Every autumn, Theresienwiese, a square in Munich, Germany, transforms into one of the world's largest festivals—Oktoberfest. First held in 1810 to celebrate a royal wedding, it has grown into a 16- to 18-day tradition attracting more than six million people from around the globe. The scale is staggering: the festival grounds span approximately 42 hectares and host 14 main tents, each seating thousands. Each year, visitors consume around seven million litres of beer, along with mountains of pretzels, sausages and gingerbread hearts. All beer served at Oktoberfest comes from Munich breweries and meets the strict standards of the Reinheitsgebot, the German Beer Purity Law.

Beyond the drinks and food, the sprawling fairground is its own world, filled with roller coasters, games and classic rides. Among them, the Wellenflug, the swing carousel pictured here, offers sweeping views of the festival grounds and the Munich skyline. This year, the festival begins today and runs through October 5. Whether you come for the beer, the pretzels or the thrill of dangling your feet high above the city, Oktoberfest has a seat waiting for you.