Oktoberfest Munich is the absolute safest festival for everyone around the globe. The Munich administration has planned out their security plan for Oktoberfest 2024 that ensures not only your safety but also a super fun experience. Now that you know the answer to “Is it safe to go to Oktoberfest?” get ready to visit Oktoberfest 2024 from 21st September to 6th October. Get on your couch, buy authentic Oktoberfest wear online to get into a festive look, and join the Munich celebration this year!

Safety Measures at Oktoberfest: A Peek Behind the Curtain

Oktoberfest is the world’s largest festival and has been held in Munich for the past two centuries. Every year, attendees dress up in traditional Bavarian dresses and walk towards Theresienwiese to celebrate the historic festival. Men wear traditional Lederhosen, while Women wear Bavarian Dirndls, depicting the cultural essence of the fest. Most of these visitors are especially concerned with the security and safety of the fest, which is quite natural. To melt the ice for once and for all, let’s explore what makes Oktoberfest a safe public festivity.

• Security Personnel and Surveillance Cameras

When partying with such a huge crowd, a solid security plan becomes necessary for the organizers. Oktoberfest is ahead of the game with friendly police wardens and high-tech surveillance. Almost 1853 Police deployments are supported by additional private security personnel who protect you with smiles and a keen eye for safety. The police department's Oktoberfest station, manned around the clock, is located in the Service Center in the western area of the festival grounds (Along Bavaria Statue, behind the Schottenhamel tent in the copper-colored box). In an emergency, call 110 or go to the station immediately.

More than 50 cameras monitor every corner of the Munich Ground. For added security, there's a no-fly zone of a 5.5-kilometer radius over the festival and traffic barriers around Oktoberfest, keeping the festivities safe and undisturbed. With all these measures in place, you can revel worry-free and enjoy the festival to the fullest!

• Bag Checks and Security Screening

Before you even toast your first ‘Prost!’, you’ll meet the first line of Oktoberfest’s defense: the bag checks and security screenings. Every entrance has security personnel trained to inspect bags and ensure no prohibited items, such as explosives, guns, or glass bottles, enter the festival grounds. Like airport security, this process ensures everyone can enjoy the festival without worry.

Pro Tip: Carry handbags with dimensions less than or equal to 20 cm x 15 cm x 10 cm to get an easy pass!

• Health Stations Keep You in the Festive Spirit

If you get a blister from dancing, or you may get a hangover after chugging in too much beer, there are health stations all over Oktoberfest ready to sort you out quickly so you can get back to the fun. These spots are staffed by professional teams who are quick to help because who wants to miss out? Plus, there’s a special Red Cross recovery tent where you can pop in if you need a quiet moment to recover. They have everything to fix you quickly and send you back to enjoy the festival.  

The Germans are highly efficient, floating giant Red Cross balloons about 10 meters above the tents as a convenient landmark for drunk patrons. It’s all about ensuring you have a great time without stress about the small stuff!

• Fire Safety at Oktoberfest

With vast tents and thousands gathering to celebrate, fire safety at Oktoberfest is given extra attention. Each tent is equipped with extensive fire suppression systems and marked exits to ensure quick evacuations if necessary. The staff undergoes regular fire safety training sessions to manage any incident efficiently.

• Lost and Found Services to Reunite You with Lost Items

Lose something amidst the fun? Oktoberfest’s Lost and Found service is remarkably efficient. It helps thousands of guests reclaim lost items yearly, from hats and phones to quirky finds like costume accessories or wedding rings. The lost and found office is in the Service Center Theresienwiese (SZT) basement (entrance to the festival management). It is open all days of the Oktoberfest from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Over 4,000 lost items find their way to the Oktoberfest lost and found each year, including submissions like essential documents and sometimes a single high-heeled shoe!

• Information and Help Points: Your Go-To for Any Query

Several information and help points are scattered throughout the festival. They have multilingual volunteer staff ready to assist with any questions, from directions to accommodation advice. These points are helpful for both first-time visitors and regular fest-goers, ensuring that help is always close. You can  also sign up for safety apps like “SafeNow” introduced by the Schottenhamel festival tent to ask for help in case of any emergency.

• Public Announcements and Signs

Public announcements are regularly made in German and English to inform attendees of critical safety information and updates. A powerful loudspeaker system covers the entire festival so that essential announcements reach everyone, no matter where you are.  

Signs throughout the venue are clear and multilingual, guiding you safely around the grounds and to key locations like exits, restrooms, and first aid stations. This effective communication strategy ensures that all attendees can navigate the festival safely and enjoyably, regardless of their language skills. 

Is Oktoberfest Safe for Women?

Munich administration and civil society have given special attention to making Oktoberfest safe for women Both city authorities and non-profit organizations have started awareness campaigns to inform women about potentially unpleasant situations at the fest and teach them how to handle such incidents. From awareness and safe spaces to special night cab services, the Munich Fest guarantees a super secure and enjoyable experience. 

Safe Oktoberfest Campaign (Sichere Wiesn)

Sichere Wiesn was launched in 2003. This campaign focuses on the prevention of unsafe situations for women. It includes the education and awareness efforts that begin before the commencement of the fest. Information about avoiding and reporting harassment is distributed through flyers in Munich's hotels, hostels, and tourist information centers. The Safe Oktoberfest Campaign not only informed thousands of girls about the potentially unpleasant events for years but also elevated their confidence about attending the Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest Safe Space for Women

Located behind the Schottenhamel tent and near the Bavaria statue, the Safe Space provides a secure place for women who feel unsafe, harassed, or threatened. The Safe Space staff is a multilingual team of five professional women (psychologists and social workers) and 45 volunteers, primarily social work or education students. The staff provides first-hand support to the victims and ensures they enjoy the rest of the festivities in a more secure environment. 

Opening Times: 6 pm - 1 am (Monday-Friday)        Contact: +49 (0) 89 / 890 57 45 188  
                                3 pm-1 am (Saturday) 

Secure Night Cab Service for Women

This special service for women provides safe transportation options for women staying late at Oktoberfest. Women of any age above 16 can avail themselves of this safer service when they buy a voucher. You can redeem this voucher between 10 pm to 6 am. The per-ride discount is ten euros from January 2024, so you can share the cab with your friends at a discounted fare. The only condition is your destination should be a residential address. 

Where to Get the Vouchers? Eligible people can pick up the vouchers at the Citizens' Office at Ruppertstrasse 19, entrance 19B, the social welfare centers, city libraries, the Equal Opportunities Office for Women, and the city information center. 

“Respect is My Strength” the Wiesn Gentlemen Initiative

This campaign was launched by the non-profit organization Condrob in 2013 to create an atmosphere of shared responsibility for safety during the fest. The organization conveys its message through social media, posters, school campaigns, and physically engaging with visitors en route to the festival grounds. It encourages everyone to provide instant help to victims of an unhealthy event or report such incidents to authorities. The individual with such respectful conduct receives the Wiesn Courage Award at the end of the festival. The Condrob recognizes individuals who contribute to the community by helping attendees in need or protecting women from perpetrators. 

The Gentleman 2023! Alexander B. (26 years old) was announced as the Wiesn Courage Award 2023 winner for protecting a drunk woman from a pushy man harassing her at the tent.

Oktoberfest Safety: Emergency Contacts and Services

Service	Location	Contact Number	Timings
Police (Polizei) 👮	The Police Station is located in the Service Center.	+49 (0) 89 5003220 Or Dial 110	8 am - 1 am
First Aid Station (Erste Hilfe) ⛑️	Next to the Bavaria statue.  Near the Theresienwiese Ubahn In the Oide Wiesn Near Esperantoplatz	+49 (0) 89 222089	8 am-1 am
Support For Lost Children	Police Station	+49 (0) 89 23382821	8 am - 1 am
Lost And Found (Fundbüro)	The basement of the copper building behind the Schottenhamel tent	+49 (0) 89 23396045	1 pm to 10 pm (During the fest) 10 am - 6 pm (After the Fest)
Safe Spaces for Women	Behind the Schottenhamel Festhalle)	+49 (0) 89 / 890 57 45 188	6 pm - 1 am
Fire Brigade	Service Center	112	8 am - 1 am

Oktoberfest Safety Tips You Need to Know

Though the administration has ensured your safety, you should take care of yourself individually. To give you a head start, here are some safety tips you should follow to keep yourself out of potential situations. Take out your notepad and write down the important tips to make the most of the world's largest and most celebrated festivals while keeping safety in mind:

• To reach the festival grounds safely, it is better to use Munich's public transportation system to avoid potential traffic jams and road accidents.
• You can avoid unwanted flirting or harassment by staying in a group with your friends.
• Before going to Oktoberfest, you should know about the emergency gates at tents or the locations of essential services like police stations, first aid offices, etc. The official websites provide a virtual map of the grounds for Oktoberfest. 
• Keep an eye on the area around you to avoid pickpockets. Take a small bag along with you to keep your belongings.
• Decide on a limit of beer you will drink on the day, and know your limits. Remember that Bavarian Beer has a 6% alcohol content, which is stronger than normal beer.
• Use safety apps on your phone to stay informed about your location and the nearest help points.
• Pay attention to the instructions given by security personnel and police officers on site.
• Decide a meeting point in case you lose your group members in the crowd.

Conclusion: Oktoberfest is a Safe Family Festival!

Every year, 6 million visitors worldwide flock to this iconic event, and safety is a top concern for many. Let me put your fears to rest;  Oktoberfest Munich is an incredibly safe festival with policemen patrolling around the ground and surveillance cameras watching across the tents. Not only this, but the fire safety teams, health care staff, lost and found services, and safer women's spaces ensure that tourists enjoy every festivity in a secure environment. So, grab your beer, stein, and Lederhosen confidently and get ready to enjoy the festivities worry-free!