Is Munich Safe in January 2026?

Counterfeit or invalid Oktoberfest tent reservation tickets are sold online and by street touts near Theresienwiese before and during the festival. Scammers create convincing fake reservation confirmations for sold-out tents like Hofbräu-Festzelt and Schottenhamel and charge premium prices. Victims arrive at the festival to find their tickets rejected at the entrance with no recourse. Official tent reservations are only available directly through each tent's official website months in advance.

How to avoid: Only purchase tent reservations directly from the official Oktoberfest tent websites — links are listed on the official munich.de Oktoberfest page. Never buy reservations from third-party resellers, Craigslist-style listings, or individuals near the festival grounds.

Munich's central train station (Hauptbahnhof) is the city's highest-volume pickpocket zone, with professional teams operating in the crowded S-Bahn and U-Bahn platforms, ticket hall, and street-level exits. Thieves typically work in coordinated groups — one creates a distraction or bump while another extracts wallets or phones. The congestion during peak commuter hours and when Oktoberfest visitors are arriving or departing significantly increases risk.

How to avoid: Keep wallets and phones in front pockets or a zipped bag worn on your front. Be especially alert at S-Bahn and U-Bahn turnstiles where crowds compress. Avoid placing bags on the floor or hanging them on chair backs in the waiting areas.

In some tourist-facing beer halls and beer gardens around Marienplatz and near Oktoberfest, waitstaff bring unrequested snacks, pretzels, or appetizers to the table and then include them on the bill. Customers unfamiliar with the practice may not realize these items are charged until the check arrives. Some establishments also add service charges not clearly listed on the menu. The practice is most common in venues catering primarily to tourist foot traffic rather than locals.

How to avoid: Clearly decline any food items you did not order when they are placed on your table. Ask for an itemized bill and verify each charge before paying. Research reputable beer halls in advance — the Augustiner-Keller and Viktualienmarkt beer gardens are generally well-regarded by locals.

During Oktoberfest, fraudulent short-term rental listings appear on Craigslist, Facebook groups, and informal booking platforms advertising apartments near Theresienwiese at inflated rates. Victims pay deposits or full amounts to receive a fake address or find the property does not exist or is already occupied. Demand during the festival is extreme and legitimate options are often sold out 12 months in advance, which scammers exploit.

How to avoid: Book Oktoberfest accommodation only through major verified platforms (Airbnb, Booking.com) with established review histories. Never pay deposits via bank transfer to a private individual. If a listing appears for a period when major platforms show nothing available, treat it as a red flag.

Fraudulent apartment listings targeting tourists visiting Munich appear year-round on platforms including Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and unofficial booking sites, with a sharp spike during Oktoberfest when legitimate accommodation is fully booked. Scammers pose as landlords or property managers, often using stolen photos of real Munich apartments near Theresienwiese, Maxvorstadt, or Schwabing. After collecting a deposit or full payment by bank transfer, the "landlord" becomes unreachable. The U.S. State Department specifically flags Germany for this category of financial fraud.

How to avoid: Book only through established platforms with verified host identity and secure payment protections (Booking.com, Airbnb). Never pay by bank transfer or cryptocurrency to someone you have not met. Verify the listing address exists on Google Maps Street View before paying.