The 20 Best US Cities for Celebrating Oktoberfest

Travelers have been flocking to Munich to experience Oktoberfest at its origin for decades. However, it turns out that America is pretty darn good at celebrating this beloved German tradition too. To prove it, WalletHub recently compared the 100 largest U.S. cities based on 24 indicators of Oktoberfest-friendliness across three major areas, including Oktoberfest traditions, costs and safety and accessibility to determine the very best places to raise a glass this fall.

With the fifth-highest percentage of German population of any city WalletHub analyzed, Minneapolis ranks 20th overall. Costs are the one key area holding the city back as it finished 16th for Oktoberfest traditions and 17th for safety and accessibility.

Elsewhere in the Midwest, Indianapolis ranks sixth for costs but an underwhelming 84th for safety and accessibility. Still, the Indiana capital fares 22nd in terms of Oktoberfest traditions, making it an easy choice for budget-conscious travelers this fall.

WalletHub found that Scottsdale is one of America's five best cities for pretzel shops. Once you've had your fill and start to get thirsty, head to Old Town to check out Scottsdale Beer Fest on September 28. After all, your ticket includes two dozen beer tastings from multiple breweries.

Back in the Midwest, St. Louis ranks 11th out of 100 cities for Oktoberfest traditions. Visitors seeking to pair their celebration with gorgeous fall foliage need not look any further than Hermann Oktoberfest (October 5-28) about 90 minutes west of the big city.

The nation's capital is in elite company when it comes to the most accessible bars and Oktoberfest celebrations and parties per capita. Washington, D.C. ranks fifth in both areas and inside the top 10 nationwide when it comes to safety and accessibility.

Mirroring the state of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh is home to one of the nation's largest populations of German-Americans so it isn't all that surprising to find out it ranks 13th for Oktoberfest traditions, according to WalletHub's research.

San Diego trails Pittsburgh slightly when it comes to Oktoberfest traditions but makes up for it by ranking fifth for safety and accessibility. America's Finest City is tied for first for the most breweries per capita and comes in second for lowest DUI-related fatalities per capita.

Travelers can't beat Columbus' German Village and Brewery District when it comes to celebrating Oktoberfest this fall. Even better, the Ohio capital ranks third nationally in terms of cost so visitors should be able to stretch their budget further compared to most other cities on this list.

San Francisco's Oktoberfest by the Bay (September 20-22) is undoubtedly one of the country's most lively celebrations of German tradition and while the Bay Area can be a pricey visit for autumn revelers it's certainly accessible and even ties for first for most German restaurants per capita.

Don't let the beautiful beaches fool you, Miami is a premier destination when it comes to celebrating the iconic German beer festival. South Florida ranks 10th for Oktoberfest traditions, based on WalletHub's research, which is better than at least two cities in the top 10.

One of the nation's most family-friendly destinations with a seemingly endless array of entertainment offerings, Orlando's position in the top 10 should come as little surprise. You can find a great pretzel almost anywhere, according to WalletHub's research, and only six cities rank better for Oktoberfest traditions.

Milwaukee's annual Oktoberfest downtown is free to the public so you can't beat it when it comes to cost. What's more, the city ranks fifth for more German restaurants per capita so revelers will have plenty of options when it comes to finding authentic German food.

Located less than two hours south of Milwaukee, Chicago ranking sixth for safety and accessibility and one spot higher than its Midwest rival when it comes to Oktoberfest traditions. Chugtoberfest (September 20) hosted by Marz Community Brewing is just one of many festive events visitors to the Windy City can look forward to this fall.

Seattle ranks fourth for Oktoberfest traditions offering visitors more German restaurants and breweries than most other cities in the country. Plus, travelers can head a little over two hours east to the Bavarian-style village of Leavenworth to experience one of the country's most iconic and authentic Oktoberfest celebrations during the first three weekends in October.

It's certainly no secret that Sin City knows how to put on a party. When it comes to accessible bars and pretzel shops, Las Vegas can't be beaten. For a memorable delve into German tradition, head to Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas where highlights include a celebrity keg tapper, authentic Bavarian dishes and the all-important Oktoberfestbier, which is imported directly from Munich.

Cincinnati's Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is the largest in America, drawing more than 575,000 people each year. The three-day event (September 20-22) dates all the way back to 1976 and is a big reason why Cincinnati ranks third nationwide for Oktoberfest traditions and fifth overall on WalletHub's list.

Philadelphia is actually tied with Las Vegas, Orlando and Buffalo in terms of having the most pretzel shops per capita in 2019. Philly is also propelled into the top five by its fourth-place safety and accessibility ranking, which is topped only by Jersey City, Newark and New York City.

Another craft beer lover's paradise, Portland ties for first in terms of most breweries and German restaurants per capita and ranks third for most accessible bars. What's more, the Oaks Park Oktoberfest September 20-22 is affordable and suitable for guests of all ages.

The annual Denver Oktoberfest has been named one of the best in the U.S. and attracts more than 250,000 people over the course of six days. The Mile High City also ties for first for most breweries per capita, making it an easy choice for Americans looking to celebrate with a pint or three.

Despite ranking a lowly 91st out of 100 cities for costs, the Big Apple is the number one destination in the U.S. for Oktoberfest celebrations this fall, according to WalletHub's research. New York is tied for first for the most German restaurants per capita, ranks tops for the most accessible bars and places third for lowest DUI-related fatalities per capita.