The Science of Finding Seats at Oktoberfest
Data-driven analysis of when and where to find seats in every major beer tent. Pick your day, pick your time, and we show you your chances.
Select your day type and arrival time to see seat availability across all tents
Color-coded seat availability across all time slots and tents
| Tent | 09:30-10:30 | 10:30-12:00 | 12:00-14:00 | 14:00-16:00 | 16:00-18:00 | 18:00-20:00 | 20:00-22:00 | 22:00+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augustiner-Festhalle | ||||||||
| Hofbraeu-Festzelt | ||||||||
| Schottenhamel | ||||||||
| Hacker-Festzelt | ||||||||
| Paulaner Festzelt | ||||||||
| Armbrustschuetzenzelt | ||||||||
| Ochsenbraterei | ||||||||
| Kaefer Wiesn-Schaenke | ||||||||
| Weinzelt |
Arrive at tent opening (9:30-10:00). On weekdays, you can walk into almost any tent. Even on Saturdays, the first hour gives you a 70%+ chance at most tents.
Skip the well-known tents (Hofbraeu, Schottenhamel). Try Armbrustschuetzenzelt or Ochsenbraterei instead - comparable atmosphere, 40% easier to find seats.
Outdoor sections (Biergarten) have 20-40% more unreserved seats. In good weather, try the garden first - faster service and easier seating.
Tuesday to Thursday are golden days. Crowd levels drop 50-60% compared to weekends. You can often get seats even at 14:00 in mid-tier tents.
After 22:00, groups start leaving. Seats open up in most tents. For Kaefer and Weinzelt (open until 01:00), late arrivals after 23:00 can sometimes snag seats.
Weekday morning at Armbrustschuetzenzelt or Ochsenbraterei. Walk-in success rate: ~95%
Hofbraeu-Festzelt - 60% unreserved (5,995 seats). Plus a standing area that never closes.
Kaefer Wiesn-Schaenke - 90% reserved, only 290 unreserved seats. Your best bet: after 23:00 at the garden bar.