Munich's largest and most traditional breweries annually invite you to join the festivities at the Oktoberfest. The following is a brief introduction to the main beer tents at the festival. Reservations for tables at some of the tents for the Oktoberfest 2016 can already be made, so you can pick the one that suits you best in advance.

Augustiner-Festhalle

For a cosy and traditional experience, head for the Augustiner Festzelt. Its particularly authentic atmosphere is partly thanks to the fact that the beer served here comes from Munich’s oldest brewery and is still tapped from classic wooden kegs. The regional delicacies and the friendly waiters and waitresses also make the Augustiner tent one of the most rustic of them all.

Armbrustschützen-Festhalle

Run by the shooting club ‘Winzerer Fähndl Schützengilde’ it is providing room to accommodate around 7,500 people. Decorated in the unmistakable style of the Alpine foothills, the German crossbow championships are traditionally held here every year during the Oktoberfest. The meat for the Bavarian delicacies comes entirely from their own livestock and great attention is paid to ensuring the quality is carefully monitored.

Fischer-Vroni

If you feel like sampling something other than the traditional roast chicken, pretzels and other standard fare, the highly traditional tent of Fischer-Vroni is just the place. As well as the usual Oktoberfest delights, the menu includes numerous fish dishes and, of course, the original Bavarian Steckerlfisch (fish on a stick) – a typical speciality. This rustic and cosy tent is not quite as loud as the big beer tents.

Hackerbräu-Festhalle

It truly is the heaven of the Bavarians: the Hacker Festzelt. With its famous white and blue ceiling, which was designed by Oscar winner Rolf Zehetbauer and can even be opened up depending on the weather, it is one of the most famous tents of the Okotberfest. It provides room for around 9,300 guests and is the size of a football pitch. The Hacker tent remains firmly in Munich hands and also attracts many young visitors.

Hofbräu-Festzelt

The Hofbräuhaus is known far beyond the borders of Bavaria, with its reputation extending around the world. The same goes for the Hofbräu Festzelt. Almost 10,000 people can be accommodated here and there’s even a standing area for enjoying a swift litre of beer. The ceiling is decorated every year with 16 tonnes of hops, in the middle of which the angel Aloisius sings his grumpy hosanna.

Käfer Wies'n Schänke

The Wies'n Schänke run by the delicatessen company Käfer is not really a proper tent because it is made from solid wood and is more reminiscent of an old farmhouse. It was set up at the Oktoberfest for the first time in 1971 and offers space indoors and outdoors for a total of 3,000 guests. In addition to beer, champagne is also appropriately served to accompany the delicatessen and various specialities.

Kufflers Weinzelt

Wine and beer make for a great mood! For 200 years now, people who like drinking wine have also been enjoying the world’s largest festival. The Weinzelt (wine tent) also looks quite different from the neighbouring tents – instead of beer benches, guests sit in u-shaped wooden booths, reminiscent of a Franconian wine garden.

Löwenbräu-Festhalle

Although it’s pretty hard not to spot the Löwenbräu-Festzelt with its 37-metre high tower, you certainly can’t fail to hear it. Above the entrance sits a mighty lion which roars its unmistakable “Lööööwenbräu” every minute for all to hear. It therefore comes as no surprise that the players of TSV 1860, better known as ‘die Löwen’ (the lions), are regular guests here.

Marstall-Festzelt

Say "hello" to the newcomer on the Oktoberfest: The Marstall-Festzelt. Everybody is curious how this replacement for the Hippodrom will actually turn out. The new tent with a capacity of more than 4.000 seats takes its name from the former riding school of the Bavarian court, built by famous architect Leo von Klenze in the 19th century. So it's no big surprise that the Marstall's design is "horse"-themed. Some visitors, though, might be more interested in the Spaten beer and typical Bavarian delicacies served here.

Paulanerbräu (Winzerer Fähndl)

The Paulanerbräu Zelt, also known as the Winzerer Fähndl, can be easily spotted from a distance because of the huge beer tankard that rotates on top of the tent’s tower. This lovingly decorated tent is especially renowned for its extremely cosy atmosphere and has a large number of regular guests, including the players of FC Bayern Munich. The clientele e is traditionally a little older – one reason why it is so easygoing here and not quite as wild as in the other tents.

Pschorrbräu-Festhalle (Bräurosl)

Known popularly as simply Bräurosl, this tent was named in honour of Rosi Pschorr, the daughter of the brewery owner and former publican here at the Oktoberfest. In the Festhalle Pschorr particular importance is attached to the musical entertainment, which traditionally features the tent’s very own a female yodeller. Another tradition, albeit a fairly recent one, is serving as the meeting place of the gay community on the first Sunday of the Oktoberfest.

Schottenhamel-Festhalle

The Schottenhamel is the oldest and most traditional tent, with the Schottenhamel family being represented at the Oktoberfest since as far back as 1867. Ever year sees the traditional tapping of the first keg of beer by the Mayor of Munich. On average the public that attends is very young and student-oriented, making the tent a popular meeting place for young people.

Schützen-Festhalle

New and yet as rustic as can be, the Schützenzelt was renovated in 2004 and extended to accommodate 700 people. The traditional Oktoberfest shooting competition of the Bavarian Sport Shooting Association takes place here and guests can watch the action at the 110 shooting stands. Because the garden of the Schützenzelt is protected against the wind, it is still pleasantly cosy outdoors even when the weather is cool.

Spatenbräu-Festhalle (Ochsenbraterei)

Oxen have formed the focal point at the Ochsenbraterei for the last 130 years, with some 90 of these highly prized horned animals being consumed over the course of the Oktoberfest. Each ox is personally selected by the owner from the municipal estate of Gut Karlshof. In keeping with tradition, the first ox that is consumed at the Oktoberfest bears the name of the butcher, the last the name of the chef.

For more Oktoberfest info in English visit Muenchen.de.