Oktoberfest alternatives

With Oktoberfest fast approaching, Kayak.co.uk has put together a list of trip ideas for all the beer lovers out there looking for something that little bit more alternative.

Around the world in 80 beers

It’s the stuff dreams are made of - going to the world’s biggest drinking session with all your friends. Germany’s Oktoberfest offers the perfect opportunity...… over two weeks of festivities dedicated to that magic elixir of water, hops, malt and barley.

So come on all you swiggers, swillers and sippers and get thee to a brewery! Better yet, why not head on over to Munich for the biggest party in the world? Don some lederhosen, break out that bratwurst and sing folksongs to your heart’s content. Don’t worry if your throat gets scratchy, you can always soothe it with the 6 million litres of beer passing through those famous marquees.

But if you’re busting a gut to try something a bit more unusual, look no further than travel search engine Kayak.co.uk, which knows all the best places for a few nights out on the lash.

Get a summary of airfares to these spots by using Kayak’s Trip Idea section. From there you can easily use Kayak.co.uk’s award-winning Fare Buzz to get an instant snapshot of air fare prices to locations from your home airport.

• Brussels, Belgium

“Beauty lies in the hands of the beer holder". Nowhere is this truer than in Belgium, the modern day Mecca for beer lovers. Home to over 450 different varieties of beer, you can sip a different beer every day of the year and two on weekends! It’s no wonder that Belgian brew is so beautiful, it’s been perfected by monks since the Middle Ages. Lambic beer, one of the classics, can only be tasted in the heart of Payottenland and the Senne River Valley.

In addition to its historical goodness, it’s also the perfect way to wash down those other Belgian delicacies of mussels and fries. For a break from the booze, why not confess your sins at Brussels’ famous St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral? No matter how blurry eyed you may be the morning after the night before, no trip to Belgium would be complete without a visit to the Brussels’ Grand Palace. One of the most beautiful town squares in Europe, the Grand Palace is always buzzing with café goers – and has an endless number of cafes to sober up with a double shot of espresso or tummy friendly café-au-lait.

Flights from London from £94 with Multiple Airlines, leaving on 28 August, returning on 02 September.

• Prague, Czech Republic

Why is Czech beer world famous? Not only does it taste great, it’s also easy on the purse strings. Even better, beer is served almost everywhere in Prague. You can even have it for breakfast at the Café Louvre, where Albert Einstein used to drink it with his morning wiener wurst. When you find yourself too baroque to party, take a leisurely (and free) stroll to admire some of Europe’s most interesting architecture.

This “city of a thousand spires” boasts gorgeous Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance architecture, not to mention all those spires. Admire the view from atop Vysehrad, the 10-centuries-old citadel at the city's south end. Take a sobering walk through Josefov, one of the best preserved Jewish quarters in Europe. Make sure to enjoy either the sunrise or sunset from the Charles Bridge when the statues seem to come alive…or maybe that’s the beer talking.

Flights from London from £48 with EasyJet, leaving on 15 November, returning on 23 November.

• Sydney, Australia

If you’re headed down under, why not embrace the inner tribesman in you by cracking open a cold one and lighting up the Barbie – who knows, you might even find a couple of Sheila’s or Bruce’s willing to show you a good time! Fuel your adventure by trying Boags, Squires, Cascade and Hahn … these are just some of the outrageous Aussie brews that are fast becoming favourites of lager lovers the world over. In between all the sampling, why not take a Sydney harbour cruise to take in fantastic views of the world famous Sydney Opera House?

Depending on how your head for heights is (or how hungover you are from the night before) why not try walking over the top of the Sydney harbour bridge, guaranteed to give you the thrill of a lifetime and the best views of Sydney (see bridgeclimb.com/ for details)

Flights from London from £823 with Qantas Airways, leaving on 10 November, returning on 21 November.

• Philadelphia, USA

Famous for Keg parties and “enthusiastic” sports fans, lets not forget our friends across the pond who also know a thing or two about beer. In fact Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s Founding Fathers, was fond of saying, "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Honour this visionary with a visit to Ben’s hometown of Philadelphia during Philly Beer Week which takes place on 6-15 March 2009.

Join the natives as they revel in the city’s unique beer culture with nine straight days of festivals, dinners, special events, tours and “meet-and-greets” at dozens of area restaurants, taverns and other venues. If you want a side of history served up with your porter, you’ll be loving a visit to Yueng Ling, America’s oldest brewery. For art loving beer fans, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a must. Not only is it one of the largest art museums in the United States, for any film buffs it’s also the location of the steps made famous by the movie Rocky. What better place to bellow your best soul-wrenching, “Adrian….!”

Flights from London from £348 with Northwest, leaving on 4 March, returning on 19 March.

For more information and bookings, log on to Kayak.co.uk.