Where to travel in July

Sommarstuga | Sweden

Sweden is third in our Good Trip Index for 2023, scoring top for sustainability and well for animal rights, making it a great choice for an ethical and sustainable summer holiday.

And our top pick this summer is to take a sommarstuga – that's a Swedish summer house by a lake, where most Swedes go for their summer breaks. About 50% of Swedes have either their own summer house or easy access to one through family, so if you're lucky enough to be invited to one by Swedish friends that's the perfect way to do it. If not, there are plenty on Airbnb that you can simply book yourself.

Summer is, inevitably, the best time to enjoy a sommarstuga. In the winter, Sweden's cold, so unless you're here for the winter sports come when it's sunny instead. The outdoor cafe culture is in full swing and wild swimming at the beaches and lakes is popular – yes, we know no one thinks of Sweden for a beach holiday, but the beaches here are great.

You'll have missed the crowds here to celebrate the Nordic summer solstice at the end of June but still be in time to enjoy the wildflowers that mark the start of the summer season. Pretty much everyone speaks excellent English, the food and hospitality are excellent and whether you start off with a city break or head straight for a lakeside retreat, Sweden's lakeside summer houses make for a great July getting away from it all.

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Uluguru | Tanzania

The best time to visit Tanzania is from July to October when the country is dry and warm. The great Serengeti migration, when millions of wildebeest cross the Serengeti plains, often reaches its visual highlight with the crossing of the Mara River by July – it's one of the highlights of any safari or wildlife-spotting trip, making July an even better time to go.

While Tanzania has a good record for animal rights, overall it scores relatively poorly on our Good Trip Index – particularly for LGBTQI+ travel. That said, it's still possible to travel responsibly here.

For an alternative, sustainable safari adventure, try Tanzania's Uluguru Nature Forest Reserve or the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Most visitors to Tanzania come for the safari and head straight onto the Serengeti but give Central Tanzania a chance. It's near Dar es Salaam where you'll land and includes some of the world's most diverse biospheres. Settle in and get to know the local wildlife and people rather than dashing around trying to catch glimpses of elephants and lions.

Heading to the Udzungwa Mountains will give you the opportunity to see wildlife that appears nowhere else on earth in the 'African Galapagos'. Waterfalls, monkeys and 400 species of birds are the highlights here. The Uluguru Nature Forest reserve is also a great option, where relative isolation and sustainable farming make for an equally unique experience.

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Abruzzo | Italy

We're tipping Abruzzo to be one of the next big holiday trends. Italy is top of the list for Google destination searches this year, and of our top-booked destinations, Florence is in the top ten and the only traditional European city break to have gone up rather than down. Paris, Barcelona, Prague and Kraków all wane in popularity vs trips to lesser-known Tirana, Craiova and Rzeszów.

Enter Abruzzo. Renowned as the cheapest region of the whole country, its four provinces are famous for local, sustainable food and drink that's cheaper than anywhere in Italy. About half of the region is made up of nature reserves and protected parks, so it may deserve its reputation as 'the greenest region in Europe'. The region contains preserved medieval and Renaissance cities, the Trabocchi coast and the walled provincial capital of L'Aquila. In the winter you can even ski.

July marks the start of the festival season in Abruzzo, so you won't be short of things to do. Plus average temperatures range from 23°C to 29°C, making it a great time to explore the region's natural beauty, head to the beach and dine al fresco.

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Puerto de Mogán | Gran Canaria

A picture-perfect fishing village on Gran Canaria, Puerto de Mogán is our top pick for a beach holiday this month.

The Canary Islands are ever-popular for weather that's practically guaranteed and European standards of hospitality. And as July rolls around, the sheltered harbour and gentle pace makes the compact, child-friendly resort Puerto de Mogán the ideal spot to roll up with the family and start your summer holiday.

We've visited the Canaries plenty of times, so see below for our guides to UK holidaymakers' favourite destination.

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Alpe d'Huez | France

The ski resorts that British holidaymakers flock to during the winter months take on a new lease of life in the summer as the snows clear and the mountains fill with wildflowers, sun and mountain bikers taking on the 21 bends at Alp d'Huez. The same facilities that serve skiers in the winter run all summer, so you've got access to world-class accommodation as well as lifts taking you up and down the mountains.

Why go in July? It's Bastille Day on the 14th, which the mountain villages celebrate with spectacular firework displays, so if you want to catch a French holiday before the schools break up this is the last weekend to do so and there's plenty to see and do. Alternatively, if you're taking the family, a week in the mountains is the perfect alternative to the seaside – clean air, plenty of exercise and great food.

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Reykjavík | Iceland

If you're dreading a repeat of July 2022 where temperatures in the UK reached record highs of 40°C, Iceland can provide the perfect antidote. While July tends to be Iceland's hottest month, temperatures only average around 11°C and conditions are relatively pleasant. And as a bonus, hay fever sufferers travelling from the UK are likely to be less sneezey due to Iceland's relative lack of trees and grassy areas.

What Iceland lacks in trees it more than makes up for in dramatic landscapes. Many highland roads and trails that are inaccessible during winter are open in July, making it the perfect time to hike its glaciers and national parks while the weather is mild. And you'll have plenty of daylight hours to explore as July marks the peak of the Midnight Sun phenomenon, when the sun is visible nearly 24 hours a day.

Iceland has climbed to the top 5 of our Good Trip Index for 2023, scoring highly across the board and particularly for quality of life and women's rights. Reykjavík makes a great base for your Icelandic adventure – it's close to many of the country's top sights, including the Blue Lagoon and the Golden Circle, and has a fantastic arts and food scene.

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KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa

South Africa is another top riser in our Good Trip Index, climbing to 40 and scoring well for animal rights and quality of life. Plus holidays here are a fair bit cheaper than your standard beach break in Spain or Greece since the currency is performing weakly against the pound – the rand is worth 25% less than it was five years ago.

Safety is often a concern in the major cities here. Less so on safari – so head out to the savannah with a guide and lose yourself searching for South Africa's spectacular wildlife. KwaZulu-Natal is one of the current hotspots for sustainable safaris, where care for the animals and the environment take priority. And compared to other safari destinations it's relatively affordable, especially given the new strength of the pound here.

Our summer is South Africa's winter, and KwaZulu-Natal's winter is mild compared to other regions – July sees average highs of around 20°C. You'll likely spot more wildlife on safaris too as it's dry season, meaning animals tend to congregate around shrinking water holes. We'd recommend booking soon before other travellers spot this bargain destination.