Last-minute Oktoberfest deals

Okay, so the Germans are not known for their spontaneity. They don’t have a problem with arranging their September drinking sessions in spring, with booking and paying for table reservations at the Oktoberfest in November of the previous year, and with deciding the evening before which tent to queue up for at eight o’ clock the following morning.

All of this can make the Oktoberfest somewhat difficult if you’re a more spur-of-the-moment-type person: but it’s by no means impossible to get there, stay somewhere, and have real Bavarian clothing even if you’ve only just decided to go on a last-minute thing.

So let us help you get your journey, your accommodation, and your costume sorted with our recommendations for last-minute Oktoberfest deals. That’s half the battle, after all!

Cheap travel to Munich

Almost all the cheap flights (and indeed the expensive ones) from major UK airports to Munich are booked up now, and you’ll be paying through the nose for any seats still available. Our advice is to go via Salzburg, as there are still return flights available from London Stansted for under £100 with Ryanair, and the train from Salzburg into Munich is fast and cheap (€50 there and back).

Cheap hotels in Munich

Now, by “cheap”, please note that we mean under €200 a night. We know that sounds like a lot, and it is, but that’s just the way it is around Oktoberfest time. But if you want to avoid the camping sites, then there are plenty of acceptable rooms not too far away from the Wiesn to be had for €160-€170 a night – with Motel One, for example.

Cheap Bavarian costume

You might consider it one of the slightly crazier aspects of Munich around Oktoberfest time that a night in an average hotel can be as expensive as a high quality set of traditional Bavarian clothes that you can wear year after year. And even with under a week to go, it’s not too late to buy your Bavarian costume and have it delivered. Our favourite online Oktoberfest dirndl shop, for example, offers full sets for girls from around €150 and for guys starting at €200, with 24-hour dispatch, too!

So as you can see, it’s never too late to decide to come to the Oktoberfest!