Missed out on Glastonbury? These are the cheaper alternatives in Europe

As Glastonbury gets under way, those who missed out on this year’s ticket lottery could be forgiven for feeling a little bitter about the whole thing.

Around 200,000 people will head to Worthy Farm to see the line up, which includes SZA, Coldplay, Dua Lipa and Shania Twain, perform on 100-plus stages.

But there are plenty of options to fill a Glasto-shaped hole, while avoiding the UK’s temperamental weather. We’ve picked out some of Europe’s best upcoming festivals with tickets available. They can all be booked, flights included, for less than this year’s £360 Glastonbury ticket price.

MEO Kalorama, 29–31 August, Portugal 

Meo Kalorama offers something for just about all music tastes, combined with the promise of Lisbon’s warmth – the city has average high temperatures of 28°C in August. Across the three days, a diverse slate of headline acts includes Massive Attack, Sam Smith, LCD Soundsystem, The Smile, Burna Boy and Raye.

The convenient festival site at Parque Bela Vista can be reached from Lisbon’s centre by public transport in around 30 minutes, this means you can take advantage of the chance to spend time in Portugal’s capital either side of each day’s music.

For late-night bars, check out the neighbourhood of Bairro Alto. Or, if you’re looking for something more laid-back, visit the Alfama area, thought to date to the 8th century and take in the jaw-dropping views from the Portas do Sol lookout point.

While there is no camping on site, the festival does have a partnership with Lisboa Camping & Bungalows, with more information on accommodation packages still to be confirmed.

Full weekend tickets are €160 (£135), and there’s always the option to pick and choose with individual day tickets available at €65 (£55). Return flights from the UK, at the time of writing, average between £150–£190, keeping the total cost below that Glastonbury threshold. meokalorama.pt/en

Rock en Seine, 21–25 August, France  

After nearly two decades in the business, Paris’s Rock en Seine has cemented itself as one of the most exciting names on the European festival circuit. Based west of the French capital, the site is set within the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud – a 460-hectare area that is classified as a historical monument. The park, set on a hillside overlooking the Seine, offers views of the city.

2024’s Rock en Seine genre-hopping bill features the likes of Fred Again…, PJ Harvey, Måneskin, LCD Soundsystem, The Offspring and Loyle Carner. Four-day passes are priced at €219 (£184, three-day passes at €185 (£156) and two-day passes at €135 (£114).

Return flights to Paris from most major UK airports can be picked up for less than £100, with Birmingham departures looking particularly cheap around the festival dates, available for as little as £35 return, at the time of writing. rockenseine.com/en

Paredes de Coura, 14–17 August, Portugal  

Another sun-soaked Portuguese foray, Vodafone’s Paredes de Coura is just over an hour’s drive from Porto airport. Unfolding along the Taboão Beach on the Coura river, festivalgoers have the option of taking an invigorating dip before the evening’s entertainment. 

André 3000, Girl in Red, Idles, Cat Power, Killer Mike, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Fontaines D.C. all feature this year, and with weekend tickets coming in at €120 (£101), including standard camping, it offers superb value.

For anyone looking to add a little extra luxury, Domo Camp provides various glamping packages with pre-erected tents, beds and electricity starting at €425 (£360) for a two-person tent.

Return UK flights to Porto average between £160–£200, so you could realistically bag your ticket, flights and accommodation all for under £300. vodafoneparedesdecoura.com/en/ 

Mysteryland, 31 August–1 September, the Netherlands 

Firmly established as one of the Netherlands’ biggest celebrations of dance music, 100,000 people flock to Mysteryland every year. The festival is just 5km from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, in the lush, green surroundings of Haarlemmermeerse Bos, a 115 hectare park and forest. 

More than 250 artists appear across 22 stages, spanning everything from House, Big Room and Bass to Hardcore, RnB and Hip Hop. Beyond the music, visitors can stumble upon art installations, enjoy massages and meditation in the healing fields and refuel at one of several food courts offering an eclectic lineup of international cuisines.

Weekend tickets will set you back €175.95 (£149) and return flights to Amsterdam from most major UK airports average between £80– £100 around the festival dates. mysteryland.nl/ 

Way Out West, 8–10 August, Sweden  

Gothenburg’s Way Out West has drawn some of the biggest names in music since its inception back in 2011, and with Queens of the Stone Age, Peggy Gou, Pulp, Fred Again…, Chase and Status and The National billed for this year, that form shows no signs of abating.

After hours, Stay Out West keeps the party going as organisers take over clubs and intimate spaces across the city, while Way Out West Film collaborates with independent cinemas to present a series of screenings and premieres, all free for ticketholders.

The festival’s meat-free food offering has also earned noteworthy acclaim, and its sustainability focused culinary lineup includes Jaks, a pop-up restaurant concept from Sweden’s 2023 Chef of the Year, Desirée Wenström.

Standard three-day tickets are 2695 SEK (£203), and attendees can either fly direct to Gothenburg, which costs around £70– £100, or fly to Stockholm for £65–£170 and catch the dedicated festival train, which takes around three hours and offers various treats and surprises on board. Ticket and train combo tickets are available to purchase, with details to be confirmed. Camping is not permitted. wayoutwest.se/ 

All Together Now, 1–4 August, Ireland 

Hosted within the sprawling grounds of Curraghmore Estate, less than two hours’ drive from Dublin, All Together Now is still a relatively fresh face on the festival circuit, now celebrating its fifth year. 

Despite its infancy, the team behind the festival have consistently delivered heavy-hitting lineups and scooped the prestigious Festival of the Year title at the 2024 Irish Music Rights Organisation Awards.

The Prodigy, Jorja Smith, The National, Roísín Murphy, Barry Can’t Swim and Slowdive will join this time, though All Together Now insists it is about more than just music. Throughout the site, guests can enjoy premium food, including four-course dinners from award-winning restaurant Crudo for £50pp.

There are also art and craft workshops, a Nordic spa and children’s tennis classes. 

Weekend camping tickets are priced at €249 (£210) and return flights to Dublin from most UK airports can be picked up for just £30. alltogethernow.ie/ 

Melt, 11–13 July, Germany 

In what is certainly one of the more unique backdrops for a festival, Melt takes place within the Ferropolis open-air industrial museum, a former mine, beneath the shadows of several colossal dormant coal excavators.

Sadly, this year is Melt’s final hoorah, though you can guarantee the organisers will be pulling out all the stops to ensure they sign off their 27-year run in memorable style. The dance-driven lineup offers the chance to catch sets from Chase and Status, Skepta, Honey Dijon, Bonobo, Sugababes and Sampha.

The dramatic site is between Berlin and Leipzig and can be reached via regular trains and buses from both cities, within a couple of hours. Weekend tickets are €209 (£176) and include standard camping, while return flights to Berlin can be booked for anywhere between £40–£150. meltfestival.de/en