How the two festivals we cover are structured, what to budget for, and where to get confirmed details straight from the organisers.
Understanding the format is the first step to planning a trip that actually suits you.
A city-centre folk festival on the Theresienwiese. Access to the grounds is traditionally free; the experience is built around individual beer tents, each with its own character, brewery and music. Some tables are reservable through the tents themselves, while a share of seating stays open to walk-in visitors — earlier in the day is always easier.
Read the Guide →A ticketed, themed music festival in De Schorre park, run across separate weekends with the same core production. Passes are allocated through the organiser's own registration and ballot platform, and most visitors combine their pass with DreamVille camping or a room in Antwerp or Brussels.
Read the Guide →We're a magazine, not an organiser. Programmes, availability and access rules only ever come from the festivals themselves.
Tent overviews, the full Wiesn programme, family and quiet periods, accessibility services and lost property — all published by the organisers in Munich.
oktoberfest.de ↗Registration, pass tiers, DreamVille accommodation, Global Journey travel packages, stage line-ups and the festival app.
tomorrowland.com ↗The four things our editors say make the biggest difference to a festival trip.
Rooms in Munich, Antwerp and Brussels are the first thing to disappear and the fastest thing to rise in price during festival weeks. Secure a bed before anything else, and check the cancellation terms.
Munich's U-Bahn drops you at the edge of the Theresienwiese; Boom is served by official shuttle buses from nearby stations and airports. Both are faster and cheaper than a taxi once crowds start moving.
Food, drinks, lockers, deposits and souvenirs add up quickly. Our price guide breaks down what visitors typically spend at each level.
Comfortable shoes, a rain layer, sunscreen, earplugs, a power bank, ID and some cash. For camping, add a sleeping mat, torch and a bag you can lock.
Neighbourhoods, transport, attractions and practical tips for Munich and Boom.
Explore Cities →What things cost, what to bring, and how our independent editorial approach works.
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