Want to watch the cyclists of the Tour de France whiz by while you meander to a local café for your morning coffee? Yearn to rock to the piercing guitar riffs of Pearl Jam then explore the foggy streets of London? Hostelworld.com has comprised a list of the greatest sports and music events in Europe this summer, and offers a solution for those with the heart of an explorer and the wallet of a college student. The most exciting summer hotspots are within reach, and more importantly, within budget.
 Tour de France, Paris, France
July 1st to July 23rd
Follow the world’s ultimate cycling event over 3500 km of rolling French countryside and the sometimes snow-capped peaks of the Alps and the Pyrenees. Be at the Champs-Elysées to witness the crowning of Lance Armstrong’s successor, and then revel in the Parisian nightlife of seedy drinking dens, extravagant clubs and intimate bars.
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 Foster’s British Grand Prix, Northamptonshire, England
11th June
Car enthusiasts and speed freaks, start your engines! Some of the world’s most exotic and lightning fast cars are competing at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire. Consistently rated as one of the fastest and most challenging circuits on the racing calendar, the British Grand Prix pits Ferraris against McLarens in a feverish fight that’s sure to have more burnouts than a Grateful Dead concert.
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 Wimbledon, London, England
June 26th to July 9th
Sit alongside the world famous Centre Court and watch the sweat drip from Roger Federer’s brow and feel the vibrations from Venus Williams monstrous backhand while they defend their cherished Wimbledon titles. The oldest and most prestigious event in tennis, and the stage for some of the greatest matches in the history of the sport, is set in the ultimate pub-crawling city. Spend the days gazing at Maria Sharapova and the nights sampling frothy pints from SoHo to Notting Hill.
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 World Cup, Germany
June 9th to July 9th
Watched the world over by more than two billion people with a fanaticism that trumps most religious zealots, the World Cup is the apex of sports spectacles and fan devotion. Get in on the international action and head to this year’s host country, Germany, for a month of headers, painted fans, rallying cries, heartbreaking losses and victory celebrations that make Vegas look like Sunday school!
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 America’s Cup, Valencia, Spain
May 11th to July 2nd
Called the Spanish gateway to the Mediterranean, the exotic seaport city of Valencia in the country of fiestas is undergoing massive preparations to host the most important event on the sailing calendar, the 32nd edition of the America’s Cup, in 2007. Get a jump on the action and experience the many preliminary regattas taking place this summer while raising a glass of Sangria, ordering a plate of paella valenciana and basking in the warmth of a Mediterannean summer.
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 Oxegen, Dublin, Ireland
July 8th and July 9th
It seems fitting that the birthplace of many of the world's most popular musicians and singers, the likes of Bono and Van Morrison, is home to this summer’s hottest concert ticket. Oxegen, the fastest selling festival in Ireland’s history, will see more than 100 acts including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Who and Franz Ferdinand play to more than 100,000 revelers over two days at the Punchestown Racecourse in Dublin. After the show, spend time trolling the streets of Temple Bar and knocking down pints of Guinness while you wait for your hearing to return.
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 Reading Festival, Reading, England
August 25th to August 27th
Retreat from reality, perfect a snarling rock grimace and become a master of the mosh pit at this year’s Reading Festival. The electrifying sounds of Pearl Jam, Audioslave and Muse will highlight the three-day musical experience that is just a short rail ride from the bustling streets of London. So bang your head like a seasoned veteran and hop the pond to one of the longest running music celebrations in the UK.
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 Cornetto Free Music Festival, Milan/Naples/Rome, Italy
June 23rd, June 25th & 2nd July
An ideal choice for the backpacker on the strictest budget, the Cornetto festival consists of three free outdoor concerts in three of the best-known squares in Italy: Milan's Piazza Duomo, Rome’s Piazza del Popolo and Naples’ Piazza del Popolo. Music legend Sting performs in Milan and Naples, while international hip-hop superstars Black Eyed Peas hit the stage in Rome. Grab an espresso, jump on the rail and travel up the boot to some of the most beautiful and historical destinations that Europe has to offer.
Book a bed in Milan / Book a bed in Naples / Book a bed in Rome
 Sziget Festival, Budapest, Hungary
August 9th to August 16th
More than a festival, this temporarily constructed city in Budapest is a place to spend a week of self-abandon, where the national language is decadent revelry and the party runs 24 hours a day. With more than 1,000 different programs of entertainment spread across more than 60 venues ranging from circus entertainment to classical music, this festival is guaranteed to satisfy even the most eclectic of tastes. Top off a week of excess by listening to the melodious sounds of Radiohead, the screeching vocals of rock-god Robert Plant and the reverberations of electro-industrial legend Ministry.
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