Munich Beer Tours & Oktoberfest
Munich is where beer is a way of life: the historic halls like the Hofbräuhaus, the chestnut-shaded beer gardens, the six great breweries that pour at Oktoberfest, and a beer culture protected by the 1516 purity law. A guided tour is the way to drink it like a local. Compare the top-rated Munich beer experiences below, then read our notes.
Beer hall, garden and brewery tours in Munich
Oktoberfest experiences
Formats: beer hall and beer garden tours with tastings and Bavarian snacks; brewery visits and tasting flights; Oktoberfest guided experiences with a reserved table; private beer-and-food walks.
What you taste: Helles (pale lager), Dunkel (dark), cloudy Weissbier/Hefeweizen, Märzen (the Oktoberfest style), and seasonal Bocks, from the six Munich breweries — Augustiner, Paulaner, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Spaten and Hacker-Pschorr.
Price: roughly 40 to 70 dollars for a beer hall or brewery tour with tastings; more for Oktoberfest packages with a table.
The halls, the gardens and the breweries
Munich’s beer comes in three settings. The beer halls — the Hofbräuhaus above all — are cavernous, loud and historic. The beer gardens, shaded by chestnut trees, are the summer soul of the city, where by tradition you may bring your own food and just buy the beer. And the breweries themselves run tours and tastings. A guided tour explains the styles, the etiquette and the history, and takes you to the places locals actually drink.
The six breweries and the purity law
Only six breweries are allowed to pour at Oktoberfest, and they are Munich’s giants: Augustiner (the local favourite), Paulaner, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Spaten and Hacker-Pschorr. All brew under the Reinheitsgebot, the 1516 purity law that allows only water, malt, hops and yeast. The everyday drink is a litre Mass of Helles; the wheat Weissbier is the other staple.
Oktoberfest and when to go
Oktoberfest runs from mid-September to the first Sunday in October on the Theresienwiese, and guided experiences with a reserved bench are the sane way to do it. Outside the festival, the beer gardens are best from May to September; the halls run year-round. Pair a beer tour with a Munich food tour for the Bavarian dishes.
Frequently asked questions
When is Oktoberfest?
From mid-September to the first weekend of October, on the Theresienwiese in Munich. Guided experiences with a reserved table are the easiest way in.
What beer should I order in Munich?
A Helles (pale lager) is the everyday choice, or a cloudy Weissbier; both come by the litre Mass in the halls and gardens.
Can I bring my own food to a beer garden?
Traditionally yes, in the self-service areas — you buy the beer and may bring your own picnic, a genuine Munich custom.
Read next: German beer styles explained
How we choose
We list only experiences with a strong rating over a meaningful number of reviews and free cancellation where available, and we favour small-group and family-run hosts. FindEatLocal earns a commission when you book through GetYourGuide or Viator links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay. More about how we choose.