How to book a last-minute Oktoberfest weekend

This year’s Oktoberfest runs until Oct 3, and there are no tickets required for entry, so a last-gasp break is certainly possible. Entry is even free of charge, though the Oide Wiesn area costs €4 (£3.50).

Beer typically costs around €13 (£11.50) for a litre. It can get busy, with queues to get in, and entry to specific tents is limited when they reach capacity.

Use the “barometer” on the official website (oktoberfest.de) to gauge the best time.

Accommodation can also be hard to find in Munich around the festival; the good news is that the city tourist board has a very effective search tool which returns only hotels with rooms available for the dates you are searching

(see munich.travel).

It is easy enough to put a trip together on your own, but if you want a flight-and-hotel package, lastminute.com still has availability.

For a full package, including reservations in beer tents, outfit hire and so on, try stoketravel.com – but expect a young crowd.

For a guided day trip, try getyourguide.co.uk.

Table reservations in the beer tents can sell out up to a year in advance, but don’t worry: some space is always set aside for walk-ins. And you can book now for 2023.