Summer. The word alone is enough to conjure images of golden sands, glistening seas, blue skies, and blazing sunshine. There’s much more to the best season than just lazing on a beach though. The best summer vacation ideas add awesome city breaks, outdoor adventures, and new experiences.
In this compendium of epic places to visit this summer, I’ve drawn on my own experiences traveling to my favorite destinations. From famous cities to far-flung islands, convenient and low-cost to wild and remote, whether you’re a family or flying solo, I’ve chosen something for everyone. All you have to do is book.
1. Milos, Greece
- Best for: Dramatic, deserted beaches
The Cycladic island of Milos has long been one of Greece’s best-kept tourist secrets. Instead, it’s been a hangout for in-the-know Athenians, happily spending weekends soaking in its impossibly azure Aegean waters. Perhaps best known by art lovers, it’s famed as the place where a farmer unearthed the Venus di Milo statue in 1820, now on display in the Paris Louvre.
Milos’s dramatic volcanic landscapes lend it a lunar-like feel. Surreal, rainbow-colored rock formations, caves carved deep into plunging coastal cliffs, and vertiginous coves surrounding deserted beaches. Many can only be reached by boat from the picturesque port of Adamas. I love Sarakiniko for its undulating white cliffs juxtaposed against glowing waters, and Paleochori whose waters are warmed by underground hot springs.
2. Ericeira, Portugal
- Best for: Learning to surf
Portugal is blessed with a coastline that will have any surfer salivating. From the record-breaking moving mountains of Nazaré to the speeding barrels of Peniche, you’re never far from world-class waves.
For a family-friendly and consistent summer surf, Ericeira is my top summer vacation pick. A stone’s throw from Lisbon, it’s quick and easy to get to and has a bounty of lovely beach breaks. Surf schools are regulated so breaks don’t get too busy. I love Praia da Foz do Lizandro with its lifeguard-attended river mouth waves, huge golden sand beach, and easy parking.
Recently recognized as Europe’s first World Surfing Reserve for its wave quality, environmental sensitivity, and cultural importance, Ericeira also hosts the annual Portuguese Surf Film Festival each July.
3. Tân Hoá, Vietnam
- Best for: Adventures in nature
Summer is the height of the dry season in central Vietnam. Good thing too, as tiny Tân Hoá village is famed for its wet season flooding to the point where it gets completely submerged. But it’s also pioneering a new collaborative tourism model designed to invest in and invigorate a local community sometimes blighted by Mother Nature.
Time your summer vacation right and it’s also a doorway to some of the country’s most magical natural assets. Located by Phong Nha-Ke Bàng National Park, it’s a perfect launch point to explore the extraordinary Tú Làn cave system.
Comprising more than 20 caves, it’s the definition of otherworldly. Vast caverns, towering stalagmites and stalactites, and swimming pools make it an adventure-seeker’s dream. Surrounded by primary forests, limestone mountains, and the serene Rao Nan River, its timelessness and beauty will leave you awestruck.
4. Chacas, Peru
- Best for: Jaw-dropping views
Peru is full of big-name attractions worth your time. But look beyond Cusco and Machu Picchu and you’ll find lesser-known wonders to explore. Set dramatically on the slopes of the Cordillera Blanca in the Callejón de Conchucos, Chacas is just such a place.
An atmospheric and historic town, it’s filled with wonderful Andean architecture and culture. For something different, don’t miss the raucous non-fatal bullfights, hosted at Ugo de Censi square. Nearby lie the pre-Inca archaeological remains of the Antash, Chagastunán, Huaraspampa, and Pirushtu.
Part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Huascarán National Park, Chacas is the entry point to huge landscapes. Fourteen snow-capped peaks, including Peru’s highest in the Nevado Huascarán Sur, and 38 glacial lakes beckon adventurers and nature lovers into the wild.
Fly into Lima and travel overland or take a short flight to the recently expanded Comandante FAP Germán Arias Graziani Airport.
5. New York State Parks, US
- Best for: Celebrating a milestone
2024 sees New York’s statewide parks system celebrate its centenary. Its 360,000 acres are home to beaches, trails, campgrounds, lakes, and open space, Revolutionary War sites, and Niagara Falls. In celebration, the Centennial Challenge invites visitors to complete 24 missions throughout the year within the parks. There are even prizes involved.
Summer is the best time to take on such a challenge. Or simply to enjoy the splendor of the parks and what they offer. Missions might be to join a volunteer event or take a picnic in a park that’s new to you. Or you could stay at one of the 8,500 campsites like Taughannock Falls State Park. With spectacular trails to one of the state’s highest waterfalls, the prize for staying here is the view.
6. Bude, UK
- Best for: A classic seaside vacation
The British weather is much maligned but when the sun shines, north Cornwall is a great summer vacation idea. Specifically, the buzzing seaside town of Bude. Spend your days lazing on sandy beaches, wandering craggy coastlines, and overdosing on rich Cornish ice cream.
Build sandcastles on pretty Summerleaze Beach. If the waves are up take to the surf, while youngsters can swim safely in the sea pool. Overlooking Summerleaze is my favorite Bude restaurant, Life’s A Beach. Serving seaside staples like fish and chips alongside fresh local dishes, it’s the perfect post-surf or swim sundowner spot.
Along the coast, wild beaches and atmospheric villages brimming with folklore beg to be explored. Fly into Bristol airport a few hours’ drive from Bude, rent a car, and hit the road.
7. Big Sur, California, US
- Best for: Road-tripping
Is there a better way to spend a summer vacation than cruising the Pacific Coast Highway along the magical west coast? From San Francisco down to LA, 450-ish miles of winding tarmac snakes its way through the best of California. Blue skies, huge views, quirky towns, and remote beaches – it’s road trip nirvana.
Nowhere is that truer than in Big Sur, where the St Lucia mountains crash into the Pacific Ocean. Rugged and wild, undeveloped and immense, it blends windswept cliffs with Redwood forests, cocooning you in nature. While undoubtedly fun with kids, there’s something unmistakably romantic about Big Sur. Book a room at adults-only Ventana Big Sur, disconnect from the summer crowds, and relax.
8. Zanzibar, Tanzania
- Best for: A tropical paradise
An ocean jewel, Zanzibar is the rival of any island that lays claim to being a true tropical paradise. World-beating beaches, pungent spice plantations, and a deep and rich culture that balances African, Arabian, and European influences. It’s the perfect place to recoup as a standalone summer vacation or a post-Serengeti safari treat.
The first port of call has to be the beach or beaches. Powdery white sand fringes glowing blue Indian Ocean seas. Sunbathers sizzle while snorkelers patrol coral-rich shallows. For serenity and solitude, head to East Coast Matemwe and Pongwe beaches.
My pick is the beach at Nungwi Village on Zanzibar’s northern tip, where modern amenities mix with local life. Watch boat builders and fishermen launch traditional dhows from the beach. Swim with turtles in the tidal lagoon sanctuary. Dive the reefs at Hunga and Leven Bank. And end every day on the beach with a stay at Nungwi Beach Resort.
9. Oku-Matsushima, Japan
- Best for: History buffs
Since the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami, Honshu Island’s east coast has seen a significant drop in tourism. That’s a great shame because it remains one of the country’s most historic and enticing regions.
Despite the heat and humidity, the summer months are a lively time to explore its lesser-known treasures. In the cradle of Matsushima Bay, the village of Oku-Matsushima is just that – a coastal sanctuary suspended in time. Amid remote islands, deserted beaches, and ancient settlements, the best way to see it is by walking the Oku-Matsushima Olle Trail.
Begin in the Satohama Jomon no Sato Historical Park where history reaches back 7,000 years before the tsunami. Visit the Satohama Shell Mounds, one of Japan’s most evocative remnants of human activity from the Jomon period, and then climb to the top of Mount Otakamori at Inagasaki Park for eye-popping 360-degree views. You’ll soon understand why it was named as one of the “Three Most Scenic Spots of Japan.”
10. Positano, Italy
- Best for: Unadulterated glamor
If you’re going to do Italy’s Amalfi Coast, you may as well do it at its most fabulous. Summer escapes to Positano are a rite of passage for the European well-to-do and have become a beacon for US visitors too. Raise a Negroni from your lounger on Spiaggia Grande beach, sun shimmering over the Atlantic, and you too will see the light.
While the crowds are ridiculous and the prices high, I love Positano for its shameless celebration of glamor. Houses bleached in pink and peach tumble down the cliffside to the sea connected by winding stairways. Streets are perfumed by lemon groves and wisteria and soundtracked by the buzz of crowds filling restaurants and bars. It’s Italy at its most intoxicating.
11. Guanacaste, Costa Rica
- Best for: Family activities
Nature’s playground, the Nicoya Peninsula in northwest Costa Rica is among the best summer vacation spots for outdoor-loving families. In the teeming jungles of Guanacaste, hike trails searching for spider and howler monkeys. Or if you’re brave enough take flight high in the canopy on a zipline tour. At the jungle’s edge, black sand beaches like magical Playa Negra meet the rolling Pacific.
Base yourself in Papagayo, where aquatic adventures await. Budget stays and luxury resorts, epic snorkeling, and world-class scuba sites, there’s something for every age and interest.
Sorpresa is a dream dive – a 35-meter tower of marine life with crystal-clear visibility. In the shallows, coral reefs offer equally epic snorkeling. To the north a boat ride away you’ll find Witch’s Rock, one of the world’s most remote and spectacular surfing waves.
12. Cádiz, Spain
- Best for: Flamenco and seafood
Spain’s far south blazes in the summer months. Close enough to Morocco that you can practically smell the tagines, the landscapes of Andalucía feel almost African.
On the eastern coast, you’ll find Cádiz. Around 3,000 years old, it’s Europe’s most ancient city – a port that has survived weather, wars, and civilizations. Surrounded by battered seawalls to defend against invaders, 100 watchtowers keep a weather eye on the horizon, including the stunning Torre Tavira.
Its ancient center is a tangle of atmospheric streets begging to be walked. Drop into one of the many music venues to indulge in some alegrías, the frenetic local style of flamenco. Refuel at local favorite Freiduría Las Flores for the best pescaíto frito (fried fish) in town.
13. Monaco
- Best for: A summer of sport
The world’s second-smallest country may cover less than a square mile, but it sure packs a lot in. Famed as the home of high-rollers, it boasts six Michelin-starred restaurants, expensive bars and Casino de Monte-Carlo.
2024 sees the reopening of the iconic Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, the place to be seen for chic eating overlooking the Place du Casino. But it’s the summer sports calendar that stands this year apart.
Alongside the famed Monaco Grand Prix on May 26th, the principality will also host the Tour de France 2024. On July 21st the prestigious race will depart Monaco on its scenic final time trial to the finish line in Nice. In June, the World Rugby Sevens Repechage will also take place. If you love your sport, it’s undoubtedly one of the best places to visit this summer.
14. Montréal, Canada
- Best for: A budget family vacation
You don’t need to travel to Europe to get a taste of France. A quick hop across the border can see you in the heart of ultra-cool Montréal, tout de suite. Quebec’s biggest city is as French as the proverbial croissant – a joyous bilingual mix of music, art, food, and festivals.
The city has also had something of a spruce up for 2024. New transport connections make it easier than ever to visit. The recently opened MEM Museum brings the story of Montreal to life with large areas free to visit. While a raft of apartment-style accommodations like the Werfy Apart-Hotel offer high-end budget-friendly stays for families.
Montréal is also one of North America’s most walkable cities. Stroll the atmospheric alleyways and parks of Vieux-Port and the Quartier Latin. Take in the city’s extraordinary architecture at Le Plateau-Mont-Royal. And keep an ear out for live music in the buzzing Quartier des Spectacles.
15. Virginia Beach, Virginia, US
- Best for: Events and entertainment
Two coasts, golden beaches, and a three-mile boardwalk overflowing with restaurants, bars, and no fewer than four oceanfront stages. Virginia Beach was built for summer fun. Beyond its natural and manmade amenities, it also has among the busiest summer event schedules you’ll find in the US.
In June, sports lovers will be treated to the North American Sand Soccer Championship with more than 11,000 players competing. The following week, Jackalope Fest delivers the adrenaline with a weekend of skateboarding, BASE jumping, skimboarding, bouldering, and more. August sees the 62nd annual East Coast Surfing Championship, now the world’s longest-running surf competition.
Festivals also abound. Juneteenth at the Beach celebrates unity on June 19th. The outrageous Totally Tribute Music Fest in July sees tribute acts rock out against each other on dueling oceanfront stages. The festival fun rolls into August with the annual Funk Fest Beach Party and Water Lantern Festival. And that’s just the tip of the events calendar iceberg.
Need more summer vacation ideas?
Summer is a magic time to travel. With long, bright, warm days across much of the world, it’s the best time to get outdoors. Beach breaks and hiking trips, city tours, and dining al fresco, everything feels better when it’s drenched in sunshine.
If you’re looking for more summer vacation ideas, don’t miss the best places to visit in June, July, and August. Or for family-specific fun, check out these 15 summer vacation ideas for families.
