18 Apr 2018
Posted by Chris Jones 
Irish music fans are hardly starved of options when it comes to music festivals, but if you’re sick of the weather and bored of the same old, same old here at home, then why not head abroad? Europe is jam-packed with exciting festivals in great locations, getting you a front-row view of the best acts in the world – and the sun is usually shining. From dazzling main stage rock shows to fun boat parties on the Adriatic, here are a few of our top tips…
Primavera Sound (Spain)
Photo by Alba Ruperez
Now in its 18th year, Barcelona’s Primavera Sound has long since come of age as the number one choice for music obsessives across Europe. Every year its line-up announcement is keenly awaited and it rarely disappoints, with cutting edge acts from across the musical landscape mixing with legendary names – this year’s line-up features everyone from Lorde and Migos to Nick Cave and Björk. The setting is memorable too – Parc del Forum’s expanses of concrete and open-air amphitheatres are set right beside the sparkling Mediterranean.
Dates:
Wednesday 30th May to Sunday 3rd June
How to get there:
Fly to Barcelona from Dublin with Aer Lingus, Ryanair or Vueling, or from Cork with Aer Lingus or British Airways. There is a wide range of options for transfers between the airport and city, including train, metro, bus and taxi. This website has a comprehensive guide.
More information:
Secret Solstice (Iceland)
Photo by Vlad Solovov
If you’re making your festival decision based on how much sunshine you’re likely to enjoy then there’s only one choice – Iceland, land of the midnight sun. As its name suggests, Secret Solstice takes place when the days are longest – June 21-24 – and since Iceland is just outside the Arctic Circle, the sun never truly sets. The line-up is nothing if not eclectic, with thrash metal legends Slayer sharing top billing with Stormzy and Bonnie Tyler (seriously), alongside top DJs like Skream and A-Trak and a host of Icelandic talent.
Dates:
Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th June
How to get there:
Fly to Keflavik from Dublin with Icelandair or Wow Air. The airport is about an hour outside the capital Reykjavik, where the festival takes place. There is information on airport transfers here.
More information:
Love International (Croatia)
Photo by Here & Now
In the past decade, the coastline and beaches of Croatia have proved themselves as the place to be for discerning dance music fans. There is plenty of choice, but Love International in Tisno – 90 minutes north of Split – stands out. There’s the stunning beach setting in the festival’s own private bay, along with a top-tier line-up of DJs that this year includes the likes of Bicep, Four Tet and Shanti Celeste. Perhaps best of all, you can dance the night away in the middle of the Adriatic at one of the festival’s legendary boat parties.
Dates:
Wednesday 27th June to Wednesday 4th July
How to get there:
Ryanair flies directly from Dublin to Zadar three times a week. It’s the closest airport to Tisno at around 40 minutes away by road, and festival-goers are advised to book a bus transfer with Shuttle Tours – it costs €20 each way.
More information:
www.loveinternationalfestival.com
Rock Werchter (Belgium)
Photo courtesy Rock Werchter
For a small country, Belgium sure knows how to put on a music festival. Pukkelpop and the misleadingly named Dour are two of the biggest, but Rock Werchter is the daddy of them all. Packing them in at its site near Leuven outside Brussels since 1976, this is the place to be if you want to see the biggest names in music across four packed days. The 2018 headliners are Arctic Monkeys, Gorillaz, The Killers and Pearl Jam – that’s Glastonbury-level star power. And if you fancy a taste of home, Irish acts Snow Patrol, Walking On Cars and The Academic will be making an appearance too.
Dates:
Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th July
How to get there:
Fly to Brussels from Dublin with Aer Lingus or Ryanair. Your festival ticket entitles you to free train travel from the airport to Leuven, and then a shuttle bus to the festival. More information here.
More information:
Sziget (Hungary)
Photo by Major Kata – Rockstar Photographers
European festivals don’t get much bigger than Sziget. Every August, an island in the middle of the Danube in Budapest is turned into a week-long cornucopia of music and more, attracting around half a million people from all over Europe and beyond. If you have the stamina, you can choose from around 1,000 different performances across the week, from 2018 headliners Kendrick Lamar, Arctic Monkeys and Gorillaz to the latest pop and rock up-and-comers and artists from a range of other genres, like blues, jazz and world music.
Dates:
Wednesday 8th to Wednesday 15th August
How to get there:
Fly to Budapest from Dublin with Ryanair or Aer Lingus. The festival takes place at Óbuda Island in the centre of the city. The airport’s website lists a range of options for your transfer to the city. The official firm Főtaxi has a rank outside arrivals and a fixed fare of €22 to the city centre – worth considering if you are in a small group.
More information:
Wherever you decide to party this summer, make sure you take out travel insurance before you go. Click here to find out what we have to offer.
