Munich in the time of Oktoberfest
 

So I'm leaving Graz for Munich on the 26th or 27th and I'll be staying on into the first week of October, but here's the thing. I'm interested in going to Oktoberfest for a day or two to experience it all, but huge crowds aren't quite my thing. I'm wondering if anybody has any tips on things to do that won't be as touristy, especially on the cheap (running way low on cash thanks to the wicked euro-dollar exchange rate). We'll be staying either in a camping ground or with the family of my girlfriend who live 30 minutes out of Munich in Sauerlach. Anybody here been to Augsburg? I'm curious about whether it might be worth a visit for a day/maybe a day+night trip. Also, what sort of stuff should I know about etiquette and just how to behave/what to do in D'Wiesn? I don't wanna cause problems being just another tourist, I wanna be able to order my beer and pretzels with an air of classy experienced . . . -ness. . . ja. Any help? :cheers:

Although still huge, the crowd isn't so bad after the opening week of Oktoberfest. You'll have a really hard time finding cheap accomodation during the fest, if money is low I'd just stay with your girlfriend. You can probably take a train in and out of the city, and the fest doesn't go too late into the evening so you won't be missing trains and such . . . well, anything can happen during Oktoberfest. Calm and casual drinkers become organizers of the beer bongs and underwear-ripping gangs, so who knows.

As far as etiquette, ummm, make sure you're wasted, that's about the only rule. Actually, you'll find some tamer tents during the mid weeks of the fest. I wouldn't worry about any do's and don'ts, just have a good time.