While it is called Oktoberfest, it is actually an ages-old celebration of the harvest season and is celebrated throughout a great portion of September and on into October. While some of its context with regards to the celebration of a successful harvest may have been lost among the beer tents and food, that is still the ultimate reason for Oktoberfest. Nowadays however, when people say Oktoberfest, it is synonymous with Celebration and Beer. Thus, we bring you the top five European destinations to visit during Oktoberfest.

Munich is part of Germany now but at the inception of Oktoberfest, Bavaria was a country apart from Germany. Still, being the home of Oktoberfest, it matters not whose borders it is now within so much as it does that the beer continues to flow out. Oktoberfest just would not be Oktoberfest until you have seen it in Munich Germany. Still, it may never be the same again either. Oktoberfest in Munich attracts literally millions of visitors every year and no matter how well second best may stand up to it, it will remain at best, second best. Nowhere beats Munich Germany for Oktoberfest celebrations.

If there were going to be a second best city that could come close to the massive Oktoberfest Celebration in Munich, it would have to be the one held in Berlin. Berlin hosts millions of people during Oktoberfest as well and while it may not be quite the same celebration that it is in Munich, Berlin Germany comes in at second place for European cities to visit during Oktoberfest. If you get a chance and can put down the beer long enough, there is an incredible amount of history in Berlin as well, from the mid-twentieth century back throughout the ages and rich history of the Germanic tribes.

Coming in third on our top five list of European cities to visit during Oktoberfest is Brussels Belgium. Brussels follows many of the same traditions as the original Oktoberfest Celebration in Munchen (Munich) Germany but adds some unique flavor all its own with the addition of different beers and foods not so readily available or popular at the original Oktoberfest Celebration.

As our Oktoberfest Tour continues we move on over to the other side of Germany and into the UK. Even the Germans have admitted that Scottish beer is an amazing creation so what better place to celebrate beer than some place that even the Biermeisters have freely admitted is home to some quality beers, lagers and ales? The Oktoberfest celebration in Edinburgh Scotland is definitely in the top five cities to visit in Europe during Oktoberfest.

Our final entry into the top five European Cities to visit during the Oktoberfest celebration is back in the heart of the United Kingdom in London itself. London holds what they call a Bierfest which is actually simply the German spelling of Beer Festival and closely follows the traditions of Oktoberfest as it is held each year in Munich. No matter what the celebration may ultimately be about, Oktoberfest really is about the beer. With over six million visitors a year in Munich for Oktoberfest, many people will be looking for alternative venues. This top five list of European cities to visit during Oktoberfest should give you a good starting point.

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• Oktoberfest Germany
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