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Best places to go on holiday in August
For some, August is all about beach holidays. But if you’re looking for a little more action than a fly-and-flop break, where’s best to visit in August? From amazing wildlife and festivals to scenic beauty, there’s plenty to inspire your next adventure.
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Norway
As temperatures soar in southern Europe, August is a great month to enjoy some of Norway’s best weather along with its unmissable sights, including art and Viking history in the capital Oslo, the colourful harbourfront Bryggen district in Bergen and the epic landscapes visible from the Flåm Railway. Venture to the top of the world to visit the Snow Hotel in summer, or even further north to cruise around Svalbard where you can spot the partial solar eclipse in August 2026.
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Germany
It’s a perfect month to explore northern Germany, heading into the Harz Mountains of Saxony to discover storybook castles, half-timbered towns and heritage steam trains chuffing through the thick forests on the slopes. UNESCO-listed Quedlinburg could have come straight from a fairytale, along with the gingerbread-style houses in Wernigerode. It’s easy to team this scenic part of the country with stops in a couple of major cities too, visiting Berlin and Dresden on the way.
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Switzerland
You don’t need snow to appreciate the Swiss Alps; head into the mountains of Switzerland in August, and you can see the flowers and greenery on the peaks, while enjoying some welcome cooling breezes away from the summer heat of the cities. Board the Bernina Express for an unforgettable rail journey through the Alps before soaking up more Alpine scenery from a cable car, the Glacier Express or on foot along one of the hiking trails.
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Lake Molveno, Italy
Italy isn’t short of breathtakingly lovely lakes, so when you hear that Lake Molveno has been named the most beautiful lake in the country for six years in a row, you know it’s going to be special. And with the sun shining and the vibrant blue waters, there could hardly be a better time to visit this corner of the Dolomites than August. Swim from one of the small beaches, follow the winding paths around the shore and through the lush forests, or go boating.
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Guernsey
The Channel Islands are consistently one of the sunniest parts of the British Isles, so it’s hard to beat August if you’re looking to make the most of the beautiful coast and countryside. On Guernsey, there’s a surprising amount packed into a small island. Discover an 800-year-old castle, a less well-known chapter of wartime history, the picturesque capital St Peter Port, links to author Victor Hugo and glorious landscapes, as well as a day on car-free Sark.
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Kenya
A land of forests, sun-baked plains and expansive grasslands, there’s nowhere better if you’re looking for a classic safari experience. August in Kenya is when the great wildlife extravaganza of the Great Migration takes place, with millions of wildebeest and other animals crossing from Tanzania into the Masai Mara – there’s no better time to be here. You’ll also find fantastic game-spotting on a Kenya safari with the dry season well underway, plus spectacular views of Mt Kilimanjaro from Amboseli National Park.
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Eastern Canada
With warm, dry weather in August, it’s the perfect time to plan a visit to Eastern Canada in order to make the most of the wonderful Canadian landscape. See the dramatic sight of Niagara Falls as the sun shines, as well as enjoying some of the festivals in full swing in Montreal and Toronto this month. You could city-hop by rail, find history and picturesque old streets in Quebec City or head to the coast in Nova Scotia.
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Alaska, USA
Discover a breathtakingly scenic region of intricate fjords, blue-streaked glaciers, snow-capped mountains and pristine valleys. The wild beauty of Alaska is at its best during the state’s short summer, when days are long (expect around 19 hours of daylight in Anchorage). August is also peak whale-watching season – look out for majestic humpbacks and orcas. Cruise the Inside Passage to see Glacier Bay, uncover Gold Rush history at Skagway and marvel at wild, unspoiled Denali National Park.
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South Africa
Although it’s the middle of winter in South Africa, there’s warm, dry weather in the north and east; check into a safari lodge such as Mabula Game Reserve for some great dry season game viewing as animals cluster around the water holes. Save time for a visit to the Cape as well, with whale-watching season underway along the Western Cape coast, as southern right whales migrate from Antarctica to calve and mate at Hermanus and Plettenberg Bay.
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Botswana
With much of Africa experiencing its dry season, August is an excellent time to see the continent’s animals. And Chobe National Park in Botswana is home to Africa’s greatest concentration of wildlife, including the largest elephant population on earth. One of the few places where the rare Puku antelope can be seen, you can also cruise along the river to spot hippo and fly over the national park for a unique view of the animals in their natural habitat.
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Australia
You might associate Australia with winter sun, but August is one of the best times to visit northern Australia, when the weather is dry and sunny without being too hot to explore the national parks or relax on the beaches. The currents around the Great Barrier Reef are also gentle at this time of year, making it an ideal month to snorkel. Head to Cairns to find reef and rainforest, sail around the Whitsunday Islands or take a drive up the east coast from Brisbane.
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