Whether you're imagining yourself on a wild adventure or celebrating a joyous festival, we’ve highlighted 6 destinations that are perfect for a getaway in July.
Where To Go When
View BookWashington, D.C.
July means party time in the US capital, with two of its most important events taking place in close succession. The first, the Smithsonian Folklife festival, celebrates cultural heritage and is an entirely free, open-air event taking place in late June and early July. During the festival, the National Mall is filled with a colourful array of musicians, artists, story-tellers, cooks and craftspeople, creating an energetic celebration.
This is followed by Independence Day on the Fourth of July, with its awesome firework displays. Even when the excitement of these festival days has died down, there is still much to be enchanted by, including the Potomac river, lined by lush parks and cycling trails, and countless spectacular exhibitions at the city’s many museums.
This is followed by Independence Day on the Fourth of July, with its awesome firework displays. Even when the excitement of these festival days has died down, there is still much to be enchanted by, including the Potomac river, lined by lush parks and cycling trails, and countless spectacular exhibitions at the city’s many museums.
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View BookPembrokeshire, Wales
Fancy spending long summer days adventuring around a rugged coastline of butter-soft beaches, wave-beaten cliffs and puffin-inhabited islands? Framed by a 299-km- (186-mile-) long stretch of the Wales Coast Path, Pembrokeshire in southwest Wales is a beautiful place for wind-swept walks.
As you hike around the coast, you might spot dolphins frolicing in the waves or seals sleeping under craggy cliffs. Hopp from B&B to B&B, stay in cabins, family homes and shepherd’s huts and get to know your hosts – the locals are famously friendly. If cold water doesn’t bother you, try swimming and cliff diving at the Blue Lagoon in Abereiddi.
As you hike around the coast, you might spot dolphins frolicing in the waves or seals sleeping under craggy cliffs. Hopp from B&B to B&B, stay in cabins, family homes and shepherd’s huts and get to know your hosts – the locals are famously friendly. If cold water doesn’t bother you, try swimming and cliff diving at the Blue Lagoon in Abereiddi.
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View BookSalzburg, Austria
Best known as the birthplace of Mozart, the stylish city of Salzburg thrums with the sound of music. It rings out from carillons, fills the graceful squares and narrow streets, and drifts up to the towering spires and domes.
Over 4,000 cultural events take place in the city throughout the year, but the most coveted tickets are for the five-week Salzburg Festival, when packed concert halls, palaces and churches resound to thrilling performances by some of the world’s greatest performers.
Over 4,000 cultural events take place in the city throughout the year, but the most coveted tickets are for the five-week Salzburg Festival, when packed concert halls, palaces and churches resound to thrilling performances by some of the world’s greatest performers.
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View BookCopenhagen, Denmark
Ultra-cool Copenhagen is abuzz in July with locals flocking to the pretty canals, sprawling parks and open-air cinemas that pepper the Danish capital. Enjoying a picnic under the shade of the trees or taking a dip in the harbour is the best way to cool off when the mercury rises.
Of course, a visit to Copenhagen wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Tivoli, an amusement park with more rides than you can fit into a day – from simple carousels to twisting roller coasters, plus concerts, restaurants and beautiful gardens that are bursting with blooms in July. And when the sun goes down a hundred thousand soft-glow lights turn Tivoli into an enchanting fairyland.
Of course, a visit to Copenhagen wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Tivoli, an amusement park with more rides than you can fit into a day – from simple carousels to twisting roller coasters, plus concerts, restaurants and beautiful gardens that are bursting with blooms in July. And when the sun goes down a hundred thousand soft-glow lights turn Tivoli into an enchanting fairyland.
Copenhagen Like a Local
View BookSvalbard, Norway
Bathed in the perpetual sunlight of midsummer, Svalbard in July presents an unrivalled glimpse of the polar north. The Svalbard experience begins in the town of Longyearbyen, which nestles near the foot of two glaciers at the mouth of Adventdalen Valley. Perhaps because the sun is visible around the clock from mid-April to October, the tempo of life is upbeat in the summer, with locals partying into the early hours.
Just outside of town, however, the wilderness begins, inspiring a real sense of adventure and discovery. It’s a joy to wander over the landscape in search of wild-flowers and the rusting remnants of adventurers past. There’s a chance of spotting a reindeer or a wandering Arctic fox, but surely no wildlife experience compares with the thrill of seeing a polar bear lumbering across the icy tundra and, given that there are more polar bears than people here, it is not such an unlikely sight.
Just outside of town, however, the wilderness begins, inspiring a real sense of adventure and discovery. It’s a joy to wander over the landscape in search of wild-flowers and the rusting remnants of adventurers past. There’s a chance of spotting a reindeer or a wandering Arctic fox, but surely no wildlife experience compares with the thrill of seeing a polar bear lumbering across the icy tundra and, given that there are more polar bears than people here, it is not such an unlikely sight.
DK Norway
View BookMongolia
Mid-July is a great time to visit Mongolia, when, for three days, the colourful Naadam Festival is held throughout the country. Mongolia’s greatest athletes compete in three classic Mongolian sports – horse racing, archery and wrestling.
On the Mongolian steppe, horse racing is a cross-country event, which takes place over vast open grasslands and follows no set course. Dressed in Genghis Khan warrior-style costumes, the men and women who compete in these tests of stamina and strength illustrate the warrior spirit that is still intrinsic to the Mongolian character.
On the Mongolian steppe, horse racing is a cross-country event, which takes place over vast open grasslands and follows no set course. Dressed in Genghis Khan warrior-style costumes, the men and women who compete in these tests of stamina and strength illustrate the warrior spirit that is still intrinsic to the Mongolian character.
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