Top Music Festival Camping in Europe

A complete guide to music festival camping in Europe

Posted on: November 21, 2018
By: Heather Rae Petersen
Top Music Festival Camping in Europe

What are the best music festivals in Europe?

Europe’s been attending music festivals since the 6th century BC in Greece, so you could say they’ve been doing this forever. Techno lovers around the world travel to their Electro-Mecca: Berlin. Glastonbury and Isle of Wight festivals both started around 1970; that’s almost 5 decades of dancing in the mud! If you’ve ever been to a festival in Northern Europe, you know it’s still smart to bring your wellies! Nevermind the mud, music festival camping in Europe definitely has something special. Here’s a list of the top 20 music festivals in Europe.

Some festivals are unique, not just for their line-up, but also for their location. Here’s three island destinations that are one of a kind:

Top Music Festival Camping in Europe - Traena

Traena Music Festival has been called one of the most remote festivals you can attend in the world. Held in the middle of the Norwegian Sea, you can take a ferry, tall ship or sailing yacht to get there. Venues have been in an ancient cave, church with blacked-out windows (to block out the midnight sun) and tents. It’s a predominately all-camping event with a low-key vibe.

Sonus Festival is an electronic festival on the shores of Pag Island in Croatia. Hosting three clubs, beach parties, boat parties and an average water temperature of 25C (77F) in August, makes it a hot destination. Campsites are off-site with all the amenities. Don’t forget your sunscreen and floatie toy!

Into the Great Wide Open Yes, that’s a Tom Petty reference for all you fans. Located on Vlieland, one of the Wadden Islands in the North of the Netherlands. An exceptional pop music festival in the middle of nature.

Belgium

Dour has something for everyone; you’ll always discover a new favorite band here. It can be a bit gritty, especially if it’s rained, but don’t let that deter you. It has a raw energy to it that some say is the ultimate festival experience. All camping is walk-in, so bring a wagon to transport your stuff.

Deep in the Woods - This grassroots festival, that’s happy to stay outside of the mainstream, is located in the in the Ardennes forest. Known for it’s laid back, family friendly, chill vibe.

Rock Herk is Belgium’s oldest alternative music festival where you can check out the latest alternative rock, punk, hardcore and dance bands. It still maintains an intimate, friendly vibe.

Top Music Festival Camping in Europe - GrasPop

GrasPop Metal Meeting Four days of welcoming fans dressed in black drinking mazout (mixture of beer & Coca Cola). They have a couple different camping options, depending on if you want to car camp or carry your gear in.

Tomorrowland Eat, sleep, rave, repeat. One of the world’s largest music festivals with 15 stages of EDM to choose from. The camping area even has its own stage.

The Netherlands

Down the Rabbit Hole called Lowlands little brother, this festival is the definition of Dutch gezelligheid. Camping is close to the festival bordering along a lake to cool off after a warm day.

Top Music Festival Camping in Europe - Best Kept Secret

Best Kept Secret has big names along with new discoveries from indie, folk, hip-hop, rock, electronic. The atmosphere is charming, inclusive and good-natured.Camping is in a wooded area with good shade.

United Kingdom

Top Music Festival Camping in Europe - Bestival

Bestival A playful festival, that encourages dressing up in costumes, focuses on indie and dance music, art and circus acts. A variety of different types of camping available, you can even reserve a spot with your friends with Camping Plus if you know you won’t all arrive at the same time. Don’t forget your costume!

Womad has a compilation of music without borders from the Americas to Africa.  A carefree cultural experience. Did we mention that this festival has jacuzzis and saunas? Tired feet say yes!

Electric Fields, the largest festival in Scotland, is situated on the rolling greens of the Queensberry Estate and offers a wide variety of music, food, fun for kids and a fairground.

France

Vieilles Charrues Festival is the biggest and best-loved pop and alternative rock festival in France. Camping is a ritual and has its own ambiance, have an apéro with you neighbor, but remember it’s first come, first served, so get there early with your tent.

Musilac Aix-les-bains - A four day rock and pop festival in the Rhône-Alpes region. The camping is situated along the shores of a lake which is a perfect way to cool off from the heat.

Portugal

Waking Life is rumored to be one of the best new festivals in Europe. It has a special atmosphere and focuses on art and ecology along with electronic music.

Freekuency was born out of the free party movement, is a pay as you like festival that concentrates its energy on live music, trance, theater, kids activities and free-spirited people.

Germany

Rock Am Ring has been around since the mullet was in style and offers a diverse line-up with a lot to offer. Multiple camping options available for every type of camper.

Latvia

Top Music Festival Camping in Europe - Positivus

Positivus Festival has a bohemian vibe and a variety of music which makes it a laid back festival along the wooded coastline at Salacgrīva.

Hungary

Sziget Festival located on an island in the Danube River in the middle of the Budapest. It’s a week long festival that originally started as an arts events for students after the fall of the Soviet Union has now become one of Europe’s renowned rock festivals. Offering more than 1,000 performances & boat parties, it’s got a lot going on. Various types of camping options on-site.

 

Wondering what’s the ideal tent for music festival camping in Europe? The Sibley 400 Standard is a great choice! It’s waterproof, breathable and roomy enough to move around in, which is ideal for music festival camping since you’ll be spending a few days in it and can invite your friends over. The sides roll up for hot days when you want to catch the breeze and sleep in a little longer.

Top Music Festival Camping in Europe - Glastonbury

While a music festival lasts only a few days, the connections you make there can last a lifetime.