This is one of the least known, but easily the biggest parties in Europe, if not, the world.

Queens Day is an excuse to dress in as much orange as you can (the Dutch national colour) and party in the streets like it's the need of the world.

Literally the whole country gets dressed in orange, the streets are draped in the colour and the entire population of the city throws a huge day and night long street and canal party.

The famous canals of the city are filled with barges that look like floating clubs with pumping music, drinking and dancing. The streets that are packed with people enjoying a few (often quite a few) Heinekens, Amstels or other herbal products that Amsterdam is famous for and the chilled, relaxed, openness and tolerance of Dutch culture shines through - the vibe is amazing!

Some super hot spots to soak up the atmosphere in Amsterdam are the Rembrantsplein as well as the Museumplein, on the edge of any canal while just being in the city

History:
The proper (Dutch name) for Queens Day is 'Koninginnedag' and it's the Dutch National holiday and celebrates the birthday of Queen. April 30th is the Birthday of Juliana, the former Queen of the Netherlands.

Why Orange?
Orange funnily enough is the royal colour of the House of Orange, the Royal Family of the Netherlands.

Perhaps go to Queens Day then start one of these tours in Amsterdam:

Discovery - Europe Tour | Encounter - Europe Tour

or finish your tour in Amsterdam and stay on for Queens Day

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This is the mother of all parties. Everyone has heard of the 'beerfest' but some aren't too sure where it even is.

The original, the best and the biggest Oktoberfest in the world happens in Munich every year during the last 2 weeks in September. Any other time of year, Munich is a city of about 1.5 million people, but during the 2 weeks of the 'fest, 6 million people visit the city - Amazing!

It all happens in a big field on the edge of the city centre and Munich's biggest brewing companies are given 2 tents each - these 'tents' are the size of warehouses with about 10,000 people partying in and around each one of the 14 tents.

Not only is it about beer though - there are some awesome rides, games and the food, as some locals might say, is 'wunderbar!' (wonderful)!

The atmosphere is sensational - the friendliness factor is off the charts as people from all over the world (not just the Germans) enjoy the vibe, the party, each others company and, of course, the beer.

The Oktoberfest really is one of the must do experiences for any party-loving traveler.

History:
The Oktoberfest began in 1810 when the soon to be King Ludwig or Bavaria married the soon to be Princess Theresa. They had a wedding reception on the same field where the 'fest is still held today. They originally also celebrated by having a horse race on the field. Everyone had so much fun, that they decided to celebrate the anniversary in the same way the next year, and the year after that, and the year after that. They've done so ever year since.

Inspiration Tour - Oktoberfest/Munich for 2 Nights | Oktoberfest Tour - 5 Days | Oktoberfest Tour 7 Days

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I don't know if this really counts and an even as it happens every day, but it certainly is an event and one that you won't forget at that.

There aren't too many places in the world where a daily act of the setting sun brings about a round of applause worthy of the world's greatest opera houses%u2026.but this is one of them.

Santorini is a little different to the other Cycladic Islands (Mykonos, Ios and others) in that the Island is the rim of an extinct volcano that blew it's top thousands of years ago, destroying a super-advanced Minoan culture and creating sheer cliffs that rise almost vertically up from the magical blue of the Mediterranean.

This means that the two main tows of Fira and Oia are perched on cliff-tops about 150 meters above sea level which gives you awesome views of the water below but also of the post card views of the islands famous blue and white houses and churches - unforgettable and super-famous views (with good reason).

There are two main places you might like to catch the sunset here - either from the town of Oia or form a ship sitting just on the edge of the natural harbor created by the old caldera of the volcano, either way the whole experience is almost spiritual.

People gather early at on the rocky cliffs in amongst the ancient ruins in Oia to witness this spectacle and it's a good idea to get there early and perhaps take a picnic dinner perhaps throwing in a few kalamata olives, some feta cheese and some of the islands famous white wines.

The Blue domed churches and white-washed houses of Santorini combine with the vivid blue of the sea to create one of the most beautiful and romantic parts of not only Greece, but all of Europe. The island is popular with honeymooners as well as people getting married and after you witness something like this, it's easy to see why.

The sunsets however is why you are there and the colors that can and are produced are mind blowing and even after seeing the likes of Michelangelo, you can appreciate that the greatest artist of all is mother nature. Every sunset is unique.

This whole experience may not initially sound as exiting as the rest of Europe's big parties and events, but it's perhaps one that will stick in your mind for longer, perhaps forever.

Again, this is a little bit of a strange one as there are so many leagues and schedules that it's a little bit hard to pin down exactly when it will happen, but getting along to see a football match in Europe, no matter what country you're in, is not only a sporting experience, but an insight into the heart and soul of one of the things that makes many Europeans tick.

Being at an English Premiership match between Chelsea and Arsenal, seeing the mighty FC Barcelona play at the Nou Camp, sitting the stands for an international qualifier or European Championships match, a UEFA game or seeing the Italian Siere A live - this is just the surface of what's on offer in the world of European football.

When you're in Europe forget soccer - there is only one true 'football'.

The passion and pride of the fans is a spectacle in itself while if you are a true connoisseur of the sport, you'll get to see some of the best players and most famous clubs in the world.

It's not all of the Europeans, but for many of them, very little maters more than how their local or international team is doing - grown Englishmen crying in the streets or crazy Italians partying in the streets because of the success of the Azzuri is something that has to be seen to be believed.

The passion of the fans is thick in the air and it's hard not to get a little bit of a tingle up your spine when you hear an entire stadium signing in chorus,
"oooo'ing" and "ahhhh'ing" during the match or, even better, going absolutely bananas after a winning goal.

Even if you don't like sport, it's hard not to get caught up in the emotion and the often roller coaster type ride of the sport and the reactions of it's fans.

Please note: Contiki doesn't organize tickets for sporting events, but if you're in a city when a game is on, you can go for sure, it's just up to you to organize your tickets, transport, etc.

Even if you can't get a live game, just getting yourself into a bar or a pub amongst the locals during a big match is a pretty awesome experience - just make sure you're wearing the right colors ;-) !

Venice is one of the most dreamed about cities in Europe and the usual beauty of the canals, bridges, buildings and gondolas is enhanced so much more by the 2 weeks of art, culture, music, color, costumes, masks, parties that is the Venetian Carnivale.

Drinking in the street is 'normale' in Italy at any time of year, but standing in the middle of St Marks Square, sipping a Bellini (the local Venetian cocktail) and watching a parade, a performance or just people watching in general is so much fun - it's like being in a Disneyland for adults.

The whole history of the Venitian Carnivale goes back to hundreds and hundreds of years with the celebration being part of pre-Easter celebrations. In the Catholic calendar, the 40 days before Easter is known as lent and traditionally this is a period of fasting (not eating) and being, good and pious and focusing towards this kinda of sad time of Easter commemorating the death of Jesus (and then happy celebrating his resurrection).

Anyway%u2026because you're going to be good and fast for 40 days, you want to go and have some fun, fatten yourself up for the fast and perhaps be a little bit naughty along the way so for the 2 weeks before Lent, this is what people did. The fun and naughty-ness evolved into drinking and debauchery and people didn't want others seeing them getting up to all this mischief, so they started wearing masks.

The tradition continued and today the masks of Carnivale and one of the icons of the sinking city of Venice.

The effort that people put into the detail of their costumes is awesome and the colors really hit you as soon as you step off the boat and into the city but the vibe is quite cool although it's a little hard to describe as there are people roaming around the streets, dressed to stand out, but in total anonymity behind their masks and costumes.

The whole spectacle adds so much to the city and you cannot and will not get a much more authentic, fun or unique European experience than this.

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