Advertisement

The Best Festivals In Europe

Positivus Festival

OK Go playing at Postivus Festival in 2011.
OK Go playing at Postivus Festival in 2011.



Where: Salacgrīva, Latvia
When: 18-20 July
What: If you’re quick, you’ve still got time to squeeze in this popular (around 20,000 people attend) Baltic festival. Headliners this year include Ellie Goulding and Elbow, while acts like Aluna George, The Kooks and Bastille are also lined up. Now in its 8th year, it’s a little bit Latitude-esque with an outdoor cinema in the woods, morning samba dance classes and kundalini yoga sessions alongside the music. The food court is varied and not too pricey and the beautiful coastal location an added bonus.
How much: Three-day ticket without camping, €62; with camping €68. For more information click here.


Ibiza Rocks



Where: Ibiza Rocks Hotel, San Antonio, Ibiza
When: Throughout August/Sept
It’s not technically a festival, but if you want to dance to DJs in the blazing sunshine (beneath the stars to amazing bands) you can’t beat Ibiza Rocks, a summer-long line up of some of the best acts in the world. This season you can party to Rudimental (July 30), Basement Jaxx (Aug 4), Bastille (Aug 6), Zane Lowe (Aug 15) and Kaiser Chiefs (Sept 3) plus loads more bands and DJs before it closes in October. If you really want to get involved, book a room at the Ibiza Rocks Hotel in San Antonio where most of the action takes place (if your room overlooks the main stage you can watch a gig from your balcony!). It’s a 24-hour party hotel where a wristband gives you access to the Ibiza Rocks after party and there are boat parties too, so there’s definitely no sleep until the flight home. And if that’s too pricey, there’s now an Ibiza Rocks Hostal just a few metres from the hotel which is much cheaper and has daily pool parties.
How much: Five nights from £132pp and individual gig tickets from around £38 (many of the early bird cheaper tickets have now sold out). Check out flights to Ibiza here.

Sziget

The scene at Sziget Festival.
The scene at Sziget Festival.



Where: Óbudai Island, Budapest, Hungary
When: 11-18 August
What: Set on an island with the beautiful River Danube as a backdrop, there’s something to suit most tastes here are the music genres on offer span everything from metal to electronica, as well as a side helping of theatre and performance arts. You’ll be knocked out by the size of it; dozens of stages and 1,000 artists, which this year include Placebo, Blink 182, Lily Allen, Outcast, Klaxons, Calvin Harris and CeeLo Green. Sziget organizers say only 25% of its festival-goers are from Hungary, so expect an international crowd.
How much: Seven-night pass with camping are priced from £183.

Outlook Festival

Incredible atmosphere at Outlook Festival.
Incredible atmosphere at Outlook Festival.



Where: Fort Punta Christo, Pula, Croatia
When: 3-7 September
What: Music lovers… sound the festival klaxon, because this one’s for you! If you’re big into your hard basslines and sound system culture then Outlook Festival is just what you need. Featuring some of the biggest names from the most vibrant and cutting edge dance scenes around, it focuses on underground electronic music of every genre with a sprinkling of well established names too (Lauryn Hill’s opening this year!). Set mainly in an abandoned fort located on a peninsular surrounded by crystal-clear sea, the location looks like something from the lost world, making it an amazing place to party your days away. Now in its sixth year, the crowd at Outlook are energetic and friendly, so expect a warm and happy atmosphere. There’s plenty of fun to be had, from the beach parties, to the arenas and boat parties, so it’s easy to see why this festival has accumulated a large following.
How much: Tickets from £140.


Stop Making Sense

Where: Tisno, Croatia
When: 31 July–3 August
What: Co-run by a former director of The Big Chill festival in the UK, this hip gathering has gone from strength to strength since being Nominated Best New European Festival in its inaugural year in 2010. Its USP is loads of international DJs and a genuine holiday party atmosphere (the PR blurb says ‘four days of dancing in the sun, by the sea and under the stars’ which is absolutely true). The acts aren’t huge (you’re not going to be watching Beyonce here any time soon) as it’s more about house DJs: Will Saul, Lovesick DJs, Blonde Ambition, Marcus Worgull. Expect all-night parties on the shores of Croatia’s beautiful Adriatic coast (and on boats too!) and don’t miss Barbarella’s Disco.
How much: Four-day tickets cost from £120.