Summer in Europe is always loaded with celebration, color, music, happy people, and a variety of festivals. From Barcelona’s Sonar Music Festival, which has established itself as one of the most successful music festivals in Europe, or the unusual Battle of Wine in Haro La Rioja, Spain is one of the top countries to visit in the summertime, if you want to catch a good fiesta, drink sangria, and savor tapas. But other countries also put on quite a show, with notable events like Meadows in the Mountain in Bulgaria or the iconic Glastonbury Festival in England. Check out our comprehensive list of places to visit in Europe in June, to start the summer right.
1. Berlin, Germany
Berlin is one of the most multicultural capitals in Europe, so it comes as no surprise that it actually has a festival celebrating its diversity and multiculturalism - The Carnival of Cultures. The festival has been celebrated every year since 1996, and last for four days. It includes a variety of theatre performances, music events, and processions, all meant to celebrate cultural diversity, peace, and tolerance among people. The festival ends with a spectacular street parade complete with music, color, and dance.
2. Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon celebrates the Feast of St. Anthony every summer on June 12. The name might not suggest it, as St Anthony is a marriage saint of Lisbon and many other places in the country, but it is actually a celebration of sardines. Thousands of people gather on the cobbled streets of Lisbon to celebrate the Feast of St. Anthony by eating sardines, drinking beer and wine, dancing, and having a good time. There’s also a colorful parade that takes place on Avenida da Liberdade on that day.
3. Bordeaux, France
The city of Bordeaux is synonymous with wine. In the month of June, the city plays host to the Bordeaux Wine Festival. This festival is held every two years, and last for four days. The celebration includes a lot of wine (no surprise here!), which participants can taste by taking the wine road, which is a one-mile (two km) trail from the banks of River Garonne to the heart of the city. Every evening, there is a spectacular light show projected on the façade of the Palais de la Bourse.
4. Barcelona, Spain
Sonar Music Festival first debuted in June 1994 and has been the top attraction since then in Barcelona. Today, it is one of the top EDM festivals in Europe, gathering thousands of music fans on the streets of Barcelona. The festival is divided into two parts - Sonar by Day and Sonar by Night, and both the parts are held at separate locations. The former takes place in the city center, while the latter is held out of town. The lineup gets better and better by the year, so tickets always sell fast.
5. Porto, Portugal
If you’re planning on visiting Porto in the summertime, choose June, as that’s when the St. John Festival is celebrated. The festivity takes place on 23rd and 24th June, when the streets of Porto get crowded, as people come out to barbecue sardines, enjoy the loud music, and have lots of fun. Some of the traditions include drinking Porto wine, eating Caldo Verde (a green cabbage soup) and releasing big balloons into the sky. At midnight, an impressive firework show lights up the sky.
6. Somerset, England
Music buff or not, you’ve probably heard of the iconic Glastonbury Festival by now. The five-day festival takes place in Somerset, England, and includes not only music, but also dance, arts, and a variety of comedy, theater, and circus performances. The lineup is always impressive, and the tickets disappear almost instantly. In 2020, the festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary, so it’s most likely going to be legendary. Throughout the years, Coldplay, Robbie Williams, and Adele have held some of the festival’s best performances here.
7. Roskilde, Denmark
The Roskilde Festival is a Danish music festival held annually in the city with the same name in Denmark. One of the largest music festivals to date, it features a variety of music genres, from pop and rock to electronic, hip hop, and even reggae. The festival was founded by two high school students back in 1971 and has been run as a non-profit organization ever since. The lineups are always impressive, and the festival has only grown over the years.
8. Polkovnik Serafimovo, Bulgaria
Many visit Bulgaria for its beautiful beaches and five-star ultra-all-inclusive services, but that’s not the only attraction during the summertime. At the beginning of June, the Polkovnik Serafimovo mountain region gets crowded, as Meadows in the Mountains festival attracts lots of music lovers. This multi-genre music festival takes place in stunning scenery, where people are united by the sounds of music. Everyone at this festival sings and dance until the sun comes out.
9. Reykjavík, Iceland
Reykjavík in Iceland is known as the best place to visit for catching the Northern Lights, but during summertime, it is known for something else. At the end of June, the city hosts the Secret Solstice Festival, a music festival that gathers people from all over Europe. The festival brings people, culture, and music together, thus creating a unique experience. Their lineups combine international artists with national artists that bring distinctly Icelandic music to the table.
10. Haro La Rioja, Spain
Back to Spain, because they sure know how to throw a party. Haro, La Rioja, is home to the Battle of Wine, a celebration that is bound to get wet and sticky, but that’s super fun and undoubtedly memorable. One of the world’s biggest food and drinks battles, it involves more than 132 gallons (500 liters) of red wine being thrown into the air, with the main goal to get as many people as possible red, wet, and smelling like the delicious red juice.
Music, dance and celebration in Europe
It’s safe to say that there’s more to Europe than spectacular architecture, rich culture, and a vast historical legacy. From Spain and Bulgaria to Iceland and Germany, these countries surely know how to throw a party, whether it’s a food and drinking fiesta, an iconic music festival, or a celebration of cultural diversity. Before you plan your summer vacation, check out these top places to visit in Europe, in June.
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