There’s something about live music, and in particular music festivals, that warms the cockles of our hearts.
Two of our biggest passions here at Orbzii are travel and music, and going to music festivals abroad allows us to indulge in both passions.
Whilst there are lots of fantastic music festivals on home ground that offer an incredible line up, the prospect of travelling to a new city to immerse yourself in the festival experience is just too tempting.
Where are the best music festivals in Europe?
From feeling the vibe of Tame Impala in Barcelona to rocking out to Fontaines DC in Belgium, if you have been asking ‘What are the best music festivals in Europe’, you’ve come to the right place.
Primavera Sound, Spain
Where – Barcelona, Spain
When – 2 June – 12 June
Who – Tame Impala, Megan Thee Stallion, Interpol, Gorillaz, Massive Attack and more.
Primavera Sound is one of many Spanish multi-genre music festivals, held each summer on the sunny shores of Barcelona at the city’s Parc del Fòrum. This festival boasts a diverse line up of artists that cover genres such as alternative, indie, pop, rap/hip hop, electro/dance, folk/world music and jazz.
Whilst in Barcelona, make sure you explore the city where you can admire its impressive architecture, take some time out at the beach, enjoy a coffee or two, or if you are looking to channel your inner rockstar – get a tattoo!
Glastonbury, England
Where – Glastonbury, England
When – 22 June – 26 June
Who – Sir Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Sam Fender, Beabadoobee and more.
Macca attack! Sir Paul is playing Glasters and we can’t think of more an epic headliner than the former fab. Glastonbury is the pinnacle, the Crème de la crème of music festivals that every musician wants to play.
Stepping out of those famous fields, steeped in history, myth and the smell of incense, this Somerset town is certainly worth a visit, live music aside. Be sure to take a walk up the Glastonbury Tor and dip your feet into the White Spring. Mystical!
Rock Werchter
Where – Werchter in Belgium
When – 30 June – 2 July 2022
Who – Metallica, Pearl Jam, Fontaines D.C, Beck, Black Pumas, First Aid Kit and more
Rock on! On a site not far from Brussels is Rock Werchter which is one of Belgium’s largest music festivals, taking place over four days. It has been going since 1975 and has hosted acts like The Cure, Radiohead, Coldplay and Depeche Mode historically.
If you are spending time in Belgium, a trip to Brussels cannot be missed. It might be small, but the travel pay off is mighty thanks to its rich history, indulgent foodie scene and buzzing markets and stalls.
Pinkpop
Where – Landgraaf, Netherlands
When – 17, 18 and 19 June 2022
Who – Nothing But Thieves, Imagine Dragons, Royal Blood, Volbeat, Greta van Fleet and more.
Landgraaf is a Dutch city in the south of the Netherlands. Though relatively unknown, its biggest claim to fame is hosting one of the oldest festivals in the world – Pinkpop. After first taking place in 1970, Pinkpop is one of, if not the longest, continually running popular music festivals in the world, racking up over fifty years of history.
This region is somewhat underrated by travellers and has lots to offer within a short distance of the festival site. Valkenburg Castle is regarded as one of the most popular cultural monuments in the Netherlands and if you want to walk off all that festival food, flâneur around the De Maasduinen National Park.
Roskilde, Denmark
Where – Roskilde, Denmark
When – June 25 – 2 July 2022
Who – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Arlo Parks, Haim, St Vincent, Phoebe Bridgers
A stellar line up awaits the crowds at Roskilde, one of the top music festivals in Europe. A former singer from Led Zeppelin is the headline act and a plethora of exciting acts are also on the bill. This music festival is less than a 30 minute train ride away from the beautiful city of Copenhagen which you absolutely have to factor into your Danish break.
If all the festival food gets too much, your tastebuds will be in clover when it comes to the culinary landscape in Copenhagen. Yes, there are lots of Michelin-starred restaurants that offer an eye-watering bill, but there are also some wonderful eateries that won’t blow the budget too. The Dyrehaven Café’s curried herring is an absolute must!
If you are more ‘hair of the dog’, then there are plenty of bars where you can try a beer or a bloody mary or two.
Love International, Croatia
Where – The Garden Tisno, Croatia
When – 13th to 19th July 2022
Who – CC:Disco!, Crazy P Soundsystem, Darwin, DJ Tennis, Errol, Horse Meat Disco, Juan Ramos, Man Power, Shy One, Tender T and many more.
Whether you are ambling along the Riva Promenade where you can watch people to your heart’s content or getting your fix of Games of Thrones at the historic landmark Diocletian’s Palace, you will never be bored of the pretty coastal city of Split. Music is very important here and Love International aside, you will find a myriad of musicians wanting to entertain you throughout the city.
Sziget, Hungary
Where – Budapest, Hungary
When – 10 – 15 August 2022
Who – Arctic Monkeys, Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa, Justin Bieber, Kings of Leon and more.
Budapest is one of the most popular choices for travellers for a European city break. Culture rich, elegant boulevards teemed with lush trees and underground clubs that will take the festival vibe up to 11 after hours, Hungary’s capital has it all and then some.
It is definitely recommended that you tag on at least two days to your trip to what is regarded to one of the most spectacular music festivals in Europe, in order to explore this gorgeous city. Regarded as the Pearl of the Danube, there are treats for your eyes around every corner.
Mad Cool, Spain
Where – Madrid, Spain
When – 6, 7, 8, and 9 July 2022
Who – Royal Blood, Wolf Alice, Placebo, Imagine Dragons, Pixies, and more.
By night we rock at one of our favourite music festivals Mad Cool and by day we sightsee, Madrid is a sight for sore eyes thanks to its amazing architecture.
Walking is the best way to see some of the city’s historic buildings: make sure that the Almudena Cathedral, the Palacio Real and the gorgeous Neoclassical city hall, Palacio de Cibeles, are on your list.
Madrid is also home to a plethora of unique neighbourhoods, great restaurants, palatial art galleries, food markets and some beautiful parks – Retiro Park is our absolute favourite!
Øya, Norway
Where – Oslo, Norway
When – 9-13 August 2022
Who – Gorillaz, Florence + The Machine, Little Simz, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Michael Kiwanuka and more.
A unique city, Oslo effortlessly combines incredible culture with easy access to nature and views over the Oslo Fjord. Here they have the perfect juxtaposition of old and new and particular highlights include the Akershus Fortress and the Aker Brygge are two good examples of this.
The Vigeland Sculpture Park is worthy of a visit as is the Royal Palace Gardens, and with a bit of extra time, why not take a boat ride out to the surrounding islands?
Rock En Seine
Where – Paris, France
When – 25-28th August 2022
Who – Tame Impala, Arctic Monkeys, Idles, Yungblud, Parcels, Joy Crookes and more.
Can you say you have been to Paris if you haven’t taken a selfie by the Eiffel Tower? We appreciate you might not want to tear yourself away from the main stage, but even if you only have 24 hours in Paris, you can still see a lot and therefore won’t suffer from Paris FOMO.
From iconic landmarks (try and get to the Louvre early doors to avoid the crowds) to indulging your sweet tooth at À la Mère de Famille – the world’s oldest chocolate factory, it’s easy to make the beautiful city of Paris your playground whether you are there for a day or a week.
