July means summer, no school, annual leave, rising temperatures and more festivals than you can dare to dream of. The seventh month of the year has long been at the very forefront of international travel.
The best places to visit in July touch on every corner of the globe (the globe doesn’t have corners, for the record), from Montreal and Madagascar to the Netherlands, New Zealand and the rest. Of course, places really start to get busy in July, so book ahead, and we’ll see you there.
1. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
July in Amsterdam is all about good food, good weather and good vibes. Lazy summer days are best spent hanging out in Vondelpark, where you can often catch free open-air comedy, dance and musical performances, or at Roest urban beach, which comes complete with an adult-friendly jungle gym. And although the city’s usual festivities are likely to be muted this year, keep an eye out for street food markets and events.
2. Greenland
Touted by some as ‘the new Iceland’, Greenland may be more popular than ever before, but it’s still a long way behind its over-saturated sibling – all the better for those wanting to get off the beaten track. July is technically high season here, and hotels do book up fast, but this is the world’s largest (and arguably wildest) island, and there are plenty of opportunities to find relative solitude. In it for the icebergs? Join a nighttime cruise of UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord (the size of 66,000 football fields), where until around the 24th of the month, the midnight sun sets a cast of creaking bergs aglow in hues of pink, purple and orange.
3. South Island, New Zealand
With sweet ski slopes, luxury hot springs and fantastic whale watching opportunities, New Zealand’s South Island is a no-brainer when it comes to winter escapes. The coldest months also offer the chance to witness the aurora australis (southern lights) dancing along the horizon, best spotted in Dunedin close to a new moon. There are yet more reasons to look skyward in July: the rise of the Pleiades star cluster marks the start of Matariki (Maori New Year), which is celebrated with cultural festivals and feasts. Visit Mt John Observatory in Tekapo, which sits within an international dark sky reserve, for unbeatable stargazing.
4. North West England, United Kingdom
We’ll be the first to admit that the weather in the northwest of England can be, how do we say, a little less than optimum. Drizzle persists for most of the year, but July sees the sun finally break through with all the enthusiasm of an excitable child. The big cities of the northwest follow suit, with Liverpool and Manchester in particular shining brightest when the sun is out. Sure, the north is defined by its drizzle, but you can’t beat an Aigburth beer garden on a Saturday afternoon. Throw in some excellent park festivals, and you’ve got yourself a very special part of the world indeed.
5. Hoi An, Vietnam
As the monsoon rains fall in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, savvy travelers in Vietnam head to the central coast, where the weather is dry and warm. Some of the country’s most beautiful beaches are right here, along with UNESCO-listed cities and jaw-dropping national parks. Step back in time in historic port city Hoi An, where lantern-strewn streets reveal Chinese temples and ancient tea-houses. Then head out of town to laze on the stretches of white sand around Da Nang, brave Hai Van Pass on a motorbike tour, and visit Hue’s Imperial citadel before heading inland to see the gargantuan Phong Na Caves.
6. Montreal, Canada
Montreal’s Canada Day celebrations kickstart a whole month of summer fun in a city more often associated with icy winters. The highlights usually include Sainte Catherine Street Fair (the largest in the country) and the world’s biggest international comedy festival, Just for Laughs, while Cirque Festival ensures you won’t have to bend over backwards to find street entertainment – performers from Cirque du Soleil, the National Circus School and others put on tonnes of shows to celebrate one of Quebec’s most famous art forms. But if festival-hopping isn’t an option this year, July is still a great time to discover this incredible city – and fuel up courtesy of the city’s best chefs at Time Out Market Montreal.
7. Madagascar
Home to some of the most diverse wildlife on the planet, Madagascar is a joy to visit in July, when the weather is cooler and drier, making lemur spotting on rainforest treks more comfortable. Humpback whales migrate here to calve their young at this time of year – spot them in Tulear and Nosy Be, or experience the humpback whale festival on Nosy Boraha. In Morondava, the local community celebrates the island’s precious ecology with the Baobab Fosa festival, where you can spot fossa (a relative of the mongoose), and walk the dazzling Avenue of the Baobabs.
8. Singapore
Singapore is a food lover’s dream year-round, but to taste it at its best, you’ll want to head there in July. That’s when the island city celebrates its multicultural cuisine with the Singapore Food Festival. From cooking masterclasses and fine dining events to a street food extravaganza, this week-long celebration of local flavour is worth skipping breakfast for. Had enough of the heat? Find refuge in the air-conditioned malls on Orchard Road and indulge in a spot of retail therapy – the Great Singapore Sale runs nearly all month, offering great deals and steep discounts.
9. West Coast, North America
Sound the road trip klaxon! California and the Pacific Northwest are calling. Apart from July 4, when roads in the US will be rammed with long weekenders on their way to family barbecues and baseball games, this month is a fine time to discover the best of the American and Canadian West Coast. Whether you want to catch some rays in San Diego, forest bathe in Oregon, tour Seattle’s street art or simply make the most of Vancouver’s least rainy month of the year, this slice of North America is as diverse as its days are long.
10. Japan
A year removed from the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, Japan’s capital and other key sights have reverted back to the norm, although that still means hot and busy. So if you can, make time earlier in the month to explore the likes of Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, as well as lesser-known spots such as Shiretoko Peninsula or Hateruma Island. Or, if you’re shorter on time, stick to day trips from the city and complete your own athletic feats by summiting Mount Fuji or catching some waves in surf town Kamakura.
11. Cape Town, South Africa
Hoping to see some whales while in Cape Town? July is the beginning of whale season in this part of the world, so best to get ahead of the game and set up camp accordingly, with southern right and humpback whales most likely to show their faces at this early juncture. Elsewhere in the city, winter is at its peak, meaning mild temperatures and a charming atmosphere free of the summer sizzle. You’ll have the sights to yourself in July here.
12. Provence, France
From Avignon and Marseille to Nice, St Tropez and Cannes, Provence is packed with historic cities and stylish towns – but don’t forget the swathes of pastoral bliss in between. Come in July to frolic in the lavender fields around Aix en Provence and Senanque Abbey before the harvest, join the Fête Nationale celebrations in pretty much every single town and village, or catch a glimpse of Tour de France riders along the dizzyingly high trail of Mont Ventoux.
