Oktoberfest
My First Oktoberfest
Some places you know long before you ever experience them. Oktoberfest was one of those places for me. On Friday, 25 September 2026, it was finally time for my very first Wiesn.
We had come to Munich for a long weekend, and the Friday belonged entirely to Oktoberfest. Even my outfit had been waiting for this moment: I had bought the Lederhosen and the rest of the traditional look years ago, yet this was only the second time I had actually worn it.
With perfect late-September weather, blue skies and the city already filled with that unmistakable Wiesn energy, the timing could hardly have been better.
Inside the Paulaner Festzelt
From noon until around 5.30 in the afternoon, the Paulaner Festzelt became our little world within the Wiesn.
Music, laughter, long communal tables, traditional dress and Maß after Maß — the atmosphere was extraordinary. There was plenty of beer, enormous Brezn and hearty Bavarian food.
What stayed with me most was the mood itself: exuberant, joyful and, despite the enormous crowds, remarkably peaceful. We shared the afternoon with wonderful people, talked, laughed and toasted.
More Than Beer
What surprised me was how much there is to discover beyond the beer tents.
The Wiesn is a world of its own — traditional brewery horses, decorated façades, Dirndl and Lederhosen, sweets, old fairground traditions and countless details competing for attention.
Above the Wiesn
At around six in the evening, we left the tent and stepped back into the enormous fairground outside.
We went up on the Ferris wheel, ventured into the ghost train and then climbed even higher on the chain carousel — around 90 metres above the Wiesn.
From above, the scale of Oktoberfest suddenly became visible: tents, rides, crowds and Munich stretching beyond.
Beyond the Wiesn
Shopping, city walks and a rather indulgent Saturday in Munich — from Pfistermühle to Champagne and oysters at Dallmayr, followed by dinner at Weinhaus Neuner.
Explore Day Two
Walking Through Munich
After Friday’s Wiesn, Saturday belonged to Munich itself.
We spent the morning shopping and walking through the centre, passing the Viktualienmarkt, Marienplatz and the beautiful streets of the old town.
There was also some very important preparation for next year: I found new shoes for my Lederhosen outfit and a pair of long brown traditional socks. Wiesn 2027 is already looking a little more complete.
Lunch at Pfistermühle
Around midday we stopped at Restaurant Pfistermühle, tucked into one of the most atmospheric corners of Munich’s old town.
Its historic setting, climbing greenery and flower-filled exterior create an almost hidden retreat just a short walk from the busy centre.
It was exactly the kind of place we needed for a quiet pause before the rather more indulgent part of the afternoon began.
An Afternoon at Dallmayr
Some afternoons are best left without a schedule. This became one of them.
We arrived at Dallmayr at around three and somehow stayed until half past seven.
Champagne, oysters, a little lunch, beautiful delicacies and the simple pleasure of watching a Munich afternoon pass by turned a planned stop into several wonderfully unhurried hours.
Weinhaus Neuner
And yes — after Dallmayr, there was still dinner.
We ended the day at Weinhaus Neuner, where the warm, historic atmosphere offered a completely different side of Munich from the exuberance of the Wiesn the day before.
Traditional surroundings, classic food and a long evening at the table made it a fitting finale to an unusually indulgent Saturday.
Tafelspitz and Schnitzel brought us firmly back to the comforting flavours of this part of the world — although by this point it would be fair to say that Munich had fed us extremely well.
