Best destinations to visit in August
Best destinations to visit in August
Deep wilderness backcountry paths and clear northern coastline routes in August
August closes out peak summer across the Northern Hemisphere, often bringing the hottest weather of the year to many regions.
Parts of Europe slow down noticeably this month, with many businesses in France and Italy closing for weeks as locals take their own summer holidays. Beaches and coastal towns stay busy well into the month, though crowds ease slightly as August draws to a close and school terms approach. Hurricane season builds toward its peak in the Atlantic, worth keeping an eye on for trips near the Caribbean or the Gulf Coast. The Southern Hemisphere remains in winter, with ski season still going strong across Australia, New Zealand and parts of South America. Wildlife migrations across parts of Africa also remain active this month.
The destinations on our list cover that same range, from the last big weeks of Northern Hemisphere summer to the tail end of ski season further south.
Lists by region
City in United States
San Diego
California's perfect weather playground
Warm, dry August weather suits the beaches at La Jolla and Pacific Beach. Balboa Park holds museums and gardens across more than 500 hectares. Grey whale season has passed by August, but sea lions stay year round at La Jolla Cove. USS Midway Museum sits on the downtown waterfront near the harbour.
State/Prefecture in China
Hong Kong
Where East Meets West
The Star Ferry has crossed Victoria Harbour between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon since 1888. Warm, humid August weather suits taking the Peak Tram up to views over the skyline. Neon signs light the streets of Mong Kok's markets after dark. Dim sum restaurants across the city serve small steamed and fried dishes.
Island in Spain
Canary Islands
Spain's volcanic paradise year-round
A cable car carries passengers to 3,555 metres on Mount Teide in about eight minutes. Warm year round weather keeps August beaches busy across Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Short viewpoint paths near the top station offer views across the volcanic landscape. Black sand beaches formed from volcanic rock line parts of the coastline.
Island in South Korea
Jeju Island
Nature's Island Paradise
Hallasan, a dormant volcano and South Korea's highest peak, rises about 1,947 metres. Warm, humid August weather suits swimming at black sand beaches around the coast. Lava tube caves at Manjanggul stretch for several kilometres underground. Volcanic rock formations ring much of the coastline near Seongsan Ilchulbong.
Island in Italy
Sicily
Sun, Sea and Ancient Secrets
Mount Etna's snow capped slopes in winter give way to bare summer trails by August. Warm, dry weather suits touring the Greek temples at Agrigento's Valley of the Temples. Taormina's Greek theatre offers views of the sea and the volcano beyond. Sicilian beaches along the Ionian coast stay busy through the peak season.
Country
Ireland
Emerald Isle of timeless charm
Mild August weather suits driving the Ring of Kerry's coastal loop road. The Cliffs of Moher rise about 214 metres above the Atlantic at their highest point. Traditional music sessions fill pubs across Galway and Dublin on summer evenings. Fields stay green across the countryside even in the driest months.
City in Belgium
Brussels
Europe's cozy capital of culture
Grand Place, ringed by ornate guild houses, has anchored central Brussels since the medieval period. Warm August weather suits outdoor tables around the square's cafes. The Atomium, built for the 1958 World's Fair, rises 102 metres as nine connected steel spheres. Belgian waffles and chocolate shops line many nearby streets.
Country
South Africa
Where wildlife meets diverse landscapes
August marks late winter in Cape Town, with whales visible off the coast near Hermanus. Table Mountain rises 1,086 metres above the city with a cable car to the top. Kruger National Park's dry season makes wildlife easier to spot around waterholes. African penguins waddle across the sand at Boulders Beach near Simon's Town.
City in Austria
Vienna
A Symphony of Culture and Elegance
Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence of the Habsburg emperors for centuries. Warm August weather suits walking the palace's formal gardens up to the Gloriette. Open air opera screenings play for free in front of the City Hall some summers. The Prater park's historic Ferris wheel has turned since 1897.
Country
Slovenia
Alpine beauty meets Adriatic charm
Lake Bled's small island is reached by traditional pletna boats through the warm August season. Ljubljana's dragon statues guard a bridge near the compact old town. The Julian Alps offer cooler hiking trails away from the summer heat of the lowlands. Postojna Cave's underground rail line carries visitors deep into limestone chambers.
National Park in United States
Yellowstone National Park
Geysers, wildlife and untamed wilderness
Old Faithful erupts roughly every 60 to 110 minutes, drawing crowds to its boardwalk viewing area. August brings warm days and busy roads across the park's high elevation terrain. Grand Prismatic Spring's colourful rings come from heat loving bacteria in the water. Bison herds graze across Hayden and Lamar valleys through the summer.
National Park in United States
Acadia National Park
Rugged Shores, Sunrise Peaks, Wild Beauty
Cadillac Mountain rises 466 metres above the Maine coast, among the earliest spots to see sunrise in the US. Warm August days suit hiking the Precipice Trail's iron rungs and ladders. Jordan Pond's still water reflects surrounding hills near a popular teahouse. Sand Beach stays a rare cold water swimming spot along the rocky shoreline.
Town in China
Dali
Ancient Charm by Erhai Lake
Dali's old town sits beside Erhai Lake beneath the peaks of the Cangshan mountains. Warm August weather suits cycling the paved path that circles the lake. The Three Pagodas, built more than a thousand years ago, stand just outside the old walls. Bai ethnic communities around Dali are known for indigo dyed textiles.
City in United Kingdom
Edinburgh
History, Culture and Festival Fever
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe fills the city with thousands of performances each August. Edinburgh Castle sits high on Castle Rock, the plug of an extinct volcano. The Royal Mile runs downhill from the castle to Holyrood Palace. Fireworks close the International Festival above the castle each summer.
City in South Korea
Busan
Beaches, Markets and Culture
Haeundae Beach fills with sunbathers during Busan's warm, humid August peak season. Gamcheon Culture Village's colourful houses climb a steep hillside above the harbour. Jagalchi Fish Market sells fresh catch pulled in that morning. Busan's Beomeosa Temple sits in forested hills a short subway ride from downtown.
City in China
Beijing
Ancient history meets modern dynamism
The Forbidden City held Chinese emperors for nearly 500 years within its walled complex. Warm August evenings suit strolling around Houhai Lake's bars and restaurants. Tiananmen Square sits just south of the palace's main gate. The Temple of Heaven's round blue roofed hall dates to the early 1400s.
National Park in United States
Glacier National Park
Crown of the Continent
Going-to-the-Sun Road climbs to Logan Pass at 2,026 metres between steep mountain walls. Warm August days suit hiking trails such as Highline that trace the Continental Divide. Wildflowers linger in alpine meadows into early August most years. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep are often spotted near the pass.
State/Prefecture in Japan
Hokkaido
Volcanoes, powder snow and fresh seafood
Cooler summer temperatures across Hokkaido offer relief from the heat further south in Japan. Lavender fields near Furano stay colourful into early August most years. Biei's patchwork farmland rolls across gentle hills near Furano. Sapporo's parks stay full of visitors enjoying long, mild summer evenings.
Island
Borneo
Wild rainforests meet unique wildlife
Orangutans at Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah come to a feeding platform most mornings. River cruises on the Kinabatangan spot proboscis monkeys along the banks. Danum Valley's rainforest canopy walkway hangs high above the forest floor. Warm, humid August weather is typical across most of the island.
National Park in Canada
Jasper National Park
Untamed Wilderness and Starry Skies
The Icefields Parkway links Jasper with Banff past glaciers and turquoise lakes. Maligne Lake's Spirit Island is reached by a scenic boat cruise across the water. Dark skies over Jasper earned it one of the world's largest dark sky preserve designations. Warm August days suit hiking trails around Maligne Canyon.
Country
Ecuador
Compact country, immense biodiversity
Quito's colonial centre, one of the largest and best preserved in the Americas, sits at about 2,850 metres. Cooler mountain air makes August comfortable for exploring the capital's churches and plazas. The Galápagos Islands stay dry and mild with calmer seas for wildlife viewing. Otavalo's Saturday market draws weavers and craftspeople from across the highlands.
Country
Kenya
Safari paradise meets coastal charm
The Great Migration typically remains in the Maasai Mara through August, with herds grazing the plains. Predators such as lions and cheetahs stay active around the resident wildlife. Amboseli National Park frames herds of elephants against Mount Kilimanjaro on clear days. Dry season conditions make wildlife easier to spot around remaining water sources.
Country
Tanzania
Wild safaris meet tropical beaches
The Great Migration typically remains in the northern Serengeti and Maasai Mara area through August. Mount Kilimanjaro's dry season climbing conditions continue through the month. Zanzibar's beaches stay warm and sunny on the coast to the east. Ngorongoro Crater holds a dense concentration of wildlife year round.
City in Turkey
Bodrum
Sun, Sea and Ancient Ruins
Whitewashed houses climb the hillside above Bodrum's harbour and its 15th century castle. Warm, dry August weather suits sailing gulet boats along the Turkish coast. Ancient Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders' mausoleum sites, once stood here. Beach clubs along the peninsula stay lively through the summer season.
City in China
Lhasa
A Spiritual Journey in Tibet
The Potala Palace rises above Lhasa from a hilltop, once the winter home of the Dalai Lama. Lhasa sits at about 3,650 metres, so visitors often need a day to adjust. Jokhang Temple draws pilgrims who prostrate along the surrounding Barkhor circuit. Warm August days give way to cool nights at this elevation.
Archaeological Site in Peru
Machu Picchu
Lost Inca city among clouds
Dry season weather keeps skies mostly clear over the ancient citadel through August. Cool, crisp mornings suit the walk up to Huayna Picchu's summit. Terraced stone walls climb the mountainside above the Urubamba river valley below. The classic Inca Trail stays busy with trekkers during the peak dry months.
City in Spain
San Sebastián
Basque charm with beach vibes
A flat promenade with white railings follows the curved sand of La Concha beach. Warm August weather brings the busiest crowds of the year to the old town. Bars in the old town serve pintxos, small plates that are easy to share. A wooden funicular has run up Monte Igueldo since 1912.
National Park in United States
Mount Rainier National Park
A Majestic Volcano and Wild Beauty
Wildflower meadows at Paradise reach peak bloom in early August most years. Mount Rainier rises 4,392 metres, the tallest peak in Washington State. The Skyline Trail loops past meadows with views of the glacier capped summit. Clear August days often bring strong visibility for sightseeing across the park.
City in Spain
Bilbao
Basque culture meets bold design
The Guggenheim Museum's titanium curves opened along the Nervión river in 1997. Warm August weather suits walking the riverside promenade towards the old town. Pintxos bars in the Casco Viejo serve small plates meant for sharing. A funicular climbs Artxanda hill for views over the city.
Country
Namibia
Desert wilderness meets wildlife wonders
Dunes at Sossusvlei tower more than 300 metres above the desert floor. Dry, cooler August weather keeps game viewing easy at Etosha's waterholes. Coastal Swakopmund stays mild thanks to the cold Benguela current offshore. Desert elephants roam the dry riverbeds of Damaraland further north in the country.
City in Croatia
Split
Roman Ruins, Adriatic Vibes, Beaches
The Roman emperor Diocletian built his retirement palace here around AD 305. Shops, cafes and homes now fill the former palace rooms. Warm August weather suits swimming from the palm lined Riva waterfront promenade. Ferries from the harbour reach islands such as Brač and Hvar.
City in Spain
Córdoba
A timeless blend of cultures
The Mezquita's forest of striped double arches was built starting in the late 700s. August brings intense heat to Córdoba, so mornings and evenings suit sightseeing best. The Roman bridge across the Guadalquivir river dates to the 1st century. Shaded patios across the old Jewish quarter offer relief from the midday sun.
City in Sri Lanka
Kandy
Sacred Temples, Misty Hills, Tea Trails
The Temple of the Tooth holds a relic believed to be a tooth of the Buddha. Warm, humid August weather often brings the Esala Perahera festival's torchlit procession. Kandy Lake, built in the early 1800s, sits at the heart of the hill town. Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya spread across land once used by Sri Lankan kings.
National Park in Lithuania
Curonian Spit National Park
Dunes, Forests and Baltic Magic
Shifting sand dunes along the Curonian Spit rise among the tallest in Europe. A narrow strip of land separates the Baltic Sea from a calm lagoon. Warm August weather suits cycling the paved path linking small fishing villages. Pine forests planted in the 1800s stabilise dunes that once buried entire villages.
Island in Tanzania
Zanzibar
Turquoise Waters and Spice Perfume
Carved wooden doors with brass studs decorate many old houses in Stone Town. Warm, dry August weather suits diving and snorkelling around nearby coral reefs. A short walk leads to Forodhani Gardens where food stalls set up each evening. Spice tours through nearby plantations show how cloves and nutmeg are grown.
Island in Spain
Formentera
Turquoise Waters and Bohemian Calm
Ses Illetes beach curves along a narrow sandbar with turquoise water on both sides. Warm, dry August weather suits cycling the island's flat, quiet roads. Ferries from Ibiza reach Formentera in about 30 minutes. Ca Marí and other beach chiringuitos serve lunch a short walk from the sand.
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