The Best Cities to Celebrate Oktoberfest Around the World (Outside of Munich)

Every Fall, Japan's capital city comes to life with pretzels, German beer, traditional Bavarian music, and other festivities. Travel expert Sarah Jasmine Labib told POPSUGAR, "Japan has quite a few Oktoberfest celebrations throughout the country, but Tokyo's may just take the cake" This year's festivities mark the 24th year of the celebration, filled with on-stage events, dancing, and, of course, tons of beer and food.

Labib also recommended South Africa's most popular coastal city for an authentic, Munich-style bash. "With traditional activities such as log sawing and beer lifting, as well as more giant pretzels and bratwurst than you can imagine, Cape Town is a great place to celebrate the holiday in style."

The Oktoberfest party down under is a continent-wide affair, bringing the action from city to city before culminating in Australia's largest metropolis. Labib told us, "Australia's Oktoberfest in the Gardens is a countrywide tour that goes to Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne before its last stop in Sydney. The festival is based on German tradition and includes massive beer halls, food stalls, performers, a silent disco, and a variety of competitions. Many even dress in the traditional lederhosen and dirndls!"

You don't need to leave the country to get your fill of German sausages, overflowing steins, and tons of competitions. For nearly 40 years, Cincinnati streets have come alive every September for the annual Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, celebrating the Midwestern city's German roots — with events like the Beer Stein Race and Running of the Weiners, of course!

Dubai's Oktoberfest revelry is scattered throughout the city, as Labib told POPSUGAR that many of the hotels, bars, and restaurants throw their own festive bashes. She also recommended the Dubai Sports City Complex, as it's famous for hosting one of the city's biggest celebrations.

A transformation washes over Hong Kong every Fall, where waterfront terraces become biergartens and traditional drinks are traded for steins of Paulaner. You'll find special German-inspired menus, beer drinking competitions, and traditional Bavarian live music at venues all over the city. Labib told us the celebration at Marco Polo Hotel, Hong Kong's longest-running Oktoberfest bash, is one for the books.