This week, revellers from all over the world will be heading to Pilton in Somerset for Glastonbury Festival.
Whether you were one of the unlucky people who failed to get a ticket before they sold out, or you couldn’t justify the cost of the £205 ticket coupled with the booking fees, fuel and cost of parking, you’ll be pleased to know that there are many cheaper options throughout the continent.
Here’s our pick of the bunch.
Berlin Festival, Germany
When: 6th-7th September
Ticket price: £69
Germany’s capital is home to the Berlin Festival which takes place in the grounds of a former airport. The £69 ticket doesn’t include accommodation but there are plenty of hotels in the city centre that won’t break the bank, and the festival grounds are a short shuttle away. Expect to see Björk, Blur and My Bloody Valentine.
Balaton Sound, Hungary
When: 11th-14th July
Ticket price: £106
In Zarmárdi, Hungary festival-goers can listen to electro beats around a lake. A weekend ticket is a steal at just £106 and an extra £54 will get you a joint ticket to Volt, which takes place from the 3rd-6th July. Headliners include the Prodigy, Wu-Tang Clan, Crystal Castles and Axwell.
Dour, Belgium
When: 18th-21st July
Ticket price: £106
Ignore the name; this Belgium festival is anything but dour. In fact it celebrates its 25th anniversary this year which gives some indication of exactly how popular it actually is. A weekend’s camping and performances by the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, Wu-Tang Clan, Simian Mobile Disco and The Vaccines (among others) cost just £106.
Coke Live, Poland
When: 9th-10th August
Ticket price: £57
The historic city of Krakow will be hosting big names such as Florence + the Machine, Biffy Clyro and Franz Ferdinand for this year’s Coke Live. However, the smaller stages are a great place to view up and coming talent. A weekend ticket including camping will set you back just £57.
Les Eurockéennes, France
When: 4th-7th July
Ticket price: £110
This four day event is often referred to as the French Glastonbury and it’s not hard to see why. Both attract a large indie-loving crowd and consist of several stages and zones. A ticket to this festival costs £110 and headliners include Blur, the Smashing Pumpkins and Tame Impala.
Lovebox, London
When: 19th-21st July
Ticket price: £99
If you don’t like the idea of camping or just want to spend a day at a festival to soak up some of the experience, Lovebox in London’s Victoria Park is a great option. A day ticket costs £99 and performers include Plan B, Azealia Banks and Goldfrapp. You could even make a weekend of it and spend the next day exploring some of the delights of the capital.
Exit, Serbia
When: 11th-14th July
Ticket price: £95
It’s hard to believe that this popular dance festival once started off as a political protest against (now ex) President Milosevic. Nowadays the only agenda that revellers have is to dance to the likes of Eric Prydz, Fatboy Slim, Cee Lo Green, Bloc Party and Snoop Dogg. A weekend ticket costs £95 and although this doesn’t include accommodation, hotels in this Balkan state still come in relatively cheap.
Rock A Field, Luxembourg
When: 29th-30th June
Ticket price: £75
If you’ve been seeking an excuse to visit Europe’s smallest country (outside of the Vatican) here it is: a two day rock-fest in the town of Roeser. Jake Bugg, Bloc Party, Queens of the Stone Age and Tame Impala are all on the line-up and a two-day ticket will cost £75, plus £13 for each day if you choose to camp.
Optimus Alive, Portugal
When: 12th-14th July
Green Day, Depeche Mode, Kings of Leon, Vampire Weekend, Biffy Clyro and the Editors are just some of the performers at this rock-centric festival on the outskirts of Portugal’s capital. This can definitely be seen as a sunny alternative to Reading or Leeds festival and a weekend ticket costs just £103.
Positivus, Latvia
When: 19th-21st July
Ticket price: £47.50
Named the Best European Festival of 2012 by the British Festival Guide, it will be interesting to see if this year’s event follows suit. With Sigur Ròs, the xx, Foxes and Crystal Castles all on the line-up it certainly looks promising. The festival is set in a scenic wooded site and a three day camping ticket is £47.50.
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