Oktoberfest 2026: Add a Black Forest Wellness Escape to Your Germany Trip
Coming to Germany for Oktoberfest? Make Munich only one part of the journey. Slow down afterwards with thermal water, historic spa architecture and the Black Forest – and, if your dates align, experience Stuttgart’s famous Cannstatter Wasen as a second German folk festival.
- Oktoberfest –
- Cannstatter Wasen –
- Both festivals September 25 – October 4
- Black Forest stay 2–4 wellness nights
For many international travellers, Oktoberfest is the reason to come to Germany in the first place. But it does not have to be the entire trip.
After Munich’s beer tents, music and crowds, the Black Forest offers a completely different side of Germany. In the spa town of Bad Wildbad , Mokni’s Palais Hotel & SPA combines warm thermal water, forest scenery and direct bathrobe access to the historic “Palais Thermal” .
And in 2026 there is an additional opportunity: during part of Oktoberfest, Stuttgart’s Cannstatter Volksfest – commonly known as the Cannstatter Wasen or Stuttgart Beer Festival – takes place at the same time.
That creates the chance to experience two famous German folk festivals and then add the contrast of a relaxing Black Forest wellness stay.
Coming to Germany for Oktoberfest? Don’t stop at Munich.
Oktoberfest in Munich is one of Germany’s best-known events and a bucket-list experience for travellers from the United States and around the world. Festival tents, Bavarian traditions, music, food and millions of visitors create an atmosphere that is difficult to experience anywhere else.
But Germany offers much more than Munich – and the contrast can be one of the most memorable parts of the journey.
Instead of flying home immediately after Oktoberfest, consider adding a few days in the Black Forest. Trade crowded festival tents for thermal water, historic bathing culture, forest air and a slower pace.
Mokni’s is not a hotel near the Oktoberfest grounds and we do not want to pretend otherwise. Bad Wildbad is a separate destination in southwestern Germany and is best suited to travellers who want to turn their Oktoberfest visit into a broader Germany vacation.
Two German festivals in one trip
In 2026, Oktoberfest and the Cannstatter Wasen overlap for ten days.
Oktoberfest in Munich
Oktoberfest takes place in Munich from September 19 to October 4, 2026. It is the internationally famous Bavarian festival that brings visitors from around the world to the city each autumn.
Cannstatter Wasen in Stuttgart
The Cannstatter Volksfest takes place in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt from September 25 to October 11, 2026. International visitors may also know it as the Stuttgart Beer Festival.
September 25 – October 4
Travel during these dates and both festivals are taking place. That makes it possible to combine Munich, the Black Forest and Stuttgart within one southern Germany itinerary.
The two festivals are independent events with their own history and regional traditions. If your travel dates allow it, experiencing both can add an interesting second perspective on German festival culture. Visit the official Cannstatter Volksfest website for current event information.
After the festival comes the other side of Germany
Beer tents, music, crowds and long days are part of what makes Oktoberfest unforgettable. They also make a few quieter days afterwards particularly appealing.
In Bad Wildbad, the rhythm changes. Instead of planning the next festival tent, you can spend your day between thermal pools, historic spa rooms, saunas and the surrounding Black Forest.
At Mokni’s Palais Hotel & SPA, admission to two thermal spas is already included in your hotel stay.
Guests staying in the “Badhotel” can walk directly from the hotel to the historic “Palais Thermal” in their bathrobe.
Warm thermal pools, historic architecture, relaxation areas, saunas and the heated outdoor pool create a very different experience from Germany’s busy festival cities.
The nearby “Vital Therme” , which can be used in swimwear, is also included and is only a short walk from the hotel.
Three ways to build your Oktoberfest & Black Forest trip
Mokni’s works best as a separate part of your Germany itinerary – before or after the festival experience.
Munich first. Black Forest afterwards.
Experience Oktoberfest first and then continue to Bad Wildbad for two, three or four quieter nights.
For many travellers, this is the most natural combination: excitement first, thermal water afterwards.
Recover before Oktoberfest
Arriving in Germany after a long international flight? Begin your trip with a few nights in the Black Forest before continuing to Munich.
Thermal water, breakfast and a slower start can make the transition into a busy Germany itinerary considerably more comfortable.
Oktoberfest + Black Forest + Wasen
Travelling between September 25 and October 4? Both Oktoberfest and the Cannstatter Wasen are taking place.
Combine Munich with several wellness nights in Bad Wildbad and add Stuttgart before continuing your journey or flying home.
Why Mokni’s works as the wellness part of your Germany trip
Mokni’s Palais Hotel & SPA is located in the centre of Bad Wildbad, a traditional spa town in the Northern Black Forest.
The hotel consists of two hotel buildings directly opposite each other.
The “Badhotel” is directly connected to the “Palais Thermal”. Guests can leave their room in a bathrobe and walk straight into the historic thermal spa without going outside.
The “Rossini” building accommodates the hotel reception, additional guest rooms and the sparkling-wine breakfast buffet. Guests from both buildings enjoy the same principal hotel benefits.
Included in your wellness experience
- Admission to the historic “Palais Thermal”
- Admission to the nearby “Vital Therme”
- Direct bathrobe access from the “Badhotel” to the “Palais Thermal”
- A generous sparkling-wine breakfast buffet
- Adults-only hotel atmosphere from the age of 16
- Access to the hotel’s fitness facilities
- Warm thermal water, sauna and outdoor-pool experiences
- Black Forest scenery immediately surrounding Bad Wildbad
Mokni’s is therefore not intended as accommodation for commuting to Oktoberfest every day. It is the separate Black Forest experience that turns a festival visit into a more varied Germany vacation.
Practical advice for international visitors
A little planning makes a multi-stop Germany trip considerably easier.
Treat Munich as a separate stop
Mokni’s is located in the Black Forest, not in Munich. Plan separate accommodation in Munich if you want to spend one or more days at Oktoberfest.
Reserve popular festival dates early
Oktoberfest weekends and popular evenings can be extremely busy. Check current festival-tent information and reservation conditions when planning your visit.
Check whether both festivals overlap
In 2026, Oktoberfest and the Cannstatter Wasen are both taking place from September 25 through October 4.
Plan your journey to Bad Wildbad
Our directions and route planner provide useful information for travelling to Mokni’s by car or public transport.
Give the Black Forest enough time
Two nights provide a first impression. Three or four nights allow more time for thermal bathing, Bad Wildbad and the surrounding Black Forest.
Understand German spa culture
Parts of the “Palais Thermal”, especially the traditional sauna areas, follow Germany’s textile-free spa culture. Check the current bathing rules before your visit.
Discover Bad Wildbad
Allow some time to discover Bad Wildbad rather than treating the hotel merely as another overnight stop.
Book according to your route
Rates depend on availability. Once your Munich and Stuttgart dates are clear, you can place your Black Forest stay before, between or after the festival stops.
A possible Oktoberfest & Black Forest itinerary
One example for travellers who want more from Germany than a single festival destination.
-
Day 1
Arrive in Munich
Settle into Munich and explore the city before your Oktoberfest visit.
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Day 2
Oktoberfest
Experience the festival grounds, traditional tents, food, music and the atmosphere that brought you to Germany.
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Day 3
Continue to the Black Forest
Travel from Munich to Bad Wildbad, check in at Mokni’s and spend your first evening relaxing in the warm thermal water of the “Palais Thermal”.
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Day 4
Nothing you have to do
Enjoy the sparkling-wine breakfast, thermal pools, sauna areas and heated outdoor pool. Explore Bad Wildbad only if you feel like it.
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Day 5
Black Forest or Cannstatter Wasen
Spend another relaxing day in Bad Wildbad – or, when your dates fit, continue your Germany journey with the Cannstatter Wasen in Stuttgart.
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Day 6
Continue your Germany trip
Leave with two very different impressions of Germany: the energy of its famous festivals and the quieter side of the Black Forest.
Stay a little longer for the Germany you didn’t expect
After Munich’s festival atmosphere, slow down with warm thermal water, historic spa architecture and the Black Forest at Mokni’s Palais Hotel & SPA.
Frequently asked questions
Important information for planning Oktoberfest, the Black Forest and the Cannstatter Wasen in 2026.
When is Oktoberfest 2026?
Oktoberfest 2026 takes place in Munich from September 19 through October 4, 2026.
When is the Cannstatter Wasen in 2026?
The Cannstatter Volksfest 2026 takes place from September 25 through October 11, 2026 in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt.
Can I visit Oktoberfest and the Cannstatter Wasen on the same trip?
Yes. In 2026 the festivals overlap from September 25 through October 4. Travellers visiting Germany during this period can plan Munich and Stuttgart as separate stops and add the Black Forest between or after them.
Is Mokni’s a hotel near Oktoberfest?
No. Oktoberfest takes place in Munich, while Mokni’s Palais Hotel & SPA is located in Bad Wildbad in the Northern Black Forest. Mokni’s is best suited as a separate wellness stop before or after your Munich stay rather than as accommodation for travelling to Oktoberfest every day.
How far is Mokni’s from the Cannstatter Wasen?
The journey from Bad Wildbad to the festival grounds in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt normally takes approximately one hour by car. Event traffic and parking conditions can increase travel times considerably.
What is included when staying at Mokni’s?
Hotel stays include the sparkling-wine breakfast buffet and admission to the “Palais Thermal” and “Vital Therme”. Guests staying in the “Badhotel” can access the “Palais Thermal” directly in their bathrobe.
Is the Cannstatter Wasen the same as Oktoberfest?
No. Oktoberfest takes place in Munich, while the Cannstatter Volksfest takes place in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt. Both are large German folk festivals, but they have different histories, regional traditions and identities.
Should I visit the Black Forest before or after Oktoberfest?
Both options work. A stay before Oktoberfest can provide a relaxing start after arriving in Germany. A stay afterwards offers a strong contrast to the crowds and festival atmosphere and is particularly suitable for travellers who want to slow down before continuing their journey or flying home.