When: September 17 to October 3
Where: Munich, Germany
Cost: Free entrance

Down your share of six million litres of the finest Bavarian beer, tuck into local delicacies and party till your heart’s content at Munich’s Oktoberfest, the world’s biggest beer festival.

Each year, some six million visitors wash down their beer with approximately 300,000 pork sausages, 600,000 roast chickens and 80 oxen.

Oktoberfest still clings to tradition, only allowing beer from Munich’s six select breweries to be sold in the 14 large tents, each with its own unique feel, crowd and history.

These breweries produce beer according to the German Purity Law decreed in 1516, so revellers can safely knock back their Maß litre of ‘healthy’ beer without fear of chemical additives.

The Anglo-Australian-American backpacker hordes and Japanese tour groups tend to make a beeline for the raucous Hofbräu tent. Seekers of the lively but more refined pleasures of the Bavarians (many decked out in full folk costume) should check out the Augustiner, Ochsenbraterei (ox-roasting) or Fischer-Vroni tents.

Before you drink too much, remember to make time for traditional German amusements such as the quaint flea circus and crossbow competitions, and note that Tuesday is Family Day, with fairground ride discounts. See regional costumes, marching bands and traditional riflemen in the grand Costume and Riflemen’s Parade on the first Sunday of the festival.

Oktoberfest has bloomed in size and popularity since it began in 1810, born from the public wedding celebrations of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.

If you need to meet up with friends, the best place is the steps leading up to the Bavaria statue, where you can look out over the whole colourful scene.

Beer is served Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. Käfer Wiesn-Schänke and Weinzelt tents are open until 1 a.m., with last orders at 12.15 a.m.

For more information, visit www.oktoberfest.de.

Fly to Munich direct with Air Malta or Lufthansa.