The Best City Festivals

Now that summer has arrived, it is time to fill those long days. If you are looking for something to do, try something new. Stop spending your days doing the same thing with the same people. The summer is filled with festivals in major cities around the world. Certainly, there is one in a city you want to visit. Check out HostelBookers City festival Guide here, but below are some great options.

Bilbao, Spain
BBK Live
July 11-13, 2013

Image source: Carthesian

Located in the Basque Country of Spain, the BBK Live musical festival provides three days of amazing music. This year’s line up includes such world famous bands as Depeche Mode and Green Day. As the live concerts play, guests can enjoy wide-open spaces in Kobetamendi Park just outside the city centre. There will be plenty of vendors offering a variety of food and beverages. Bilbao offers a wide range of hostels to provide inexpensive accommodations such as the Surf Backpackers Bilbao. Surf Backpackers Bilbao has dorms with 12 to 8 beds with a shared bathroom. They offer air conditioning and Internet access.

Zadar, Croatia
Soundwave Croatia
July 18-20, 2013

Soundwave Croatia is an exciting three-day musical festival that begins a few days before the concerts with beach parties and boat parties. This year features DJ Shadow and DJ Yoda. Music plays on three stages including a beach stage. There will be plenty of bars set up around the venue. The Dalmatian Coast is the perfect setting for one of the largest parties in Europe. There is a wide range of hotels in the area including hostels such as The Drunken Monkey Hostel. The Drunken Monkey Hostel has mixed dorms to accommodate between 9 and 4 people with shared bathrooms. There is the option to purchase additional beds to create a private room.

New York City, New York
Electric Zoo
August 30 – September 1, 2013

Image source: Weeklydig

Only in the New York City, the “Big Apple”, can you find an electronic music festival. This three-day festival features artists performing on five different stages. This concert on Randall’s Island Park features international DJs and live music acts. New York City is notoriously expensive but there are some great hostel options. The Chelsea Hostel offers smaller dorm sizes ranging from 6 to 2 beds with private bathrooms. This hostel features air conditioning and Internet access as well as laundry services, concierge services, and wake-up calls. If you are looking for cheap accommodation for the festival in New York visit HostelBookers.com.

Austin, Texas
The Austin City Limits Music Festival
October 4-6 and October 11-13, 2013

The Austin City Limits Music Festival has so much to offer that it would not fit in to a single weekend. This two-weekend music festival features such music greats as The Cure, Local Natives, and Atoms for Peace. This festival features so much more than just great music. There will be a wide range of vendors selling original art and other homemade items. There is a children’s area open during the day. And food, there will plenty of food. Austin offers several hostels for those traveling on a budget. The Firehouse Hostel in conveniently locate in downtown and offers dorms 12 to 6 beds as well as a few smaller dorms for smaller groups with shared and private bathrooms.

Chicago, Illinois
Lollapalooza
August 2-4, 2013

Image Source: Tammylo

This music festival in Grant Park features such great rock and alternative musicians as The Cure and Nine Inch Nails. Located close to Lake Michigan this is a great festival to enjoy some summertime weather. After listening to some amazing music, take a walk down Green Street and see what these eco friendly vendors have to offer. Chicago is known for its excellent food and there will be plenty to try at Lollapalooza. Chicago offers a selection of hostels. The Urban Holiday Lofts is a hostel offering dorms for 8 to 4 people with private and shared bathrooms. They offer a wide range of amenities from wake-up calls to car parking.

Note: This is a guest post.