Festivals and Events
World's Best

'What we see depends mainly on what we look for' Lubbock

Arts | European | Exotic | English Speaking

Explore can take you hundreds of colourful destinations and festivals. Visit Explore Tours, Request a Brochure or check their new Festival Holidays list.

Festivals are a superb time to visit interesting destinations as the extra colour added by historic or peculiar costumes, portable shrines, fireworks, angry bulls, indigenous music, excited, lively locals and more can't fail to add a new dimension to an already fascinating location. Think Italy's Venice Carnival, Japan's Takayama Spring Festival, America's Burning Man and consider basing your next vacation on not just a place, but a place blazing with kaleidoscopic colour and humming with traditional activities.

Festivals and Events are the busiest times of the year for these locations because generally this will be the most dramatic time to see them, so book accommodation well in advance.
Ask permission for photographs or videos if possible, festival participants are humans too!
Festivals tend to be crowded and pickpockets may well be lurking, so keep valuables to a minimum and money in a zipped or buttoned pocket. Read the Travel Safety section.

The Best Festivals and Events in the World:

Best Arts Festivals - events that focus on music, dance, drama and other art-oriented activities, and are usually set in pretty, interesting locations, often in Europe. These festivals can be expensive; accommodation and even tickets will need to be booked beforehand. Similar to European festivals (see below), but focusing on the most outstanding events worldwide.

Best European Festivals - happenings in Europe that tend to be of the Arts Festival variety, though exotic flourishes of colourful expression still exist.

Best Colorful and Exotic Heritage Festivals - outstanding, colourful events in superb locations, often exotic, that usually include a variety of activities, but mostly focus on local people in local dress doing traditionally loco things to the amazement and delight of visitors.

Best English Speaking Festivals - world class festivals and events in English Speaking Countries; these may be art-oriented, colourfully odd happenings or extraordinary sporting occasions.