The beer tents are Oktoberfest. Walk the Theresienwiese and you’ll pass roller coasters, sausage stalls, and souvenir stands — but the heart of the festival beats inside the enormous Festzelte, where brass bands play, benches sway, and thousands of people raise one-liter steins together. Choosing the right tent makes or breaks your day, and they are far from interchangeable. Here’s how to pick.
How Oktoberfest tents work
A few things every first-timer should know:
- There are 14 large tents, each run by a different host and pouring one of Munich’s six festival beers. Each seats between roughly 5,000 and 10,000 people indoors and out.
- Entry is free, but you can only be served beer if you have a seat at a table. No seat, no Maß.
- On weekends and most evenings the popular tents fill up and close their doors when full — sometimes by late morning. Arrive early or reserve.
- Beyond the big 14, there are charming smaller tents and the historical Oide Wiesn worth exploring.
The 14 big beer tents at a glance
Schottenhamel-Festhalle — The most famous of all: this is where Munich’s mayor taps the first keg and shouts “O’zapft is!” to open the festival. Traditional by day, it turns into a young, high-energy party crowd in the evenings. Beer: Spaten.
Hofbräu-Festzelt — The international party tent. Backed by the world-famous Hofbräuhaus, it draws huge crowds of visitors from the US, Australia, Italy and beyond, with a standing-room area in front of the band and pop hits alongside the oompah. Loud, rowdy, fun. Beer: Hofbräu.
Hacker-Festzelt — “Himmel der Bayern” (Heaven of the Bavarians), with a famous painted sky ceiling and a removable roof. A brilliant balance of tradition and party, with a rock band that gets the benches dancing at night. Beer: Hacker-Pschorr.
Augustiner-Festhalle — The local favorite and the most traditional big tent. Augustiner is the only brewery still serving from old-fashioned wooden barrels (Hirschen), and the atmosphere is warm, family-friendly, and authentically Bavarian. Beer: Augustiner.
Paulaner Festzelt — Towering and beautifully decorated, with a spinning Paulaner sign above. Lively, popular, and a reliably great party in the evenings. Beer: Paulaner.
Löwenbräu-Festzelt — Marked by the giant roaring lion above the entrance who periodically bellows “Löööwenbräu!” A favorite of football fans and a solid all-rounder. Beer: Löwenbräu.
Marstall — One of the newer big tents, with an elegant equestrian (horse) theme and a carousel-style band stage. Polished and slightly upscale. Beer: Spaten.
Ochsenbraterei — Famous for its spit-roasted ox; a sign tallies how many oxen have been eaten so far. Hearty, traditional, and great for food lovers. Beer: Spaten.
Bräurosl (Pschorr-Bräurosl) — A huge, traditional tent with a famous yodeler and a friendly, less touristy feel. Beer: Hacker-Pschorr.
Fischer-Vroni — Beloved for its Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick) and a cozy, characterful atmosphere. Smaller and more relaxed than the party giants. Beer: Augustiner.
Schützen-Festzelt — Tucked beneath the Bavaria statue, smaller and stylish, known for its roast suckling pig and a good mix of tradition and fun. Beer: Löwenbräu.
Armbrustschützenzelt — Home to the Oktoberfest crossbow competition, with a classic Bavarian feel and a loyal following. Beer: Paulaner.
Käfer Wies’n-Schänke — Smaller, chic, and famous as the celebrity tent, open latest of all (until 1 a.m.). Excellent food, harder to get into. Beer: Paulaner.
Kufflers Weinzelt — The wine tent. Sixteen wines and sparkling wines plus Paulaner wheat beer; a stylish, slightly older crowd and also open until 1 a.m. Beer/Wine: Paulaner wheat beer + wines.
Which tent should you choose?
For the classic opening ceremony: Schottenhamel (book far ahead — it’s the hardest seat on opening Saturday).
For a big international party: Hofbräu or Paulaner.
For tradition and local atmosphere: Augustiner or Bräurosl.
For food first: Ochsenbraterei (ox), Fischer-Vroni (fish), or Schützen (suckling pig).
For a quieter, classier evening: Käfer, Kufflers Weinzelt, or Marstall.
For families during the day: Augustiner and the Oide Wiesn are calmest, especially before mid-afternoon. (Tuesdays are official family days with discounted rides.)
Tips for getting a seat
- Reserve in advance if you can. Reservations are made directly with each tent, are usually free, but require buying a minimum number of food-and-beer vouchers — and the best slots sell out months ahead.
- No reservation? Arrive on a weekday late morning or early afternoon, when walk-in tables are easiest.
- Tables are shared — it’s normal and friendly to join strangers. A cheerful “Ist hier noch frei?” (“Is this seat free?”) goes a long way.
- Cash is king for beer and food, and have small notes ready for tips.
New to the Wiesn? Pair this with our first-timer’s guide and our article on what to wear. And check our Oktoberfest 2026 dates and schedule guide to plan which days to go.
Oktoberfest beer tents: frequently asked questions
How many beer tents are there at Oktoberfest?
There are 14 large beer tents at Oktoberfest 2026, plus 21 smaller tents and 3 tents in the historical Oide Wiesn section. Each large tent is run by a different host and pours beer from one of Munich’s six official breweries, seating anywhere from roughly 5,000 to 10,000 people indoors and out.
Which Oktoberfest tent is best for first-timers?
The Hofbräu-Festzelt is the easiest first tent for most visitors — it’s the international party tent, packed with English-speaking visitors from the US, Australia and beyond, with a lively standing area and familiar pop hits alongside the oompah band. If you’d rather ease in somewhere calmer and more local, the Augustiner-Festhalle is the traditional, family-friendly alternative.
Can you get into a beer tent without a reservation?
Yes. Entry to every tent is free and doesn’t require a reservation — a reservation only guarantees you a table. About a quarter of the seating in the big tents is always kept reservation-free, so arriving on a weekday morning or early afternoon gives you a good shot at a walk-in seat.
What’s the difference between the big tents and the Oide Wiesn?
The 14 big tents are the loud, modern party tents on the main Theresienwiese grounds; the Oide Wiesn is a separate, more traditional section with its own 3 smaller tents, vintage funfair rides and folk-band music rather than pop hits. It’s the calmer, more historical side of the festival — good for families and anyone who wants Gemütlichkeit over volume.
Which Oktoberfest tent is the most traditional, and which is the biggest party?
The Augustiner-Festhalle is the most traditional big tent — Augustiner is the only brewery still serving from old-fashioned wooden barrels there, and the atmosphere is warm and local rather than touristy. For the biggest party, head to the Hofbräu-Festzelt or the Paulaner-Festzelt, both known for a loud, high-energy evening crowd.
Do the tents close when they’re full?
Yes. On weekends and busy evenings, popular tents fill up and close their doors to new arrivals, sometimes by late morning. If your first-choice tent is shut, have a backup in mind, or try again on a quieter weekday.
Updated August 2026.
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