From Spain to Holland, we've got your summer festival Eurotrip mapped out.
Get your passports out and your flower crowns on: summer’s coming, and that means everyone’s getting in the festival mode. And while there are tons of music festivals in the US, nothing beats an adrenaline-driven music trip to Barcelona, Amsterdam or any other destination on our list.
Whether you want to see Paul McCartney practicing Belgian or join a squad of shirtless Dutch guys who are losing it to the beats of Hardwell, we’ve got you covered with countless options for the Eurotrip of your life. From Croatian boat parties to bungee jumping in Budapest, we’re guiding you through some of the finest music events of the summer. Just don’t forget to get your visas in time: in Europe summer stars on June 1!
Spain
Barcelona is one of the best European destinations for a number of reasons. First of all, it’s got a perfect mix of historical attractions and seaside action. Come for Sagrada Familia, stay for the tapas and parties. The best time to come is during the famous electronic festival Sonar (June 16-18 ), which divides into Sonar by Day (located at Fira Montjuic) and Sonar by Night (at Fira Gran Via de L’Hospitalet). The line-up includes A-Trak, Jean-Michel Jarre, Jamie Woon and others. Plus there are lots of Off Sonar parties all over town for the ones who think that Sonar "got too mainstream."
If that's not your scene, head straight to the capital as 2016 marks the year Madrid gets its own music-and-arts fest, Mad Cool Festival. It’s also June 16-18 and the line-up is beyond ambitious: from gritty acts like Die Antwoord and The Prodigy to legends like The Who and Neil Young. That's what we call a rocking debut!
Hungary
When you’re thinking “European music festival,” you’re most likely thinking Sziget festival in Budapest. It takes up a whole island at the city area, which becomes “the island of freedom” for one week every August (this year 10-17). 2016's line-up is properly insane (Rihanna, Sia, M83, David Guetta, Muse just to name a few), but there’s so much more to do there besides the music that it's almost intimidating. There’s circus, art fairs, opera tent, nightclubs, sport activities... That's basically more attractions than you can do in a year. And don’t forget to bungee jump at sunset while some headliner's rocking the main stage. As for accommodations, you can either camp or live in the city. The latter option is better for exploring some of the city’s landmarks like ruin pubs and thermal baths.
There’s another week-long festival in Hungary. On July 6-10 everyone’s gathering for the Balaton Sound festival, which is located on the shores of Lake Balaton (three-hour-long train ride from Budapest). The line-up is almost exclusively electronic (Martin Garrix, Robin Schulz, Paul Van Dyk, etc.), yet somehow Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Chris Brown sneaked their way in, too.
Austria
When it comes to festivals, scale does matter, and Austria has a lot to be proud of as its Donauinselfest is considered the largest open-air music festival in Europe. Oh, and it’s also free. This year it’s June 24-26 and the full line-up is yet to be revealed (the organizers have 21 areas to fill, so please be patient).
Since 2013, a race-track around the countryside near Salzburgring makes hearts of electronic music beat faster at Electric Love festival. This summer the festival is July 7 and 8, but you may get there a couple days earlier for the warm-up-parties and all the camping action. Make sure you get enough sleep and put on some comfortable shoes, as for the next two days you’ll be jumping up and down to the beats of Jack U, Hardwell, Nicky Romero, Martin Solveig, KSHMR and other electronic superheroes.
Croatia
If you’re more of a pina-colada-by-the-pool type of person than a can-of-beer-by-the-camp-fire, than Croatia is your place. The best festival pick is Hideout (June 26-30) with its endless stream of beach, pool and boat parties. This year the festival will be headlined by Andy C, Jamie XX, Eats Everything and other DJs, who’ll make sure you get sweaty on the dancefloor to some of the best techno and house beats out there.
Then finish the summer season camping by the beach at the famous Outlook (August 31– September 4) festival in Pula. This spectacular underground electronic music celebration was originally organized by British promoters, so it's no wonder that back in 2011 UK Festival Awards picked Outlook as the best overseas festival. 2016's line-up includes Damian ‘JR Gong’ Marley, Stormzy, Hucci, Tropkillaz and many others.
Germany
What's the best setting for an electronic music festival? We’re thinking that Melt! Festival gets it just about right: the huge event is organized in Ferropolis, the open air museum of vintage industrial machines. This year it’s on July 15-17 and the line-up, as the organizers promise, will melt the hearts of the electro/rock lovers: Peaches, Two Door Cinema Club, M83, Disclosure and more.
Another huge dance festival is SonneMondSterne. Located near Saalburg-Edersdorf, this fest celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, so we expect it to be extra festive The line-up includes David Guetta, Knife Party, Die Antwoord, Rudimental and Robin Schulz. Camping is included in the ticket, although with that line-up we expect you to never leave your spot near the stage.
Belgium
We find it very poetic that one of the biggest electronic music festivals in the world, Tomorrowland, is held in a town called Boom. The tickets sell out in a matter of hours and rightfully so—it’s basically the Coachella of European EDM.
Rock fans should consider reserving a camping spot at the cult festival Rock Werchter in the village of Werchter (30 km from Brussels). This year it’s June 30–July 3 and will be headlined by British guests Paul McCartney, Ellie Goulding, Disclosure and Years & Years. And if that mix of performers looks diverse to you, check out Pukkelpop festival (August 17-20). It's got even more eclectic line-up; they've got Good Charlotte playing next to DJ Snake.
Holland
Considering most electronic music comes from Holland, it’s really no surprise that the country turns into one huge music festival for the whole summer. Kick your summer off at Pinkpop festival (June 10-12) with the line-up that manages to put Paul McCartney’s name next to Major Lazer.
If you want to properly explore Dutch electronic legacy though, head to the one-day festival Dance Valley in Spaarnwoude, which will be held on August 13. From house to hardcore, it gives you a buzzing variety of electronics and the line-up is as heavy as the basses everyone will be dropping over there: Cedric Gervais, Carnage, W&W, Otto Knows, etc. But you don’t really have to leave Amsterdam to experience some festival madness: Awakenings Festival is June 25-26 while the next Sensation party Angels and Demons is on July 2.
Finally, chances are you’ve already heard about the longest running electronic festival Mysteryland, which has also crossed-over to Chile and USA. Held on the last weekend of summer (August 27-28 this year), it’s a celebration of the finest electronics from big names like Afrojack to techno magicians like Heidi & Cajmere. Festival's FAQs are pretty informative, too: “Often the question is put to us how safely you have sex in a toilet stall? To this date, we have not been unable to find the right answer, except that you need to use a condom.” Our advice: take two.
Denmark
Denmark’s got a lot to offer when it comes to music festivals. First of all, there’s the week-long Roskilde festival (June 25–July 2) that’s been around since 1971 and managed to preserve its original non-profit all-volunteer nature while attracting headliners like Red Hot Chili Peppers, PJ Harvey, LCD Soundsystem and Tame Impala.
If you’re not into camping, then consider the Tinderbox festival in Odense (the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen), which will see the likes of Fedde Le Grand, Galantis, Jason Derulo and Rammstein all coming to the fairytale-esque fortress area for the weekend of June 23-25.
