Munich, September 3, 2026 – As Oktoberfest nears, the cost of overnight stays in Munich is reaching dizzying heights. Airbnb apartments are reportedly costing thousands of euros per night, with hotels also increasing their prices. This surge has led an increasing number of visitors to resort to improvised mattress camps to make attending the Oktoberfest financially feasible.
Skyrocketing Prices for Oktoberfest Accommodation
The immense demand for accommodation, driven by up to seven million expected guests, is pushing rental prices to unprecedented levels. While inflation may play a role, the price hikes observed on popular booking portals are particularly striking during the Wiesn period.
For instance, a search on Airbnb for a stay from September 12th to 13th (Saturday to Sunday), the weekend before Oktoberfest officially begins, shows prices starting at 80 euros per person around the Bavariaring. Even at a maximum of 218 euros in Landwehrstraße, tourists might still consider it affordable.
Prices Explode as Oktoberfest Kicks Off
However, for those looking to book from the first Oktoberfest weekend (September 19th to 20th), prices can be alarming. Rates around the Theresienwiese can easily reach 300 euros per person per night. For example, a bedroom with a queen-size double bed northwest of the Bavariaring, near the Schwanthalerhöhe Forum, commands this price.
Even higher prices are being reported, with one provider on Bavariastraße at the corner of Poccistraße asking for 1,270 euros per night for the first Wiesn weekend. This includes three bedrooms, five beds, and 1.5 bathrooms. In comparison, a 3.5-room apartment with one bed and 1.5 bathrooms on Kapuzinerstraße for 300 euros per night seems almost like a bargain.
The most expensive option found for the second Wiesn weekend (September 26th to 27th) is an apartment in Ludwigsvorstadt, at Pettenkoferstraße Ecke Goethestraße, priced at a staggering 3,564 euros per night. This luxurious 220-square-meter apartment boasts three bedrooms, three beds, two bathrooms, and a living room described as being as large as a ballroom.
Mid-Week Stays Offer Slight Relief, Mattress Sales Surge
A look at mid-week prices, specifically from September 30th to October 1st (Wednesday to Thursday), shows that most offers are still in the triple-digit range. The general rule on the Airbnb market during Oktoberfest appears to be that mid-week prices are slightly lower than weekend rates. The same luxurious apartment on Pettenkoferstraße, for example, is priced at “only” 2,889 euros during the week, representing a saving of almost 700 euros, or 46 Maß (liters of beer).
In contrast, an apartment in Moosach (Dachauer Straße) offered on Kleinanzeigen for the entire Oktoberfest period at just 240 euros per night appears to be a fair deal.
Faced with these exorbitant prices, many visitors are resorting to alternative measures. One such measure is building “mattress castles” in rented accommodations to make group stays more affordable. A Munich mattress discounter confirmed a significant increase in sales of their cheapest mattresses during the Oktoberfest period.
Mattress Sales Jump by 20-30 Percent
A salesperson at a Munich mattress discounter reported a 20 to 30 percent increase in sales of their most affordable mattresses at the start of Oktoberfest. Some customers explicitly state that they are buying mattresses for the Wiesn, expecting guests who need accommodation.
These basic foam mattresses, ten centimeters high, start at 69.90 euros. While some customers opt for these cheaper options, others invest in models up to 300 euros, intending to use them even after Oktoberfest. Regarding returns, the salesperson clarified that customers who purchase in-store and then return a mattress can only receive a credit for a future purchase.
Source: Abendzeitung München
