10 Can’t Miss Events for Your European Bucket List

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Sure, there are plenty of bucket list places in Europe – like London, Paris, and Rome – but what are the best and craziest bucket list events?

From epic hikes to white nights to one of the deadliest races in the world, this European bucket list will take you to the top 10 can’t-miss shows, festivals, and events on the continent!

 

 

10. Feria de Abril

Seville, Spain

Feria de Abril is like a block party scaled to epic proportions. The week-long event takes place two weeks after Easter every year and is one of the most famous events in all of Spain.

During the Feria, Seville is transformed outdoor festival of casetas, tents with kitchens and bars inside rather than vendors selling goods. The casetas are run by local families and organizations and you’ll find them bursting at the seams with tapas, music, flamenco dancing, and parties that go until sunrise.

Besides eating and drinking, Feria de Abril also has lots of fireworks, bull fights, parades, performances, and good vibes for locals and visitors alike!

Explore Airbnbs in Seville – like this 500-year-old rooftop studio – to begin planning your trip!

 

 

9. The Tulip Route

Flevoland, Holland

Am I the only one that had to Google if Holland and the Netherlands are the same? Turns out, Holland refers to only two provinces in the larger 12-province country of the Netherlands, and that’s where we’re heading next for our European bucket list.

The Netherlands export two-thirds of the world’s flowers, many of which are their famous tulips.

In the spring you can drive the Tulip Route (named one of the World’s Best Road Trips by National Geographic) over 60 miles to see all of the farms, gardens, and fields blooming across the province. Of course, this is the Netherlands, so you can always bike the route as well!

Go in mid-April for the brightest colors and lushest flower beds (and don’t forget to bring plenty of snacks for the ride).

Explore Airbnbs in Flevoland – like this guesthouse on an alpaca farm  – to begin planning your trip!

 

 

8. Cannes Film Festival

Cannes, France

Cannes is one of the ‘Big Five’ film festivals (along with Sundance on my North America bucket list) because it’s one of the oldest, largest, and most influential film festivals in the world.

Unlike Sundance, Cannes is not focused solely on indie films so you’ll find a lot more big name actors, producers, and directors here screening more mainstream films. Some popular winning films from past years include Pulp Fiction and Taxi Driver.

The Cannes Film Festival takes place annually in late-May, but unfortunately, it’s mostly closed to the public. You can get in via press, industry, or marketing passes but for the most part peasants like us will have to enjoy the open-air-screenings, movie-star-gazing, and sun-bathing in the this small French town rather than the premieres themselves.  

Explore Airbnbs in Cannes – like this cozy apartment in the Old Port – to begin planning your trip!

 

 

7. Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Edinburgh, Scotland

From the super-swanky streets of Cannes to the weird and wonderful Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

These two events could not be more opposite. Where Cannes is invite-only, Festival Fringe goes out of their way to make sure every artist and spectator who wants to attend, can. Their founding principle is “to be an open-access arts event that welcomes anyone with a story to tell and a venue to host them.”

Every August, the entire center of Edinburgh is transformed into the ‘worlds’ largest arts festival’ with over 50,000 free and ticketed shows in comedy, concerts, musicals, theater, dance, and more. Some big names that have come out of Festival Fringe include Stomp and Fleabag.

Because Edinburgh Festival Fringe spans so many days and types of shows, there’s always something to see. And with such a wide array of pricing, it’s one of the most budget-friendly big-name events on our European bucket list.

Explore Airbnbs in Edinburgh – like this classic apartment on the Royal Mile  – to begin planning your trip!

 

 

6. Oktoberfest

Munich, Germany

Does this event even need a description?

Oktoberfest has been celebrated for over 200 years. What started as a wedding reception for a German king has become one of the largest annual parties in the world, with over six-million people attending the two-week festival every year.

The Munich fairgrounds have all the typical festival fare like games, rides, and vendors, but the main attraction is the famous beer gardens – giant blue-striped tents where revelers in traditional lederhosen outfits dance and sing as freely as the beer flows.

Oktoberfest ends on the first weekend in October. Entrance is free, but if you want affordable accommodation in Munich, make sure to book your trip well in advance!

Explore Airbnbs in Munich – like this boutique palace hotel – to begin planning your trip!

 

 

5. White Nights 

Saint Petersburg, Russia

The photo above may not look that noteworthy, until you learn that it was taken during the midnight sun at 1 am in Saint Petersburg!

This Russian city sits just south of the Arctic Circle, so during the summer there are 80 days of ‘white nights,’ when the sky gets no darker than twilight. The White Night celebrations begin in May and run through July, though it’s more of a city-wide lifestyle than an organized event.

Ballets, street fairs, festivals, and performances are scheduled around the city and shopping, drinking, and enjoying the lively atmosphere is the rule of the day – until the long dark nights return again for another winter.

Explore Airbnbs in Saint Petersburg – like this gorgeous apartment with cathedral views  – to begin planning your trip!

 

 

4. Venice Carnival

Venice, Italy

There are three world-class Mardi-Gras celebrations around the world, but only one snags a coveted spot on my European bucket list. Forget New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro – if you’re in Europe, Venice is the place to be in the days and weeks leading up to Lent in early-Spring.

The Venice Carnival kicks the picture-perfect gondolas, bridges, and cafe-lined streets of this romantic city up several notches with parades, costumes, live music, delicious food, and free-flowing drinks for two weeks. The festival may wear a well-crafted guise of history and culture, but the true allure is the way it taps into all the things that remind us how great it is to be alive. 

You can experience most of the Venice Carnival for free, but closed events like the famous costume balls can get pretty pricey. Like Oktoberfest, booking your accommodation well in advance is the best way to keep it affordable!  

Explore Airbnbs Venice – like the elegant Tower Rialto Suite – to begin planning your trip!

 

 

3. Christmas Markets

Cologne, Germany

The German Christmas markets are the only event that I’ve been able to cross off my European bucket list so far.

Christmas markets have been celebrated for almost 1,000 years and feature all of the best of the best traditions around the holiday. Expect to find local art, handmade gifts, delicious food (like sausage, soft pretzels, and chimney cake), ice-skating, festive decor, and plenty of warm mulled wine to warm you up under the softly falling snow.

Dan and I spent Christmas in Berlin, and if I had it my way, I would return to Germany for the Christmas markets every year. They’re truly one of the world’s most beautiful and enjoyable holiday traditions and you can visit them from late November up to Christmas (and sometimes New Year’s Eve) every year.

Explore Airbnbs in Cologne – like this central garden room – to begin planning your trip!

 

 

2. Sweden Fjallraven Classic 

Kiruna, Sweden

Fjallraven is a popular outdoor apparel brand in Europe. They may be most well-known for their trendy day packs, but they also plan and host annual hiking events around the world.

The Sweden Fjallraven Classic is their first and most popular. Groups embark on The King’s Trail, a 100 km / 62 mile route through Sweden’s northern wilderness, and have eight days to complete it at their own pace. Wild-camping is encouraged, so the event can be as social or as secluded as you like (the only requirement is to check in daily at the checkpoints along the route).

Hiking north of the Arctic circle in the summer means cool temperatures, 4 am sunrises, and miles and miles of open land and breathtaking views. If you can’t tell, I’m dying to check it out!

The Sweden Fjallraven Classic costs $270 per person and takes place in mid-August every year.

Explore Airbnbs in Stockholm to begin planning your trip!

 

 

1. Isle of Man TT

Isle of Man, UK

Last up on my European bucket list is the event that inspired me to create it: the Isle of Man TT.

Every year, the Isle of Man hosts two weeks of motorbike races around the island. The catch? This is one of the deadliest races in the world.

The twists and turns of the countryside roads are much more dangerous than those on a standard track, and racers’ speeds can get up to 200 miles per hour. More than 150 people have died in the race’s 113-year history, which only serves to make the prestigious winner’s title all the more coveted.

Sometimes, a little fear and adrenaline is exactly what you need to remind you that life is just a spectacular ride, and the Isle of Man TT races serve it up in spades. You can catch them in late May and early June every year. 

Explore Airbnbs in the Isle of Man – like this cozy farm cottage – to begin planning your trip!

 

Ready to go?

Explore unique Airbnbs in Sweden, Spain, Germany, Russia, and beyond to begin planning your next bucket list trip in Europe! Then, discover more bucket-list destinations around the world, like: 

10 Must-Have Events on Your North America Bucket list

Sunrise Hot Air Balloons in Cappadocia, Turkey

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Kyiv, Ukraine

The Monarch Butterfly Migration in Michoacan, Mexico

The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

The Everest View Trek in Nepal

 

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