Top 10 European Summer Festivals
by Julia Buckley

Since we’re already into May, summer is right around the corner, and summer in Europe officially (kind of) means festivals. But these days, there are so many of them, it’s hard to know what’s good and what’s not. The daddy of them all, Glastonbury, is sold out already, but here are 10 other you might want to try:

Sonar, Barcelona, Spain (June 17-19): Its long title is the International Festival of Progressive Music and Multimedia Arts but Sonar is basically one big electrofest that swamps Barcelona for the weekend with beach parties and performances. Book a hotel if you like, but you’ll most likely end up crashing on the beach. CheapOair is also offering flight deals to this Spanish city, with fares starting at $950* (book by May 15, 2010).

* Airfares include all fuel surcharges, ad valorem tax and CheapOair service fees. Fares exclude government taxes. Sample airfare listed to Barcelona; additional cities spanning the U.S. are available. Fares and rates are subject to change based on availability.

Roskilde, Roskilde, Denmark (July 1-4): Probably on a par with Glasto when it comes to pulling in the big names, and equally as eclectic, this year’s festival has Prince, Muse, Gorillaz, Prodigy, Patti Smith and Them Crooked Vultures headlining, with bands like Pavement, Kasabian and Motorhead chipping in as well. Expect crowds, though – capacity is a humungous 75,000. Fly to near by Copenhagen with CheapOair’s airfare deals starting at $895* (book by May 15, 2010).

* Airfares include all fuel surcharges, ad valorem tax and CheapOair service fees. Fares exclude government taxes. Sample airfare listed to Copenhagen; additional cities spanning the U.S. are available. Fares and rates are subject to change based on availability.

Wireless, London, UK (July 2-4): Definitely the best festival for beginners (mainstream acts, located in the middle of the capital), what Wireless lacks in soul it more than makes up for with ease. The festival takes over Hyde Park in central London for three afternoons and pulls in huge names – this year’s draws are Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, Pink and LCD Soundsystem. OneTravel is also offering flight deals to London starting at $685* (book by May 11, 2010).

* Airfares include all fuel surcharges, ad valorem tax and CheapOair service fees. Fares exclude government taxes. Sample airfare listed to London; additional cities spanning the U.S. are available. Fares and rates are subject to change based on availability.

Garden Festival, Petrcane, Croatia (July 2-11): If dance music on the water is your kind of thing, you’ll love the Garden Festival, which swamps the tiny fishing village of Petrcane every year. This is its fifth year, so it’s relatively new, but 2009 was the year it really hit the big time. This time, expect DJs aplenty from Norman Jay to Mr Scruff, as well as a few live acts. The action takes place on a tiny, forested peninsula – as well as lots of boat parties (impromptu and otherwise) setting sail.  CheapOair is also offering flight deals to nearby Zadar, with airfare starting at $1,282* (book by May 15, 2010).

* Airfares include all fuel surcharges, ad valorem tax and CheapOair service fees. Fares exclude government taxes. Sample airfare listed to Zadar; additional cities spanning the U.S. are available. Fares and rates are subject to change based on availability.

Exit, Novi Sad, Serbia (July 8-11): 600 performers (both international and Serbian) hit the crumbling Petrovaradin fortress on the banks of the Danube in Novi Sad, 90 minutes north of Belgrade in July. Exit is swiftly becoming one of the most reliable European festivals for a huge range of music – this year’s lineup includes Missy Elliott, Klaxons, Chemical Brothers and DJ David Guetta. CheapOair is also offering flight deals to nearby Belgrade starting at $1,007* (book by May 15, 2010).

* Airfares include all fuel surcharges, ad valorem tax and CheapOair service fees. Fares exclude government taxes. Sample airfare listed to Belgrade; additional cities spanning the U.S. are available. Fares and rates are subject to change based on availability.

Benicassim, Valencia, Spain (July 15-18): The beachside town near Valencia is overrun once a year by festival-goers in search of a broad church of music, from indie to dance. Among this year’s lineup are Dizzee Rascal, Ian Brown, Calvin Harris and Kasabian, as well as Lily Allen (catch her before she finally fulfills her threat to quit the music industry). Beware, though, that camping on the beach will get hot.  CheapOair is also offering airfare deals to Valencia starting at $895* (book by May 15, 2010).

* Airfares include all fuel surcharges, ad valorem tax and CheapOair service fees. Fares exclude government taxes. Sample airfare listed to Valencia; additional cities spanning the U.S. are available. Fares and rates are subject to change based on availability.

Oya, Oslo, Norway (August 10-14): Oya is one of the festival scene’s best kept secrets. A mixture of little known acts and huge names (like Iggy and the Stooges, M.I.A, Paul Weller and La Roux) converge on a park in Oslo. After you’re done listening, hit the fjords or join the afterparties in town. Oh, and it’s eco-friendly as well. Perfect! CheapOair is offering airfare deals to Oslo starting at $864* (book by May 15, 2010).

* Airfares include all fuel surcharges, ad valorem tax and CheapOair service fees. Fares exclude government taxes. Sample airfare listed to Oslo; additional cities spanning the U.S. are available. Fares and rates are subject to change based on availability.

Sziget, Budapest, Hungary (August 11-16): Up there with Exit for the prettiness of its setting, Sziget takes place on an island in the Danube, and hosts 200 acts every day. This year’s highlights include Calvin Harris, Faithless, Papa Roach and Muse. CheapOair is also offering airfare deals to nearby Belgrade, starting at $1,007* (book by May 15, 2010).

* Airfares include all fuel surcharges, ad valorem tax and CheapOair service fees. Fares exclude government taxes. Sample airfare listed to Belgrade; additional cities spanning the U.S. are available. Fares and rates are subject to change based on availability.

Reading and Leeds, UK (August 27-29): Twin festivals Reading and Leeds used to be the mainstream alternatives to Glasto before Wireless jumped in, but although they’re pretty corporate now, they pull in huge names: this year, Guns n Roses, Blink 182, Arcade Fire, the Libertines and the ubiquitous festival player, Dizzee Rascal. The lineup’s the same for both venues (they transport the bands around) so just choose the one you prefer. If you don’t mind the hassle of travelling up north, we’d plump for Leeds – relatively smaller, in the grounds of a beautiful old house, and your chance to taste the legendary northern welcome. CheapOair is also offering flight deals to Leeds, with airfare starting at $866* (book by May 15, 2010).

* Airfares include all fuel surcharges, ad valorem tax and CheapOair service fees. Fares exclude government taxes. Sample airfare listed to Leeds; additional cities spanning the U.S. are available. Fares and rates are subject to change based on availability.

Bestival, Isle of Wight, UK (September 9-12): Another UK one, sorry, but Bestival is a great close to the festival season. It’s more about the atmosphere than the music – attendees normally come in fancy dress – but, having said that, the music is rock solid: the Prodigy, Flaming Lips, Hot Chip, The Xx. (NB: if “quirky” annoys you, this is not the place for you). CheapOair is also offering flight deals to nearby Southhampton starting at $826* (book by May 15, 2010).

* Airfares include all fuel surcharges, ad valorem tax and CheapOair service fees. Fares exclude government taxes. Sample airfare listed to Southhampton; additional cities spanning the U.S. are available. Fares and rates are subject to change based on availability.

Make your plans now to visit one of these music festivals by booking a Europe Travel Deal on CheapOair!