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Aerial view of a coastal resort town with a wide sandy beach, seaside hotels, lush green parks, and a long pier along the Baltic Sea under a bright blue sky.
Wanderlust · 7 min read · 24 June 2026

Holiday in July? Here's where to go before the summer holidays kick in

Fancy a July getaway before the school holiday crowds arrive? From Denmark's colourful cities to Sri Lanka's wildlife-packed national parks, these are the destinations on our shortlist.

Short on time? Let us summarise this guide for you.

Denmark tops the Holiday Extras Good Trip Index for the second year running, making it our number one pick for July – think LEGOLAND in Billund, Kronborg Castle and the food scene in Copenhagen. Guernsey is a sun-soaked, hassle-free alternative for British travellers, with hidden coves, puffin spotting off Herm Island and no EES queues to worry about. Sri Lanka's east coast comes into its own in July, with elephant gatherings at Minneriya National Park, whale watching near Trincomalee and pristine beaches at Pasikudah and Nilaveli. Elsewhere, Mostar's Stari Most bridge, the Polish Riviera's Open'er Festival and Iceland's near-endless daylight all make strong cases for a summer trip.

Denmark

Denmark ranks 1st Colourful waterfront buildings along Nyhavn Canal in Copenhagen with moored boats, reflections on the water, and a lively historic harbour atmosphere.

Denmark tops our Good Trip Index for the second year running, the Holiday Extras guide to travelling ethically, sustainably and well. So it had to top our list of places to go in July.

It leads the world on women's rights and scores consistently well across democracy, press freedom and quality of life. Copenhagen is one of Europe's most liveable, walkable and food-obsessed capitals – and one of the most welcoming.

And there’s plenty more to Denmark than Copenhagen. It’s the birthplace of LEGO, so why not take the family to the original LEGOLAND in Billund? For an alternative city escape there’s Aarhus, Denmark’s youthful second city, or Odense, home to Hans Christian Anderson and an excellent museum dedicated to the author’s life and work.

Beach lovers should head to the Danish Riviera, just north of Copenhagen. Or if castles are more your thing, explore Kronborg Castle, the fortress that inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and Frederiksborg Castle, often called the Versailles of Denmark. They’re both close to the capital too.

Brasov | Romania

Romania ranks 39th Bran Castle, historic medieval castle perched on a rocky hill, surrounded by dense forest and rolling green mountains – scenic European countryside landmark.

We recently asked 1,000 UK women whether they felt safe on their last trip, and Romania was one of the standout destinations. There’s often a hidden cost to travelling that affects women – avoiding going out at night, changing what they wear or having to stay alert. But 70% of women who travelled to Romania said they didn’t change their behaviour at all – higher than anywhere else we surveyed.

Bucharest is great, but maybe a bit too hot in July. Head instead to Brasov, which feels like a medieval storybook come to life. Its Gothic spires, cafe-lined squares and cobbled streets lead to castles and mountain trails beyond. It's also your gateway into Transylvania and Bran Castle – the Saxon fortress that inspired Bram Stoker’s iconic book.

Guernsey

Historic seaside town with white houses, red rooftops, stone buildings, and a church overlooking a sandy beach and sea wall under dramatic cloudy skies.

Guernsey was one of the top rising destinations for British travellers last summer. Thanks to being so close to France, it’s usually one of the sunniest spots in the British Isles. Plus you won’t have to worry about any EES queues at the airport – making Guernsey an easy beach getaway this July.

Cliffside paths, hidden coves and seafood suppers define this charming Channel Island. It’s the second largest of the Channel Islands after Jersey, and while Guernsey generally refers to the island, there are lots of smaller islands like Sark and Herm. Together they make up the Bailiwick of Guernsey, home to around 60,000 people.

You could easily spend your whole trip lazing by the beach – as good a plan as any. July’s the end of puffin breeding season, so hopefully you’ll be just in time to spot them on a boat tour of Herm Island. There are excellent museums too – make sure to visit Victor Hugo’s Hauteville House, where Les Misérables was written.

Mostar | Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia And Herzegovina ranks 65th Historic stone bridge over the Neretva River in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, surrounded by old town buildings, lush greenery, and mountains under a clear blue sky.

Mostar’s one of the hottest cities in the Balkans, and sun worshippers who can handle upwards of 30°C will be rewarded with a city at its lively best.

You’ll want to do your sightseeing in the morning, and there’s plenty to explore. Bag a souvenir or two at the Old Bazaar then walk to the Stari Most, Mostar’s most iconic landmark. Destroyed in 1993 during the Bosnian War and painstakingly rebuilt 11 years later, it arches gracefully across the Neretva river and symbolises the city’s mix of eastern and western cultures.

When the heat’s at its peak, grab lunch in a shaded riverside cafe and take a dip in the river. Feeling brave? Jump in from the top of the Stari Most for the ultimate thrill.

The Polish Riviera

Poland ranks 29th Bicycle parked beside a forest trail overlooking a quiet sandy beach and calm blue sea, with pine trees, dunes, and a peaceful coastal landscape.

Poland has climbed 12 places on our Good Trip Index over the past 5 years. After a change in government in 2023, it now has the politics to match its beauty – and July’s a great time to see it for yourself.

This month is the best time to visit the Polish Riviera, a trio of cities on Poland's Baltic Sea coast. Poland might not be at the top of your list for a beach getaway but you may be surprised. Sopot, Gdynia and Gdansk all offer something a bit different, whether it's the charming gabled streets and 17th-century architecture of Gdansk, the modern charm of Gdynia or the endless sandy beach of Sopot.

The weather can get surprisingly hot in July, which makes it a great time to visit. That, and there’s loads going on at this time of year between the three cities. The biggest event being the Open’er Festival – one of Poland’s biggest music festivals. This year it’s featuring huge artists like Florence + the Machine, Calvin Harris and The Cure.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka ranks 96th Elephant grazing in a grassy lakeside landscape with other elephants in the distance, viewed from a safari vehicle – scenic wildlife safari in nature.

Sri Lanka's come a long way over the past 5 years. The economic and political crisis of 2022 – which saw the president flee the country and ordinary Sri Lankans queue for fuel and medicine – looked like it might define a generation. What followed was improvements in democracy, press freedom and quality of life that have helped the country climb 31 places on our Good Trip Index.

Because Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons that affect the southwest, central hills and northeast at different times, you’ll find a sunny coast to explore pretty much year round. July’s when Sri Lanka’s east coast shines. There’s Trincomalee’s beautiful beaches, whale watching, and historic temples. Nilaveli boasts white sand beaches and snorkelling, or head to Pasikudah for calm, shallow water ideal for swimming.

July’s also one of the best months for wildlife. The famous "Gathering" begins around July, when hundreds of elephants congregate around the reservoir at Minneriya National Park. Kaudulla National Park is also a good elephant-spotting destination, or try Wilpattu National Park for a good chance of seeing leopards.

Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde ranks 48th Small fishing boat floating on clear turquoise water near a white sandy beach, with beachgoers, seaside resorts, and a tropical coastline under a sunny sky.

Cabo Verde’s another top riser on the Good Trip Index and is one of Africa’s most welcoming countries. Awesome beaches, magnificent mountains, volcanoes and desert landscapes, breathtaking surf, and bags of morabeza (the Creole word for hospitality). It's fast become a hot spot among western travellers for a chilled tropical getaway.

Don't let the rainy season label put you off – most islands aren’t actually that rainy in July. The winds are a bit lighter and the sea is warm, so it’s a great time to catch some rays on the beach. Sal’s the most popular island for Brits and has plenty of all-inclusives. Boa Vista’s a great bet too – it’s the start of turtle nesting season and this is the best island to see them. Plus the beaches are quieter and the atmosphere more relaxed.

Iceland

Iceland ranks 8th Powerful waterfall cascading into a turquoise river canyon, surrounded by rugged cliffs, green plains, and rolling Icelandic mountains – scenic natural landscape.

Iceland’s firmly up there with our favourites, and July’s the perfect time to explore. You’ll get almost 24 hours of daylight, it’s as warm as the country gets, and all the roads and hiking trails are open. So there’s plenty of time to explore the waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes and black-sand beaches you’ll discover driving around the famous Ring Road that loops the entire country.

Iceland’s possibly the world's most welcoming country. It’s topped the Spartacus Gay Travel Index four years in a row, the Global Gender Gap Report for 15 years, and has stayed in the top 10 of our Good Trip Index every year we’ve done it. Now that’s a good trip!


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