---
title: "How to make an Oktoberfest map | Guides | Map design"
description: "Create a themed map with custom data and icons."
---

> For AI agents: a documentation index is available at [/llms.txt](https://docs.maptiler.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of all pages are available by appending .md to any URL.

# How to make an Oktoberfest map

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create this themed **Oktoberfest map** using our visual map editor [Map Designer](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/map-design/editor/):

Warning

Please note that this tutorial uses an [older generation of MapTiler maps](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/updates/#2025-11-new-generation-of-maptiler-maps) and the described workflows **might not be accurate anymore**. We recommend to use this guide as a **source of design tips and tricks** from our cartographers rather than relying on detailed step-by-step instructions.

## Source files

To create this exact map, you’ll need these files:

-   [icons.zip](./data/icons.zip)
-   [beer\_poi.mbtiles](./data/beer_poi.mbtiles)

## Preparing the data

The `beer_poi.mbtiles` data file is a selection of POIs (points of interest) such as restaurant, pub, bar, biergarten, or brewery for the German region of Bayern. We processed the data into MBTiles using [MapTiler Engine](https://www.maptiler.com/engine/), and you’ll need them to show these places on your map using the custom beer mug icon.

**Upload the data file to your MapTiler account:**

1.  Go to the [Tiles section](https://cloud.maptiler.com/tiles/) of your cloud account and click on the **New Tileset** button.
2.  Choose your `beer_poi.mbtiles` file you’ve downloaded from Source files to upload to your account.

Find the dataset in the list and click on it to inspect it. You can check the details such as min and max zoom, data attributes, and location if you switch on the **Show basemap** button and zoom out a bit.

![upload-tileset.png](./18538162639121_dae2aafe4d.webp)

## Creating a map

Open [Map Designer](https://cloud.maptiler.com/maps/editor?map=bright-v2) with the Bright map. We’ll use it as a base for your own custom map.

![customize-bright.png](./18538203656337_d24a28a219.webp)

### 1\. Adjust map colors

In the Quick Edits, click on the **Map Colors Palette** and adjust the **Hue** to a value of around 47°.

![adjust-colors.png](./18538162646417_44609b6aa0.webp)

To polish the borders slightly, go to the **Layers** (Alt+L), then to **Administrative** block, and select all border layers (Country, Disputed, Other) while holding Shift.

Reset and change the **Color** to `#C28B00`. Then **Save** and **publish** the map, and close it by clicking on the **X**.

![adjust-borders.png](./18538203667217_d1e0c70201.webp)

### 2\. Add custom icons

For Oktoberfest, we prepared a special beer icon along with two icons for cities. We’ve packed them into the `icons.zip` source file. To upload them to your map, go to the Quick Edits, section **Map icons**. If you need more detailed info, see [Customizing map icons](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/map-design/icons/).

### 3\. Add beer POIs

As we replaced the symbols, we are now missing some of the icons on the map. It’s no problem, however, as we will **switch off the visibility** of the affected layers to let the beer POIs shine.

In the **Layers** panel, turn off the following layers by clicking on the **Eye** icon:

-   In Transport - Oneway road, Highway shield, Highway shield (US)
-   The whole POI Block. Now Zoom to the München area.

Next, click on the **Plus** button to Add a new layer. Search for the beer\_poi data, select a Point geometry, then choose a Parent Block (you can create a new one called Beer, for example), Symbol visualization, and preferred layer name. Then **Add the layer**.

![add-layer.png](./18538162665233_6dd4054ba6.webp)

### 4\. Adjust visualization

Now you should see a lot of text added to your map. This is because the data is added with default styling. Change the following values:

-   **Font** to **Open Sans Semi Bold**.
-   **Adjust the size** with zoom range styling (three dots) to 14px at zoom 10, 16px at zoom 14 and 18px at zoom 22.
-   **Change the color** to `#97741C`.
-   **Add outline** with `#FFF9EB` color, 80% opacity, 2.5px width and 0.2px blur.
-   **Add icon** with beer image.
-   **Adjust the icon size** with zoom range styling (three dots) to 0.7× on zoom 9 and 1× on zoom 11.
-   Open **Layout** and set the **Text Layout** anchor to **Top**. This will move the breweries’ labels nicely under the icons. Adjust padding as needed.

![style.png](./18538877312785_a7fce56e61.webp)

Adjust the **filter**. Just replace the filter section with the following code.

```json
"filter": [  
"has",  
"name"  
],
```

This will ensure that only breweries with names will be displayed.

Switch to the **Verticality tab** and move the Beer layer under Place labels so that you can see cities, villages, and other administrative names above the new labels we have added.

![verticality.png](./18538877317137_59efdcfb88.webp)

To add a **blurry effect**, go to the Background Block and duplicate the background. **Adjust the opacity** with zoom range styling to 100% on zoom 0, 90% on zoom 4, 60% on zoom 6 and 0% on zoom 9.

![opacity.png](./18538862466449_0f0b049a1b.webp)

Switch to the **Verticality** tab and move this layer to the very top. If you zoom out of München so that you can see the whole of Germany or Europe, you’ll see that the map goes blurry.

![blur.png](./18538862468241_0934aed5d0.webp)

## Use your map

When done, you can [publish](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/map-design/how-to-publish-a-map/) your custom map and share it with the world. The options are the same as when [using a ready-made map](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/using-map/).

Tip

The easiest way is to add the map to your website [as an iFrame](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/using-map/iframe/).

Enjoy the Oktoberfest vibes! 🍻