Where to go in July

Thousands of visitors have told us about the best places for beach holidays and city breaks. And we compared thousands of holiday prices to find the cheapest place for an all-inclusive break in Europe. 

In search of sizzling temperatures? Kefalonia claimed the title of best Greek island thanks to its silken beaches and fantastic food. 

There’s no sand, but you will find splendid Italian-style architecture in Portmeirion – the top Welsh destination in our survey of the UK’s best and worst seaside towns.

If you’re planning a weekend away, consider Portugal’s hip second city, Porto. July is also a great time to explore Seattle's excellent museums and galleries, and 200 miles of coastline. 

As for the lowest cost all-inclusive European break, the winner is Costa Barcelona.

Read on for the top spots as rated by visitors.

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Kefalonia

Average peak temperature: 30°C

Wherever you decide to go in Kefalonia, you won’t be short of spectacular scenery – think white beaches hemmed by lush, green forests and hidden caves. It’s no surprise this Ionian isle took the top spot in our survey of the best and worst Greek islands, scoring the full five stars for its beaches, scenery and food. 

For complete serenity, aim for Kefalonia’s more intimate south-coast resorts, such as Afrato or Karavado. Here, citrus groves and vineyards producing the island’s smooth Robola wine will often frame your view of the sea. And as one visitor noted, Kefalonia’s rugged landscapes are made for touring, so be sure to pencil in a couple of days to explore.

Check with booking.com to easily compare and find accommodation deals in Kefalonia. 

Costa Barcelona

Average peak temperature: 27°C

If you’re considering an all-inclusive holiday, check out the deals for this stretch of coast north of Barcelona. When we compared the price of more than 2,500 all-in beach breaks in Europe, Costa Barcelona was the cheapest destination.

The biggest resort is Calella (pictured above), which has a wide sandy beach, and a pretty historic quarter where you can linger over a beer with the locals. 

It’s less than an hour from Barcelona, which clinched four out of five stars for its cultural attractions in our Euro cities survey. You can also hop on a bus to Girona to explore its old town of cobbled alleys and shady squares.

Check with booking.com to easily compare and find accommodation deals in Costa Barcelona. 

Porto

Average peak temperature: 25°C

Portugal’s second city sits at the mouth of the Rio Douro and its banks are lined with historic buildings, from Beaux Arts beauties and baroque bell towers to a clutch of contemporary museums. The gaps in between form labyrinthine backstreets begging to be explored. 

Visitors were even more impressed by the food and drink – tuck into hearty traditional dishes and moreish petiscos (small plates) washed down with rich reds or craft beer. Porto’s value for money rating was also four out of five stars in our Euro cities survey.

Visit in July to make the most of Porto’s celebrated coastline. Vila Nova de Gaia, across the Douro, is not just famous for its wine cellars, it also has some of the best beaches in northern Portugal. 

Check with booking.com to easily compare and find accommodation deals in Porto. 

Portmeirion

Average peak temperature: 18°C

With the British summer in full swing, who needs Italy? Portmeirion is a living, breathing recreation of an Italian seaside village, complete with colonnaded villas, Renaissance-domed mansions, and an Art Deco lido.  

On the fringes of Snowdonia, and built over the course of 50 years with pieces of abandoned heritage buildings from across the country, it doesn’t quite pull off the Amalfi Coast. But with cobbled streets and blooming tropical flowers on every corner, it has its own fairy-tale appeal. 

In our recent survey of the UK’s seaside towns, Portmeirion was the top-rated destination in Wales. Visitors loved the architecture and its setting above a sandy estuary – giving it full five-star ratings for its seafront and tourist attractions. 

Check with booking.com to easily compare and find accommodation deals in Portmeirion. 

Seattle

Average peak temperature: 24°C

Summer is a lovely time of year to visit Seattle: the days are long and warm, and the infamous drizzle is minimal. It clinched a solid four out of five stars for both its cultural sights, food and drink, and value for money rating in our world cities survey. 

Downtown Seattle’s gleaming skyline is best viewed from the futuristic-looking Space Needle skyscraper. The city’s historic red-brick district, Pioneer Square, is now home to bookshops and galleries. You can descend beneath it on a tour of the original wood-frame town (gutted by fire in 1889), upon which modern Seattle is built. And as you might expect in the hometown of Starbucks, there’s no shortage of great coffee shops to take refuge in if the heavens open. 

Sandwiched between the Olympic Mountains and the Cascade Range, Seattle is surrounded by natural attractions and adventures. On sunny days, you’ll find Puget Sound and Elliott Bay crammed with yachties and kayakers.

Check with booking.com to easily compare and find accommodation deals in Seattle. 

Weather data from Weather2travel.com.