The Best Music Festivals to Visit in Catalonia in the Summer

Festival Jardins Pedralbes, Barcelona
Festival Jardins Pedralbes, Barcelona | ©Carlos Nunez / Festival Jardins Pedralbes
Esme Fox

Catalonia is a great place to spend summer, especially because it’s home to so many great music festivals. Here’s our pick of the best music festivals to visit in Catalonia this summer.

Sónar, Barcelona

Sónar needs no introductions. It’s a world famous music festival specialising in electronic music, creativity and technology. It has two programmes – one for the day and one for the night. The day performances take places at the Fira Montjuïc, while the night ones take place at the Fira Gran Via L’Hospitalet, just outside of Barcelona. This year, Sónar will be held from June 14-16, 2018. Headliners for this year include Gorillaz, DJ Harvey and Thom Yorke.

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Visit the Sonar Festival in Barcelona

Primavera Sound, Barcelona

Primavera Sound, translates as ‘Spring Sound’, and is the other of Barcelona’s great music festivals. This year’s event will take place from May 30th to June 3rd. Previous year’s acts have included Arcade Fire, Queens of the Stone Age and Portishead, while this year you can catch the likes of Animal Collective, Beach House, Black Lips and Iceage.

Primavera Sound, Barcelona

Vida Festival, Vilanova i Geltru

One of our favourites, Vida Festival is held in the lovely beach town of Vilanova i Geltru, just south of Barcelona. By day you can laze by the beach and by night you can party away in the forest. It’s a small and quirky festival with lights and art installations in amongst the trees, hay bales to sit on and unusual stages such as a wooden row boat. This year’s event will take place from the 28th of June to July 1st. There are a few big name acts here, alongside a range of both local and international up-and-coming talent. This year’s lineup includes Franz Ferdinand, St. Vincent and Curtis Harding.

Festival Jardins de Pedralbes, Barcelona

The Festival Jardins de Pedralbes takes place in the gardens of the Palace of Pedralbes in the northwest corner of the city of Barcelona. It takes place throughout the months of June and July and comprises a number of different concerts of different styles. Artists who will be performing this year include Tom Jones, Jessie J, Elvis Costello and The Imposters and Emeli Sandé, among other local acts.

Festival Jardins de Pedralbes, Barcelona

Festival de Cap Roig, Costa Brava

The Cap Roig Festival takes place in the small coastal village of Cap de Roig on the Costa Brava. It may be small, but it attracts some big name acts. This year’s festival will be held from July 13th to August 22nd, 2018 with various concerts taking place on different days. It attracts both Spanish and international talent, and this year’s acts will include Sting and Shaggy, Bryan Ferry, Texas and Damien Rice.

Festival Cap Roig, Costa Brava

Festival Castell de Peralada

The Festival Castell de Peralada is held in the grounds of a magnificent Castle of Peralada, located just northwest of Figueres. This year will be the 32nd edition of the festival and will be a tribute to one of the festival’s founders – Carmen Mateu de Suqué. This festival is not your typical music festival, and features everything from classic music and pop to dance performances. The programme includes a great lineup of everyone from Santana and Cool & The Gang to former French First Lady Carla Bruni and Mozart’s The Magic Flute. It will be held between July 5th to August 17th 2018.

Canet Rock, Canet de Mar

Canet Rock is a rock festival held in the coastal town of Canet de Mar – around a one hour 20 minute bus or train journey from Barcelona. This year’s edition will be held on July 7th and will feature mostly Spanish rock acts such as Txarango, Macaco and Zoo.

Canet Rock Festival, Catalonia

Festival Cruïlla, Barcelona

The Festival Cruïlla is another of Barcelona’s music festivals. It hosts an eclectic array of both Spanish and international artists, and this year will take place from 12th to 14th of July, 2018. It takes place at the large Park del Fòrum and is attended by a wide range of people – they even encourage families with small children. The lineup this year includes Jack White, Prophets of Rage and Seasick Steve, among others.

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