Festival City Breaks

Planning a short break around a colourful city festival is a great way to have fun and see a city in an altogether new light, especially a familiar place. From major world capitals to the less frequented smaller cities of Central and Eastern Europe, unique festivals take place all year round encompassing the celebration of art, film and music, food, popular culture and traditions. For sheer spectacle and a sense of occasion, few events can match the glamour of the Cannes Film Festival, the exuberance of the Berlin Love Parade, the elegance of the Venice Carnival or even St Patricks Day in Boston or Dublin.

 

From the mainstream to the bizarre, festival city breaks have something to offer to all, be it high art and culture or child friendly fun. Music plays a major role in the festival season throughout Europe and covers every possible genre. An idyllic location on the shores of Lake Geneva hosts the ever popular Montreux International Jazz Festival. Or combine a stay in Copenhagen with a visit to the extravagant Roskilde Festival which can rival Glastonbury for sheer vitality and variety of acts. The Vienna festive ball season is perhaps the most glamorous event and features sumptuous historic venues and sophisticated classical music. Both Budapest and Prague host spring music festivals that cover every interest from folk, classical, jazz and pop music.

 

Arts festivals showcase a city's talent and the expression of its unique culture and traditions. Through film, dance, music and art, visitors can get a vivid glimpse of local life and have great fun too. Istanbul and Marrakech hold renowned festivals that offer a spectacle of exotic entertainment and much for children to enjoy. Smaller cities such as Ljubljana and Krakow come alive each summer to the sights and sounds of circus acrobats, film screenings, street theatre and traditional and modern dance. Festival city breaks are proving increasingly popular with UK visitors and offer a fun filled carnival like atmosphere that truly brings out the very best in a city.