Best destinations to visit in July
Best destinations to visit in July
Peak summer coastal tracks and high-altitude mountain pass circuits in July
July is the height of summer across the Northern Hemisphere, with schools out and much of Europe and North America in full holiday mode.
Beaches, national parks and major cities all see their busiest crowds and highest prices of the year this month. The Southern Hemisphere runs on the opposite schedule, with ski season in full swing across Australia, New Zealand and parts of South America. East Africa's wildlife migration also reaches one of its most striking points in July, drawing travellers hoping to see the herds cross the Mara River. Travellers who prefer to avoid peak crowds often look toward the Southern Hemisphere's winter destinations instead or toward quieter shoulder season alternatives closer to home. Airfares and hotel rates also climb noticeably during this stretch, in step with the demand.
The destinations on our list cover that same range, from peak Northern Hemisphere summer to the best of Southern Hemisphere ski season.
Lists by region
City in Mexico
Mexico City
Vibrant Culture, History and Street Food
Mild July weather with afternoon showers keeps Mexico City's parks green through the rainy season. The Zócalo, one of the largest public squares in the world, anchors the historic centre. Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul museum sits in the colourful Coyoacán neighbourhood. Chapultepec Park's paths stay shaded under mature trees during the warm afternoons.
City in Germany
Berlin
Wall history, Museum Island and all-night clubs
Warm July weather suits long days spent cycling through Tiergarten and along the Spree river. Museum Island holds five museums built between the 1820s and early 1900s. Remaining stretches of the Berlin Wall, painted with murals, line the East Side Gallery. Beer gardens across the city stay busy on long summer evenings.
City in Canada
Montreal
A city of festivals, food and culture
Jazz musicians fill outdoor stages downtown during the Montreal International Jazz Festival each summer. Warm July weather suits strolling the cobbled streets of Old Montreal. Jean-Talon Market sells fresh produce and maple products from outdoor stalls. Mount Royal Park offers wide city views a short walk from downtown.
City in Canada
Vancouver
Where mountains, ocean and city life meet
Warm, dry July weather suits walking Stanley Park's seawall along the waterfront. Granville Island Public Market draws crowds for fresh produce and seafood on sunny days. English Bay's beaches fill with sunbathers through the summer months. Mountains across Burrard Inlet frame the city skyline on clear days.
Region in Indonesia
Bali
Tropical beaches, vibrant culture and adventure
Dry season sunshine keeps beach days reliable on the Bukit Peninsula through July. Rice terraces near Ubud stay a vivid green through the drier months. Uluwatu Temple sits on a cliff above the sea at the island's southern tip. Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary sits a short walk from central Ubud.
City in Sweden
Stockholm
Where islands, history and modernity meet
Long July daylight suits boat trips through the Stockholm archipelago's thousands of islands. Gamla Stan's medieval streets stay lively with outdoor cafes through summer. The Vasa Museum holds a 17th century warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. Djurgården island's parks and museums draw steady summer crowds.
City in Denmark
Aarhus
Scandi Cool Meets Viking Roots
A circular rainbow coloured walkway 150 metres around crowns the ARoS art museum roof. Warm July weather suits strolling the harbour front and Latin Quarter's narrow lanes. Den Gamle By, an open air museum of historic Danish streets, sits a short walk from downtown. Beaches at Bellevue stay busy on sunny summer days.
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. July brings warm days and open 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.
Town in Vietnam
Hoi An
Charming Lanterns and Timeless Streets
UNESCO listed Hoi An's Old Town as a World Heritage Site in 1999. Warm July weather suits evening walks beneath silk lanterns lighting the streets. A roofed wooden bridge from the late 1500s crosses a canal in the old town. Tailor shops nearby can sew custom clothes in a couple of days.
National Park in United States
Rocky Mountain National Park
Majestic Peaks and Untamed Wilderness
Trail Ridge Road climbs above 3,700 metres, the highest paved through road in any US national park. Wildflowers bloom in alpine tundra meadows through July after the winter snowpack melts. Elk graze in open meadows near Estes Park in the early morning and evening. Cool mountain air offers relief from summer heat at lower elevations.
Region in Portugal
Algarve
Golden cliffs and azure waters
Sunny, dry July weather brings warm days to the Algarve's beaches and cliffside trails. Benagil Cave, reached by boat or kayak, has a round opening in its roof. Sea temperatures stay comfortable for swimming along the coast. Cliffside trails link quiet beaches near Lagos with dramatic rock formations.
Island in Italy
Sardinia
Turquoise seas and ancient secrets
Turquoise water laps pale sand beaches along Sardinia's Costa Smeralda coastline. July brings warm, dry weather with sea temperatures comfortable for swimming. Nuraghe, ancient stone tower structures from the Bronze Age, dot the island's countryside. Cagliari's old quarter climbs a hill above the harbour with narrow lanes and city walls.
State/Prefecture in United States
Alaska
Land of superlatives and adventure
Long July daylight gives extra hours for spotting bears fishing at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park. Glacier Bay's tidewater ice calves into the sea with a loud crack and splash. Denali, North America's tallest peak, rises 6,190 metres above the surrounding tundra. Whale watching boats from Juneau spot humpbacks feeding in nearby waters.
State/Prefecture in Japan
Hokkaido
Volcanoes, powder snow and fresh seafood
Lavender fields near Furano reach peak bloom in July, turning hillsides deep purple. Cooler summer temperatures across Hokkaido offer relief from the heat further south in Japan. Biei's patchwork farmland rolls across gentle hills near Furano. Sapporo's parks fill with visitors enjoying long summer evenings.
City in Australia
Cairns
Gateway to Reef and Rainforest Wonders
July brings cooler, drier weather to Cairns with calmer seas over the nearby reef. The Kuranda Scenic Railway climbs into rainforest through 15 hand cut tunnels. Skyrail gondolas glide 7.5 kilometres above the rainforest canopy to the same village. Pontoons anchored off the coast give easy access to the outer Great Barrier Reef.
Country
Tanzania
Wild safaris meet tropical beaches
The Great Migration crosses the Mara River in the northern Serengeti through July, drawing crocodiles and predators to the banks. 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.
Archaeological Site in Peru
Machu Picchu
Lost Inca city among clouds
Dry season weather keeps skies clear over the ancient citadel through July. The classic Inca Trail stays open with cool, crisp mornings and dry trails. Terraced stone walls climb the mountainside beneath Huayna Picchu. Cusco's Inti Raymi festival in late June leads into a busy July travel season.
Country
Mauritius
Tropical Bliss in the Indian Ocean
Calm lagoon beaches at Grand Baie stay warm through the cooler southern hemisphere winter. Giant water lilies float in ponds at the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, dating to the 1700s. Chamarel's Seven Colored Earths show bands of red, brown and purple sand. Winter trade winds bring pleasant, less humid air to the island in July.
Archipelago in Portugal
Azores
Volcanic Isles of Atlantic Wonders
Hydrangeas bloom blue and pink along roadsides across São Miguel through July. Twin crater lakes at Sete Cidades sit inside a single volcanic caldera. The thermal pools at Terra Nostra Park hold warm orange brown water in a shaded garden. Whale watching boats spot sperm whales and dolphins offshore in summer.
Country
Rwanda
Land of a thousand hills
July sits in Rwanda's long dry season, making gorilla trekking trails firmer underfoot. Mountain gorillas live in the misty forests of Volcanoes National Park in the north. Permits allow small groups to spend an hour observing a habituated gorilla family. Kigali's hilly streets are known for being notably clean and orderly.
Town in Switzerland
Zermatt
Alpine Magic and the Matterhorn
A cogwheel train opened in 1898 climbs to 3,089 metres at Gornergrat for views of the Matterhorn. Electric taxis and buses replace petrol cars in the car free village streets. Alpine meadows below the peaks fill with wildflowers through July. Hiking trails at various elevations suit both short walks and full day treks.
Country
Botswana
Safari paradise with diverse landscapes
The Okavango Delta floods with water from Angola's highlands, reaching its peak around July. Mokoro canoe safaris glide silently through channels lined with reeds and papaya trees. Elephants and hippos gather along the delta's waterways as the dry season sets in. Chobe National Park nearby holds one of Africa's largest elephant populations.
Country
Fiji
Tropical paradise with diverse landscapes
July falls in Fiji's dry season with calm seas and comfortably cool, low humidity air. The Mamanuca Islands offer easy day trips from Nadi for snorkelling over coral reefs. Traditional kava ceremonies welcome visitors to many village stays. Warm water year round suits diving among soft coral reefs off Taveuni.
Town in Switzerland
Interlaken
Adventure, Lakes and Alpine Magic
Mountain views from Harder Kulm's funicular reach across both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz in clear July weather. The ride takes about ten minutes to a viewing platform at 1,322 metres. Historic steamboats cruise on both lakes through the summer season. Adventure sports such as paragliding and canyoning draw visitors to the valley.
Island in Greece
Paros
Charming beaches and whitewashed villages
Whitewashed houses and blue shuttered churches line the narrow lanes of Naoussa's harbour. Warm July weather and steady meltemi winds suit windsurfing along the island's beaches. Golden Beach draws kitesurfers for its consistent afternoon breeze. Ferries connect Paros with Mykonos and Santorini in under two hours.
City in Slovenia
Ljubljana
A charming green city with soul
Ljubljana's dragon statues guard a bridge across the river near the old town. Warm July weather suits outdoor cafes lining the riverside promenade. A funicular climbs to a hilltop castle overlooking the compact city centre. Open air concerts and film screenings fill the summer festival season.
Region in India
Ladakh
Himalayan Cold Desert of Contrasts
Ladakh's high passes typically open by July after winter snow clears the roads. Buddhist monasteries such as Thiksey perch on hilltops above the Indus valley. The region sits in a rain shadow, so July stays dry even as monsoon rains fall elsewhere in India. Pangong Lake changes colour through shades of blue across the day.
Nature Reserve in Kenya
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Witness the Great Migration
The Great Migration typically reaches the Maasai Mara around July, with herds crossing the Mara River. Predators gather along the riverbanks watching for crossing wildebeest and zebra. Hot air balloon safaris drift over the plains at sunrise for wide views of the herds. Dry weather makes wildlife easier to spot around remaining water.
Country
Faroe Islands
Dramatic cliffs meet misty landscapes
Grass roofed houses dot villages tucked between steep green cliffs across the Faroe Islands. Long July daylight suits hikes to dramatic viewpoints such as Drangarnir's sea stacks. Sheep graze on nearly every hillside across the 18 islands. Ferries and tunnels link the main islands for easy day trips.
Mountain
Mount Everest
World's highest peak, ultimate challenge
Monsoon rains bring clouds and heavier rain to the Everest region through much of July. Base Camp treks are less common in July than in the clearer pre and post monsoon seasons. Lush green hillsides and blooming rhododendrons still make lower trails scenic. Sherpa villages along the route stay quieter than in busier months.
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