Oktoberfest in Munich starts on 18 September

The annual Oktoberfest in Munich attracts millions of visitors every year, all gathering to sample some of the regions finest beer. Only beer brewed in Munich's breweries is sold in 14 tents across the Oktoberfest site. This year, Oktoberfest celebrates its 200th birthday. It kicks off on 18 September and runs until 4 October.

At Oktoberfest, it's all about the beer, which will be served from 10am to 22:30pm on weekdays, and the beer starts flowing at 9am on Saturdays and Sunday. Each beer tent attracts different types of visitors, whether you like a raucous scene or something a bit mellower. It can be hard to find a seat, particularly if you are in a large group. You can book seats, or head for the smaller tents which tend to be less busy. Each beer tent has a live band, which usually gets people dancing after they've had a few!

As Oktoberfest will be celebrating its 200th anniversary, the organisers have extended the festival by an extra day. On Monday 4 October, beer lovers won't be able to book seats in the beer tents, making it easier for visitors to just turn up and claim a seat.

In addition to countless litres of 'liquid gold', the Oktoberfest also has a range of fairground rides to enjoy, from traditional carousels to white knuckle rides. And there'll be other traditional fairground delights such as airgun and dart games. Oktoberfest isn't just aimed at adults - Tuesdays are official family days, with reduced prices between 12pm and 6pm.

Oktoberfest is located in Theresienwiese close to the heart of Munich in Germany. Getting to the festival should be a doddle, with good transport links in the vicinity. When you arrive, climb the steps of the Bavaria statue to get a great view of the bustling festival before you.

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