Where To Go In August
Make the most of high summer with a trip away to one of these top destinations.
It’s high summer and things are getting hot, hot, hot. School’s most definitely out and at work, we’ll get so many out of office replies it might feel like an invite to join them. That’s no bad thing – we all deserve a break and August feels like the natural month to take one.
The only question is where to go and treat yourself. It’s no easy task to decide, as the world shifts once again and the new offerings make themselves known to travellers. The beauty of the Scandinavian countries comes to the fore, and they show off how they look when all the snow has melted away. Meanwhile Europe shows off its sizzling self, and further afield, there’s a river in Colombia that puts on a colour show throughout August.
To give you a feel for what’s happening in this wonderful world in the eighth month of the year, here’s our pick of our very favourite destinations.
The Turkish Riviera
In recent years, Türkiye (formerly known as Turkey) has had something of a rebrand, and we’re here for it. Part of that is framing the sunny south west coast as the Turkish Riviera – and no wonder, with its sparkling turquoise coastline, luxury hotels and celebrity clientele. Snaking across the coast from Çeşme to Alanya, it’s become one of the trendiest places to visit, with top-name brands like Six Senses and the Mandarin Oriental adding allure to the area. With temps hitting a sunny 31C high, it’s too tempting to make use of their pools and coastline. But if you’ve extra energy, take a daytrip to see one of the amazing castles in the area – there’s Marmaris Castle from the 1500s, or the even older Bodrum Castle, which also contains a fascinating museum of underwater archaeology.
Brussels, Belgium
Brussels is always a tempting escape, especially as it’s a direct destination from London on the Eurostar. But there’s an extra reason to visit this August: it’s their biannual Flower Carpet. Every second year since 1971, the de facto capital of Europe transforms its centre of Grand Place into a huge floral tapestry. Using around a million begonias brought in from Ghent, the transformation uses 120 volunteers, who together take just four hours to lay the floral carpet. This year, you can see this wonder from Thursday 15 August to Sunday 18 August. Catch the best view of it by climbing the City Hall Tower – it offers a 360 panorama of the flower carpet and beyond.
Caño Cristales, Colombia
It might be a lengthy journey, but like the best wonders of the world, the view when you’re at the Serranía de la Macarena makes it all worth it. Every year in warmer months and at its peak in August, the plants in the river bed turn into a kaleidoscope of colours that make it look like it’s putting on a colour show. Once you experience this visual feast, it makes sense that it’s also known as ‘the river of five colours’. Look closely around this fascinating area, and you’ll see the wealth of its biodiversity: this river is home to birds, fish, turtles, blue-green algae and reptiles that make it even more vibrant. To protect this delicate ecosystem, visitor numbers are capped to 200 per day, and they have to visit with a licensed guide – so it’s one to plan in advance.
Sri Lanka
Just off the coast of India with a culture, climate and history of its own, Sri Lanka has plenty to attract visitors, from amazing wildlife to blond beaches to tantalising cuisine. It also has two monsoon seasons: the Maha monsoon that runs October to January, and the Yala monsoon that runs May to August. This means if you’re keen to visit during the summer holidays – especially as it’s an island that easily deserves a two or three week trip – August is the optimal time.
Start in the north west to get some R&R on one of its many unspoilt beaches or partake in snorkelling or diving by the coral seas of Pigeon Island. Then head down to the south west, by which time the rainfall should be considerably less than in previous months. It’s here you’ll spot the best of the wildlife like leopards and elephants – especially as vegetation is thinner around this time.
Helsinki, Finland
With long, stretched-out evenings, and a nation of people who are keen to indulge in the warmth of summer, Scandinavia is a fine choice for summer holidays. Finland especially – it’s known as one of the happiest countries in the world, as well as the country who drinks the most coffee, eats the most ice cream and enjoys the most saunas, quite uniquely.
Finland is also the home of the Flow Festival, a city fest near the capital of Helsinki, which takes place from 9th to 11th August. This year, it attracts huge names like Raye, Idles, Janelle Monae, Fred Again, PJ Harvey, Pulp and The Smile. But it’s also famed for its innovative art, design and technology – so expect a multisensory spectacle.
If you’re heading away this August make sure to pack travel insurance to cover you for the unexpected! Switched On’s range of feature packed cover includes 24/7 emergency assistance, in-resort medical care through Air Dr, plus much more… Find out all the details by visiting our Travel Insurance page.