Oktoberfest

[Mtreas99]

Has anyone tried doing a day trip from Passau to Oktoberfest while overnighting in Passau? We have a group of 20 on River Beatrice next year and would love to try this before disembarking and heading on to Prague.

[steamboats]

Mtreas99,

 

It´s about a 1.5 to 2 hours bus trip single way from Passau to Munich. The Oktoberfest usually doesn´t open til 11 am (weekdays, 10 am weekends). So I assume that you´ll be given a city sightseeing tour in the morning before you´re heading to the Oktoberfest. Sure the main fun starts at night and I don´t know when your return trip to Passau is starting. The Oktoberfest closes by 10/11pm.

 

More and exact opening hours here

 

http://www.muenchen.de/Tourismus/Oktoberfest/7548/index.html

 

steamboats

[Mtreas99]

Thanks for the information! I have found a limousine service that will provide transportation and Uniworld is also willing to put this excursion together for us. We need to decide if it is worth the 4 hours on bus and expense for a few hours at Oktoberfest! Do you by any chance know if Passau will have their own version of Oktoberfest on October 3, 2009?

[steamboats]

Here´s the Passau website

 

http://www.passau.de/public_main_modul.php?bm=&unit=48803c8a55e78&ses=&document_id=336

 

But there is only one Oktoberfest and that´s the one here in Munich :D (BTW they´ve just started to built up the tents).

 

October 3rd is our national holiday (like your July 4th). So all shops will be closed that day (maybe except for the tourist orientated stores).

 

Passau has its own fair which is called Herbst Dult. But that´s in early September (this year it´s Sep 5 - 14).

 

steamboats

[Mtreas99]

Steamboats,

Thanks for all the information! We need to decide as a group if we should make the trip for such a short time. We hate to pass up this opportunity to visit Oktoberfest, so will probably skip the tour of Passau and head to Munich!

[G.M.T.]

Thanks for the information! I have found a limousine service that will provide transportation and Uniworld is also willing to put this excursion together for us. We need to decide if it is worth the 4 hours on bus and expense for a few hours at Oktoberfest! Do you by any chance know if Passau will have their own version of Oktoberfest on October 3, 2009?

Passau (as do many Bavarian cities, towns, villages and breweries) have various beer festivals throughout the year (strong beer for Lent, May Bock, summer festivals, Christmas Bock). But there is only one Oktoberfest and that is in Munich, there will not be many other beer festivals going on at this time. What one may find are local clubs or restaurants celebrating their own Oktoberfest.

 

As you are thinking of arranging and having your own transport you are flexible, it is possible to do the Oktofest from Passau in a day, also to include a sightseeing trip around Passau. Passau is a small city and most of the main attractions are fairly concentrated.

 

Is it worth it? But what is 4 hours when compared to an experience of a lifetime.:)

 

One thing to keep in mind is that the beer tents get very full (especially at night and weekends with up to 8000 people inside) and so it is best to try and make a reservation. Maybe "steamboats" can give more insght in this area.

 

Ron

[steamboats]

As for this year the newspapers just reported that all reservations books are full and no reservations are available.

 

But with a limited amount of time I would walk around and maybe walk through a tent to get the feeling but not sit down (if the tent is not closed for security reasons). Usually if it´s not a big group you might find a place to sit down in the early evening. But Oct 3rd is a holiday and therefore tents can be crowded early. Better try the beergarden of a tent for lunch.

 

For a reservation you have to buy vouchers for beer and food in advance. Usually you have to purchase two beer (2 liters) and half a chicken per person and a table is for ten people. You can´t make a reservation for less than one full table.

 

steamboats

[Mtreas99]

We are not traveling until 2009, so we should have time to make a reservation! I appreciate all of this VERY HELPFUL information!

[steamboats]

Mtreas99,

 

I don´t know when they start accepting reservations for 2009. But you should ask right after the 2008 Oktoberfest in case you want to make one. Keep in mind you have to pay beer/chicken vouchers for at least 10 people in advance!!

 

steamboats

aka Carmen