Travel by numbers: Oktoberfest

Form a queue: Bavaria’s biggest bash is brewing

Hall or nothing: Six million litres of beer are drunk

(AFP/Getty Images)

1810 The inaugural year of Oktoberfest. The event started in Munich when Prince Ludwig I and Princess Therese invited citizens to celebrate their marriage on the lawns in front of the city gates. Although the original party took place on 12 October, it was later lengthened and moved to September, in the hope of better weather. Accordingly, the modern-day version starts on 21 September and continues for 16 days (oktoberfest.de).

420,000 The size, in square metres, of the Theresienwiese, official site of Oktoberfest, equivalent to 10 Wembley stadia. The park comprises beer tents, carousels, rollercoasters and Lederhosen-wearing locals. Be close to the action with First Flight Festival’s offer of four nights’ B&B at a central hostel and BA flights from Heathrow on 20 or 27 September for £549pp (firstfestivaltravel.com).

14 The number of large tents that will serve festivalgoers. They include the Hacker-Festzelt (hacker-festzelt.de), with its cloud-painted ceiling, and the circus-themed Hippodrom (hippodrom-oktoberfest.de), which will serve sekt (sparkling wine) as well as traditional steins. A range of smaller tents, such as Bodo’s Café, will dish up pastries and cakes alongside cocktails (bodos.de).

6,000,000 The volume, in litres, of beer that will be drunk. To coincide with all the consumption, there is a range of events. On 21 September, horse-drawn carts representing each of the Munich breweries trot into town. On 22 September, there’s a riflemen’s parade, flanked by livestock, flag-throwers and trumpeters. On 29 September, there’s an open-air concert(muenchen.de).

70 The height, in metres, of the new Sky Fall tower. Although Oktoberfest is more than 200 years old, the event continues to evolve. Other new attractions include the Odyssee rollercoaster, the Cobra ride and the Pirate Adventure funhouse. Save your thrills for the site with easyJet’s no-frills offer of two nights’ B&B at the Park Inn Hotel, including Gatwick flights on 1 October, for £355pp (holidays.easyjet.com).

6 The number of official Munich breweries. The oldest is Augustiner, founded in 1328. Today, it has a beer garden onsite, proffering eight branded brews, including the six-per-cent Oktoberfestbier, served exclusively at Oktoberfest (augustiner-braeu.de).