beer

NOT a lot beats the feeling of having that first pint on holiday – but it would taste even better if it was a fraction of the cost too.

Jet2 has found the cheapest holiday destinations for a beer where the average pint costs less than £3.

At the very top of the list for cheapest pints is Tunisia, which comes in at £1.27 – this is £3.74 less than that of the UK where an average pint stands at £5.01.

From the UK, Tunisia is around three hours away and it’s a great autumn and winter sun option for Brits too as in October temperatures can reach 25C.

In November, temperatures in Tunisia can be as high as 20C and even in December it can be 16C – at that time in UK, highs only reach 8C.

Return flights in December can be as cheap as £48 too.

BE-LEAF IT

Perfect autumn attractions from £1.95 per kid from pumpkin patches to waterparks

DIG IN

Best UK garden centres with arcades, FREE soft play, fairgrounds… & even a beach

The most popular spots in Tunisia include Hammamet which is known for its long sandy shores and Sousse, a lively resort town.

On a recent trip to Tunisia, Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot explored the island off the coast called Djerba.

Lisa said: “Relatively undiscovered by us Brits, Djerba is a great-value option for those looking to explore beyond the Med favourites.

“Sizzling in summer, temperatures remain high all the way through to November and rarely dip below the 20Cs, even in the depths of winter, making it ideal for out-of-season sunshine.”

Jet2Holidays has a break to the 3-star Les Orangers Beach Resort which is seven-nights all-inclusive departing from Manchester on May 25 2027 from £839pp.

The resort has an outdoor pool with lots of activities and it’s close to a sandy beach and Hammamet’s Old Town.

The next spot is shared by Bulgaria and the Czech Republic which both have an average beer cost of £1.74.

Bulgaria has everything you need for a great holiday from vibrant cities like Sofia to coastal resorts like Sunny Beach, Golden Sands and Albena.

One-way flights to Sofia can be as little as £14 – and returns can cost under £30.

Czech Republic is the perfect city break for Brits thanks to being two hours away and it has one-way flights from £17.

The city’s capital of Prague is filled with history with a huge Cathedral , old town squares and beer culture – which is easier to get involved with when pints cost less than £2.

3-star Comfort Hotel Prague City East, 3 nights bed and breakfast departing from Leeds Bradford on November 2, 2026 from £497pp.

The American-style hotel has a huge lobby and restaurant area – and the nearest tram shops is right outside the entrance.

Other top spots include Hungary which has an average beer price of £2.08.

The capital, Budapest, is also known for having lots of thermal baths – it has 123 natural hot springs and 50 thermal bathhouses.

Coming in fifth on the list is Portugal where beer is an average of £2.14 per pint.

Brits can easily head to the Algarve, known for its beautiful beaches, or the Silver Coast which is much less crowded but still has an incredible coastline.

David Hills, Chief Customer Officer at Jet2, said: “We know that value matters to our customers, and that doesn’t just mean getting a great deal when booking their holiday. It’s about how far their spending money goes once they arrive too.

“With destinations including Portugal, Spain, Turkey and Croatia offering beers for considerably less than the UK average, there are plenty of places where customers can enjoy some sunshine or a city break and make their holiday money stretch that little bit further.”

Here are the 10 destinations where your beer money goes further…

1. Tunisia – average beer £1.27

2. Bulgaria – average beer £1.74

3. Czech Republic – average beer £1.74

4. Hungary – average beer £2.08

5. Portugal – average beer £2.14

6. Montenegro – average beer £2.39

7. Spain – average beer £2.56

8. Turkey – average beer £2.77

9. Poland – average beer £2.92

10. Croatia – average beer £2.99

IT’S beer season! The world-famous Oktoberfest has landed in Munich, its original location, where locals don traditional lederhosen and sip on steins of foamy nectar.

But why leave all the fun to them?

There are plenty of nods to the traditional beer-drinking event here in the UK and dress-up is often encouraged.

Whether you’re an avid pint drinker or simply want to revel in the fun, these experiences will leave you bottoms up . . .  one way or another.

ALBERT’S SCHLOSS: The Bavarian-inspired Albert’s Schloss is hosting a special event until October 25 at its locations in Manchester, London, Birmingham and Liverpool.

Visitors will be able to knock back the Big Six brews served at Munich’s Oktober-fest while listening to a live oompah band blasting out traditional music.

LOTH OF FUN

Lothar Matthaus, 65, parties with girlfriend, 27, at Oktoberfest and makes vow

OKTOBER-BREAST

Heidi Klum can’t contain her boobs as she buttons up corset at Oktoberfest

Go on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday to witness the ceremonious wooden keg tapping, performed on stage using the traditional method – a big wooden mallet.

Expect special Bavarian sharing platters of pork knuckle, bratwurst and kraut, too.

Entry is generally free while the Das Big Six Bier Masterclass costs £55pp. See albertsschloss.com.

OKTOBERFEST UK: Don’t live near a big city? The official Oktoberfest UK travels far and wide across the country, bringing its large beer tents to mid-sized towns and coastal regions, as well as larger cities.

The events are running until October 31, with tickets still left in Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Chelmsford and Plymouth, among other destinations.

The huge tents can hold up to 1,000 visitors and are lined with long wooden tables where punters can knock back their pints while joining live sing-alongs. Expect brass bands, massive steins, plus food vendors selling bratwurst and currywurst.

Afternoon and evening sessions last four to five hours. Tickets cost from around £15 for standing and around £25 for seated. See oktoberfestuk.co.uk.

CAMRA BEER FESTIVALS: The Campaign for Real Ale is hosting events all over the UK until early November.

Instead of German lagers, the focus will be on British cask ale, real cider and perry.

Don’t expect any lederhosen either – just like-minded beer fans.

Festivals are taking place in Berkshire, Nottinghamshire and Dorset, among many other locations.

CAMRA members can typically enter free, while prices usuallystart from £3 for non-members, depending on the location. See camra.org.uk/events.

BIERKELLER: These Bavarian-style venues – in Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London – are hosting special bottomless brunches until the end of the month.

Visitors have 90 minutes of unlimited draft beers and steins (there’s also prosecco, or cocktails for the non-lager drinkers of the group).

Most locations serve pretzels on arrival, followed by your pick of Bavarian dishes such as Bratwurst in a brioche or pretzel roll topped with sauerkraut, cheese frankfurters and pretzel-bun burgers.

Those visiting in the evening can get stuck into fun games such as stein-holding competitions and pretzel-tossing.

Brunches cost from £35pp at the Nottingham venue.

See thebierkeller.com.

FORGET about home away from home, welcome to Rome away from Rome.

Millions of tourists visit Italy’s capital each year to marvel at the Colosseum, queue at other attractions and squeeze into the city’s packed squares.

But you can experience a slice of Roman history without the crowds and steep prices ­— in ancient Croatian city Pula.

On the southern tip of the Istrian Peninsula — comprised largely of Croatia but also Italy and Slovenia in the north — it is also a more peaceful alternative to the country’s party city, Split, and postcard-pretty Dubrovnik.

This gem on the Adriatic coast features heaps of history and fabulous food but moves at a gentle pace — and is under three hours from the UK.

The most obvious comparison between Rome and Pula is one remarkable building.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

Standing proudly in the latter’s city centre is the Pula Arena, one of the world’s largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheatres.

Built at the same time as the Colosseum — the daddy of all amphitheatres — it has a dramatically storied past.

Until the 5th Century, it was a place where Christians, criminals and slaves were executed and gladiators fought lions and bears.

In more recent years, it has hosted concerts by the likes of Robbie Williams and Dua Lipa — and was decked out in pink for a screening of the Barbie movie when that was released in 2023.

A day tour of Pula, just one of the many trips offered by Jet2 Experiences, will allow you to discover the city’s highlights.

As well as the amphitheatre, you will visit the Roman Forum, Temple of Augustus and Old Town, and sample ale and local charcuterie at the Kampanjola Brewery, home of Istria’s only organic beer.

The Istrian Peninsula is often compared to Tuscany in Italy because of its rolling hills, vineyards and medieval hilltop villages that feel a world away from Split’s busy beaches in summer.

But it is also home to a prized traditional delicacy — truffles.

Arriving in the remote hilltop town of Buzet, we were welcomed by a guide who owned, for my money, some of the world’s smartest dogs.

From a few months old, they have been trained to associate truffles with reward, and so learn an extraordinary ability to sniff out the forest fungi.

On our truffle hunt, we followed pooch Sky through the woods.

She stopped in her tracks and within moments was clawing at a patch of ground, nose covered in mud, before unearthing a large black truffle.

These finds do not look glamorous but are worth a fortune.

Black truffles can fetch more than £400 a kilo, and their rarer white counterparts up to five times that.

Our day ended in the best possible way with a generous, three-course truffle feast, also featuring cheese, salami, sweet treats and wine.

I tucked into a plate of fresh truffles shaved over scrambled eggs, as well as truffle-honey vanilla ice cream — all of it absolutely delicious.

Nature lovers are equally well catered for while visiting Pula.

A short boat ride from the coast awaits the Brijuni National Park, an archipelago once the summer retreat of former Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito.

Down the years, the islands have also welcomed many a world leader and celebrity, as well as royalty including, in 1972, our own Queen Elizabeth II.

Today, visitors can explore Roman villas, churches and archaeological sites.

You will also meet some more surprising residents — a herd of zebras as well as Lanka, the only elephant in Croatia.

The islands are also home to one of the most ancient olive trees in the Mediterranean — estimated to be more than 1,600 years old, and still producing oil today.

Our base was the fabulous 5H Valamar Marea Suites hotel in the coastal town of Porec, 45 minutes north of Pula.

The family-friendly resort is an aquatic paradise with four outdoor pools including a stunning infinity one overlooking the sparkling Adriatic.

It also sits on the sandy Val Marea beach with water ideal for adults and children to enjoy.

The hotel’s ultra-modern, spacious suites come with their own balconies, and direct access on to the beach means you can quickly unwind after spending a day chasing dogs through the forest and snaffling truffles.

The hotel’s Maro Club is a kids’ facility offering fun tailored to different ages and featuring soft play and multimedia game rooms, as well as evening entertainment and free soft drinks and ice cream.

The hotel buffet promises a 5H experience for lunch and dinner, with a massive variety of options and unlimited ice cream to cool down after time in the sun.

One of the standout features of the hotel, though, is its location.

A scenic waterfront promenade links the hotel to Porec’s beautiful old town.

Cobbled streets are alive with ice-cream parlours and gift shops — and in one of these I picked up a bobblehead of Croatia footballing legend Luka Modric.

If you really want to push the boat out, you can even walk from the hotel to the Porec seafront — and from there take a catamaran to Venice.

But Croatia’s treasures might well mean you are happy to miss the boat — and just chill out right where you are.

There’s a saying in Cologne, repeated with the mild smugness of people who know they’re right: kölsch is the only culture you can drink. It sounds like a line lifted straight from the tourist board’s brochure. Then you spend a day working your way around the city’s traditional brewhouses and realise it’s a statement of fact.

Since 1997, kölsch has held a protected geographical indication within the EU, guaranteeing that any beer bearing the name is brewed within 50km of the city and made strictly to the Kölsch-Konvention. That agreement, signed in 1986, defined the style as “a light, highly attenuated, hop-accentuated, clear, top-fermenting ‘vollbier’ [full-beer]”, restricting production exclusively to the local area. It is, in effect, the champagne of pale ales: locally adored and tied to a city that has always insisted on doing things its own way.

The delivery is as ritualised as the brewing itself. You sit. A köbes – the traditionally deadpan, blue-aproned brewhouse waiter – arrives carrying a kranz (a circular tray) holding a ring of stangen, narrow 200ml glasses designed to keep the beer cold and effervescent long enough for you to drain one before the next takes its place. You drink. He marks a tally on your beer mat with a stub of pencil. You never order a second; you never need to. The conveyor belt only stops when you place your beer mat on top of your glass.

Ten hours, seven brewhouses and an inadvisable number of tally marks later, I had formed some very firm opinions about Cologne’s legendary liquid culture.

The twin spires of Cologne cathedral are visible from the doorway of this brewhouse. So, unfortunately, is the gift shop and a tour group from Ohio. Früh am Dom, arguably the most internationally recognisable kölsch brand, is housed in a sprawling warren of vaulted dining rooms, cellars and long oak bars. It is enormous and boisterous, yet the kölsch, poured at speed to a rotating cast of daytrippers, lacks the crisp clarity found elsewhere. Being on the cathedral’s doorstep makes this prime real estate, but the footfall turns the room into something closer to a transit lounge, where most visitors drop in for a quick photo with their stange before rushing off.
4.5/10, €2.50

Founded in 1912 and heavily renovated since, Sion merges a contemporary interior with old-world charm. The result is the slickest room on this list: warm mood lighting, clean lines and a menu that reaches beyond the usual brewhouse staples of fried pork and potatoes. The kölsch itself is technically flawless and refreshing, though it lacks the rustic bite of the city’s smaller producers. It’s a fine spot for a proper sit-down dinner rather than a session – and even the köbes here shows genuine warmth, a demeanour that feels either refreshing or faintly suspicious depending on how strictly you hold to Rhenish brusqueness.
6/10, €2.60

Beyond the tourist centre, in the lively and historic Friesenviertel district, is the hallowed Päffgen. Operating on Friesenstraße since 1883, this is one of the last hausbrauereien (brew pubs) that refuses to bottle for supermarket shelves; if you want Päffgen, you come here or haul a wooden keg home yourself. The beer is tapped straight from wooden barrels on the counter, giving a pour with a floral, grassy hop aroma, a hint of stone fruit and a crisp bitter finish. The room feels untouched by time – look out for the old wooden beichtstuhl (“confessional”), the elevated booth where the innkeeper once oversaw the floor and counted the day’s takings. One of the köbesse, sliding a fresh stange across the counter without breaking stride, put it more bluntly than any brochure could: “Kölsch is not a drink, it is a religion. And this is the church.” With its gruff, lightning-fast staff and a leafy beer garden out the back, Päffgen is the gold standard of kölsch culture.
9.5/10, €2.60

Tucked into the historic old town, Peters is what the cathedral-adjacent halls wish they were. It strikes the finest balance in central Cologne, fiercely popular with local people while remaining welcoming to passing travellers. The interior is gorgeous – stained-glass skylights throwing amber light across scrubbed, decades-old wooden tables, dark wainscoting framing the chatter of the room. The kölsch is beautifully balanced: smooth, clean and poured properly cold. We might have come at a bad time, though, as it wasn’t particularly busy and lacked atmosphere.
7/10, €2.50

Sitting on the edge of the historic Heumarkt, Malzmühle is the second-oldest brewery in Cologne, operating on this spot since 1858. Destroyed almost entirely in the second world war, only the stone portal survived; you now pass through that same archway into a sprawling hall of rustic brickwork and heavy oak benches. Malzmühle brews Mühlen Kölsch, a pour favoured by the former US president Bill Clinton, who declared “Ich bin ein Kölsch” on a visit in 1999. It is slightly darker and maltier than its peers, with a gentle honey note against a solid bitter backbone. The atmosphere is unapologetically noisy and authentic – a meeting ground where workers in hi-vis vests share benches with executives in suits. We spoke to one of the köbesse, Carl, who told us he’d worked here for 38 years: “This is the place to be. These walls have seen so much and heard so many conversations. I wouldn’t work anywhere else.”
8.5/10, €2.50

Gaffel is a heavy hitter among local people, distributed widely across the city’s bars and football stadiums. Its flagship hall, opposite the central station, is handsome and impeccably run, with high ceilings and sweeping arches giving it real metropolitan energy. The kölsch is consistently good – bright, sharply carbonated and noticeably hop-forward, exactly as the Konvention prescribes. Knowing this same beer is sold at the gate in Cologne Bonn airport slightly undercuts the local romance, though; it’s reliable in a high-volume, commercial way. The kitchen redeems it somewhat with a stellar himmel un ääd – crispy black pudding with smooth mash and stewed apples – comfort food good enough to justify the visit alone.
6.5/10, €2.50

Down a cobbled alley in the old town, Sünner im Walfisch is pure historical theatre. Housed in a striking 17th-century step-gabled building, dismantled and rebuilt brick by brick on its current site, it serves as the old town outpost for Sünner, Cologne’s oldest operating kölsch brewery. Inside, narrow timber-framed rooms and low ceilings transport you back to medieval Rhineland. The beer is fantastic – crisp and dry with a peppery hop finish that makes it dangerously easy to drink – and it’s quieter and more intimate than the echoing halls near the station, its köbesse still delivering drinks with a wink of humour. A favourite for decor and character, if not quite for atmosphere.
8/10, €2.50

Scott Antcliffe’s travel to Cologne was provided by Viking as part of its 8-day Rhine Getaway, from £1,695

If you love a pint after a long day of sightseeing then this city break is a must-visit for autumn. Its self-serve beer fountain means you can try beers from across the region for just a few Euros

After a long day of exploring a new destination, the highlight of a city break for many of us is sitting in the town square, enjoying a nice cold pint of local, reasonably-priced beer.

And if you visit a small, but charming Slovenian town, you can not only order a pint, but pour your own from a ‘beer fountain’ that offers a variety of local brews to sample.

Žalec in the Lower Savinja Valley is a town that’s beer-obsessed. Even its coat of arms features a beer hop. The region is known as the Valley of Green Gold, named for the color of hops as they ripen in the sun, and it has 150 years of beer-making experience.

Next to Žalec’s marketplace lies the Green Gold Fountain, a unique attraction composed of a variety of shiny silver beer taps. Visitors buy a small glass for €12, just over £10, which pays for the souvenir glass plus six 100ml tastings of various local beers. The cups come with a chip, which is scanned by the fountain, so you can serve yourself.

The fountain opened in March and is set to run through October, so visitors can make the most of the crisp autumn weather while they sample local beers. The 150-year anniversary means there will be a larger variety of ales this year, with 34 craft beers from 25 Slovenian breweries expected to be on tap.

Alex Dyer, a managing director at Ski Famille, highlighted the unusual spot. He said: “The fountain is memorable enough to be one part of the day without making beer the whole purpose of a family visit. I think parents will enjoy the stop more when younger travellers have something of their own to look forward to nearby, because that keeps the day balanced rather than leaving anyone waiting around.”

The town’s visitors can also follow an official tourist route called the Path from Hops to Beer, which is just over 3-miles long, taking in a Roman necropolis and caves along the way. Once you’re back in town, the Eco-Museum of Hop-Growing and Brewing Industry is an interactive way to learn about the town’s proud heritage.

Visitors from the UK can fly from London, Manchester, or Edinburgh to Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, which takes just two hours and 20 minutes, making it perfect for a short weekend break. EasyJet has flights in October to Ljubljana from £45.99 one-way.

Žalec is less than an hour from the capital by car, taking you down some seriously steep mountain roads and through the untouched Slovenian countryside. But a more relaxed alternative is the 90-minute train ride, which runs along the River Sava in parts, taking you past charming traditional villages as you head to beer country.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

GET into your liederhosen, your dirndls and grab your beer jug because it’s almost time for Oktoberfest.

If you want to celebrate the festival without the flight to Germany – these are some of the best ones in the country with fancy dress and even bratwurst eating competitions.

Albert’s Schloss

It’s go big or go home at Albert’s Schloss which calls itself the ‘UK’s ultimate Oktoberfest 2026 party.

It has venues across the country too from Manchester to Birmingham, Liverpool and London.

There are Bavarian feasts with generous helpings of crispy pork knuckle and juicy schnitzels to bratwursts and sauerkraut.

When it comes to entertainment, there are bratwurst eating competitions, traditional keg tapping and best Lederhosen Competitions.

TOP STAYS

Best-rated UK hotels as voted for by guests – with rooms from just £31 a night

ISLE BE GOING

Sun Travel’s favourite islands from Europe’s Caribbean to a £2 wine paradise

Enjoy live performances from Oompah Bands, Brass Bands and DJs.

For fans of beer (or bier) – it’s one of the only places outside of Munich you can try all six Oktoberfest beers.

If you want to taste them all, make sure to even book a Bier Masterclass for a beer-tasting experience hosted by in-haus tapsters.

Celebrations run from September 19 to October 25 – and book in advance to guarantee entry.

Finsbury Park Oktoberfest

If you’re a London local, Finsbury Park will be the place to be – it’s the biggest Oktoberfest celebration in London.

The huge Bavarian-style beer festival takes place inside a giant blue-and-white festive tent from October 1-3.

Enjoy authentic German food from bratwurst in bread, schnitzel to pretzels.

Make sure to wash it down with specially brewed Bavarian FestBeer in a traditional stein.

Of course there’s lots of live entertainment from German oompah bands and Schlager music – oh, and dressing up is highly encouraged.

General admission starts from £10.

Oktoberfest

The UK’s biggest Oktoberfest tour will return this year in cities across the country.

Enormous tents will be transformed into traditional bierkellers with long bench-style seating, and lots of German Bier.

Don’t forget about the live music and bands, competitions all with a party atmosphere.

The tours will head to Colchester, Chichester, Milton Keynes, Guilford, Southend, Beverley, Chelmsford, Plymouth and Portsmouth from October 2-31.

Tickets start from £16.95.

Brewhemia

Brewhemia is known as Scotland’s “beer palace” – so it’s no surprise it’s a top spot for Oktoberfest.

Have your costumes at the ready and enjoy an Oktoberfest beer from Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr to Flotzinger Wies’n-Märzen and Bitburger Premium Pils.

There’s plenty of food to go around from fresh pretzels to bratwursts to smoky Käsekrainers and spicy Chilliwursts.

You can even try all three with Sausage Fest where you get a platter of all of them with all the trimmings.

The celebrations run from September 19 to October 4 – and of course there’s live music throughout.

You can reserve a drinks area for parties of 4-40 guests – if there’s less then just walk-in.