Ultimate party cities

Aug 15, 2010 4:29:51 AM

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Looking to tread terrain still untouched by foreign stag expeditions? Want to unwind in luxury or drink up the sun? Taken from Lonely Planet’s 1000 Ultimate Experiences, we present to you the ultimate party cities.

Belgrade, Serbia

Back in 1999, Belgraders held outdoor concerts while undergoing NATO bombardment, a feat that bewildered many outsiders. The long years of bad press that kept Serbia and its energetic capital off the map have now passed, and foreigners are now realising what locals always knew – that Belgrade really rocks. With an exuberant population and its legacy as an intellectual hangout, Belgrade offers intriguingly varied nightlife, ranging from eclectic watering holes for those in the know, to the busy restaurants and bars of the Skadarlija district and the summer clubs in heaving barges on the Sava and Danube Rivers. Major international musicians hit Belgrade’s Sava Center, and the summertime EXIT Festival, held an hour north in Novi Sad, is one of Europe’s best.

Montréal, Canada

Not only underage drinkers from New England are descending on the dynamic francophone capital of Québec these days. Easygoing Montréal is increasingly popular with other foreign travellers, who enjoy the joie de vivre of a place with bilingual ambience and good local beer. Montréal’s irrepressible student population and atmospheric old quarter give the city a light-hearted, Bohemian air. There are Old World cafes, cool jazz clubs, packed discos and titillating late bars to choose from, plus a popular comedy festival each July.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

With its unique mix of European and South American cultures, and a native passion for dance (tango, baby!), the Argentine capital provides fertile ground for lively nightlife. There’s an emphasis on fashion and a diverse range of entertainment in Buenos Aires‘ barrios (districts). Relax at a swingin’ jazz club or dance all night by the waterfront; some clubs and cultural centres offer classes so you can learn to tango or salsa like (and with) a local. Variety is huge – there’s everything from Irish pubs and local folk to industrial-strength house parties. Come in October for both the world tango festival and the international guitar festival.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

For those who can afford it, the world capital of conspicuous consumption is unbeatable. Dubai’s extravagance is way over the top, with ultraluxury hotels on artificial islands, slick modern malls and tonnes of precious metals glittering in shops. Yet Dubai is also a surprisingly cosmopolitan place, with workers coming from all over the globe. So if you’re not invited to party on board the private yacht of a celebrity, you can always mingle with people from around the world in the swank bars and clubs of the Middle East’s most decadent desert getaway.

Thessaloniki, Greece

Greece’s second city has style, with plenty of fashionable shops and salons and a 1-million-strong population fleshed out by a big university (80,000-plus students). Thessaloniki boasts great nightlife during those long months when more famous Greek destinations are deep in hibernation, from arty cafes to Latin bars; from discos pumping out house music to salacious bouzoukia (clubs featuring twangy, Eastern-flavoured Greek folk-pop). That’s plenty to keep you occupied after you’ve traversed the city’s sublime Byzantine churches, museums and scattered ruins. It’s not cheap, but no Greek city save Athens compares.

La Paz, Bolivia

Don’t forget that liquor goes to the head quickly in the Bolivian capital, which well over 3000m above sea level. Get hot and sweaty on a chilly Andean night in one of many slick nightclubs, which cater to chic locals and the foreign contingent. The natives are friendly and, with a steady stream of travellers, it’s a town of many tongues. World-class bars, swank cafes and restaurants serenading with traditional Bolivian music round out the offerings. Buy traditional Aymara herbs at the Witches’ Market (Mercado de Brujas) to ward off hangovers and bothersome spirits.

Cape Town, South Africa

With the 2010 World Cup bringing a global audience to South Africa, the partying will only get harder as travellers converge on a city already well known for nightlife. Luxuriate on some of the world’s best beaches by day and kick back under the moonlight at suave cocktail bars by night. Two hours east, in the Indian Ocean, lies the elegant beach village of Mossel Bay, with more great beaches and chic flair. Visitors must try some of the wines crafted by South Africa’s world-renowned vintners, either at a Cape Town bar or at one of several wineries nearby.

Baku, Azerbaijan

Since the 1990s, when it started taking off as a hub for Caspian Sea oil and gas, Baku has been transformed. It’s left its former existence as communist backwater to become a buzzing hive of Western capitalism – all without forsaking the indigenous delights of its Turkic traditions. And this newfound economic stimulation hasn’t failed to influence urban nightlife. The cash injection from energy projects, enhanced by the presence of thousands of international oil workers and wealthy consultants, has turned Baku into an oasis of excess in an otherwise fairly traditional Muslim country. You’ll find the best bars, clubs and restaurants around Fountain Square.

Auckland, New Zealand

Myriad cafes, bars and dinner clubs cater to a hip young clientele. Try the glittering waterfront for smart bars, and hit the happening clubs (some stay open 24 hours). There are plenty of live shows on offer too, from folk in Devonport to louder sounds at Mt Eden. If you don’t get drunk, you can always walk off the Sky Tower – the southern hemisphere’s tallest structure – a 328m cable-controlled drop in which jumpers reach a speed of 85kmh.

Tel Aviv, Israel

Like elsewhere in the greater Mediterranean, Israel’s capital of fun gets going late. The endless bars, pubs and cocktail venues start to fill up by midnight, from which point the nightclubs get revved up with dancing till dawn. Nowadays an international crowd joins native Israelis for a mixed bag of funk, pop, house and techno (in addition to live shows small and large) at the city’s dozens of entertainment hotspots. Tel Aviv has a relaxed, hedonistic air, and prides itself on being gay-friendly and outgoing.

Find more wild things to do in Lonely Planet’s 1000 Ultimate Experiences

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Comments

3 March 2010 5:12PM wanderingshoes Report this comment
Where is Rio on this list? And Beirut is undeniable...Everyone's heard about Goa, although I can't personally vouch for it like I can the other two. So, I'm confused. Top ten lists are about popularity, no?
3 March 2010 9:03PM dalarslan Report this comment
i do agree, what about BEIRUT? and of course ISTANBUL????
4 March 2010 12:43AM dentistpk Report this comment
I really don't know about Beirut, but i'm very sure that Belgrade is on the first place justified!
4 March 2010 12:57AM patriciapires Report this comment
What about Rio?????
4 March 2010 1:28AM alazulf Report this comment
I definitely do not think La Paz or Aukalnd should be on the list for ULTIMATE party cities... I have paried way harder in other cities, I would even say NYC over those two...
4 March 2010 1:47AM paddy21 Report this comment
Dubai my arse!
I think LP mixed up their lists. Shows up the pointless nature of 'Top 10' this or that. Travel is not about ticking off lists or visiting places because of their rankings!
4 March 2010 3:22AM ashley44 Report this comment
I thought Ibiza was the party capital of the world.
4 March 2010 4:29AM rachelbrown33 Report this comment
I totally agree with La Paz! Although I also think Rio and a couple others should have made it on the list.
For more top 10 lists check out bohemianbackpacker.com
The latest is a "Top 10 Hippie Backpacker Destinations" @ budurl.com/10BestHippieSpots
4 March 2010 5:12AM joeplummer Report this comment
Wow, I'm shocked New Orleans, USA isn't on this list! The city's whole culture revolves around partying and nothing else!
4 March 2010 7:24AM laurenbutterfly Report this comment
I can think of a few that are missing from this list!!! Definitely Rio! What about New York City??? Bangkok, Thailand?!!! or Miami??!!! They could definitely beat Dubai, where alcohol is still ILLEGAL! only obtained with a special license!!!
4 March 2010 9:25AM tonny73 Report this comment
Buenos Aires, Montreal and Tel Aviv are on the list and by absolutely good reason!!! Im not very crazy about the nightlife of New York or Rio! Nothing special!
4 March 2010 9:51AM thmeeks Report this comment
No Las Vegas?
4 March 2010 1:29PM bottlerocket Report this comment
Buenas Aires, Rio, NYC, London, Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam, Bangkok, Sydney?
4 March 2010 1:31PM bottlerocket Report this comment
P.S. AUCKland! New Zealand! Are you serious??????
4 March 2010 7:10PM remainingfree Report this comment
Whoa folks, what about Bali, Indonesia, Barcelona, Chicago, Hong Kong!!!
5 March 2010 11:25PM vinibrasil Report this comment
My List: Rio,Las Vegas,São Paulo,Miami,Barcelona,Berlin,NYC,Hong Kong,London
cheers! La paz no way!
9 March 2010 12:47AM ibl Report this comment
I have been to 6 of the places on the list, if you want to party, nothing beats Pattaya.
9 March 2010 5:34PM contessapv Report this comment
what about Puerto Vallarta Mexico. Check out andele.com or andeles.com and see the 30th birthday party. I'm 65 now...and have partied here since 1980. 30 years . Seniors !!! it's a wild world out there.
18 August 2010 9:36AM bneagu Report this comment
Since when Montreal is "francophone capital of Québec"?
20 August 2010 2:07AM luminous_flux Report this comment
One correction - the world tango festival in Buenos Aires is in August (now), not in October.
30 August 2010 2:29PM jamezdin Report this comment
And don't forget to add Gucha trumpet festival held each August 2 hours drive south of Belgrade. See http://www.guca.rs/eng/. Belgrade definitely deserves to be on the list!
1 September 2010 9:04AM dirtydutch Report this comment
I`ve been, in Amsterdam, Paris, Prague, La Paz, Rio, Buenos Aires, Vegas, NYC Ibiza, Madrid,Tokyo Cape Town, Dubai etc, etc
Mostly in the popular places like Rio, Ibiza, even in Tokyo, you will not find much difference among the parties I totally agree with La Paz and Thessaloniki the parties are the best in those places, specially La Paz, where you can find everything open 24/7, and the best clubs and bars I`ve ever been
11 September 2010 6:31AM woodyd2 Report this comment
Definitely Rio! If you're there during a big event, parties are everywhere. Just walk in the direction of the music. Parties on the beaches (Very Nice). Block parties throughout the city walled off with 18 wheel flat beds, loaded with monster speaker systems. Parties at the local bars, where if you buy entertainers a couple of beers, they'll will play for hours. ...And the music, what can you say, Brazilian music has some of the most beautiful songs in the world. .. Oh!, and note, this wasn't even at the carnival, either.
26 December 2010 2:40PM indounik Report this comment
What happened to Kuta, Bali? And Las Vegas? No offence to the Kiwis across the ditch but I would have thought Sydney had it over Auckland... Then again, I confess I've never been to Auckland. Maybe I don't know what I'm missing.
26 December 2010 5:48PM hurricanes87 Report this comment
wow auckland??? What a boring city
26 December 2010 9:20PM euqinutsitra Report this comment
I definitely agree with La Paz. La Paz has such an amazing nightlife. It was very unexpected. It has diversity as well. It has very sleek and posh clubs, as well as a bohemian scene. I absolutely loved my nights spent in La Paz.
My list is here, and in no particular order: Las Vegas New York Miami Rio de Janeiro La Paz Bogota Barcelona Buenos Aires London Mexico City
Sorry my list is so Americas-centric. I've only to explored Europe and the Americas. I will update my list next year. I am sure Asia has an amazing scene going on.
1 September 2011 11:55PM waynehobson Report this comment
I definatly agree with Belgrade. Fantastic place to go out. The people are born to party all night long. Great paries on the splavovi especially during the summer months
8 March 2012 1:58AM travelingenthusiast Report this comment
What about Rio or Goa! okay, maybe I've not been to half the places on this list, but I think these two places are worth mentioning. On a personal experience, I thought LA and Vegas are fun too!