Wish We Were Here: Europe'sCoolest Festivals

If you still have a few coins hiding in the bottom of your wallet after the huge summer of Australian festivals you’re probably contemplating making a sneaky trip over to Europe to continue the party.

This year the Poms are too busy with the Olympics to bother putting on Glastonbury so we’ve decided to take a look at some of the other festivals to add to your festival travels in Belgium, France, Norway, Serbia, Hungary, Sweden and beyond.

SZIGET

WHAT
An electronically amplified, warped amusement park that has nothing to do with reality. Starting out as a student festival in post-communist Budapest Sziget is now one of the world’s largest festivals, and has become known as the ‘Burning Man’ of Europe.

WHEN
6th – 13th August

HOW MANY
Lots! Up to 390,000 people flocked to the island of rock in 2009 – the festival has a daily limit of 70,000.

WHO
Last year they had Prince, Pulp, Interpol and more. This year they have only confirmed a handful but its already looking super tasty: The Stone Roses, Placebo, Hurts, Crystal Fighters, The Horrors, The Subways, Mando Diao, Noah and the Whale, and Friendly Fires.

GUFF
If you are the kind of person that has a bucket list – attending at least one Sziget should definitely be at the top of it. Held on Obuda island north of Budapest in Hungary, the festival was started by a group of young live music fans and was originally called Diákszige which means Student’s Island. It has since grown to be on of Europe’s largest events, transforming the Island of Obuda into a week long, alterna-party with the likes of Prince as your party host. Highlights include ‘Festival Trains’ scheduled from different cities around Europe, cheap beer and food and 24 hour music.

WEIRD FACT
The first Sziget in 1993 ran over budget so badly that it took organisers until 1997 to repay losses. It may well be why they accepted a sponsorship from Pepsi in 1998 renaming the festival Pepsi Sziget for four years.

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ROCK NESS

WHAT
A monster of a festival in the beautiful surroundings of Loch Ness, Scotland.

WHEN
8th -10th June.

HOW MANY
30,000.

WHO
Mumford & Sons, Biffy Clyro, Deadmau5, Justice, Ed Sheeran, Metronomy, Noah And The Whale, Wretch 32, DJ Fresh presents Fresh/Live, Azealia Banks, Beardyman, Death In Vegas, Chic Featuring Nile Rodgers, Etienne De Crecy, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Busy P, Riton, The Cuban Brothers, Filth DJs, Polymath, and Count Clockwork.

GUFF
Ay it’s delicious! Starting in 2006, Rock Ness has been dubbed “the most eye-wateringly gorgeous festival site, in the world” due to the event’s stunning site, perched on Scotland’s most famous Loch. It is known for its sporadic weather conditions – Scottish rays one day, spooky fogs the next – and while it was billed as a dance event in its early years, Rock Ness now caters to lovers of rock, dance, indie and partying.

WEIRD FACT
Apparently there is a giant monster that lives in the Loch…..

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