Festivals And Fun
Summertime is for pure, unadulterated fun and indulgence. It’s for taking days off, lounging by the beach or the pool until you get just a little too sunkissed because you couldn’t be bothered to move, for letting a long lunch roll on into dinner, and for saying “yes” to every enjoyable activity that’s put in front of you. And this year, that includes attending as many fantastic festivals around the world as possible. Here are five destinations worthy of booking a flight for this season that are each hosting their own epic summer festivals, from comics and culture to rock music and nature.
Hot Air Balloon Festival in Cappadocia, Turkey
Attend a festival for the eyes at the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Cappadocia. The region in Turkey is famous for its plentiful balloons, which are readily available to take guests on rides throughout the year, but the festival is truly something special as it sees more than 100 balloons lift off together to fly in unison above the stunning landscape. Stay on the ground and take as many photos as you think your Instagram can handle, or see if you can book a tour to fly among them for a bird’s eye view. Then, book a stay at the Sultan Cave Suites for a luxurious getaway nearby.
Fuji Rock Festival in Tokyo, Japan
Get ready for a head-banging good time at Fuji Rock Festival, an annual rock festival held in Naeba Ski Resort, in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The three-day July concert features more than 200 international musicians, so you’re bound to find an act in the lineup you love, too. And, as a bonus, the festival also hosts movie nights, so you can get a taste of local cinema in between sets. For both easy access and incredible mountain views, book a few nights at the Naeba Prince Hotel, which sits at the base of the mountain where the festival is held.
Salzburg Festival in Salzburg, Austria
Celebrate the classics by grabbing tickets to the Salzburg Festival of music and drama in Austria. The five-week event began more than 100 years ago as a way to honor classical music, opera and theater, and still maintains its original mission today. The festival also honors Mozart, as it’s held in his hometown, through a wide range of interpretive works. Festival organizers encourage guests to come to enjoy the music and arts, as well as immerse themselves in Mother Nature’s works by hiking and sightseeing at the nearby lakes of the Salzkammergut region to truly get a sense of what makes this place so special. Feel like a local by booking a stay at the Altstadthotel Wolf-Dietrich, which sits just a 12-minute walk from the festival.
Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland
Each August, Edinburgh is flooded with artists of all kinds for the famed Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The festival, which began in 1947, celebrates performing arts for 25 days straight and includes thousands of shows, from musical acts to comedians, photography exhibits to circus performers, and more. As for where to stay for the event, there’s nowhere as magical as The Balmoral, one of the city’s most regal hotels that happens to also be in the center of all the performance action.
ComicCon San Diego in California
Get your cosplay costumes ready, as summertime means it’s ComicCon season in San Diego. The famed convention brings together the biggest stars in comic books, movies, and TV, allowing fans to ask questions about character origins and to find out what’s next for their favorite franchises. Stay at the nearby La Pensione Hotel, a 12-minute drive, or 25-minute walk, from the convention center, so you can go back and forth with ease, without ever having to miss a moment of this truly fun-filled event.