Bored of your local disco? Go dancing in a different city this summer with a clubbing weekend away in Europe. Here are 10 of the best places to party for dance music fans. Will Gilgrass hits the dancefloor.
Top 10 party cities in Europe
1. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Any city which has its own mayor specifically for governing its nocturnal activities is going to know what to do with a speaker and four walls. Sadly the iconic Trouw closed in early 2015, but Amsterdam still boasts a clutch of top notch clubs, from Sugar Factory to the enormous NDSM Docklands venue. In summer some of the action heads out the nearby Netherlands coast for daytime dancing at Woodstock’69 at Bloemendaal aan Zee.
Read more: 9 best things to do in Amsterdam
2. Barcelona, Spain
Spain offers a fantastic opportunity to have an awesome clubbing holiday, but it’s not all about Balearic beats. Both Madrid and Barcelona have more than enough options to help you shuffle your feet. Which one to choose? It’s a bit like comparing Real to Barça with the Catalan city: they’re both pretty good. Razzmatazz is a must, plus there’s the ultimate urban festival, Sónar in June, or Primavera by the beach.
Planning a holiday to Spain in 2019? We’ve picked out some of the top things to see and do in 10 must-see destinations.
3. Basel, Switzerland
If you’re more into deep house than Richard Strauss, head not to the Alps for the sound of music, but Basel. The country’s third largest city is a stone’s throw from the dance music heartlands of France and Germany, so it’s hardly a surprise that a venue like Nordstern attracts some of the world’s top DJs.
4. Berlin, Germany
Having a conversation about the best places to go clubbing in Europe without talking about Berlin would be like omitting eggs from any respectable post-rave breakfast buffet. The city dances to a techno beat with everything from abandoned warehouses to chic and intimate venues providing nights you’ll never forget. Berghain is famously difficult to get into, but even if it’s all in vain you have to try because for the techno aficionado there’s no better way to spend 24 hours (if not longer!).
Berlin is buzzing with cool events and festivals. Here are our local’s guide to the: 10 top things to do in Berlin.
5. Zagreb, Croatia
While Croatia is known for its by-the-beach beautiful people-off-the-yacht champagne set club scene in places like Hvar, and European clubbers abroad festivals like Outlook (4t-9 September 2019) near Pula, capital city Zagreb offers grittier pleasures, where you’ll be more likely to be dancing alongside locals than It girls. While there is a choice of characterful clubs in town dishing up other musical forms, EDM fans shouldn’t miss Sirup.
It’s not all about the beaches! From historic cities to unusual cinemas, see the top 10 things to do in Croatia.
6. Budapest, Hungary
The beautiful blue River Danube runs right through the not-bad-looking Hungarian capital, and every summer many, many thousands of partygoers run riot on an island in its midst. Hajógyári was originally the site of a Roman palace, but it now hosts a plethora of bars and clubs – one on a moored boat – as well as it being the location of Sziget Festival in August.
Hop from a boat tour on the Danube River to blissful hot baths and famous ruin bar pub crawls, all in one day. Here’s how to enjoy a city break in Budapest.
7. Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen surely ranks among the best party holiday destinations in Europe. Clubs like Culture Box attract electronic music heavyweights to play the Danish capital giving a very serious edge to the city’s underground. As an added bonus, the club offers the liquid attraction of all-you-can-drink Heineken between 11pm and midnight.
We’ve picked Copenhagen as one of our top 6 city breaks from Ireland this summer.
8. Glasgow, Scotland
One of the most exciting club nights and record labels to emerge from Britain’s shores in recent years is Numbers. The collective headed by Spencer and Jackmaster – who went on to become a Radio 1 presenter – is one of the most talked about, not only in Scotland but the UK with their extended family including Rustie, Jamie xx and SBTRKT. The hub of their activity is the truly legendary Sub Club, among others. It’s a must visit for anyone who wants to be at the vanguard of electronic music.
Want to explore more than Scotland’s nightlife? Visit the Fairy Glen, one of the most magical places on the planet.
9. KaZantip
Having established itself as an independent clubbing republic in Crimea (for part of the summer at least), KaZantip requires a specific ‘viZa’ to enter, which is only granted once you’ve accepted laws such as ‘be happy, have fun and enjoy life.’ Bringing together extreme sports, beautiful people and the planet’s best DJs, the festival is now a “movable state” and it can be found anywhere between Turkey and Cambodia.
10. London, England
For the ultimate nearby destination you can do a lot worse than London. All four corners of the city offer something different – from the north’s legendary Fabric, to the often satirised ‘Dalston Strip’ in the east. But your best option for a focus on the music, rather than whether you’re wearing the right kind of trainers, is south of the river, where Corsica Studios and Fire deliver some of London’s best nights.
Even if you’re going for the nightlife, Covent Garden is a must visit when planning your trip to London. Here are 7 cultural things to do in Covent Garden, London when you’re taking a break from clubbing.
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*Revised May 2019. Any prices are lowest estimated prices only at the time of publication and are subject to change and/or availability.
Top 10 party cities in Europe
| 1. Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
| 2. Barcelona, Spain |
| 3. Basel, Switzerland |
| 4. Berlin, Germany |
| 5. Zagreb, Croatia |
| 6. Budapest, Hungary |
| 7. Copenhagen, Denmark |
| 8. Glasgow, Scotland |
| 9. KaZantip |
| 10. London, England |
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