Beer tourism in Czechia, Germany and Belgium: festivals, breweries and prices

Beer tourism has long stopped being exotic. It is now a distinct travel niche in Europe, where trips are built around breweries, festivals, and tastings.

Some people see these tours as just an excuse to drink, while others plan their entire route around them. We looked at how this works in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Belgium: where the beer is brewed, how much admission costs, and what to see between tastings. Prices and dates were verified on September 14, 2026 on the official websites of breweries and festivals.

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Beer tourism: what it is and why it works

💡 In short:

• Beer tourism in Europe rests on three countries: the Czech Republic, Germany, and Belgium.
• Key events in 2026: Oktoberfest in Munich and PINT Bockbierfestival in Amsterdam (October 2-3).

Beer tourism covers everything beer-related: brewery tours, tastings, festivals, and visits to historic beer halls. It is a way to build a trip around a specific drink.

Europe remains the cradle of brewing. Germany, the Czech Republic, and Belgium have argued for decades over who has the strongest beer culture, and each country offers its own travel format. In the Czech Republic you go from brewery to pub, in Germany you land at a multi-day festival, in Belgium you try hundreds of styles in a single trip.

The main rule of these tours is simple. Watch the season and book in advance: in summer and during festival days, tour spots sell out. Below we break down three countries separately and add neighboring Netherlands.

Czech Republic: the beer capital of Europe

The Czech Republic holds the world record for beer consumption: about 140 liters per person per year (as of 09/2026, Prague Beer Museum). Brewing has a long history here, and brewery trips have long become a distinct travel genre.

Many people start their route at the Pilsner Urquell brewery in Plzeň. The tour lasts 110 minutes, you go down into the historic cellars and see the whole process from malt to bottling. A full ticket costs 430 CZK, a reduced one 345 CZK (as of 09/2026, pricing and booking).

In Prague, beer tours are built around the Old Town. At the Beer Museum they show the entire production chain, and at the end you bottle the beer yourself (as of 09/2026, Beer Museum Prague). Stop by the U Kalicha pub, associated with Jaroslav Hašek and the good soldier Švejk.

The Czech Republic also invented a separate format: beer spas. Bathing in a beer bath costs several thousand crowns per person, usually with beer and snacks included (as of 09/2026, Original Beer Spa). These spas operate in both Prague and Karlovy Vary.

Another option for the evening: Prague beer clubs. They keep hundreds of styles on tap, so in one evening you can compare a Czech lager, a Belgian lambic, and a German wheat beer. It is convenient to book a beer tour of Prague in advance: tours and tastings on GetYourGuide.

Germany: Oktoberfest and Munich beer halls

In Germany, beer tourism rests on Oktoberfest. In 2026 the festival will run from September 19 to October 4 and will be the 191st edition (as of 09/2026, festival website).

© Heribert Pohl --- Thanks for half a million clicks! from Germering bei München, Bayern · CC BY-SAPhoto: Heribert Pohl --- Thanks for half a million clicks! from Germering bei München, Bayern, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The festival opens at Theresienwiese with a large ceremony, and only after it do the tents start serving beer. On weekends the tents fill up faster, so free spots are easier to find on weekdays.

German beer is brewed according to the Bavarian purity law, adopted back in the Middle Ages. That is why you will rarely find unusual additives in Munich beer halls: recipes stick to malt, hops, yeast, and water. If you are going to the festival, book a hotel in the city several months in advance: hotels in Munich on Trip.com.

Belgium: 1,500 varieties and a UNESCO beer culture

Belgium produces about 1,500 beer varieties at more than 400 breweries (as of 09/2026, UNESCO). Since 2016, the country's beer culture has been on the UNESCO intangible heritage list.

Belgian beer is divided into several families. Trappist varieties are brewed by monks in abbeys, lambic ferments with wild yeasts, and cherry kriek adds fruit to it. At a guided tasting, you will learn the difference between young and aged lambic.

The easiest way to get to know the culture is in Brussels. Belgian Beer World brings together the history of Belgian brewing and has a tasting room (as of 09/2026, Belgian Beer World). Tickets for museums and tastings in Europe are convenient to check in advance: tickets and tours on Tiqets.

Netherlands

The Netherlands gives its own answer to Oktoberfest. Amsterdam hosts the annual PINT Bockbierfestival: on October 2 and 3, 2026, brewers from across the country will gather at De Hallen Studio's (as of 09/2026, PINT Bockbierfestival). Here you can try bock, the strong seasonal beer of autumn.

If you are traveling through several countries at once, check train tickets between Prague, Munich, and Brussels in advance: train tickets across Europe on Trip.com.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does a beer tour in Prague cost?

Prague tours are sold as group and private options, and the price depends on the program. Prices for the Pilsner Urquell tour are listed in the Czech Republic section. Tastings in pubs are usually paid separately, from the menu.

When is the best time to go to Oktoberfest?

On weekdays the tents fill up more slowly than on weekends. Book a hotel in Munich several months in advance, otherwise you will be left with only options in the suburbs.

Do I need to book tours in advance?

Yes. In high season, spots on brewery tours run out, especially on weekends. An online ticket guarantees a slot at the time you need, and you will not have to stand in line at the ticket office. Plan your tour for the morning, when there are fewer groups in the production areas.

Where in Belgium can I try Trappist beer?

Trappist varieties and lambics are served in specialized pubs in central Brussels.

In short: what is worth booking

Let's put together a beer trip across three countries. If you have a week, use Prague as your base and add Munich or Brussels for a couple of days. If you are going to Oktoberfest, book your hotel in advance and plan the festival for weekdays. If you want a calmer experience, choose Belgium and tastings outside festival days.

What to book first: hotel, brewery tours, and train tickets. It is convenient to compare travel insurance options in advance: compare travel insurance options.