Everyone hits Munich for Oktoberfest madness when Maß costs €12+ and you wait 2 hours for tables at Hofbräu tent. April/May gives you perfect biergarten weather with €6.50 Augustiner at neighborhood spots like Hirschgarten. September/October still warm enough for those iconic chestnut tree beer gardens but Oktoberfest tourist insanity is over.

April means you don't wake up at 6am to beat crowds at Neuschwanstein castle which is perfect for people like me who consider 10am early. Plus shoulder season train tickets to Garmisch or Salzburg cost €15 less than peak summer DB prices. May weather hits that sweet spot - warm enough for outdoor drinking but cool enough that beer gardens aren't packed with sweaty tour groups.