Travel Tips

A guide to the best festivals in Europe

Prepare your guide to attend the best festivals in Europe. From Glastonbury to Geneva, from rock to jazz, get ready to create unforgettable experiences

Did you know one of the biggest festivals in Europe started as a cultural rebellion and lasted for over 100 days with different concerts, theater performances, and other cultural events? What began as a movement for change has evolved into EXIT, Serbia’s most popular music festival and one of the largest in all of Europe!

But EXIT is just one of many iconic festivals across the continent. From the UK to Spain, there’s a mix of festivals where music lovers seeking new experiences can explore, experience, and create unforgettable memories, and we’ll take you through each with our guide!

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What are the best European festivals?

Europe is the ideal place for music lovers to seek new experiences. The legendary Glastonbury Festival, Tomorrowland, and Hellfest Open Air are just a few of the best festivals in Europe.

Travelers, alongside concerts, can find cultural events, delicious food, and unique ways to experience artistic expression at these festivals, so let’s explore what each one has to offer.

Glastonbury Festival

1970 Glastonbury started as the Pop, Blues & Folk Festival, but little did people know it would become one of Europe’s most important festivals.

Nowadays, Glastonbury, or Glasto if you’re feeling local, is a five-day festival where concerts are the main event. However, other artistic formats are there for you to see, like comedy, theatre, circus, and cabaret shows, making it one of Europe’s best things to do in June.

What’s coming for the 2025 edition is still a secret, as most of Glastonbury’s official line-up and events have yet to be announced. But, attendees are not worried, as the event has already sold out all their tickets!

Sir Road Stewart will perform on Sunday, and Neil Young will be the event’s main headliner, so line-up expectations are above the clouds!

The 2025 edition will take place from June 25th to 29th, and here are some tips for you to consider:

Accommodation: Glastonbury tickets include access to camping fields, but you can take your own campervan/caravan or rent rooms/houses close to the festival.
Weather: Glasto takes place in summer, with daily temperatures reaching up to 25°C, but nights are colder, with temperatures as low as 10°C, so prepare your backpack with proper clothing.
Food: With the £6 Meal Deal, you can try all types of food at Glasto, including chicken with roast potato and gravy, katsu wrap, homemade chili, or a cup of coffee to prepare for a party.
How to move around the festival: Download the official Glastonbury Festival Map and keep it on your phone. You can always visit the site for additional info, so don’t forget to get an eSIM for the UK!

Tomorrowland

Tomorrowland is probably the most important electronic music festival in the world. Different Tomorrowland festivals are happening worldwide, but the most important one is in Belgium.

This electronic dance music festival will take place in Boom, Antwerp, over two weekends, from July 18th to 20th and then from July 25th to 27th. It has a promising line-up and 14 incredible stages, ready to shake the ground and deliver an unforgettable experience for music lovers.

Artists like David Guetta, Hardwell, Martin Garrix, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and Blond:ish appear in the current line-up, but more artists will be announced, so expect some surprises as July approaches!

The only bad news? All the tickets are sold out for the 2025 edition.

You’ll find different activities at the festival, like The Ride to Happiness, artistic performances, and something you can’t miss – the outstanding visuals on each stage.

Here are some tips to experience one of the most famous festivals in the world at its fullest:

Accommodation: Based on your ticket, you might have accommodation included; if not, book an Airbnb in advance close to Boom, Antwerp.
Weather: Tomorrowland is one of the most iconic summer music festivals. Pack light clothes for the day and a jacket for the night, as temperatures can drop to 14 °C.
Food: Close to each stage, you’ll find different food spots where you can grab your preferred food, including vegetarian options while enjoying the festival’s vibrant atmosphere.
How to move around the festival: The official map for the event hasn’t been released yet, so check Tomorrowland Belgium’s official site for any updates and stay connected with an eSIM for Belgium, as you’ll probably use Google Maps to move around.

Sziget Festival

Did you know the Sziget Festival started as a low-profile event in 1993? Nowadays, it is compared to the Burning Man festival, as it has received over 565K attendees and includes unique features, like an amusement park that has nothing to do with reality.

This festival, which takes place in the so-called Island of Freedom, will take place from August 6th to 11th, and luckily, tickets are still available starting from €249 (~£206.31) for 21 or younger attendees and up to €529 (~£438.31) for the VIP package for those born from 2022 and backward.

Similar to other festivals in Europe, Sziget goes further than only music. You’ll find workshops, visual arts, iconic dance performances within its spaces, and that’s just a small part of what Sziget offers.

The current line-up includes names like Post Malone, Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, Papa Roach, and Hanabie, and that’s just the beginning, as more artists are confirming their participation in this event!

Here are some tips to enjoy as much as possible the Sziget Festival:

Accommodation: There are six types of camping available at the festival, including camping, caravans, and glamping options. Optionally, you could stay in Budapest.
Weather: Sziget weather can be hot during the day, with 27°C as the common temperature. Nights are colder, but a light jacket will do for the festival.
Food: Around the Sziget island, you’ll find all kinds of food, so feel free to go for your traditional favorite or try new dishes!
How to move around the festival: The official Sziget event map is yet to be released, so keep an eye on the official Sziget Festival site. Still, consider getting an eSIM for Hungary if you need to move back and forth from Budapest to the island.

Reading Festival

Reading Festival is the longest-running festival in the United Kingdom and offers a unique way of experiencing the line-up: bands move from Leeds to Reading based on where they played the previous day.

This festival occurs from Friday to Sunday during the August bank holiday weekend, from August 21st to 24th in 2025. This year’s edition includes a variety of bands and musicians who will create unforgettable moments for attendees.

The current line-up includes Bring Me the Horizon, Hozier, Chappell Roan, Travis Scott, and Enter Shikari as some of the main artists, but this is just a small part of the final announcement.

Tickets for the Reading Festival are still available, with pricing ranging from £325 to £361. Payment plans are also available, allowing you to pay the whole price in five installments.

Like other famous European festivals, you’ll also experience unique events, like art performances, fireworks from the multiple stages, workshops, and many activities that are announced close to the festival date.

Here are some tips you can’t forget when going to the Reading Festival:

Accommodation: The festival offers campervans and camping sites. They also offer back-and-forth transportation if you stay far from the main event site.
Weather: Reading is fresh during August, but since hundreds of people surround you, pack light clothes and don’t forget a jacket for the night as temperatures can drop to 11°C.
Food: Food won’t be an issue at Reading. You’ll find lots of fast-food restaurants, so make sure you try as many things as possible.
How to move around the festival: The official festival map is unavailable yet, so check the Reading Festival site for more information. If you’re staying in Reading, pick an eSIM for the UK to get mobile internet access for Google Maps or Uber.

Primavera Sound

What once started as an indie rock festival rapidly became one of the largest music festivals in Spain and Europe.

Primavera Sounds mainly occur in Barcelona at Parc del Fòrum from June to May. This year’s edition dates are June 4th to 8th. For those attending the new Primavera a la Ciutat program, the party will start on June 2nd, with concerts starting at 4:00 PM and lasting until 6:00 AM.

Like other European festivals, Primavera Sound combines music events with an immersive cultural experience that includes workshops, city tours, and unique visuals. Thanks to the Parc del Fòrum location, the stunning sunsets and sunrises will give you an unforgettable experience.

The current line-up includes Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter as headliners, but there are also other bands like Turnstile, Clairo, Parcels, and Yung Beef. In contrast to other European festivals, the Primavera Sound line-up has already been completed.

Lastly, here are some tips to consider for this festival:

Accommodation: Book an Airbnb or hotel room for the festival in advance, as no camping/glamping options are available.
Weather: June is a warm, humid month in Barcelona, with temperatures ranging from 27°C to 20°C, so packing light is your best ally.
Food: Small food sites will be around the Parc del Fòrum, but since it’s close to the city centre, you can easily find other options.
How to move around the festival: Moving around the festival won’t be an issue, but get an eSIM for Spain as you’ll need an Uber or Google Maps to move from your Airbnb/hotel to Parc del Fòrum.

Wacken Open Air

Considered one of the biggest open-air heavy metal and rock festivals, Wacken Open Air is a unique experience for all metalheads.

From July 30th to August 2nd, Wacken Open Air will feature bands like Papa Roach, Guns N’ Roses, Gojira, Mastodon, Obituary, Dimmu Borgir, and the list goes on and on. Also, no surprise tickets are sold out, as the festival line-up is pretty solid.

As one of the biggest music festivals, there will be lots of exciting things to do while you wait for the next band to play, like watching iconic performances at the Wacken Church, swimming at the outdoor pool, and visiting Landgasthof zur Post, where the Wacken idea was born.

Remember that even though it’s a metal event with walls of death, mosh pits, and crowd surfing, respect is a key part of the event, so don’t get too excited whenever your favorite band is on stage.

Here are tips to experience one of the best metal festivals in Europe:

Accommodation: Wacken Open Air has six different places to stay. Coming with a campervan? Go to Camper-Park. Looking for comfy beds after a mosh pit? Wacken Mosh Hotel is your call!
Weather: During the main event, light black clothes will help you survive the heavy metal concerts, but pack a jacket or two for the fresh Wacken nights.
Food: Within the Wacken Village, you’ll find various restaurants to try, including traditional German beer and hot dogs!
How to move around the festival: Check the “The Areas” section on the Wacken site for official guidance. Since you’ll need the internet to check this map, don’t forget to buy your eSIM for Germany.

Rock en Seine

Did you know that the word scène, which means stage, and Seine have the same pronunciation? That’s where this French rock festival’s name came from.

This multiple-day festival, which will take place from August 20th to 24th, will gather artists from all over the world in the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, and the good news is that tickets are still available starting at €89 (~£73.77).

Part of the line-up is already available, with names like Chappel Roan, A$AP Rocky, Aurora, Empire of the Sun, and Queens of the Stone Age, but this is just the beginning of what’s to come.

While music is the most important part of the festival, visitors will have more attractions to choose from. You can learn about the rich history of Rock en Seine, attend multicultural workshops, and take pictures across the iconic landmarks of this year’s event.

Note that kids under 11 can attend the festival, so act respectfully and responsibly throughout the event.

Here are some tips to make your Rock en Seine experience even better:

Accommodation: There are no camping or campervan spaces. Book your Airbnb or hotel accommodations in advance to find a place close to the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud.
Weather: The event starts in the early afternoon, when temperatures are close to 27°C, so packing a hat and light clothes will make things easier.
Food: Rock en Seine will include different fast food areas for the event, so grab your preferred meal before jumping again at the rhythm of Aurora.
How to move around the festival: Since you’ll stay around Paris, make sure to grab an eSIM for France so you can hail an Uber or use Google Maps to make your way down to Domaine National de Saint-Cloud.

EXIT Festival

Remember the festival that started as a cultural rebellion and lasted for over 100 days? That’s the EXIT Festival, one of the biggest music festivals in Europe and Serbia, featuring features a mix of genres, such as rock, drum and bass, hip hop, metal, punk, and electronic music. It is held at the Petrovardin Fortress. Known as the “Gibraltar on the Danube,” this 17th-century fortress offers stunning views of the Danube River and Novi Sad’s skyline.

This year’s edition will last from July 10th to 13th at the same fortress trenches where everything started 25 years ago and where the 25 years of legacy will be celebrated.

For this edition, names like Tiësto, Loreen, Sex Pistols, Eric Prydz, and many others are part of the line-up, but more names are to be announced, as only the first 25 concerts were released.

EXIT will also continue its traditional activities during the event, such as Life is Live, Mental Health, Stay Clean, Conscious R: Evolution, and EXIT Activism.

Here are some tips for you to experience one of the best festivals in Europe:

Accommodation: EXIT offers camps and hostels near the Petrovaradin Fortress, around 2-2.5KM from the main event. Also, visit local Facebook groups, as many people in Novi Sad rent their apartments and rooms during the festival. Novi Sad is just a bridge crossing away from the Fortress.
Weather: Novi Sad temperatures can reach up to 35°C during the day, so breathable clothes are necessary. And always stay hydrated. Plus, consider taking a folder fan; you’ll need it.
Food: Like the best festivals in Europe, food won’t be an issue at EXIT or Novi Sad. Walk around the fortress, and you’ll find plenty of relatively cheap and always delicious Serbian street food.
How to move around the festival: Even if you stay close to the Petrovaradin Fortress, an eSIM for Serbia will help you in the following days, especially if you want to explore Novi Sad.
Mornings in Dance Arena: No matter what kind of music you like, traditionally, all EXIT veterans will tell you that there’s no feeling like welcoming the sunrise in the Dance Arena – one of the stages that close the last during EXIT. Even if rave is not your thing, experience it at least once.

Hellfest Open Air

Born in 2002, it changed its name in 2006 and faced controversial accusations from the Associations Familiales Catholiques and Mouvement pour la France. However, the Hellfest Open Air has overcome everything to become one of the best festivals in Europe and the biggest in France.

This year’s edition will take place from June 19th to 22nd in Clisson. To nobody’s surprise, all the event tickets are sold out.

There will be six stages where music lovers will listen to Linkin Park with their new vocalist, Emily Armstrong, Muse, Judas Priest, Korn, Till Linderman, Knocked Loose, and over 170 other bands.

Hellfest Open Air is also among the music festivals in Europe with the most impressive decorations. While most might seem like they were taken from an Edgar Allan Poe book, the visuals are actually one of the best things to watch at this legendary festival.

There’s also room for other activities, like a bike park, Hellfest museums, unique scenery, and much more after you pass through the Hellfest gates.

Here are some additional tips for the festival:

Accommodation: All tickets include access to camping and parking areas. Only the Easy Camp area needs to be bought separately.
Weather: Clisson temperatures can easily exceed 25°C, so packing light clothes, like tank tops and shorts, will keep you warm. Just a tip: avoid white clothes.
Food: Don’t worry about food; you’ll find different restaurants with a Hellfest vibe where you can eat before jumping on someone’s arms for a bit of crowd surfing.
How to move around the festival: Hellfest’s official map is yet to be announced, so make sure to add an eSIM for France to use Google Maps to move around Clisson.

Montreux Jazz Festival

One of the oldest music festivals in Europe, the Montreux Jazz Festival, can’t be left off this list, especially since artists like Charles Lloyd, Nina Simone, Frank Zappa, and Ella Fitzgerald played there.

This festival takes place in Switzerland. This year’s edition will last from July 4th to 19th on a special-built stage close to the Geneva Lake. For two weeks, it will offer non-stop entertainment alongside breathtaking views.

The event line-up and pricing have yet to be announced, as this will be revealed in the spring. So, compared to most events on this list, your chances of going are quite high.

Since this year’s edition will be different from previous ones, festival goers will have new activities to enjoy. Still, these are also yet to be known as the Montreux Jazz Festival official program hasn’t been released.

Lastly, here are some tips for your adventure in this jazz festival:

Accommodation: No camping areas are available, so make sure to book an Airbnb or hotel room in advance.
Weather: Even though Geneva is surrounded by mountains, you’ll still need light clothes for the festivals. But pack a jacket or two if you’re going for a full-day tour on the city outskirts.
Food: There’s a lot of food to try, from Argetinian to Thai cuisine; visit the different food stands to enjoy your favorite meal while looking at the Alps.
How to move around the festival: Since you’ll be staying around Geneva, an eSIM for Switzerland will make things easier, whether you use Google Maps or look for a train/bus route.

Tips to experience the best festivals in Europe

We’ve talked about the best festivals in Europe, and even though there are some tips for each one, here are some additional things for you to consider:

Buy your music festival tickets in advance. Most festivals are sold out just a few days after tickets are available for purchase, so keep an eye on these.
Prepare to explore some of the most beautiful cities in Europe, so pack more clothes and book some additional days before or after each festival.
If you’re travelling solo to Europe for these festivals, check their social media channels. Other festival-goers always prepare groups, so you won’t have to experience these events alone.
If you’re attending more than one festival, check which ones are the best eSIMs for Europe to get a reliable connection everywhere you go.
Try to book your flights and accommodation in advance, too. You’ll save money, which you can then spend on merchandise and food!

Stay connected in Europe with Holafly

If you’re preparing your list of which festivals to go to next year, there’s one thing you can’t miss: mobile internet in Europe.

An internet connection is a must for your trip, whether you use it to hail an Uber, move around using Google Maps, or, what’s more important, upload pictures and videos to social media.

The Holafly eSIM for Europe is a great option as it covers 40 countries, including every country mentioned on this festival list. Pricing starts at £6, and you’ll get unlimited data, 5G connectivity when available, up to 1GB of data sharing per day, 24/7 customer support, and a mobile app to manage your eSIM plans.

However, you can consider using the Holafly Connect subscription if you plan to attend more than one festival. Jumping from EXIT to Sziget and ending up at Reading Festival? No worries. Holafly Connect has three different monthly plans for you.

You’ll get from 10 GB to unlimited data based on your needs, including the other mentioned features. You won’t have to worry about connectivity while going to the best music festivals, and you will be connected as if you were at home.

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Julio Osuna

English Content Writer

I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.

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