Activity: Traveling to Munich, Germany-- Oktoberfest and Neuschwanstein Castle
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Website: Viator tours of Munich
Description: I had never been to Germany so I thought a great place to start was Munich. My friend and I were able to make it for the last day of the iconic Oktoberfest. I had always wanted to experience this tradition first hand. I knew the last day would be very busy and from internet research is was mostly for locals, so I decided to book a tour package. Typically, you can get a reservation for a time slot as long as you purchase two beers and some chicken, however reservations are hard to come by and often passed down to those that have been for many years in a row. I do recommend confirming reservations well in advance, but beware of expensive tours in the $400 range. Any tour should be less than $200 for the day all inclusive.
The Oktoberfest tour was a full day event. First, we had a tour of the area where the guide pointed out German traditions. I did not expect Oktoberfest to include a carnival, but that is mostly for children in the day. As it gets later the men often go on rides after some beers and it can be quite a show. After the tour of the area and main tents, we arrived at our tent. The tables were very tightly packed, just as I had imagined. Water is quite expensive so I highly recommend brining your own if possible. A fun fact we learned is that waitressing for the event is a job that is handed down through lineage and a waitress in the two week period can make over 50,000 Euros!
The next tour was of the Neuschwanstein Castle. This castle was the inspiration for sleeping beauty and it lives up to the reputation. We arrived for our tour at a train station where we had tickets ready. The train took about 2 hours. When we arrived we had time to describe the options to get to the top of the castle for the tour. You could walk which is approximately 45 minutes up a paved incline, you could take a bus for 10 minutes and 1.60 Euros, or you could take a carriage ride. At the bottom of the town you could also see the Hohenschwangau Royal Castle. The tour described the elaborate decor as well as the innovation in running water at the Castle. The only let down was the sparse food selection- schnitzel/pretzel/etc. There were a couple restaurants, but the timing of the tour did not allow for a sit down meal. Overall, it was worth the trip to see the castle in person as it is more picturesque than in photos.
