Playing a Different Tune: Booking.com Shares Five Alternative Summer Festival Destinations

Festival season is well and truly upon us, and as new events spring up, music lovers are keen to spread their wings and travel further to get their kicks. With so many events to choose from, more than a third (36%) of travelers that are traveling to a music event this year are doing so to connect with friends or family that live elsewhere while 30% want to connect with fans in a new destination* we have selected five destinations in some fantastic cities and locations away from the usual festival spots that can offer new vibes for music fans. From the cultural and gastronomic delights of Recife in Brazil to the historic surroundings of one of Malta’s oldest cities, Zebbug, travelers can enjoy the beats, the sun and amazing places to stay in these buzzing places.

Fuji Rock in Yuzawa-cho, Japan (July 26th – 28th)

Fuji Rock is Japan’s largest outdoor music event, with more than 100,000 visitors showing up to the Naeba Ski Resort in Yuzawa-cho, Niigata Prefecture, with some of the world’s biggest artists to match as well as up and coming talent. With a history stretching back to 1997 when the event was staged at the base of Mount Fuji, this will be the 25th year that Fuji Rock has been held at Naeba. This being a ski resort, visitors can enjoy a ride to the top of the mountain overlooking the festival site aboard the Dragondola, one of the longest gondola lifts in the world.

Where to stay: Festival goers can stay on site and this year a new glamping area has been set up. For those wanting to stay further afield, the Hotel Futaba in Yuzawa is just a 30-minute drive away, and set on the high plains of the Echigo-Yuzawa Onsen hot springs area with the stunning Mount Tanigawa as a backdrop. It’s a perfect spot if visitors want to extend their stay either side of the festival and explore the natural beauty of the area as well as the many cultural and gastronomic delights that Japan has to offer.

Glitch Festival in Żebbuġ, Malta (August 13th – 16th)

The traditionally relatively peaceful island of Malta has been transformed in recent years to become one of Europe’s newest and liveliest music festival hotspots. Glitch is a house and techno bonanza held over four days in a variety of venues from rooftop pools to an ancient cave. Based in the town of Haz-Zebbug, the main festival days of August 14 and 15 are held at nearby Gianpula Fields in Rabat across seven stages, while the opening party on 13th takes place in the stunning surroundings of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Valletta Ditch, in the island’s capital, Valletta. A boat party leaves from Sliema Ferry on 16th before the closing party that evening at the Cosmic Stage at Gianpula. Malta is an island steeped in history that draws on a number of different cultures, so visitors can enjoy quieter pursuits for a break from the beats, including taking a Valletta City Walking Tour with its many landmarks such as the Baroque St John’s Co-Cathedral. Staying on the water, visitors can take in two nearby islands with a boat trip on the Gozo, Comino and Blue Lagoon Cruise.

Where to stay: Malta offers a range of accommodations to suit most pockets. For somewhere to stay that combines modernism with the beauty of old Malta, travelers should stay at the KUCCA boutique townhouse in the heart of Żebbuġ, close to the festival’s main site. This two-bedroomed air-conditioned converted residence includes a private rooftop terrace with views over the town, and guests are minutes away from the town’s cafes and restaurants.

Sonus Festival in Pag, Croatia (August 18th – 22nd)

Thousands of techno music fans flock to the island of Pag just off the Croatian mainland every year to soak up the sun and five days of partying music. Set against the backdrop of the Adriatic Sea, visitors to the Sonus Festival are also treated to a coastline renowned for its natural beauty. The long beaches are framed by a dramatic landscape of unusual rock formations that look down on beautifully clear waters. Zrce Beach is the focal point of the festival and offers travelers a perfect combination of blue sea, warm sands and lively open air clubs with both day and night stages, while boat parties add even more to the mix. Attracting visitors from all over the world, Sonus Festival assembles lineups with some of the biggest names in electronic music. Away from the music, revelers can enjoy a range of outdoor and water-based activities on the island or travel a little further afield on the Kornati National Full-day Boat Tour, which sails through more than 100 islands and cliffs in the Adriatic.

 Tura Festival in Recife, Brazil (August 24th – 25th)

Tura is a festival held in three cities over the summer, rounding off this year in Recife, the capital of Pernambuco state on the northeast coast of Brazil. A melting pot of musical styles and influences, the festival, held outside the Pernambuco Convention Center, features some of the country’s leading artists attracting Brazilian and international travelers alike. As the state capital, Recife is a busy modern city but visitors can also enjoy its rich history based on its importance as a trading harbor for Portuguese settlers as far back as the 16th century. The Historic Centre of Olinda, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a popular visitor attraction along with much of the old city, while the region’s beaches are renowned throughout the country; the beach of Porto de Galinhas has repeatedly won the title of best beach in Brazil.

Where to stay: Travelers can choose from a wide range of accommodation options in Recife. The Marante Plaza Hotel is in the south of the city, just a few meters from Boa Viagem and Pina beaches. Behind is the special environment protection zone of Manquezais Park, the largest urban mangrove reserve in America. Visitors can enjoy the short walk to the beaches of the Atlantic coastline while also taking advantage of the hotel’s swimming pool, fitness center and free breakfast featuring regional specialities.

Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey, United States (September 27th – 29th)

The Monterey Jazz Festival provides a stellar lineup of internationally renowned stars and up and coming talent befitting the world’s longest-running jazz festival. Priding itself on presenting, nurturing and celebrating jazz artists, the festival has a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion. Celebrating its 67th edition this year, the three-day event has been held on the Monterey County Fairgrounds on California’s rugged central coastline since 1958. The area is well known for its abundance of sea life as well as its attractive countryside and visitors can find a range of activities and destinations to enjoy, including thewhale watching tours or the Monterey Ghosts Walking Tour. Driving excursions are also popular, including the Big Sur Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour.

Where to stay: There’s no shortage of accommodation in Monterey and its surrounding areas. To savor the history of the town, travelers can head to the Victorian Inn which combines its olde world image with modern conveniences. Situated in the heart of Cannery Row, visitors can spend time at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and San Carlos Beach, both of which are within walking distance, after which they can enjoy wine and cheese at the hotel between 5pm and 6pm.

*Research was commissioned by Booking.com and conducted among a sample of adults who plan to travel for business or leisure in 2024. The sample is comprised of 32,300 respondents across 32 markets surveyed in January or February 2024. (2,000 from USA, 800 from Canada, 1,800 from Mexico, 800 from Colombia, 1,800 from Brazil, 800 from Argentina, 1,800 from Australia, 500 from New Zealand, 800 from Spain, 800 from Italy, 1,800 from France, 1,800 from UK, 1,800 from Germany, 800 from Netherlands, 500 from Denmark, 500 from Sweden, 400 from Croatia, 800 from Switzerland, 800 from Belgium, 800 from Ireland, 800 from Portugal, 1,800 from India, 800 from China, 500 from Hong Kong, 800 from Thailand, 800 from Singapore, 500 from Taiwan, 800 from Vietnam, 800 from South Korea, 1,800 from Japan, 500 from UAE).