Wild rides on the "Wiesn"

A nostalgic start: the chair-o-plane whirls peacefully on high, gaining speed during the ride until centrifugal force sends the seats spinning outward, almost horizontally. But this is still one of the calmest rides on the Wiesn.

The same principle, in a different adrenaline league. The 24 seats of this chain carousel spiral upward to a dizzying height of 55 meters, turning around the tower at 80 kilometers an hour, producing mild thrills and chills. The Tower Chair-o-plane first appeared at the Oktoberfest in 2012 and has been a favorite with the public ever since.

A rollercoaster is only a faint echo of this ride! The Olympia Loop-the-Loop was set up on the Wiesn for the first time in 1989. Since then, it’s been a powerful magnet for visitors. Its five loops range from 12 to 20 meters in height. Passengers are shot along the rails at 100 kilometers an hour!

Even higher and more thrilling is the Skyfall. This is a real test of courage and a "must" for adrenaline junkies. It’s not for anyone who’s afraid of heights or has a sensitive stomach! Passengers are first catapulted 75 meters high; then they plunge toward the earth. It’s almost like Bungee jumping!

The ultimate swing. The Konga is a huge swing whose gondolas hang on tentacle-like gripper arms. They swing at an altitude of up to 40 meters. At the bottom of their swing, riders are pressed into their seats with four times their body weight. The gondolas also revolve, intensifying the feeling of weightlessness at the apex.

Some traditional rides, like this Boat Swing, stoutly maintain their positions on the Wiesn alongside the high-tech newcomers. Whole generations of Oktoberfest visitors have childhood memories of this ride, on which the passenger’s own muscle power swings him to the heights. Manage to make it roll all the way over, and you’re a hero!

The Devil’s Wheel is an institution. The aim is to remain on the wheel as long as possible. But when the disk turns and centrifugal force sets in, the end is inevitable. Watching is almost as much fun as holding on, and the "acrobats" in the middle can count on the spectators’ malicious glee. The Devil’s Wheel is one of the Wiesn’s oldest attractions.

Another classic is the giant slide, held in Bavaria’s colors, blue and white. This is low-tech fun for the whole family. People love sliding 23 meters downward in the rollicking lanes. It’s like sledding - even without snow.

This huge slide winds in gentle curves around a tower. The Toboggan has been cozily entertaining Oktoberfest guests for 70 years. But spiraling downward is only half the fun. Ascending the tower by conveyor belt is the other half - and the real challenge. Be careful if you’ve already had a few too many beers!

In the evening, romantics love to look down from the Ferris wheel onto the bustling Oktoberfest and the glistening lights of Munich. During the day, especially when the warm foehn wind clears the sky, you can see as far as the Alps. And the Ferris wheel is an eye-catcher itself - and something like the trademark of the Wiesn.

More than a hundred different rides, from tame to terrifying and from nostalgic to futuristic, guarantee fun from morning till night. And they don’t have to be expensive if you know how to plan ahead. Tuesdays are “family days”, and the rides offer reduced prices.