There are no visitor parking spots around the Theresienwiese during Oktoberfest. Bavariaring and Theresienhöhe—the two streets that frame the festival grounds—are closed to traffic, and the side streets leading into them are turned into dead ends by barriers. If you’re driving your own car to the Wiesn, don’t look for a parking spot—look for a way out. With a chauffeur, this isn’t an issue: you get out at an agreed-upon spot, walk the last few minutes, and are picked up right there again in the evening. This article explains exactly how to get to the Wiesn in 2026, when you should leave, and what you need to keep in mind.
Key Points at a Glance
- The 2026 Oktoberfest will take place from September 19 to October 4 at the Theresienwiese; the opening ceremony will be held on September 19 at 12:00 p.m. in the Schottenhamel tent.
- There are no visitor parking lots around the festival grounds. Bavariaring and Theresienhöhe are closed to cars during Oktoberfest, and there are extensive no-parking zones in the surrounding area.
- A chauffeur will drop you off at a designated meeting point outside the restricted zone. From there, it's a five- to ten-minute walk, depending on the entrance.
- Bags and backpacks brought onto the festival grounds may not exceed three liters in capacity and must not be larger than 20 × 15 × 10 centimeters. Anything larger must be left in the car or dropped off at the storage areas.
- Additional restrictions will be in effect on the opening Saturday and during the traditional costume and riflemen’s parade on September 20. You should plan to allow significantly more time on these two days.
Oktoberfest 2026: Dates and Times at a Glance
The 191st Oktoberfest lasts 16 days. The following hours apply to the festival grounds and the tents.
| Time Period | September 19 through October 4, 2026, Theresienwiese |
| Tapping | Saturday, September 19, 12:00 p.m., Schottenhamel Festival Tent |
| Tents Monday through Friday | 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. |
| Tents: Saturday, Sunday, Holidays | starting at 9:00 a.m. |
| Last Beer Service | 10:30 p.m., after which the music in the large tents will also end |
| Traditional Costume and Riflemen's Parade | Sunday, September 20, starting around 10 a.m. from Maximilianstraße |
| Family Days | September 22 and 29 |
| Admission | Festival grounds: free; Oide Wiesn: 4 euros |
For last-minute changes, it's worth checking the City of Munich's official Oktoberfest information before heading out.
Why Driving There in Your Own Car Doesn't Work
Every year, the city sets up several cordoned-off areas around the Theresienwiese, some as early as a week before the opening ceremony. Four factors make it practically impossible to drive there on your own:
- No visitor parking. All parking spaces in the surrounding area are reserved for residents with parking permits; no parking spaces are designated anywhere on the festival grounds.
- Inner ring closed. The Bavariaring and Theresienhöhe are closed to motor vehicle traffic and can only be accessed through controlled checkpoints.
- Widespread no-stopping zones. A large number of no-stopping zones have been established around the festival grounds. You cannot briefly stop there to let passengers out.
- Unscheduled Closures. The Hackerbrücke is closed as needed when there is heavy pedestrian traffic, especially on weekends and in the evenings.
On top of that, there’s an issue that can’t be resolved through traffic planning: Anyone who drinks a Maß at the Wiesn shouldn’t drive afterward. We’ve described in detail why this is more than just a precaution in our article “Oktoberfest with a Chauffeur: Pros and Cons.”
How the ride with a chauffeur works
One-way trip. Your driver will pick you up at your home, hotel, office, or directly at the airport. The ride ends at a prearranged meeting point outside the restricted zone. The specific street will depend on the day, your chosen Oktoberfest entrance, and current traffic conditions. Your driver will let you know the location when you book and will send you a message with the details again on the day of the trip.
Return trip. This is where the real difference lies. After the festival grounds close at 11:30 p.m., tens of thousands of people stream out of the grounds all at once. If you wait until then to look for a ride, you’ll be stuck in line. With a pre-booked return trip, your car will be waiting at the agreed-upon time and location, no matter how crowded it is.
A one-way trip or an hourly booking? Two one-way trips back and forth are enough if you have a set schedule. As soon as your evening plans are up in the air, the group splits up, or you decide to stop by a restaurant, an hourly booking is the more relaxed option: The vehicle stays nearby, and you decide when to head back.
For groups of four or more, we recommend the Mercedes V-Class; for a prestigious appearance, choose the first-class sedans from our fleet. If you need multiple vehicles for corporate events or group trips, we recommend requesting a customized quote.
In a nutshell
- The ride ends outside the restricted area; you'll walk the last few minutes.
- The return trip should be booked in advance, not arranged on a whim. Demand is highest after the camp closes.
- If your evening plans are open-ended, booking by the hour makes more sense than booking two separate trips.
When You Should Leave
During Oktoberfest, the travel time to downtown is not a reliable indicator of your actual arrival time. These estimates are in addition to the normal travel time.
| Day | Additional buffer | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Monday through Thursday, at noon | 15 minutes | the quietest time of the entire Oktoberfest |
| Monday through Friday, starting at 5 p.m. | 30 minutes | Commute-time traffic meets Oktoberfest-bound traffic |
| Saturday and Sunday | 45 minutes | Heavy traffic, partial closure of the Hackerbrücke |
| Opening Saturday, September 19 | 60 minutes | Arrival of the Oktoberfest vendors; additional roadblocks in the morning |
| Sunday, September 20, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | 60 minutes | Traditional Costume and Riflemen's Parade Through Downtown |
On these two days in September, some of the usual access routes to the east and north of the site will also be temporarily inaccessible. Your driver will then choose an alternative meeting point and coordinate this with you in advance.
What You Can Leave in the Car
One detail that many people don’t learn until they reach the entrance: On the festival grounds, bags and backpacks are limited to a capacity of three liters and maximum dimensions of 20 × 15 × 10 centimeters. For larger items, there are storage areas at the entrances, where lines form in the evening.
This problem doesn't arise when you book by the hour. Jackets, groceries, laptop bags, and carry-on luggage stay in the car, and you just take whatever fits in your traditional costume bag. For guests arriving directly from the airport who still have their luggage with them, this is often the deciding factor.
How much does it cost to get to the Wiesn?
A simple transfer within Munich to the Theresienwiese costs a flat rate starting at [XX] euros. An hourly booking for an Oktoberfest evening starts at [XX] euros per hour, with a minimum booking of [X] hours. For trips after 10 p.m., a night surcharge applies, which is shown before booking. All prices are fixed before the trip begins.
Conclusion
The Wiesn is well organized, but it’s not designed for cars. If you arrive with a chauffeur, you can shift the only unpleasant part of the evening to where it won’t bother anyone: the planning ahead of time. You get out, walk for ten minutes, and by evening, the car will be waiting for you again.
Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling to Oktoberfest with a Chauffeur
Can a chauffeur pull up right at the entrance to the Wiesn?
No. The Bavariaring and Theresienhöhe are closed to traffic during Oktoberfest, and there are extensive no-parking zones in the surrounding area. Your chauffeur will therefore drop you off at an agreed-upon location outside the restricted area, from which you can reach your desired destination on foot in just a few minutes.
How far in advance should I book a trip to Oktoberfest?
For weekdays, booking a few days in advance is sufficient; for Friday and Saturday evenings, you should book two to three weeks in advance. The opening Saturday and the two weekends are the most popular dates of the entire year. If you need multiple vehicles for a group, it’s best to contact us several weeks in advance.
Will the driver wait while I'm in the tent?
If you book by the hour, yes—the waiting time is fully included in the price. If you book two separate trips, the driver will continue on to other assignments in the meantime and return at the agreed-upon time. Which option is more cost-effective depends on the planned length of your stay.
What happens if we want to leave sooner or later?
A booked return trip can usually be rescheduled by up to one hour, provided the vehicle is available. Simply call your chauffeur directly. For hourly bookings, the time is flexible anyway, as long as you stay within the booked time frame.
Do you also take groups to Oktoberfest?
Yes, the Mercedes V-Class is available for groups of up to seven people; larger groups are accommodated using multiple coordinated vehicles. For corporate events involving group travel to and from the venue, we plan time slots and meeting points in advance.
Is it worth hiring a chauffeur if I'm not drinking?
Yes, because the parking problem persists regardless of alcohol consumption. There are no visitor parking spaces around the Theresienwiese, and the access roads are closed. The time saved on the drive back after the festival closes is the same for both drivers and passengers.
