51 Of The Greatest Cities In The World To Party In

51 Of The Greatest Cities In The World To Party In 1 Copenhagen, Denmark For the weekend warrior, the clubs in Copenhagen pick up on Thursdays (and usually won’t even open until after midnight) and continue to rage ’til Sunday. Hit up places like Zefside, Rust, and HIVE for an unforgettable evening. 2 Amsterdam, Netherlands Of course Amsterdam was going to be on this list. As a legendary tourism hub, purveyor of many “light districts,” and with its relaxed laws on certain “party supplies,” it makes sense that a good portion of the tourists headed to this capital city are looking for a party (and they don’t have to look very hard). 3 Goa, India The birthplace of the aptly-named Goa Trance, Goa in India has been a premier nightlife destination since the 1960’s. And yes, they’ve been going hard ever since. 4 New York City, New York Foregoing the “city that never sleeps” reference, New York City is indeed a party place. From the ultra-swanky nightclubs in Manhattan, to the raw underground shows in Brooklyn, NYC is every bit the hub of culture and music it claims to be, and will prove it to you no matter what time of night it is. 5 Buenos Aires, Argentina The rumors are true, Buenos Aires parties hard until the wee hours of the morning. And when I say “wee hours”, I mean folks are heading home at 7 AM after a long night of the most cutting-edge dance music heard nowhere else, and for every kind of listener imaginable. Don’t believe me? Try a “yoga rave,” an all night dance party with electronic versions of yoga music. 6 Seoul, South Korea Whether you’re inside or outside, when the sun goes down in Seoul, the lights come on. And with a culture that’s centered around being ultra-hip and believes that it’s trendy to party communally (for example, with the way friends will pour each other drinks all night long), it’s easy to see why Seoul is the people’s party destination. 7 Gothenburg, Sweden Home to two of the largest universities in Sweden, Gothenburg might just be one of the biggest “college towns” in the world. And everyone knows that if colleges are known for anything, it’s certainly not quiet nights and early bedtimes. 8 Sydney, Australia Australia takes its drinking and partying very seriously, regardless of whether you’re a headbanger, hipster, EDM junkie, or elite head-nodder and drink-holder. With clubs that are at capacity nearly every night of the week (some of which hold 2,000+ people), and world-class talent packing stages (that happen to be owned and operated by the same team that runs a huge chunk of Las Vegas), Sydney is one hell of a place to turn up down under. 9 Moscow, Russia If you can party in Moscow, you can party anywhere. Part of this has to do with how hard they go in Moscow, but the other part is their widespread and extremely discriminating “face control” policy (which is more or less exactly what it sounds like…so if you don’t look right for the party, you’re not getting in). 10 Cancun, Mexico One of the world’s greatest Spring Break destinations, the party in Cancun starts when the sun is out, and only ends when you’re too tired to keep going. Geared toward the college crowd, party amenities include the infamous beer bucket, and Mexican Bulldog cocktail. Plus, who doesn’t love tacos after a long night out? 11 La Paz, Bolivia La Paz is home to a few unique features that make its nightlife what it is, but the one that’s put it on the map is Route 36, the world’s first international cocaine bar. 12 Popovka, Ukraine If you’re going to rely largely on the notoriety of one party to put you on the map, it better be a massive party. And Popovka’s KaZantip delivers. Taking over the area and forming a temporary republic, the 2-3 week party has achieved cult status, firmly planting Popovka on almost every “top party place” list ever made. 13 Marrakech, Morocco It’s easy to get distracted once the sun goes down in Marrakech, since not only does the Djemaa el-Fnaa becomes quite the nighttime spectacle, but also the nightlife you might be looking for is a bit trickier to find in Morocco than in some other places. Once you find the right venues, however, you’ll see that the old city of Marrakech parties hard and properly in the modern age. 14 Montréal, Canada Montreal has recently stepped its party game way up, and is now considered to be one of the top party spots in the world. One of the major contributing factors to this is the sheer quantity of people traveling up from NYC for such events as “Topless Beer Pong,” which are actually refereed by a little person. 15 Reykjavik, Iceland As one of the northernmost cities in the world, the people of Reykjavik are left with only one option: party, and party hard. Bonus: They’ll even set up a DJ booth in the middle of the famous Blue Lagoon. And yes, it’s really that blue. 16 Tallinn, Estonia For whatever reason, Tallinn is not one of the first cities to come to mind when people think about party tourism. It’s especially odd, considering nightclubs (and particularly, singles clubs) in this city in Estonia are apparently as prevalent as McDonalds or Starbucks joints in the ‘States, serving beats on practically every corner. 17 Rome, Italy If you’re going to go out after-hours in Rome, you’d better have your both your finest clothes and your game face in tip-top shape. The city is known for its ultra-swanky club scene overflowing with expensive cocktails, rooftop views, and world-renowned musicians and DJ’s. 18 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico You know you’re in for a wild night when the guy in your hotel lobby hands you a map outlining your nightlife options and sends you off with a “good luck.” Another premier Spring Break destination, Cabo is considered by some to be classier than its Tijuana and Cancun counterparts, but the party itself is just as raucous. 19 Las Vegas Being a Las Vegas native, I can speak from experience when I say that Las Vegas is where people come from around the world to go so hard they won’t remember how much they spent. Bonus: After Vegas became arguably the Electronic Dance Music capital of the country (once it absorbed Electric Daisy Carnival from Los Angeles), the city declared January 2nd officially “Deadmau5 Day.” 20 Berlin, Germany From upscale biergartens to seedy warehouse parties, Berlin has a party for every kind of animal. And the Berliners are well aware of this, which is why waiting in line to get in to the numerous packed venues is both to be expected, as well as part of the fun. Be sure to read up on your line etiquette. 21 Paris, France As one of the fashion capitals of the world, and the home of the infamous Moulin Rouge, Paris has one of the most elegant and exclusive nightlife scenes in the world. You may not have to be royalty to get into a good club in Paris, but you’re definitely want to look like you are if you want a shot at getting in. 22 Madrid, Spain No one can argue that Spain is the home to some of the finest party cities in the world, and Madrid is certainly one of Spain’s finest. Home to renowned clubs like Fabrik, Pacha, and Kapital, a night on the town in Madrid is practically a lesson in party history. 23 Belgrade, Serbia Belgrade is one of the new kids on the block of the party tourism scene, but it delivers every single night of the week. Depending on the season you visit (winter or summer), you might be partying with your friends at a VIP table inside an exquisite nightclub, or you might be bouncing on an open-air floating club anchored over the river. 24 Thessaloniki, Greece Another world-class party destination as identified by Lonely Planet, Thessaloniki embodies the intersection between historical Greek and Mediterranean vibes, and Europe’s all-night every-night party attitude. As a result, the louder and more raucous the club, the further from the conservative historic and touristy districts you’ll have to travel (though it’ll definitely be worth it). 25 London, England The UK was one of the world’s pioneers in viewing electronic music as a viable and legitimate genre, dignifying it with an extensive history of popular radio play. Subsequently, people from around the world flock to London to try their hand at getting into any of the world-famous clubs (like Fabric), for the opportunity to hear the newest tracks from the tastemaking artists of tomorrow. 26 Prague, Czech Republic Notoriously scandalous, the party scene in Prague hinges on two widely occurring features in its popular nightclub scene: beer that flows like water, and “full service staff.” And yes, that means what you think it means. 27 Munich, Germany One word can describe Munich’s party scene in a nutshell: Oktoberfest. 28 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil It takes a place that really knows how to party to throw an event like the world-famous Carnival, but fortunately for the party-traveler, Rio De Janeiro is no one-trick pony. In fact, the rest of the year the party goes strong… it just goes a little stronger during that week in February. 29 Bali, Indonesia he party in Bali doesn’t really pick up until 1 AM, which leaves you plenty of time to pregame. A major hit with hardcore Australian partiers and tourists, Bali is broken up into districts that are practically based on what kind of party you can expect (such as Kuta, if you’re looking for a drug-and-prostitute-addled rager for the books, or Seminyak for the more refined partygoer). 30 Ayia Napa, Cyprus If you’ve never heard of Ayia Napa, that’s probably because it was a small fishing village not too long ago, before a recent and massive rebranding that has turned it into one of the quirkiest clubbing and nightlife spots in the world. Take, for example, the Monday Night Zombie Crawl, a weekly event that is exactly what you’d expect. Except with jello shots. 31 Istanbul, Turkey After spending a long day exploring the historical architecture and ruins of Istanbul, it might be awfully tempting to crash early in your hotel room. Doing so would be a crime, however, as the city takes on a whole new and constantly changing face after dark. Where should you go? Who knows, since the next hottest club is probably being built as we speak. 32 Bangkok, Thailand One club, 4 distinct floors featuring different music and atmospheres, rooftop access, and all-you-can-drink beer for a couple bucks. That’s just some of the many things you can expect from a night on the town in Bankok. 33 Tokyo, Japan Home of one of the greatest nightclubs of all time, Tokyo (and specifically, its nightlife) is a testament to the work-hard play-hard mentality. To kickstart your travel plans, look into the infamous Womb nightclub, whose lineup is always a veritable who’s-who in the global electronic music scene. 34 Cape Town, South Africa When it comes to nightlife in Cape Town, Long Street is where it’s at (and coincidentally, it’s actually a rather long street packed with bars and clubs). There you’ll find everything from chill bohemian hangouts to energetic live bands, and of course, wonderfully named clubs like the “Purple Turtle” and “Fiction.” 35 Koh Phangan, Thailand Island paradise by day, rager to the break of dawn by night, Koh Phangan is rapidly becoming one of the world’s top destinations for its party scene. Time it around their Full Moon Party, and you’ll be in for an endurance test of Olympic proportions. 36 Miami, Florida The home of Ultra Music Festival, Miami has been a hub for the party and club scene since before anyone can remember. Though that lapse in memory might have something to do with having partied in Miami. 37 Budapest, Hungary Just when you thought foam was a novel addition to your club experience, Budapest has put itself on the map with Bath Parties. And honestly, what could possibly be better than partying with a bunch of attractive Europeans in the warm comforts of a giant bath. Rubber ducky not recommended. 38 Austin, Texas “Keep Austin Weird” is the city’s slogan, but make no mistake, there’s nothing weird about how awesome the party scene is there. With hundreds of music venues touting the most exclusive lineups in everything from Jazz to Rock, EDM to Metal, you’ll have no problem finding the kind of “night on the town” you’re looking for. 39 Barcelona, Spain Madrid’s other half, word on the street is that Barcelona might just go a little harder, a little longer, and a little more often than its inland sister. Make good use of that siesta, since the clubs don’t really pick up until 2-3 AM and you probably won’t be getting back to your hotel until about the time you’d normally be heading out for work. 50 St. Tropez, France One of the only places in the world where that blonde girl in the club that you’re certain is Paris Hilton, is actually Paris Hilton, St. Tropez is where all the celebrities go to park their yachts and party. Seriously. Just ask regulars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Chris Brown, Rihanna, and Hugh Jackman. 41 Dubai, United Arab Emirates With a place that’s known for its opulence, it should come as no surprise that Dubai is home to some of the most extreme megaclubs in the world. You should probably consider pre-gaming before heading out, however, since a well cocktail will run you about ~$15 each. 42 Baku, Azerbaijan The capital city of Azerbaijan, Baku as a city is a blend of modern and medieval, but when it comes to nightlife, Baku is about as cutting-edge as it gets. Expect “face control” as stringent as any other top-tier party destination, because once inside, the clubs are just as sparkly as any in Las Vegas or Paris. 43 Melbourne, Australia What you need to know about nightlife in Melbourne, is that the city just got a subgenre of electronic music named after them (Melbourne Bounce, which is indeed as bouncy as it sounds), and they couldn’t be happier about it. I’d say they haven’t stopped celebrating, but the truth is that they were celebrating long before they genre was invented. 44 Ibiza, Spain Even with rising prices discouraging the masses, Ibiza continues to be the reigning champion of parties, the king of party destinations. For the uninitiated, Ibiza is packed to the gills with clubs setting the nightlife gold standard, each featuring the absolute cream-of-the-crop DJ’s playing the freshest beats in the world. 45 Punta del Este, Uruguay One of the better-kept secrets in party-travel, Punta del Este is rapidly becoming a nightlife destination to rival places like Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. With gorgeous beaches to lounge at during the day, and an after-hours atmosphere with a distinctly Miami-esque feel, Punta del Este is poised to make a name for itself as the new party capital of South America. 46 Sao Paulo, Brazil Boasting an ultra-trendy 24/7 party attitude, Sao Paulo has a scene (and an associated club) for everyone. You can party in places like: converted houses (Casa 92, for example), underground hangouts (like the under-the-radar Love Story), or at an ultra-classy theme lounge (like the nautical Club Yacht). 47 Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, where you can party alongside celebrities without even looking like one. Though it does help. In recent years LA has relinquished many of its renowned large-scale events to Las Vegas, but that doesn’t mean the club scene there has taken a hit. In fact, without the massive raves, one might say that the Los Angeles club scene has been somewhat rejuvenated, to the benefit of locals and tourists alike. 48 Tel Aviv, Israel If you like staying up past 10 PM, dancing your butt off, meeting strangers, and having a grand ol’ time, Tel Aviv needs to be high on your party-travel bucket-list. It comfortably sits among the other premier party destinations of the world, and while the internet is full of “guides for finding nightlife in whatever place,” the guides for Tel Aviv closer resemble survival manuals for your average night out on the town. 49 Phuket, Thailand A hub of legendary and unique nightlife, you have to do your homework, and know what to expect, before a night out in Phuket. After all, you’ve got to be prepared for gender-bending, sketchy energy drinks, and possibly learning the hard way that your new friend has a price tag. 50 Krakow, Poland If you’re looking to get in on the ground floor of a burgeoning party city still getting its sea legs, look no further. Krakow is one of the biggest up-and-comers to the scene, so get there while the drinks are still strong and the lines are still short. 51 Mykonos, Greece If you’re the kind of person who sets out in the evening looking to bring home a story to compliment the hangover, Mykonos is the place for you. The debauchery that takes place there is world-class, and tales of the most outrageous evenings are a dime a dozen. Just remember, the things you see can’t be un-seen. ....

49 Phuket, Thailand

Murtaza Rangwala

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