Deciding where to stay in Munich during Oktoberfest is probably one of the toughest (and most expensive) choices you’ll have to make when planning your dream bucket list boozefest.

With hundreds of hotels to choose from, picking the right one without burning through your savings is a pretty daunting task… which is why I decided to make it as easy as possible, and create an in-depth guide on where to stay in Munich for Oktoberfest.

As a Munich local, I’ve learned a few tricks about choosing the best Oktoberfest accommodation for friends and family, so let me now pass those tips onto you!

This Oktoberfest accommodation guide will help you choose the best places to stay in Munich during Oktoberfest, whether your priority is location, budget or overall experience.

I’ll mix my recommendations in with local knowledge of the area and cool places to base yourself while exploring the city… now, grab a beer and let’s go!

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What neighbourhood is Oktoberfest in Munich?

Munich is divided into 25 boroughs, but all the interesting stuff for tourists is mostly clustered around the the 7-8 boroughs in the middle. Luckily, Oktoberfest is located in one of these!

Officially, Oktoberfest is located at Theresienwiese, which is part of the Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt borough.

Staying in any hotel here will put you in close distance to the Oktoberfest grounds, and also close to a lot of fun action in Munich.

This is the borough that houses a lot of lively Munich districts, including the Glockenbachviertel, the epicenter of Munich’s LGBTQ/party scene, the Gärtnerplatzviertel, where you’ll find one of the prettiest squares in Munich, popular with young people/hipsters and also the area, and the world famous Deutsches Museum, the largest science/technology museum in the world.

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The Best Area to Stay in Munich for Oktoberfest

So for a visitor, what is the best area to stay in Munich for Oktoberfest?

Before you jump the gun and just assume that Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt is the best pick, I need to warn you of a few things.

While this is definitely the best pick location-wise, with this proximity comes numerous trade-offs, including lack of availability, noise/crowds and most importantly, PRICE!

The truth is, Munich hotels near Oktoberfest (click here for a full list of hotels within walking distance!) book up months, even a year in advance, and so prices are, quite frankly, absurd, especially if you want to book something of high quality.

The main benefit of booking something so close is that you don’t need to worry about transportation, and can easily walk back after a day of drunken revelry… but honestly, given how well-connnected the Theresienwiese is with public transportation, staying farther away (but still on the proper U-Bahn lines) is probably a smarter, more affordable, and quieter option.

So really, in my opinion, the best place to stay in Munich for Oktoberfest is any nice hotel right by a U3, U4, U5 or U6 stop.

I say this because there are 8 entry points to the festival site (see this old floor plan for details) and the four U-Bahn stations near these entrances belong to the U3, U4, U5 and U6 lines, so as long as you book a hotel close to a stop on one of these lines, you’ll have an easy and direct connection to the festival that requires no transfers.

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Which U-Bahn Lines to Stay Near for Oktoberfest

The main entrance of Oktoberfest has an U-Bahn station right in front of it called Theresienwiese. This is the main point of entry for most visitors. Theresienwiese is on the U4 and U5. Also nearby on the U4/U5 (and by the West entrance) is Schwanthalerhöhe.

The east entrance of Oktoberfest has an U-Bahn station in front of it called Goetheplatz. This stop is serviced by U3 and U6 trains. In the south, there is an entrance near the Poccistrasse stop, also serviced by the U3/U6.

So it’s simple enough! If you want to find Oktoberfest accommodation that is easily reachable to Theresienwiese by public transport, look for a hotel very close to either a U3, U4, U5 or U6 line.

Munich is a very compact city, so staying by any stop on these lines will not take you more than 30 minutes by train to reach Theresienwiese.

NOTE: While all stops on the U4/U5 are within the Munich Innenraum (inner zone) for public transport, all the Garching stops on the U6 are located outside of the Innenraum, so you’ll need to pay more for public transport tickets in/out of here. You can learn more about the Munich transportation system in this guide here.

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The Best Hotels in Munich for Oktoberfest

Trying to find the best hotels for Oktoberfest is incredibly tedious work, so I’ve done the research for you!

All of the following hotels have an 8+ rating on Booking.com, are located in the Inner Zone (Innenraum) of public transportation and will get you to Oktoberfest in 25 minutes or less.

After thorough digging (and insider local know-how), here are some vetted Munich hotels near Oktoberfest that I can recommend to you:

The Best Stylish Hotels near Oktoberfest (Within Walking Distance of Theresienwiese)

Looking to do Oktoberfest in comfort? Here are some Theresienwiese hotels that don’t compromise on style and experience despite their central location.

The Best Budget Hotels near Oktoberfest (Within Walking Distance of Theresienwiese)

Cheap hotels for Oktoberfest aren’t easy to come by, but there are a few exceptions!

The following hotels are all decently priced (relatively speaking), especially considering their close distance to Oktoberfest.

WARNING: They book up very very quickly, so snatch them up if you see any availability. I’m seeing most of them are already fully booked (as I write this in March).

Hotels near Oktoberfest on the U4/U5 U-Bahn Lines

The Theresienwiese U-Bahn Station (at the Oktoberfest main entrance) and the Schwanthalerhöhe U-Bahn Station (at the Oktoberfest west entrance) are both conveniently located on the U4 and U5 underground train lines.

So, if you’re looking for an affordable place to stay that nonetheless offers a direct connection to Oktoberfest (without needing any transfers), staying somewhere along the U4 or U5 is a good idea.

If you want to be close to the main sights in Munich as well, I’d recommend trying to find somewhere near Odeonsplatz or Lehel.

Otherwise, here is a table of different hotels that are along the U4/U5 line, all with reviews of 8 or higher on Booking.com, and will get you to Oktoberfest in less than 25 minutes:

Hotels near Oktoberfest on the U3/U6 U-Bahn Lines

The Goetheplatz U-Bahn Station (at the Oktoberfest east entrance) and the Poccistrasse U-Bahn Station (at the Oktoberfest south entrance) are both conveniently located on the U3 and U6 underground train lines. So, if you’re looking for an affordable place to stay that nonetheless offers a direct connection to Oktoberfest, staying somewhere along the U3 or U6 is a good option.

Staying at Marienplatz, Odeonsplatz, Universität or Sendlinger Tor will put you in close proximity to most of Munich’s main tourist hotspots. These stops are all very central, so hotels will likely be pricier, but they are ideally situated for sightseeing.

The area around Münchner Freiheit is lively and fun as well, with lots of restaurants and bars.

And last but not least, the Olympiazentrum stop is at the Munich Olympic Park, a beautiful area (that I used to live in!) While it’s not right in the city center, it is a beautiful area to stay in, with lots of cool, unique sights as well.

NOTE: Anything outside of the stops mentioned above will be fairly boring and residential, with not much to offer for tourists. This might be good if you want a quieter place to stay that’s still connected easily to Oktoberfest, but there won’t be much sightseeing around the hotels themselves.

Here is a table of different hotels that are along the U3/U6 line, all with reviews of 8 or higher on Booking.com, and will get you to Oktoberfest in less than 30 minutes:

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The Best Hostels in Munich for Oktoberfest

Trying to do Oktoberfest on a tight budget? The good news is, if you’re looking for Oktoberfest hostel options, there are quite a few to choose from.

To make things easier for you though, here’s a list that you can sort based on rating, location, and more:

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Other Cheap Oktoberfest Accommodation Options

If all the good hostels are booked out, but you’re still looking for cheap places to stay for Oktoberfest, there are still a few options at your disposal. They’re not the most convenient or glamorous Oktoberfest accommodation options, but they definitely are cheap! Here are some things to consider:

OPTION A: Camping in Munich for Oktoberfest

Cost: 60 euros per night including a tent, breakfast and dinner

I know that camping doesn’t sound like a very glamorous way to do Oktoberfest, and truthfully, it isn’t…. but it IS extremely cheap, and one of the only ways to ensure you can do Oktoberfest on a budget, even if you don’t book super far in advance.

Stoke Travel offers camping packages just outside of Munich’s city center that includes tent acommodation, breakfast/dinner and hardcore parties for 60 euros a night.

If you click here, I’ll even set you up with free unlimited beer and sangria! This is by far the best deal you would get for Oktoberfest. If you’re interested, check here for availability.

NOTE: This is very much a budget backpacker option – you’ll be sleeping in tents, it might be cold, it won’t be the Ritz by any means, so if you’re a mild germaphobe, hate crowds, loud noises, etc. this won’t be for you… but if you love a good party and want a very cheap way to enjoy Oktoberfest, this is it. Click here to learn more!

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OPTION B: AirBNB

Cost: 50€ – 150€ per night

If you’re wondering where to stay during Oktoberfest without breaking the bank, another cheap option for Oktoberfest accommodation is AirBNB.

Prices for AirBNBs in Munich vary drastically depending on location, whether you have a private room or the entire place, etc. but the rates on here are much more affordable than most hotels, and offer more privacy/cleanliness than a hostel. Click here to browse the remaining availability for AirBNBs during Oktoberfest.

PS: Click here to save $50 on your first booking! 

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OPTION C: Finding a place to sublet from a local

Cost: 50€ – 150€  per night (comparable to AirBNB)

If you are lucky, you might find locals who are trying to flee Oktoberfest madness and are subletting their places out for (relatively) cheap rates.

Try joining a few Munich-based Facebook groups to scope out these deals. Sometimes locals will bypass things like AirBNB to cut out the service fees and whatnot.

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OPTION D: Couchsurfing

Cost: FREE!

Last but not least, if you want FREE Oktoberfest accommodation, your best bet is Couchsurfing, although be warned that it will be fiercely busy and competitive during this time.

A few tips: know that Couchsurfing is all about real connections, and especially at such a busy/high-demand time like Oktoberfest, people are not going to be keen on hosting you if you are clearly just using them for a place to stay.

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Last Minute Oktoberfest Accommodation

Finding a good last minute deal for Oktoberfest is sadly, nearly impossible.

There is one exception when it comes to finding a last minute but still cheap deal for Oktoberfest, and that is to attend Stoke Travel Oktoberfest (AKA Stoketoberfest), which I mentioned earlier.

Again, Stoke Travel is a company that caters to young, adventurous travelers who are keen on racking up epic memories and bucket list experiences on a budget. They offer Oktoberfest packages for 60 euros a night and often you’ll still find space on their campgrounds even after Oktoberfest begins. Click here to check their current availability.

PS: If you want to score some unlimited booze during your trip, click here!

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Munich Hotels Map

Last but not least, if you want a clear, visual way to browse different hotels around Oktoberfest, here’s an easy map for you to use:

Booking.com

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Any other questions about Oktoberfest accommodation?

I hope you enjoyed that guide on where to stay in Munich for Oktoberfest. Let me know in the comments if you have any more questions! Have an amazing trip!