your family or friends. Public transportation is overcrowded during the festival and so your own car is a great way to get to the Theresienwiese.
With the SIXT app you can easily find, reserve, and open the carsharing cars within our business area. After parking simply close the car in the SIXT app (“End rental”) and then go to the Oktoberfest tents where the party is.
Get Home After Oktoberfest with SIXT Ride
Drinking beer is like wearing lederhosen or a dirndl when going to Oktoberfest. Neither is a must, but it makes your experience at Oktoberfest authentic. And it goes without saying that after drinking alcohol you shouldn’t get behind the wheel!
But we have the perfect solution: SIXT ride. Our ride-hailing service, which is also integrated into the SIXT app, allows you to easily order a taxi to drive you home. And if you’re short on cash, don’t worry because you can pay in the app after you’ve registered and entered your payment information.
This is how it works: Select your pick-up point, enter your destination, and choose a vehicle type. Then book the trip, and shortly afterward the driver will pick you up and bring you home safely. It couldn’t be easier!
Tour the Area Around Munich with a SIXT Rental
After you’re done seeing all the sights that Munich has to offer during Oktoberfest, you can move onto exploring the surrounding area. Luckily, there is a lot to see just outside of the city that is easily reachable with a rental car. You can even go further afield into neighboring countries if you have the time. You have a couple of options if you need a car rental to get around. You can use a SIXT share vehicle starting at €59 per 24 hours, but that limits you to Germany and you have to return the car to a SIXT business area (or simply bring it back to Munich). Bigger adventures will require a regular rental car, which also allows you to cross the border into neighboring Austria. And now, here are some options of what you can explore in Bavaria and beyond.
Chiemsee
This giant lake southeast of Munich covers 31 square miles (80 square kilometers) and is sometimes called the Bavarian Sea. There are 3 islands in the lake, 2 of which are inhabited (one with nuns!). On Herreninsel (Gentlemen’s Island) you can visit the palace built by King Ludwig II to rival the Palace of Versailles that was never finished, and on Fraueninsel (Ladies’ Island) there is a nunnery that has been there since 782. You can catch a ferry to all the islands but be sure to check the schedule before you go. The western part of Chiemsee is just over a 1-hour drive from Munich on the A8 road.
Tegernsee
You need less than 1 hour to get from Munich to this lake and resort town with a backdrop of the Bavarian Alps. This is where to go to relax amid nature, as there are many spas, golf clubs, and places to stay. You can go hiking, rent a boat, or visit the former Benedictine monastery, Tegernsee Abbey.
Neuschwanstein Castle
If you plan to visit Munich, chances are a visit to this fairytale castle is on your itinerary. It lies about 2 hours southwest of the city, sitting on the edge of the Alps just outside the town of Fussen and not far from the Austrian border. You might already know that Walt Disney used Neuschwanstein as his inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s castle, featured in the company’s logo and also in Walt Disney World and Disneyland. You can learn about the history of the castle on a guided tour in German or English. Note that you can only visit the castle with a tour guide!
Zugspitze Peak
If you go a bit further southeast from Neuschwanstein you can find Zugspitze, the tallest mountain peak in Germany. It’s roughly 2 hours from Munich on the A95. You can get amazing views of the Alps here, and it is popular in colder months for its ski slopes. This is a prime spot for hiking, and you can also say you went to Austria if you go here, as the top of the peak straddles both countries.
Salzburg, Austria
When time allows, why not take a day trip to Salzburg? You can get here in about 1 hour and 45 minutes on the A8, and you will be rewarded with a beautiful city known for its classical music and architecture. It was the home of Mozart, and in pop culture is featured in the classic film “The Sound of Music”. You can also find the High Fortress, an impressive castle within the city. Take a stroll and soak in the Medieval touches and Baroque architecture. Then relax with an afternoon break with coffee and cake, as the locals do.
