Best holiday destinations in July

July is peak holiday season, but some calendar events are just too good to miss – like witnessing the Highland Games in the Outer Hebrides, or Biarritz’s summertime evening art markets.

Further afield, you could also time it right for one of the world’s greatest wildlife phenomena in Kenya. 

From the Welsh coast to East Africa, these are our top getaways. We’ve found cheap July holiday options, along with our picks for either chasing, or escaping, the peak summer heat.

Best places to visit in July

• Palma, Spain 23°C
• Biarritz, France 24°C
• Calabria, Italy 30°C
• Menorca, Spain 28°C
• Rejkyavík, Iceland 13°C
• Hebrides, Scotland 16°C
• Pembrokeshire, Wales 19°C
• Nova Scotia, Canada 22°C
• Kenya, East Africa 28°C

Where in Europe is cheap in July? 

Biarritz, France

July high: 24°C

With six beaches to choose from and an average sea temperature of 21°C in July, this city in the Basque Country is a top pick for a seaside getaway. Its position on the Biscay Bay makes it great for watersports — in fact, the city is known as the birthplace of European surfing — but there’s also a large golf course by the beach if your preference is land-based sports.

While you’re in town, make sure to visit Les Halles to lean against the bar and slurp back an oyster, grab a crisp glass of white wine, try the region’s famous Gateau Basque — or take away exquisite cheeses, breads and fresh fruit for a beachside picnic.

When the sun begins to set, you can also head to the Port des pêcheurs (Fisherman’s Port) every Wednesday and Friday throughout July and August, for souvenir shopping with a difference — from 7pm until midnight, local artists and crafters turn up to sell handmade textiles, artworks and other gifts.

Best of all, we found direct return flights for a week’s stay, departing from London for as low as £51 — and plenty of one-way tickets each way from £24-40. 

Palma, Spain

July high: 23°C

For the indecisive traveller, Palma offers plenty. It’s not only a beach resort, but a city break go-to that’s utterly packed with culture. There’s stunning architecture at every turn: a Moorish palace, a cathedral restored by Gaudí in the 20th century and a circular hilltop palace providing 360-degree panoramic vistas over the city. To cool off, there are plenty of palm-shaded courtyards and lush gardens — or, of course, you can go for a dip in the Mediterranean. 

Most visitors are satisfied with the Mallorcan delicacies found at the food markets, but foodies should keep in mind that the isle of Mallorca has a staggering 24 Michelin guide restaurants, with 14 of those in the city of Palma itself. 

For those on a budget, two Mallorcan restaurants have also been selected for the ‘Bib Gourmand’ mark of recognition, meaning they serve very high-quality food and decent portions for reasonable prices — Miceli in Selva and Ca’n Boqueta in Sóller — both 30-35 minutes’ drive from Palma.

For a fare of £30-40, we found you could book direct, return flights to the island of Palma from across the UK, including Nottingham, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Leeds, and Manchester. 

Menorca, Spain

July high: 28°C

Package holiday tourists typically flock to its neighbouring islands, meaning Menorca’s white-sand beaches and whitewashed hilltop villages are joyously unspoiled. Unesco designated the entire island a biosphere in 1993, further preserving its limestone gorges and pine-framed bays. 

Menorca’s gentle terrain is perfect for walking and cycling; the Cami de Cavalls coastal path will be lined with wildflowers in July. You can also expect abundant sunshine this month and temperatures around the high twenties. 

Climb El Toro, a 350-metre hill at its centre, for panoramic views over the whole island. It’s barely 30 miles wide, which means that nothing is more than an hour’s drive away.

Calabria, Italy

July high: 30°C

Wherever’s hottest in the Med tends to be heaving in July. But that’s not the case for Calabria, also known as ‘the toe of the boot’ – the southwestern coast where Italy ‘kicks’ Sicily.

It’s a vast stretch of romantic mountains and is home to some of Italy’s most impressive beaches. Base yourself in Tropea and climb the steps up to the dramatic Santa Maria dell’Isola church, cool off in the richly historic sandstone grottos, and treat yourself to some tartufo – gelato coated in chocolate or cocoa powder, with a fruity or chocolate filling.

Reggio Calabria, just two hours south by train, is where you can hop on a 35-minute ferry across to Messina in Sicily. Or stay local and explore lesser-known seaside villages such as Diamante, Le Castella and Amantea, where you’ll find fewer tourists and even better value.

Wondering where in Europe has the most tourists? Read our guide to find out more.

Where in Europe isn't too hot in July?

Reykjavík, Iceland

July high: 13°C

July is Iceland’s mildest, sunniest month, offering around 20 hours of daylight. Chances of taking a hot tub soak under the magical, low-lying midnight sun are higher in July. And its geothermal glory, from hot springs to expansive lava fields, is reliably accessible for the month. 

All that means that whether you’re taking day trips from a base in Reykjavík or driving the ring road, you’ll have plenty of time to see waterfalls, glacier lagoons and clifftop puffin colonies – the latter of which are most active during this month, too.

Hiring a car abroad? Here’s everything you need to know.

Best UK holiday destinations in July

Pembrokeshire, Wales

July high: 19°C

It’s been described as Cornwall without the crowds, but word’s already out on the Pembrokeshire coast’s show-stopping beauty. July is the best time to take a gamble on the changeable Welsh weather, with daily highs teetering close to 20°C. 

The historic harbour town of Tenby and the tiny city of St Davids rank highly in our survey of the UK’s best seaside towns. Nearby Barafundle Bay is one of Britain’s most beautiful beaches, with its vivid blue waters and dune-backed secluded sands. 

You may even spot puffins making their splay-legged landing at wind-swept Skomer Island (a nesting site between April and July).

North Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland

July high:  16°C

The Hebrides come into their own in July, as the grasslands along the coastlines, known as the marchair, burst into technicolour wildflower blooms thanks to longer, sunnier days.

Head to North Uist for some of the Hebrides’ most dramatic landscapes, along with ample opportunities to spot golden eagles, otters and elusive corncrakes. If you’re visiting in late July, look out for the Highland Games, which kick off in the area this year on 18 July.

North Uist sits between Benbecula to the south and Harris/Lewis to the north, and is connected by a causeway to neighbouring isles including Grimsay, Berneray and Baleshare – so it's an ideal base for island-hopping.

Golden hour starts as late as 9pm, with the sun setting after 10pm, perfect for sunset loch-gazing and unhurried strolls under Hebridean sunsets.

Long-haul pick: Kenya, East Africa

July high: 28°C

Kenya offers plenty of unforgettable experiences, from visiting Masai villages to floating above the savannah in a hot air balloon. But number one has to be safari. Our summer (Africa’s winter) is prime game-viewing season; there are fewer tall grasses for lions to hide behind and less rainfall, meaning animals congregate around water holes. 

Late July to early August brings with it one of the most exciting wildlife events on earth: the Great Migration. More than 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra make their legendary 1,800-mile round trek, arriving in the Masai Mara National Reserve from the Serengeti in neighbouring Tanzania. The exact date varies; Mother Nature has the final say.