Hotel or Airbnb? Prices are exploding so violently at the 2023 Oktoberfest in Munich

Munich is heading into two turbulent weeks. Not only the Oktoberfest takes place there from September 16 to October 3. Parallel to the largest folk festival in the world, even more mega events are coming to the Bavarian capital.

FC Bayern Munich will play approximately two home games at the Allianz Arena, including the Champions League opener against English top club Manchester United. Pop star Helene Fischer will also perform at the Olympiahalle in Munich, giving five concerts there between September 26 and October 1.

In addition to the approximately six million Oktoberfest visitors, millions more people come to the city for the football matches and concerts. Over the next two weeks, the city – which attracts many tourists all year round – will literally be bursting at the seams.

Many visitors do not plan day trips, but also want to spend the night there. Once the international automotive and mobility fair IAA in Munich is over, the next crowds will soon descend on the city.

All this is a boon for Munich’s hotel operators. Many accommodations have been fully booked for weeks and room prices are skyrocketing.

At the end of August, the comparison portal Check24 reported that hotel prices in Munich had risen by as much as 348 percent. As the experts have determined, an overnight stay during the last Oktoberfest weekend costs an average of 377 euros. That is “28 percent more than the high average in September,” reports Check24.

In August, the average price for a hotel room in Munich was 157 euros. If you booked a room in time for the Oktoberfest period you could still save some money, but there are now hardly any rooms for solo travelers for less than 200 euros per night.

Hotels aimed at a more price-conscious audience are also currently very expensive in Munich. According to common comparison portals such as ‘trivago’ and ‘booking’, an overnight stay at the Ibis near the central station currently costs 319 euros, and at the Holiday Inn on Rosenheimer Platz you will even pay 386 euros next weekend. The same applies to overnight stays at Motel One: for a room that would otherwise cost 69 euros, you have to pay between 199 and 229 euros per night.

At even more luxurious establishments such as Hotel Vier Seasons, the prices are probably absolutely unattainable for people with a normal income (760 euros per night). The Sofitel Munich Bayerpost also charges 750 euros, the Roomers Munich 736 euros.

Even private accommodation on Airbnb is difficult to find for less than 100 euros per night during the Oktoberfest in Munich. A one-room apartment in Maxvorstadt costs 210 euros per night, while in Au-Haidhausen you pay 281 euros per night for a less luxurious accommodation with a double bed. In many advertisements, the presenters almost apologetically point out the special circumstances caused by the Oktoberfest.

For the second Oktoberfest weekend (22 to 24 September), the cheapest single room on Airbnb costs 116 euros per night, the most expensive – albeit with four beds – 929 euros. If you want to book a hotel room at this time, you will pay a minimum of 198 euros per night.

Nevertheless, if you are willing to forego comfort, you can still save some money during Oktoberfest. Several companies also offer camping at campsites near the festival site during this time. An overnight stay in a tent is possible here for just 40 euros per night. Anyone who gets an apartment or hotel room just outside Munich, for example in Dachau or the Munich district of Feldmoching, which is connected to the S-Bahn, can also save money.