If clubbing is high on your list for a successful holiday, our guide will go some way to making your next holiday one to remember. Ibiza has been and will always be a central focus for clubbers – sleeping all day and partying all night. Although there are two fantastic clubbing destinations in the UK there is no need to stay close to home. What better way to see faraway places whilst being able to party day and night.
Ibiza, Balearic Islands
First came the artists, then the hippies, but this beautiful island has long been a clubbers’ mecca. Prices are steep and it’s crowded in peak season, but the energy is mind-blowing.
There’s plenty of choice of mega-club: try Privilege, Pacha, Es Paradis or Space. Want something more chilled? Head to the trendy beach bars on Playa de la Salinas.
New York, United States
Though the days of Studio 54 are long past, there are plenty of all-night haunts in the “city that never sleeps” and clubs rarely kick off before midnight, so don’t arrive early.
Most Manhattan drinking holes tend to be small, so expect an intimate, crowded settings with great DJs. For bigger clubs head west to the trendy Meatpacking district.
Ayia Napa, Cyprus
Ayia Napa is the Cypriot version of Ibiza, though alcohol, not pills, fuel this party – which makes a difference to the atmosphere. Garage dominates, but there’s also plenty of house and trance.
Expect regular nights from the Cream, Twice As Nice and Pure As Silk crews. While nights are for partying, days are spent trying to recover on popular Nissi Beach.
Goa, India
Things may have changed since the Free Love parties of the 70s, but Goa still has a lot to offer party people. The rave scene focuses on beaches around Anjuna, and in the hills nearby.
Things get busiest around Christmas and New Year, with Mumbai’s hipsters joining crowds of western party-goers for long nights of hedonism on the beach.
Rotterdam, Holland
Move over Amsterdam, little sister Rotterdam is officially the capital of cool in Holland with a progressive music scene to rival the best in Europe and buzzing clubs to match.
Hip club choices include Now&Wow in a former grain silo, Off_Corso in an old cinema, and the achingly-trendy Hyper Hyper dance cafe.
Malia, Crete
Chilled out by day, kicking at night, Malia on Crete is currently one of the hottest party places in the Greek isles – ideal for working on your tan and dancing your socks of too.
With dozens of bars, you won’t have problems finding somewhere to kickstart your night. Then it’s on to Spice, Zig and Zag or the new Club 69 to get down to the best best R&B, garage and trance DJs.
San Francisco, United States
Still influenced by the flower power vibe of the 60s, San Francisco is the perfect choice for the chilled out clubber, rather than the full-on hands-in-the-air crowd.
Most clubs have a small-town, intimate feel; check out spots along the Lower Haight and in the SoMa district and outdoor parties, from raves on the beach to boat parties on the ocean.
Berlin, Germany
After the Wall came down, the clubbing scene shifted east – new places are springing up all the time, often in abandoned warehouses or historic buildings.
Look in Prenzlauer Berg, Mitte and Friedrichshain – many are hidden away behind unmarked doors. Berliners love their techno but you’ll find music for all tastes and the parties go on all night.
Bournemouth, UK
Shaking off its reputation as a pensioner’s paradise, Bournemouth has re-invented itself as the clubbing capital of the south, welcoming 37,000 partygoers every weekend.
Over 50 bars, three super-clubs and 15 nightclubs cater for every musical taste around, from trance and commercial dance to funky house, and then there’s the beach for chilling out.
London, England
There’s not much sun, sea or sand, but London still manages to draw visitors from around the world on the strength of its ever-changing club scene.
Whether you like your clubs cosy and intimate or cavernous and banging, London has something to suit. Farringdon, Hoxton and Brixton are reliable spots for decent nightlife.
