July has perfect summer weather in Europe, Canada, and the U.S. and ideal African safari conditions. You can also escape the heat in the Southern hemisphere or head to a tropical paradise. So I’ve rounded up the best places to visit around the world in July.

The Best Summer Destinations in the U.S.

When you travel in July, it can be tough to avoid high prices and crowds. But it’s not impossible! Some of these destinations will let you enjoy the summer weather and activities without breaking the bank or dealing with the hordes of summer travelers.

Here are the best places to visit around the world in July!

The Azores

The Azores is a group of islands off the western coast of Portugal commonly referred to as the “Hawaii of Europe.” This island group has incredible beaches, surfing, waterfall hikes, hot springs, vineyards, and coastal villages.

In recent years, The Azores has become a very popular tourist destination. But you can avoid some of the crowds and high prices by visiting more off-the-beaten-path islands, such as Terceira, Graciosa, or Faial.

Corsica

When you think about the Mediterranean in July, you probably picture crowded beaches and sky-high prices. But Corsica is still a relatively off-the-beaten-path destination in the Mediterranean with lower rates and tourist numbers.

While everyone else heads to the bustling beaches of Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Croatia, you can visit Corsica’s laid-back white beaches and still-wild-looking inland forests and mountains.

Upstate New York

If you want a Northeast U.S. getaway in July, Upstate New York is for you! You can head to The Catskill, which has become more than just the setting for the movie Dirty Dancing. It’s now a more laid-back and more budget-friendly alternative to the Hamptons.

If you’re a wine lover, you can plan a trip around the Finger Lakes wine region. Outdoor enthusiasts can head to the Thousand Islands or the Adirondaks. And the Hudson Valley is the perfect getaway if you want to shop and eat your way through some of the cutest towns in the Northeast U.S.

East and Southern Africa

These are the peak months for safaris throughout Eastern and Southern Africa. As far as game viewing goes, you can’t go wrong with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, or Uganda.

The Ultimate Safari Travel Guide

July is a great month to see the river crossings in the Serengeti and Masai Mara areas. In addition to watching wildebeest avoid crocodiles, big cats are always crouched nearby as The Great Migration moves through their territories.

Every safari destination will have peak prices and crowds during these months, so book in advance and plan accordingly. I recommend opting for smaller accommodations to avoid overcrowding on game drives.

Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe is a large geographic region with great weather in July, so you can choose from several destinations! The countries of Eastern Europe have castles are as spectacular as France’s, hikes as great as Germany’s, wine regions as excellent as Italy, and coastlines as beautiful as Greece’s.

July is a peak travel month for almost all of Eastern Europe, but you’ll still encounter a fraction of the crowds and costs of Western and Central European destinations during this month.

Curacao

Curaçao is one of the Caribbean ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao) that are conveniently located outside of the hurricane zone. Because most people think July is a no-go month for the Caribbean, this island will have fewer crowds, relatively inexpensive rates, and fantastic weather.

What distinguishes Curaçao from Aruba and Bonaire is its distinctly European vibe. Colorful Dutch houses and colonial-style buildings are found throughout the island. If you want an island with culture and personality, this is your destination!

Curaçao is also one of my Top Budget Destinations Around The World!

Montreal, Canada

July is a peak travel month for Canada, and this is one of the more expensive destinations on this list, but it’s worth coming here this month because of the city’s trio of high-profile festivals.

In July, Montreal hosts the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Just for Laughs, and the International Circus Arts Festival. These are all must-experience-at-least-once-in-your-lifetime events, and you can experience them all in July!

Indonesia

July has some of the best weather all year in Indonesia. This is the middle of the dry season, so you should have clear skies, sunshine, and warm (but not too humid) temperatures. July is an especially great month if you want to surf!

Do yourself a favor and venture beyond Bali to one of Indonesia’s other incredible destinations, such as Flores Island, Raja Ampat, Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, Lombok, Komodo National Park, or Yogyakarta.

Colombia

This is one of the seasonal dry months in Colombia, so July will have some of the best weather all year in the cities, jungles, and beach towns. In Cartegena and on the coast, daytime temperatures should be in the 80s, but it’ll be cooler the further inland you go because of the altitude, so bring layers for the mornings and evenings.

I HIGHLY recommend splitting your time between Cartagena, the coast, and Medellin in the Andes. Cartagena and Medellin are perfect home bases for exploring more of the country, and you can’t go wrong with any of Colombia’s beach towns.

Riviera Maya

The Riviera Maya is a stretch of Caribbean coastline on Mexico’s northeastern Yucatán Peninsula that includes destinations such as  Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel. July is the end of the Riviera Maya’s peak season, so the crowds and prices will decrease the closer to August (and hurricane season) you get.

Daytime temperatures can get into the 90s, so plan on spending the afternoons in a pool or the ocean!

While this area of Mexico has become very touristy, it’s still possible to get off the beaten path by staying in smaller villages and visiting the popular sites on day trips.

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What do you think are the best places to visit around the world in July? Tell me in the comments below!

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