Back to grid

Best beer destinations in Europe

Back to grid
Munich
Bavarian capital of beer gardens and museums
8.7
Only six breweries are permitted to serve beer inside the tents at Munich's Oktoberfest. Hofbrauhaus, founded in 1589, remains one of the oldest and most famous among them. Visitors can raise a full litre stein inside its vaulted, centuries old hall. Brass bands play through the evening as servers weave between long tables.
Highlights:
  • 🌇 Climb St. Peter’s Church tower for city views
  • 🏰 Visit the grand Nymphenburg Palace and gardens
  • 🍺 Raise a stein at Oktoberfest in Theresienwiese
Bamberg
Smoked beer and a UNESCO old town
7.9
Bamberg is known for rauchbier, a beer brewed from malt dried over open flame. The centuries old Schlenkerla tavern still serves it straight from wooden barrels. Visitors can taste the smoky flavor alongside hearty Franconian dishes. Locals compare the taste to bacon or a campfire ember.
Highlights:
  • ⛪ Visit Bamberg Cathedral and see the Bamberg Horseman statue
  • 🏛️ Take iconic photos at the Old Town Hall on the Regnitz River
  • 🌉 Explore medieval streets and bridges of Bamberg Altstadt
Bavaria
Alps, castles, beer gardens and old towns
8.6
Bavaria gave the world the Reinheitsgebot, a beer purity law passed in 1516. The rule originally allowed only water, barley and hops in every brew. Visitors can find beer gardens shaded by chestnut trees in nearly every town. Long wooden tables encourage strangers to share a bench and a beer.
Highlights:
  • 🚗 Drive the scenic Romantic Road through medieval towns
  • 🍺 Join Oktoberfest in Munich and raise a stein with locals
  • 🏰 Explore Neuschwanstein Castle, the fairytale icon of Bavaria
Franconia
Beer cellars, vineyards and Baroque palaces
8.4
Franconia has more breweries per person than almost anywhere else in the world. Small family run operations often serve only their own village and a few neighbours. Visitors can follow a beer trail linking dozens of tiny breweries by bike or on foot. Many still age their lagers in cellars cut into local sandstone hills.
Highlights:
  • 🌄 Climb Marienberg Fortress for views of Würzburg and vineyards
  • 🏘️ Explore medieval Rothenburg ob der Tauber’s preserved old town
  • 🏰 Tour the Würzburg Residence, a Baroque architectural masterpiece
Cologne
Gothic cathedral, Roman ruins and Kölsch
8.4
Kolsch beer can legally be brewed only within the city limits of Cologne. Servers pour it into narrow 0.2 litre glasses called Stangen. Visitors can order round after round as waiters keep tallies on a paper coaster. Dozens of small breweries across the old town each keep their own house recipe.
Highlights:
  • 🍺 Taste authentic Kölsch beer in a traditional brewhouse
  • 🌇 Stroll along the Rhine River promenade at sunset
  • ⛪ Climb the Cologne Cathedral towers for panoramic Rhine views
Düsseldorf
Rhine promenade, Altbier and Königsallee
8.1
Altbier defines Dusseldorf's Altstadt, sometimes called the longest bar in the world. Breweries here serve the dark, copper coloured ale straight from the tank. Visitors can order round after round as waiters mark tallies on beer mats. Local pubs still brew small batches on site rather than buying in bulk.
Highlights:
  • 🌆 Enjoy panoramic views from the Rheinturm tower
  • 🍻 Visit the historic Altstadt with lively pubs
  • 🛍️ Stroll along the elegant Königsallee shopping boulevard
Bayreuth
Wagner, baroque theaters and Franconian beer
9.4
Maisel's Brewery has produced its wheat beer in Bayreuth since the 1880s. A dedicated museum here traces the brewing process from grain to glass. Visitors can walk through preserved copper kettles from the brewery's earlier decades. Wagner's opera festival draws crowds to the same town each summer.
Highlights:
  • 🛍️ Stroll through Bayreuth's historic market square
  • 🍷 Taste Franconian wines at a local vineyard
  • 🏰 Explore Neuschwanstein Castle from the base trail
Black Forest
Dark woods, lakes and hilltop villages
9.3
Rothaus Brewery has brewed its Tannenzapfle pils deep in the Black Forest since 1791. The tall, narrow bottle design has barely changed in decades. Visitors can tour the state owned brewery tucked among pine covered hills. Cool mountain water from the forest still feeds every batch.
Highlights:
  • 🍰 Taste Black Forest cake at a local bakery
  • 💦 Stroll through Triberg waterfalls, Europe's highest falls
  • 🏞️ Hike the Schwarzwald Panorama Trail to summit views
Rügen
Chalk cliffs, grand piers and long beaches
9.2
A small brewery on the island of Rugen has produced its own regional beer since the early 1900s. Chalk cliffs and Baltic breezes surround the modest brewing operation. Visitors can find the local label served in seaside restaurants around the island. Its bottles rarely travel far beyond Rugen's own coastline.
Highlights:
  • 🏰 Tour historic Rügen Castle ruins on Saal island
  • 🌲 Explore Jasmund National Park's chalk cliffs
  • 🏖️ Climb Cape Arkona cliffs for sunrise views
Weihenstephan
Brewing on the same hill for centuries
Weihenstephan Brewery has operated continuously since 1040, making it the world's oldest brewery. A Benedictine monastery originally ran the operation on the same hillside site. Visitors can tour the brewery and the attached university brewing school nearby. Its beer garden looks out over rolling farmland outside Munich.
Highlights:
  • 🏰 Stroll through historic town center and admire baroque architecture
  • 🥨 Sample traditional Bavarian pretzels at local market stalls
  • 🍺 Tour the world's oldest brewery, Weihenstephaner
Feedback