Theresienwiese

In the location's words:

When you visit Munich, there's no way around the Theresienwiese! The Theresienwiese in Munich is a square in the Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt district. It is known as the home of the world-famous Oktoberfest, which is considered the largest folk festival in the world and has been held every year since 1810. But this place has a lot to offer all year round - there's always something going on at the "Wiesn"!

History and significance of the Theresienwiese

The Theresienwiese has a long history. In honor of his wedding, Crown Prince Ludwig organized a horse race on the large, empty green space on 17 October 1810. As a result, the "meadow" was christened "Theresienwiese" after his bride, Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. It was this horse race that gave rise to the annual Oktoberfest and since then the 42-hectare site has become one of the most famous event locations in Munich. But it's not just the Oktoberfest that takes place here.

What's on the Theresienwiese when there's no Oktoberfest?

The Wiesn is used for various events throughout the year: From giant flea markets and the Tollwood Winter Festival to classic car meetings and demos - the Theresienwiese is the center of Munich's city life.

As a public square, the Theresienwiese is also open to the public - even if it is not as green as the term "meadow" might suggest - there are various opportunities to be active here, whether skating or flying a kite, you won't get bored here in a hurry.

Landmark on the Theresienwiese: The Bavaria

A popular meeting point at the Theresienwies and an iconic photo motif is the 18-metre-high bronze statue that watches over the Theresienwiese. King Ludwig I also worked here and donated the Bavaria to the Theresienwiese.

But the statue does not stand alone here - around it is the Hall of Fame, in which people were honored and immortalized for their services to Bavaria, also in the form of statues or busts. You can find out more about the restoration and history of the Bavaria here.

Frequently asked questions about the Theresienwiese

1. what is the best way to get to Theresienwiese?

Theresienwiese is easy to reach by public transport. Theresienwiese is a separate station name - but you can also travel to the stations Hackerbrücke, Poccistraße, Goetheplatz or Schwanthalerhöhe, for example. Traveling by car is not necessarily recommended for large events on the Theresienwiese such as the Tollwood Winter Festival or the Wiesn. Parking at one of the Park+Ride parking lots on the outskirts of the city would be the most sensible option.

2. what is happening on the Theresienwiese today?

Tip: The best way to stay up-to-date is to follow Rausgegangen München - here we always inform you about cool upcoming events in your city ;)

3. what does the Theresienwiese look like?

There's a special feature on the Theresienwiese for Oktoberfest: you can see what's going on on the Theresienwiese from the comfort of your own home. This is all possible thanks to the webcam - which broadcasts live from the Theresienwiese from September 21 to October 6.