Oktoberfest and foliage are arguably the focus points of fall traveling. Along with the benefit of Oktoberfest–besides, of course, the beer! –is that you don’t have to outguess nature about the time to go to. Even though you can find literally hundreds of self-styled Oktoberfest celebrations across the world, only four are major league, with yearly attendance of a half-million or longer. I’ve listed them below, along with other smaller but nevertheless fun places to celebrate Oktoberfest 2017.
Munich, Germany
Obviously, Munich remains the world’s greatest Oktoberfest–you can’t beat the original, and, together with anywhere from 5 to 7 million annual visitors, still by far the biggest. Munich’s Oktoberfest 2017 runs from September 16 through October 3. It is so large that most of the actions is in outside tents built in plazas and roads, and you need a reservation for each tent you want to go to.
Flights to Munich for Oktoberfest 2017 are still offered. In my most recent check, market round-trips price $600-$900 from the East Coast and $800-$1,100 in the West Coast. In Europe, some of the lowest fares require as usual.
Hotel space is expensive — and currently tight. Available downtown places are going for $400 and up per night, and only a few resorts on the outskirts are offered for less than $200. Luckily, Munich transit is great. Assess Oktoberfest.de/en/ for specifics.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati’s Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is one of three legitimate claimants as runner-up to Munich. It runs on September 15-17 this year. You may still find plenty of airline seats, and it’s a simple drive from a lot of the Eastern and Midwestern U.S.. Some downtown hotels are already sold out for the weekend, however, and most accessible rooms are $200 or greater. Assess OktoberfestZinzinnati.com for specifics.
Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario
Another competitor, Canada’s Oktoberfest 2017 in southern Ontario runs October 6-14, and it might be the best option for beer drinkers on a budget. You can locate accommodations for well under $ 100 per night although the room supply appears to be tightening. As with Cincinnati, Kitchener-Waterloo is an easy drive from a lot of the Northeastern and Midwestern U.S. Toronto and Buffalo are probably your best bets for cheap airfares; VIA Rail Canada and Ontario Go transit serve Kitchener from Toronto five times each day by train. Watch Oktoberfest.ca.
Blumenau, Brazil
Oktoberfest? In Brazil? Yep–most call it the biggest Oktoberfest from the Americas. Blumenau is in southern Brazil, between Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre, using a people largely of German and Italian heritage. Its own Oktoberfest runs, this year.
Getting to Blumenau isn’t easy. The nearest airport, Navegantes, has no direct air support to North America, so to get there, fly to Sao Paulo or Porto Alegre, then take local carriers Azul or even Gol. Presently, the cheapest posted fares to Navegantes from Chicago have been in the $1,000 range with poor relations; the top connections are around $1,400. You wouldn’t go that way for an Oktoberfest; Blumenau is about 400 miles from Sao Paulo and 500 kilometers from Iguazu Falls. As with another Oktoberfest sites that are huge, hotel space in the city centre is tight, and available rooms are $150 and higher. Assess OktoberfestBlumenau.com.br/en/ for details and progress tickets.
A Different League: New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels, Texas, is frequently contained in Oktoberfest lists, but its own festival is actually a November “Wurstfest,” this season November 3-12. It with lots of air support and resort accommodations. See Wurstfest.com.
The Minor Leagues: Other Places to Celebrate Oktoberfest 2017
Hundreds of towns and cities around the world boast any sort of Oktoberfest activity, even if it’s just a one-day beer and sausage promotion by a hotel or restaurant. In case you’re looking for something a bit more authentic, the best Oktoberfest locations in North America are people with a valid claim to German tradition: Frankenmuth, Michigan; Helen, Georgia; Leavenworth, Washington; Mount Angel, Oregon; and New Ulm, Minnesota.
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