Top Holiday Destinations For Nightlife
Turn up the music, it's time to party!
![Top Holiday Destinations Nightlife](/images/holidayextras-blog/top-holiday-destinations-nightlife.jpg)
Looking for the best holiday destinations for nightlife, bars and clubbing this party season? We’ve rounded up our top five holiday hotspots for party animals planning on a fun-packed break, so grab your glow sticks and get ready to dance the night away. Also check out the best islands for nightlife, if you're after a fun time beachside. Read on if you think you’ve got the stamina!
Our Top Five Holiday Destinations for Nightlife
1. Best for Hardcore Clubbers: Barcelona
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Image by ruairi drayne under Creative Commons license.
Forget about the notion of ‘nightlife’ as we know it here in the UK: in Barcelona many clubs and bars don’t even open until 1am, and most won’t get going until much later. In the height of summer in particular a ‘night out’ means exactly that – and you can expect to be partying until the sun rises again around 6am. Catalans take their nightlife seriously, so there’s no better place for night owls to hang out.
As you’d expect from any major city, the hippest night spots are changing all the time in Barcelona, but a few venues consistently stand out: lovers of electronica should check out Moog, an underground club just of Las Ramblas, while rock fans may prefer Magic Club on Passeig Picasso.
If you just want a wild night out in one the world's best destinations for nightlife and are willing to explore at your leisure, Port Olimico and Barceloneta beachfront are both known nightspots full of bustling bars and clubs.
2. Best for All-Around Entertainment: Ibiza
![Ibiza Nightlife Ibiza Nightlife](/images/holidayextras-blog/ibizanightlife.jpg)
Image by Elijah Nouvelage under Creative Commons license.
Ibiza has a long-standing reputation as a clubber’s paradise - during the summer and for New Year’s Eve - and this Balearic bolthole is showing no signs of slowing down yet. The island is home to many of Europe’s biggest ‘super clubs’ made famous by the Second Summer of Love, including Amnesia, Pacha, Privilege and Space, and visitors can enjoy a wealth of evening activities including party boat cruises and organised bar crawls.
For those seeking a more relaxed vibe, the legendary Café Del Mar – birthplace of the original ‘chillout’ movement and architectural masterpiece – is the perfect spot to enjoy a cocktail and take in the breathtaking seaside views. Be sure to visit around dusk to experience some of the best sunset scenes in the world!
Ibiza stands out above all others as an all-round nightlife holiday destination thanks to its breathtaking natural beauty, which first made it so attractive to tourists and revellers alike.
3. Best for Cabaret and Culture: Berlin
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Image by Krystal Bell under Creative Commons license.
If you love cabaret, a visit to Berlin should definitely be on your bucket list, even if you only plan to spend a night there. The city that made the art form famous lives on as a nocturnal playground, and there are many shows and revues that explore its unique heritage through music, satire and dance.
Visitors can revisit the roaring twenties by going to see A Cabaret Story: a production (in English) that recalls the fascinating and sometimes dark history of cabaret as it arose in Berlin. But Berlin’s night scene is not all about the past: the city has one of the most thriving night-time economies in Europe, with a wealth of exceptional clubs, bars and music venues.
4. Best for Full-On Fun in the Summer: Greek Islands
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Many of the Greek Islands major in nightlife, but the most best holiday destinations for nightlife in Greece include Mykonos, Zante, Corfu and Rhodes. Depending on how lively you want your holiday to be, there are plenty of resorts catering for an “18-30” demographic here, where fun-seekers are well catered for.
Malia (Crete), Laganas (Zante) and Kavos (Corfu) are among the liveliest – or, should we say, most notorious – destinations for young holidaymakers after a good time, so you’ll know what to expect from a trip here: beer, booze cruises and barbecues from dusk till dawn with a strong British accent!
If you prefer to have fun in a more ‘unspoilt’ environment but love the sunny Greek climate and stunning scenery, many of the islands offer a great balance of nightlife and downtime: Corfu itself has some beautiful resorts that offer some respite from the late nights, including Kassiopi in the North and Marathias in the West.
5. Best for Stags and Hens: Amsterdam
![Amsterdam Nightlife Amsterdam Nightlife](/images/holidayextras-blog/amsterdamnightlife.jpg)
Image by Rene Passat under Creative Commons license.
Close enough to the UK for a flying visit and with an unrivalled night time culture, Amsterdam remains a popular choice for those who like to party hard. Whether you’re celebrating a ‘last night of freedom’ or just want an easy change of scenery, the friendly Dutch capital has everything you need for a fun night or two on the town.
Amsterdam comes to life in the night time, with many of its public venues doubling up as hip nightclubs after hours. Serious clubbers should head to Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein, and check out Paradiso, Jimmy Woo and Escape, where top international DJs make regular appearances.
Read our tips for planning a Stag or Hen Do Abroad before you go.
If you found this post on the best destinations for nightlife helpful, you may want to read more of our Wanderlust articles. Also check out our travel blog for additional inspiration and travel tips to make your holidays hassle-free!
What are your hot holiday destinations for nightlife? If you enjoyed this post like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Written by Abi Silvester, a London-based writer and editor with a passion for great food, fine wine, coffee and cats; always planning my next trip! @absinthecity