Oktoberfest Munich

One of the most hotly-anticipated events in Europe’s calendar – the 184th celebration of all things bier – is taking place from September 16 through to October 3.

The Munich Oktoberfest justly lays claim to being the world’s largest folk festival. Over the past decade it has attracted an average of around six million visitors a year.

The festival, which spans just over two weeks, is held annually in a meadow just outside Munich’s city centre. In addition to eating, drinking and dancing, visitors can enjoy colourful parades, a variety of fairground rides, and for those not themselves in traditional Bavarian gear, admire those that are.

The opening day of the festival is marked by a colourful parade of carriages, floats and people in a variety of costumes winding its way through the streets of Munich. The Costume und Riflemen’s Procession takes place on the first Sunday of Oktoberfest; a week later there’s the open-air big band concert.

The most well-known harvest festival is on the bucket list of any serious traveller. For a classier experience, ask your Insignia Personal Assistant to make a reservation as early possible at the Weinzelt, an expansive two-story tent with views of the monumental Bavaria statue in Bavariapark. It’s run by the Kuffler’s, a family business with restaurants all over Germany.