Backpacking across Europe is just about everyone’s dream, and for good reason. Europe is packed to the brim with art, history, food, and culture – but that isn't all it has to offer becauseit is also home to some of the richest nightlife in the world! Here is our quick guide to the European cities you should consider for your next self-indulgent getaway.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin has made quite a name for itself when it comes to nightclubbing – many consider it to be the premier city for nightlife! Berlin’s history of cheap housing has attracted artists and musicians for decades, and its unique collection of abandoned buildings have since turned into the perfect nightclub scene – which gives Berlin a pretty cool vibe. The districts Auguststraße and Weserstraße are especially known for having a stunning nightlife.

Photo Credit: @carokaffeekanne

Berlin has mainstream clubs as well as niche ones for just about any subculture you can imagine – this is the perfect place to visit if you love to party all night. Literally! Most parties in Berlin don’t even start before 1 am in the morning! Some clubs we recommend are Salon Zur Wilden Renate, Sisyphos, Chalet, and Berghain & Panorama Bar. But if you’d rather stick to more low-key venues, a few restaurants and bars you can check out include the Roof Terrace Hotel de Rome, Berlin Ice Bar, Puro Sky Lounge, Green Door, and Newton Bar.

Photo Credit: @jonlawford

Berlin is also a relatively inexpensive city to party in. Most pubs charge around 5-10 Euros for entry (not including drinks), and even high-end clubs have an entry fee higher than 15-20 Euros.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is an indie sort of city in that it isn’t as well known to tourists, but it is still a wonderful place to visit! Budapest stands out for two reasons – natural springs and Ruin Bars. The former are open to people of all ages during the day, but they turn into the ultimate dance party at night – so you might want to grab a swimming suit and head there for the summer!

Photo Credit: @scooter_cc

The latter are huge outdoor spaces that used to be abandoned buildings at some point in time, but they have recently been converted into full-on party spaces; some Ruin Bars even have subsections with their own themes, funky décor, and music.

Photo Credit: @branded.traveler

The alcohol in Budapest is cheap and flows freely; most bars have an entry fee as low as 5 Euros. Head to the 7th District, Erzsébet Square, or The Boulevards and The Embankment, and you’ll find a multitude of possibilities to explore! Some of the Ruin Bars we recommend checking out are Black Swan, Good Spirit Bar, and High Note Sky. If you are more into nightclubs, we suggest trying Doboz, Corvin, or Kobuci.

Photo Credit: @highnoteskybar

Krakow, Poland

Krakow is a small town in Poland, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for with stamina and hard-core nightlife. Krakow is a popular spot for native Europeans when it comes to throwing bachelor or bachelorette parties, and it’s no wonder – the locals are friendly and the booze is cheap, but entry fees for clubs and pubs tend to be a bit higher than in the cities we have mentioned above. Most clubs charge 30-50 Euros, but drinks are often included in this fee.

Photo Credit: @moonbar

The Frantic Club, Taawa Music Club, and Baccarat Music Club are known for a hefty party-all-night attitude, but Krakow also has some beautiful live music clubs like Alchemia, Stary Port, and Club Buda. Most of Krakow’s nightlife is concentrated in the Main Market Square and Bohemian Kazimierz District, so these are good places to start adventuring. Some of the city’s popular bars are the Wódka Cafe Bar, the Movida Cocktail Bar, Plaża Kraków, and the Absynt Cafe & Drink Bar. Here’s a pro tip though: you can’t outdrink the Polish, so we advise against trying to!

Photo Credit: @budakrakow

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is a gorgeous city; the architecture alone is enough to take your breath away. But once you’ve spent the day enjoying the city’s rich history, you can indulge yourself in Prague’s equally rich nightlife. Prague loves dance clubs and is home to the largest night club in Europe – the Karlovy Lazne Club, which occupies an entire five-story building!

Photo Credit: @janekk7610

Some other clubs worth checking out are Chapeau Rouge, ROXY Prague, Café V Lese, and the DéjáVu Music Club. Most of these clubs have affordable drinks, and their entry fees are around 5-7 Euros. Speaking of drinks, we strongly recommend paying a visit to the vibrant bars in the Old Town Square or the Wenceslao Square – our favourites are the Black Angel’s Bar, the Alchemist Bar, and Vanity Cocktail Bar and Café!

Photo Credit: @roxyprague

Barcelona, Spain

Ibiza may be the party capital of Spain, but when it comes to nightlife, Barcelona could give Ibiza a run for its money. Barcelona takes the term ‘nightlife’ quite literally – most parties don’t start before 2 am and the nightclubs remain crowded until early in the morning!

Photo Credit: @platacocktailbar_barcelona

Barcelona has tons of VIP clubs. Opium is the most famous – it hosts some of the world’s top DJ shows and has a huge terrace with a separate bar that overlooks the beach! Entry fees to such clubs are around 10-20 Euros, but the fee usually includes at least one drink. Here's another pro-tip though: drinks in Barcelona's clubs can be ridiculously overpriced, so drink at bars and save the clubs for dancing.

Photo Credit: @opiumbarcelona

Like Opium, many of Barcelona’s other clubs are on the beach, like Pacha and Shoko. Non-beach clubs you can check out are Bling Bling, Carrer de Tuset, and Carrer de Lincoln; the bars we recommend include Two Schmucks, PAX49, Dr. Stravinsky, and Chupitos.

Photo Credit: @dr.stravinsky_bcn

Barcelona stands out when it comes to nightlife by offering a diverse range of packages to tourists that allow them to enjoy multiple venues for a lower price! VIP nightlife tours cost about 40 Euros per head (including transport and drinks) and take you to a bunch of super cool spots. If you can, we suggest planning your trip in time for the Howlin’ at the Moon festival – a monthly event that takes place at the Mar Bella beach to honour the full moon, and brings you the best of Barcelona’s nightlife in one place!

Photo Credit: @marbellabeachfrontapartment

BRB: Your Travel, Sorted.

At BRB, we’re here to of organising a trip. The faff. The planning. The fifth Google search to make sure it’s a good deal. That facepalm moment when you realise the price has gone up.

Before you know it, it’s taken ten hours to sort out your ‘quick’ city break away. Getting away shouldn’t be so hard. Why don’t you let us sort it for you?

We’ll find you premium hotels and flights for less than even your most savvy friends could, and we don't make you pay for the privilege.

We do this through our innovative subscription-based model, which puts you, our travellers, at the centre of what we do.

We send you to places on your bucket list, as well as up-and-coming destinations we've tried, tested and reckon you'd like. You know, those off-the-beaten track gems for extra bragging rights.

All we need is two minutes of your time to tell us what you like and when you can go away. We simply use this data to create trips that match your personal preferences. Personalised trips that are as individual as you are.

It's travel as you like it. We just sort it.

Trust us, loads of other people do (4.6* on Trustpilot).

Check out our European city guides:

• 48 hours in Prague
• 48 hours in Budapest
• 48 hours in Barcelona
• 48 hours in St Ives
• 48 hours in Brussels
• 48 hours in Milan
• 48 hours in Warsaw
• 48 hours in Nice
• 48 hours in Rome
• 48 hours in Krakow
• 48 hours in Lisbon
• 48 hours in Berlin
• 48 hours in Venice
• 48 hours in Gdansk
• 48 hours in Stockholm
• 48 hours in Bratislava
• 48 hours in Madrid