For 200 years (other than a few breaks for a cholera outbreak and a couple of World Wars), people have been coming to Theresienwiese to celebrate the 1810 wedding of Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I). Carnival-style rides, a midway with shooting and tossing games, lots of food stands with Ochsenbraterei (beef sandwiches), Steckerlfisch (fish on a stick) and Schweinshaxe (pig hocks). And of course, the beer. Oh, the beer. Liquid gold. Mostly served in one liter steins, it's a tad stronger than what they serve back in America. So don't feel like a lightweight if you can only handle two of these bath-tub sized monsters.
As to the beer halls, the beer ladies will not serve you unless you have a seat at a table. That's the law. There are some tables where you don't need a reservation but you have to arrive early. Like 4pm. Otherwise, there are reserved tables where you can reserve one, something like six months in advance. Good luck with that! read more