Arguably the world’s most famous beer town, Munich’s Beer and Oktoberfest Museum leaves no pint unturned. Over two floors of a 14th-century townhouse, visitors dive (and sometimes duck) into the city’s beer-loving past and present, with an entire floor dedicated to Oktoberfest—which began as a national festival for the 1810 wedding of King Ludwig I to Princess Therese. Expect to spend a couple of hours here navigating memorabilia, touring the exhibits, taking in the artwork, and watching the 12-minute film inside the museum’s small theater.
To complement your journey, purchase a voucher for a drink and a snack at the ground-level Museumsstüberl tavern and restaurant—few things go better with all that knowledge than a mug of Hell, Dunkel, Weißbier, Pils, or Edelstoff.
Purchase your tickets online to avoid entrance lines—this is one of Munich’s more popular museums.
Wear comfortable shoes. The museum features several floors of exhibits, so be prepared to do a fair amount of walking.
Don’t miss the obvious: the architecture. The building’s wooden beams and restored murals date all the way back to 1340.
To get to Munich’s Beer and Oktoberfest Museum, take the subway to the Marienplatz or Isator stops—the museum is just a few minutes’ walk from here. You can also get here via the city bus system, disembarking at the Marienplatz or Rindermarkt stops. (Tip: You can easily walk to the Hofbrauhaus after your tour as well.)
One of the more popular times to visit Munich’s Beer and Oktoberfest Museum is—rather unsurprisingly—during Oktoberfest, held from late September to the first weekend in October. During these three weeks, the museum offers Oktoberfest-themed exhibits, puts out seasonal memorabilia, and holds special events and activities. That being said, to avoid crowds, Munich’s low season is December–February—you can maximize your elbow room by arriving on a weekday.
Beer fashion? Well, sort of. The museum has scores of traditional Oktoberfest costumes, which vary across the country’s eras and regions. You’ll learn all about the different types of traditional clothing worn during the festival, from dirndls to lederhosen and beyond. (If you attend the festivities, maybe you’ll even get some inspiration for your own wardrobe.)
