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July holiday destinations
Want to know where’s best to holiday in July? Explore Europe, where summer’s in full swing, but there’s adventure further afield too. Journey to the Indian Ocean for Madagascar or marvel at glaciers in Alaska, among other unforgettable July holidays.
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Norway
As southern Europe starts to feel the heat, July 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. Or take a cruise through the famous fjords to the top of the world, where you can visit the Snow Hotel even in summer, during one of the long July days.
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Austria
Forget the country’s usual winter snow and city breaks, the summer is a wonderful time to visit Austria to make the most of its fabulous mountain and lakeside scenery. Head to Zell am See in the Austrian Alps for a chance to go walking around the lake in the July sunshine, venture into the hills, see the majestic Krimml Falls, Europe’s highest waterfalls, as well as exploring picturesque Salzburg with its musical history.
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Switzerland
You don’t need skis to appreciate the Swiss Alps; July is a perfect month to head into the mountains of Switzerland to see the flowers and lush greenery on the peaks, while still 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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Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are consistently one of the sunniest parts of the British Isles, so when better to make the most of their beautiful coast and countryside than July. Head to Guernsey for unexpected wartime history, the picturesque capital St Peter Port, links to Victor Hugo and glorious landscapes, or discover the wonderful botanic gardens on Jersey, along with a 13th century castle, smugglers’ haunts and a Jersey cream tea.
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Portugal
Admire Lisbon’s cinematic hilltops, Porto’s mazy cobbled streets, the vineyards of the Douro Valley or stroll along the Algarve’s endless golden beaches. Early summer is one of the liveliest times to visit Portugal, as the festival calendar is packed, while warm and sunny days are the norm across the country. Travel early in the month or visit less-explored regions such as the Alentejo and you can still avoid some of the busiest periods too.
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Mauritius
Mauritius is the stuff of dreams – a true castaway isle in the southern Indian Ocean. Here, the beaches are snow-white, shaded by sloping palm trees and lapped by impossibly clear blue waters. If you’re in the market for R&R, this is the place for you. And at this time of the year, temperatures are much more bearable, with sunny days and cooler nights.
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Madagascar
Journey around this unique island and you’ll come across soaring baobab trees, cheeky lemurs, curly-tailed chameleons and some of the weirdest, most wonderful insect life you’ve ever seen. Madagascar is best explored in July as it’s the middle of the dry season, the temperatures hover around the low 20Cs during the day, creating ideal conditions to explore the rainforests. You might even spot humpback whales off the coast of Ifaty at this time of year.
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Alaska, USA
With its towering glaciers, remote cities and unforgettable wildlife, Alaska is always an adventure to remember – and the best time to experience it is during the summer months, rather than the dark frozen conditions you’ll find during winter. Look out for humpback whales as you cruise up the Inside Passage, enjoy 20-hour days in Fairbanks, watch glaciers calve, discover Gold Rush history and see if you can spot the Alaskan Big Five along the way.
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Kenya
There’s a chance to marvel at one of the world’s greatest natural sights this month with the start of the Great Migration, making July an unmissable time to visit Kenya. As well as millions of wildebeest, zebras and other animals moving from Tanzania into Kenya’s Masai Mara in search of fresh grazing and water, it’s the start of the dry season, so a fantastic time for a Kenya safari to spot the Big Five and some of the country’s other wonderful wildlife.
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South Africa
There’s extra reason to visit South Africa in July, with the start of the whale-watching season along the Western Cape coast, as southern right whales migrate from Antarctica to Hermanus and Plettenberg Bay, coming close to shore to calve and mate. While 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 game viewing as animals cluster around the water holes.
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Zimbabwe
Whether you’re tempted by the crashing thunderous majesty of the Victoria Falls or a chance to see Africa’s amazing wildlife in its natural habitat, July is a perfect month to visit Zimbabwe. The weather is milder at the Falls, the views are clearer and there’s a good chance of seeing the lunar rainbow, created by the light of the moon. It’s also an excellent time to see wildlife, which gathers around waterholes, both here and neighbouring Botswana.
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Japan
July sees the biggest festival in Japan, with the month-long Gion Festival in Kyoto taking place. With street parties, parades featuring huge floats and locals wearing flowing summer kimonos or yukata, it’s a chance to experience some of the country’s fascinating traditions. The special Essence of Japan tour includes a day at the festival, as well as a chance to see Tokyo, historic Kanazawa and Hiroshima among other stops. Japan’s rainy season is usually over by the middle of the month too.
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