Summer is the season of music festivals. Whatever type of music you’re into, there is sure to be a festival for you this summer.
The Best Summer Music Festivals of 2019
Don’t feel confined to festivals in your home region. A summer festival can be a great reason to visit another city. You’ll get to take in some sights and experience a live music festival on the same trip. Here are 10 summer music festivals worth traveling for in 2019.
Rock am Ring & Rock im Park
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When & Where: June 7-9, 2019; Nürburg and Nuremberg, Germany
Lineup: Tool, The Smashing Pumpkins, Die Arzte, Slipknot, Slayer, Marteria & Casper, Tenacious D, Bring Me the Horizon, The 1975, Alice in Chains, and more.
Two simultaneous music festivals in Germany bring some of the biggest names in rock and metal every year. Rock am Ring takes place at the Nürburgring race track and Rock im Park at the Zepplenfeld in Nuremberg. Artists play one day at each festival over the weekend so you’ll get to see your favorite acts at either location.
Where to Stay: Camping is available at both festivals, but if you’re looking for a hotel nearby, check out Hotel & Landgasthof “Zum Bockshahn”, which is about 10 miles from Rock am Ring in Nürburg. You’ll find more hotel options near Rock im Park in Nuremburg. The Ramada by Wyndham Nuernberg Parkhotel is within walking distance.
Note: Be careful when booking since the names of these locations are similar and sometimes the spelling is changed slightly to emphasize the correct pronunciation. Nuerburg = Nürburg (Rock am Ring) and Nuernburg = Nuremburg or Nürnberg (Rock im Park)
See our current airfares to Frankfurt (FRA), Dusseldorf (DUS), and Munich (MUC) from all over the U.S. and Canada.
Related: 9 Little Known Year-Round Routes to Europe
Bonnaroo
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When & Where: June 13-16, 2019; Manchester, Tennessee
Lineup: Phish, Post Malone, Childish Gambino, Odesza, The Lumineers, Cardi B, Grand Ole Opry, and more.
Enjoy a variety of music genres at Bonnaroo and a double dose of the jam band Phish for all the Phishheads out there. Partake in parades, yoga, and even a 5K run along with many other activities to keep you busy all weekend.
Where to Stay: Camping is available if you want to experience the festival all day and all night and that may be your best bet since there aren’t many hotel options nearby that have available rooms. If you’re still searching and would like the comforts of a hotel, try the Best Western Inn located in Winchester, which is about 20 miles from the festival.
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Glastonbury Festival
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When & Where: June 26-30, 2019; Somerset, England
Lineup: The Killers, The Cure, Stormzy, Kylie, Janet Jackson, George Ezra, Liam Gallagher, Miley Cyrus, Tame Impala, The Chemical Brothers, Vampire Weekend, Lauryn Hill, Janelle Monae, and more.
The ultimate UK festival is full of top musical acts. Glastonbury Festival also features other arts such as dance, comedy, theatre, and circus acts. It’s one of the largest music festivals in the world and if you can get your hands on a ticket, it’s surely worth a trip to England.
Where to Stay: Camping is the most common way to stay as this festival is set in a rural location. If you’re looking for the comfort of a hotel, you might want to have a look at Belle Vue Bed and Breakfast. It’s a short drive from the festival grounds and you’ll get a home cooked breakfast each morning.
See our current airfares to London-Heathrow (LHR) and London-Gatwick (LGW) from all over the U.S. and Canada.
Ultra Europe
Image courtesy of TripAdvisor
When & Where: July 12-14, 2019; Split, Croatia
Lineup: Swedish House Mafia, Above and Beyond, Afrojack, The Chain Smokers, David Guetta, DJ Snake, and more.
The famous electronic music festival in Miami has a European version and it can be the perfect excuse to visit Croatia this summer. In addition to the music on the Ultra Europe festival grounds, you’ll find boat parties and special concerts throughout the week on nearby islands Brac, Vis, and Hvar.
Where to Stay: For a home-like setting, book your stay at Split Apartments – Peric Hotel. It’s just a short walk from the town center and you’ll be able to save on meals by utilizing the kitchen.
See our current airfares to Split (SPU), Zagreb (ZAG), and Dubrovnik (DBV) from all over the U.S. and Canada.
Related: These Airlines Offer Cheap One-Way Fares to Europe
Float Fest
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When & Where: July 20-21, 2019; Gonzales, TX
Lineup: Major Lazer, Portugal. The Man, Gucci Mane, Kaskade, Zeds Dead, Ice Cube, Big Gigantic, The Flaming Lips, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Grouplove, Big Boi, and more.
Float down the San Marcos River by day, enjoy live music by night. Float Fest gives you both experiences in the same festival. Shuttles to the festival are available from Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and San Marcos each day.
Where to Stay: If you’re not in the mood for camping, try the Sleep Inn & Suites in Gonzales for a clean and comfortable stay with free breakfast and an outdoor pool.
See our current airfares to Austin (AUS), Houston-Intercontinental (IAH), Houston-Hobby (HOU), and San Antonio (SAT) from all over the U.S. and Canada.
Tomorrowland
Image courtesy of TripAdvisor
When & Where: July 19-21 and July 26-28, 2019; Boom, Belgium
Lineup: Tiësto, The Chainsmokers, Steve Aoki, Armin van Buuren, Carl Cox, Martin Garrix, Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, A$AP Rocky, David Guetta, Adam Beyer, and more.
Tomorrowland is famous for its elaborate stages, international vibe, and fantasy like setting. The official theme for the 15th anniversary is “The Book of Wisdom: The Return”, which is an ode to the theme debuted in 2012. Tomorrowland has grown so large that it is now spread out across two separate weekends with different lineups each weekend.
Where to Stay: A wide range of camping accommodations are available at Dreamville. For an affordable hotel stay, check out Mercure Mechelen Ve. You’ll have access to an onsite spa to recover from the festivities at Tomorrowland.
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Lollapalooza
By Charles Reagan Hackleman / Lollapalooza
When & Where: August 1-4, 2019; Chicago, IL
Lineup: Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino, Twenty One Pilots, The Strokes, Tame Impala, Flume, The Chainsmokers, J Balvin, and more.
Chicago’s Grant Park will be flooded with music lovers for Lollapalooza. And there’s more than just music. Chow Town will showcase food from Chicago’s favorite restaurants.
Where to Stay: Take in the sights at the rooftop bar of Cambria Hotel Chicago Magnificent Mile. This contemporary hotel has a hip and energetic vibe and large rooms with exceptional value for the location.
See our current airfares to Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) and Chicago-Midway (MDW) from all over the U.S. and Canada.
Related: Which Chicago Airport is Best? ORD or MDW?
Sziget
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When & Where: August 7-13, 2019; Budapest, Hungary
Lineup: Foo Fighters, Ed Sheeran, Florence and the Machine, Post Malone, Twenty One Pilots, The 1975, The National, Macklemore, Martin Garrix, and more.
Sziget is the Hungarian word for “island” and this festival takes place on an island in the middle of the Danube river in Budapest. It spans an entire week full of music, comedy, theater, and more performing arts. And if you need a break from the island, it’s an easy tram ride into the center of Budapest to enjoy the city’s many thermal spas.
Where to Stay: There are extensive camping options available on the island. And since it is in the city limits of Budapest, you can also choose from plenty of hotels. Just a short ride down the Danube, you’ll find Hotel Regnum Residence. Breakfast is included and it could be a nice retreat from the madness of Sziget if you’re staying the entire week.
See our current airfares to Budapest (BUD) from all over the U.S. and Canada.
Outside Lands
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When & Where: August 9-11, 2019; San Francisco, CA
Lineup: Paul Simon, Childish Gambino, Twenty One Pilots, The Lumineers, Flume, Blink 182, Kygo, Anderson Paak & The Free Nationals, Leon Bridges, Kacy Musgraves, Lil Wayne, and more.
Outside Lands festival is one of the best inner-city festivals of the summer. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park will be the setting for musical acts and local food, beer, and wine for you to taste, including a variety of artisan cheese plates, lobster rolls, and fresh oysters.
Where to Stay: Colorful rooms at The Marker San Francisco will give you the quirky bay area ambiance in the heart of downtown. You’ll be steps away from Union Square and have all the amenities you’d expect from a top hotel.
See our current airfares to San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK), and San Jose (SJC) from all over the U.S. and Canada.
Woodstock 50
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When & Where: August 16-18, 2019; Watkins Glen, NY
Lineup: The Killers, Jay-Z, Miley Cyrus, Santana, The Lumineers, Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters, Dead & Company, Chance the Rapper, Sturgill Simpson, Imagine Dragons, Halsey, Cage the Elephant, and more.
It’s still unclear if the 50th anniversary of the famous 1969 Woodstock festival will take place. The main investor Dentsu has backed out, but co-founder Michael Lang insists the festival will go on. Tickets are not on sale yet pending the required permit. If it does take place, the history of this festival alone is a reason to experience Woodstock. It may be more of a cash grab than a political statement these days, but it will likely be one of the most talked about music festivals of the summer. If it is eventually canceled or you prefer to attend a smaller tribute to Woodstock’s golden anniversary, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is hosting 4 nights of concerts at the grounds of the original Woodstock over the same weekend.
Where to Stay: I would recommend camping to get the full Woodstock experience. Due to the rural location, there aren’t many hotels to choose from, but you may find a room at Lake Valley Legends Bed and Breakfast. It’s a great location with some excellent views of Seneca Lake. More hotel options are available a little further away in Ithaca.
See our current airfares to Ithica (ITH), Rochester (ROC), Syracuse (SYR), Buffalo (BUF), Albany (ALB), and New York City’s JFK, EWR, and LGA from all over the U.S. and Canada.
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