The 5 Best European Cities To Travel To For Oktoberfest

If you're heading to Europe this fall and looking for an excuse to show off your new Lederhosen (i.e., traditional Bavarian overalls), consider partaking in an unforgettable Oktoberfest celebration. What better way to welcome autumn than with parades, colorful costumes, giant pretzels, pints of cold beer, and a few romping, stomping table dances? The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810 in Munich, which is located in the German state of Bavaria, to commemorate the marriage of Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Since then, Oktoberfest has been celebrated every year in Munich and has since spread far and wide across the globe. 

With countless versions of these festivals held across the European continent every autumn, how does one choose which one to attend? To make this decision easier, we've narrowed down the list to what we consider the top five, based on our own experiences, travelers' reviews, and other research. All the festivals on our list adhere to the common Oktoberfest themes of traditional Bavarian costumes, events, foods, and beverages but take place in different settings with their own unique twists. And some but not all are located in Germany. 

Of course, Munich tops our list of top European Oktoberfest destinations. Not only is it the birthplace of Oktoberfest, it's also the city with the best beer scene in Europe, according to Rick Steves. Munich hosts the largest Oktoberfest event in the world, attracting millions of revelers each year, many of them from outside Germany. For this reason, some claim that Munich's Oktoberfest has lost its cultural authenticity and become somewhat of a tourist trap. But, in our opinion, the biggest and most boisterous Bavarian party on the planet is something you have to experience at least once in your lifetime. 

Munich's Oktoberfest takes place for several weeks at the end of September and beginning of October (note the opening date in September, not October). The event is held in a 100-acre field southwest of the city center called the Theresienwiese, the site of Prince Ludwig's 1810 marriage. The festival boasts a parade, carnival rides, and other forms of entertainment, but the German beer brewed to strict local standards is definitely the star of the show here. Beer, bratwurst, dumplings, and other traditional dishes are served in large and small tents, each of which boasts its own unique character as well as beer and food offerings. Book a seat in one of the tents in advance or risk going thirsty.

Germany's second largest Oktoberfest event, Canstatter Wasen, takes place outside Bavaria in the city of Stuttgart. It's similar to Munich Oktoberfest but with fewer crowds and less hype. Even though the event draws around four million people per year, festival-goers think it's less "touristy" than the event in Munich. For example, Tripadvisor reviewer maiersm said, "If you have experienced Octoberfest in Munich then you know about the overcrowded experience with mostly tourist. For a great alternative, consider the Stuttgart Volksfest. It runs roughly the same time but not nearly the crowds or the tourist." 

Canstatter Wasen runs from the end of September through the middle of October on a fairground in Stuttgart with tents and a lively fun fair, said to be one of Europe's largest. Stuttgart is about 144 miles northwest of Munich in the state of Baden-Württemberg, where famous German cars such as Porsche and Mercedes-Benz hail from. A highlight of the festival is the opening parade, which features colorful costumes, decorated brewery carriages, and marching bands.

Frankfurt's Oktoberfest is smaller than Munich's and Stuttgart's, drawing only around 60,000 visitors each year. But we include it on our list as another German city outside Bavaria where you can find a wildly fun Oktoberfest scene with all the usual trappings and then some. The beer is ample and free flowing here, as in the other locations. But the real highlight of the Frankfurt event is its live entertainment, which includes both traditional performers and popular modern German bands and singers. In other words, this Oktoberfest is a cross between a hard-core beer festival and a rock concert, sprinkled with a few folk tunes and bratwurst.

The event is held from mid-September through mid-October in a stadium in central Frankfurt, a location that's easily accessible via public transportation. As in the other locations, it's important to reserve a table in the tent in advance to secure your spot, especially on weekends. If you're flying into Frankfurt, be prepared, as it is considered one of Europe's more stressful airports. 

For a hopping Bavarian beer festival near the seaside, where average daytime temperatures are around 75 degrees in October (just sayin'), wave goodbye to Germany and head south to sunny Barcelona. Even though this Oktoberfest event is held in Spain, its organizers aim for cultural authenticity, working closely with German beverage and food suppliers to bring the best Bavarian traditions to Catalonia. Besides ample amounts of German beer, the festival features traditional foods (with vegan and gluten-free variations), folk dances, and live music. Another highlight is the Bavarian costume competition, which has separate categories for Dirndls (dresses) and Lederhosen. Winners receive a free VIP table in the tent for eight people with a tasting of various Bavarian dishes. 

Oktoberfest Barcelona is held the first few weekends in October in a large, colorfully decorated tent near Barcelona's iconic Plaza España. Book a table in advance to secure your spot, as space is limited in the tent. While you're in the Catalonian capital, consider these day trips recommended by travel influencer Rick Steves.

North of Germany, festival seekers can find plenty of events in neighboring Scandinavia, including the Copenhagen Oktoberfest, which takes place during three days in late September. The Copenhagen event was first held in 2009, and it's now Denmark's largest Oktoberfest, attracting several thousand people each year. This is obviously still much smaller than the aforementioned German celebrations, but it's still jam-packed with Bavarian action. And pssst: Don't underestimate the Scandinavians. They can throw a great party, especially right before the long dark winter.

Copenhagen's event is held in a large tent in Femøren, just south of the city center, accessible by public transportation. Purchasing a ticket gets you a seat at a table, snacks, beer and wine, a traditional meal (vegetarian alternatives available), and dessert, and you can listen to live German music while you drink and dine. Conveniently (the Danish think of everything), if you forgot your favorite Dirndl or Lederhosen at home, you can rent them onsite.

To assemble this list, we consulted a variety of sources and cross-referenced them. These include personal experiences, Tripadvisor reviews, travel influencer blogs, festival websites, and news articles. While there are certainly other amazing European Oktoberfest celebrations that did not make this list, we had to choose five, and we wanted to present a mix of festivals in terms of size, personality, and location. Pröst!