Europe's summer 2010 party hotspots

Where's the party at? © Creative Commons / Caza No 7

Madrid, Spain

Vibrant Spanish capital Madrid is bursting with dusk-til-dawn party spots, from intimate backstreet bars, to dancefloor-pumping nightclub kings. The most famous club is Kapital: seven floors offering everything from house to salsa. Other popular venues include Joy Eslava, and Pacha Madrid, while locals flock to atmospheric El Junco, whose weekly bill features live soul, jazz and funk performances. Colourful music festivals regularly flood Madrid's venues and streets, such as Drum Parade, and Festimad.

Berlin, Germany

Pack plenty of stamina to make the most of Berlin's nightlife. Many hedonistic gems are tucked away, so visiting party-goers need to be armed with a decent map. But, with everything from moody pubs set amid derelict ruins to giant, modern techno clubs, Berlin certainly rewards a little effort. Hard-core revellers should head to the former Eastern block district of Mitte, while Kreuzberg has more of an edgier vibe. New, hip drinking holes have also popped up in Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain.

Ibiza, Balearic Islands

The world's most famous summer party isle shows not signs of slowing down. Ibiza remains a pounding community of clubland's biggest players - Pacha, Space, Eden, Manumission, and Amnesia to name but a few. With worldclass DJs on the decks, floods of beat-hungry revellers hitting its shores from June-September, and a backdrop of golden sands, streaming Mediterranean sunshine and cobalt-blue seas, Ibiza is a sure-fire destination for a hefty dose of goodtimes.

Belgrade, Serbia

From sweaty underground bars to upmarket clubs, Belgrade has the best nightlife in southeast Europe. Strahinjića bana (or ‘Silicon Valley') is a whole street of trendy bars and cafés, while the floating rafts moored along the banks of the rivers make for unusual club venues. One of the most popular nightclubs in the Serbian capital is Andergraund, in the catacombs beneath the Kalemegdan Fortress. This famous techno club is shaped like a tube with a long, narrow elevated dance floor and walkways down each side. For something more unique, seek out the subterranean world of World Travellers Club, a laid-back bohemian bar where the young used to party during the Balkan conflict.

Mykonos, Cyclades Islands, Greece

The Greek island of Mykonos is a hedonist's delight, with its glamorous clubs, celebrity clientele and golden-sand beaches. Mykonos Town is the centre of the action, with exuberant nightlife and designer-clad party-goers found amidst a pretty labyrinth of winding cobbled streets and iconic blue and white cubic houses. Top venues include Pierro's (Matogianni), a much-loved gay bar, and Caprice (Little Venice), one of the island's oldest and best-known cocktail bars. Open-air clubbing takes place on the beaches of Paradiso and Super Paradiso; for after-hours and international DJ's, head for Cavo Paradiso above Paradiso beach.