10 of the best music festivals in Europe

EXIT, Serbia

With an eclectic mix of headliners that run the gambit from mainstream EDM favourites like David Guetta to techno gods including Richie Hawtin, Nina Kraviz, Adam Beyer and Maceo Plex, EXIT is guaranteed to be one of the most sought-after tickets of the season. Although the line-up leans heavily towards electronic music, don't miss the soulful stylings of LP.

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Earth Garden Festival, Malta

Peace and love reign at this alternative festival, which features more than 100 acts from all over the globe spread across five stages in a lush, green setting. In contrast to mainstream festivals like Further Future, prices at Earth Garden Festival are surprisingly affordable. While the music is definitely the focus, the culinary options are a definite highlight. Think: whole hickory-smoked suckling pig, kebabs and foodie-friendly burgers.

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NOS Primavera Sound, Portugal

No one really needs another excuse to visit Porto, one of the E.U.'s most scenic summer destinations, but NOS Primavera Sound Festival is a pretty excellent one. Expect chilled out house beats from the likes of Jamie XX and melodic marvels from songstress Lorde.

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Wilderness Festival, UK

An antidote to the over-the-top debauchery of bigger, brasher UK numbers like Glastonbury, this four-day festival keeps the focus on art installations and the stunning natural surrounds. In addition to a wide variety of musical acts, Wilderness Festival offers gourmet feasts, wellness workshops, yoga sessions, live theatre performances, and talks by inspirational speakers. Family-friendly and boutique tents are available for those who prefer to camp in comfort.

Sziget Festival, Hungary

Situated on a picturesque island, Sziget Festival features an unbeatable lineup of mainstream pop and indie heavy-hitters including the Arctic Monkeys, Lana Del Rey, and the Gorillaz. Whatever else you do, be sure to catch the R&B tunes of Glastonbury-fave Lianne La Havas. Camping options range from bare-bones free sites to comfy VIP camping.

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Iceland Airwaves, Iceland

Reykjavik's popular festival boasts a range of international and local Icelandic musical acts. Since its creation, the four-day Icelandic Airwaves has become a favoured haunt of European celebrities too cool to grace the more mass-market festivals with their presence.

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Bukta Tromsø Open Air Festival, Norway

Since 2004, revellers have been flocking to Telegrafbukta, a pristine beach with snowy mountain peaks in the distance, each July in search of killer local seafood, craft beer from Norwegian microbreweries, and alternative music acts. Since Bukta Tromsø Open Air Festival is located 400 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle the sun never really sets and the party goes all night long.

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Sonus Festival, Croatia

Located on the shores of Pag, one of the country's most photogenic islands, Sonus Festival is what put Croatia on the map for the jet-setting, techno-stomping set. The list of headliners reads like a who's who of the electronic music world's gritty underbelly: Solumun, Seth Troxler, Ricardo Villalobos, Pan-Pot, Marco Carola, and, of course, Sven Väth himself are just a few of the heavy-hitters here.

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Calvi on the Rocks, Corsica

Head to the sun-drenched shores of Corsica for Calvi on the Rocks, a thundering six-day electronic music showcase. While the big-name international DJs are a serious draw here, the spectacular location on the beach is equally alluring.

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Rock in Roma, Italy