Top summer DJ destinations
If you’re tired of Ibiza, or you are nowhere near Ibiza this summer, but you are still looking for a venture for a DJ beat, top DJs give away the hottest, and their favorite party destinations around the globe this summer.
I, personally, think DJ scene in Moscow is a great alternative to Ibiza, minus the beaches, but if you’re looking for a place that comes close to Ibiza’s, according to the following world-famous DJs, they are in Brazil, Uruguay, Eastern Europe and Greece.
“Punta del Este in Uruguay is fantastic from Christmas into January. The Greek Island of Mykonos is great fun in August (I was there in August 2006, and I could attest it to be the truth). Club Cavo Paradiso is right by one of Mykonos’ perfect white-sand beaches where the crowds go music crazy away into the morning hours. The Black Sea coast in Romania – La Mania and Kristal – are two other great alternatives to Ibiza in the summer.”
You can see DJ Sasha live in Ibiza, Asia, South Africa and Miami. Check his schedule here.
Watch DJ Sasha at Cavo Paradiso, Mykonos, 2008:
Getting to Punta del Este: fly to Buenos Aires.Getting to Mykonos: fly to Athens and take a 4.5-hour ferry ride from the port of Piraeus (Athens) to the Island of Mykonos. To learn more about the ferry, click here. Getting to Romania: fly to Bucharest.
“If Ibiza closes tomorrow, I think former Yugoslavia would be a contender to take its place. Serbia is a massive destination for dancing fans now because of the Exit Festival in Novi Sad, July 9-12. Along with Benicassim Festival in Spain, July 16-19." For tickets and more, click here.
"Balaton Sound Festival, July 9-12, on the shores of Lake Balaton in Zimardi, central Hungary is another great place to catch the dance beats," according to DJ Mylo.
You can see DJ Mylo live in Ibiza.
Check it out for yourself - Balaton Sound Festival, 2008:
Getting to Novi Sad, Serbia: the airport nearest to Novi Sad is the Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. It is 70 km / 45 miles away and it takes roughly 1 hour to drive from there.
Flight operators are: Jat (direct from London Heathrow, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Munich, Amsterdam, Prague, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Vienna, Zurich, Rome. Istanbul, Skopje, Moscow), British Airways (direct from London Heathrow), Lufthansa (direct from Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich), Air France (direct from Paris), Swiss Air (direct from Zurich), Austrian Airlines (direct from Vienna), Alitalia (direct from Milan).
From USA: Air Canada, Air France, Alitalia, American Airlines, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Delta, Lufthansa, SWISS, and United.
Getting to Balaton Sound: fly to Budapest.
Getting to Benicassim Festival: fly to Valencia (or take a detour and fly to Madrid, where you can switch to EasyJet low European airfares or take a train.)
“The only place that comes close to Ibiza is KaZantip, August 1-23, a 5-to-6 week techno, house and trance event on the beach on the southwest of the Crimean peninsula, near Simferopol, in Ukraine.”
(KaZantip, 2008)
“For the ultimate combination of cool restaurants, parties and beaches, I would recommend Miami during the Winter Music Conference.”
Getting to KaZantip: fly to Kiev, Ukraine and from Kiev fly local airlines to Simferopol. Aerosvit Airlines (Ukrainian airlines) offer direct flights to Kiev from New York.
Getting to Miami: if you’re planning to become a regular on the Miami club scene, I’d suggest you join the Spirit Airlines’ $9 Fare Club, which gives low airfares throughout the year to Fort Lauderdale, FL (Miami area).
To see DJ Tiesto live, he has a summer residency at Privilege in Ibiza, and he splits the rest of his year between Europe, America and Asia.
DJ Above and Beyond
“The closest place to Ibiza is probably Brazil, especially Florianopolis. You may get only 2 or 3 club nights a week, but what it lacks in quantity, it makes up in quality."
Getting to Florianopolis: fly to São Paulo, and then take a local flight and/or other transportation to Florianopolis.
DJ Sarah Main
“Brazil is definitely a hot spot. Last year, I traveled to Buzios, 167 km (104 miles) from Rio.”
She also loves “Maresias (105 miles from Sao Paolo), where Sirena has the energy of an Ibiza club and is set partly in the jungle.” Maresias is also considered São Paulo's version of Copacabana Beach.”
“Miami has some rocking venues including Cameo and Space.”
You can see DJ Sarah Main’s schedule here.
Getting to São Paulo: almost all major airlines fly to Sao Paolo. Best way to find out what American and international airlines offer flights to Sao Paolo, go to Kayak.
And DJ Smoking Jo, David Guetta (who often Deejays at Cavo Paradiso in Mykonos), and Anne Kapranos recommended Go Hand in Sweden (which was even nick-named Sweden’s Ibiza), INmusic Festival in Zagreb (Croatia), The Garden Festival in the village of Petrcane, Croatia and Pag’s Island for Tuborg Green Beat Festival.
Getting to Petrcane: fly to the the nearest airports to the village of Petrcane is Zadar (20 mins), followed by Split (90 mins) or Zagreb (3hr). However, most likely you'd find flights to Split and Zagreb, rather than Zadar.
For those with more time for an adventure then other airport options in Croatia are Rijeka, Pula or Dubrovnik. Also not too far away are Ljubljana in Slovenia with Easyjet and Trieste in Italy with Ryanair.
(DJ interviews conducted by Abigail Radnor for Elle UK)
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