Bier- und Oktoberfestmuseum, Munich

The Beer and Oktoberfest Museum explores the story of beer and Munich’s Oktoberfest inside an old Munich townhouse. Its building is reached by an almost 500-year-old staircase with 43 steps that runs through four floors. The museum opened on 7 September 2005, and its permanent exhibition is arranged around beer and Oktoberfest.

The beer section follows brewing history and beer culture, while the Oktoberfest section traces the festival’s development. Additional space is reserved for changing exhibitions, giving the museum a broader view than its name might suggest. The Edith Haberland Wagner Foundation runs the museum; that foundation is also the majority owner of Augustiner Brewery. The combination of a historic house, a remarkable staircase, and focused displays makes this a compact place to explore Munich’s drinking culture and its famous festival.