Where To Go In July
July is just around the corner and we know what that means: it’s officially the summer holidays! With schools breaking up and the promise of hot weather, thoughts will no doubt turn from our normal day to day lives to the more exciting places we could be. Whether than means dancing at a lakeside music festival, wildlife spotting in the Masai Mara, or cheering on our country at the Olympics.
July offers a wealth of opportunities to jet away, and peak prices can be countered with Europe becoming a global holiday hotspot, so you don’t need to travel far to get blissful weather. As we’re spoiled for choice, here are our favourite destinations for July 2024. Get ready to turn the out of office on!
Montreux, Switzerland
Located on the banks of Lake Geneva, the beautiful town of Montreux is a worthy (albeit pricey) destination at any time. But it comes into its own in July, when the famous jazz festival takes place. Over the years, this world-famous event has attracted seminal performances from the likes of Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Prince and Marvin Gaye. Nowadays, it’s expanded to involve contemporary artists too, so this year’s programme includes today’s most authoritative artists, from Justice and Air to Dionne Warwick and Sting.
While there, don’t forget to explore Lake Geneva on boat, visit the historical landmark of Chillon Castle, and travel up to the terraced vineyards of Lavaux. It’s a Unesco Heritage Site, and offers a stunning view of the sparkling lake – best enjoyed with a glass of crisp white wine.
Kenya
It’s all go in Kenya in July, as this is the time when The Great Migration takes place. Known as “the greatest wildlife travelling roadshow on earth”, it sees over two million wildebeest, zebra and other herbivores trek from the southern Serengeti to the green grasses of the Masai Mara in search of water and food. Happily, it’s also a drier season, making it easy for tourists to venture in and witness this wonder of nature. While it also means peak prices, the wildlife spectacle and temperatures of the mid- to high- twenties means the cost is justified, especially as a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. Factor in visits to the Maasai Mara National Reserve to see The Great Migration, plus lions, giraffes, and elephants. You can also tack on a visit to Lake Nakuru National Park, which teems with dusky pink flamingos.
Boston, United States
Where better to celebrate the Fourth of July than in Boston? Independence Day has a special meaning here, as the birthplace of the American Revolution. The seafront state capital comes alive on this significant day, with parades and parties in bars and public areas where you’ll see plenty of red, white and blue. At 8pm over the Charles River, over 1 million people congregate to watch a spectacular concert – this year featuring Boston Pops Orchestra, En Vogue and others – and at 10.30pm, the fireworks begin! Aside from the main day, there’s a range of suitably historical sites to see in Boston, and July is a perfect time to explore, with temps hitting a max of 28C.
Hvar, Croatia
While Croatia is a big July destination thanks to its sizzling temperatures and reasonable prices away from tourist hotspots, the capital of Dubrovnik and the second city of Split might be a little too hectic for a chilled summer break. That’s when the island destination of Hvar really shines. Take a ferry for an hour or two from Split, and you’ll find yourself on an island paradise, where the weather is a perfect 28C on average in the day, and a balmy 19C in the evening – meaning you can leave your jacket at home. The focal point is Hvar Town, dominated by yachts and boats to explore the nearby Croatian islands. But step away from this area, and you’ll find an island full of quiet charm, whether that means stunning beaches like Dubovica or Pokonji Dol, gorgeous hamlets, or purple-dotted lavender fields.
Paris, France
If you haven’t got a ticket to the Olympics or Paralympics, fear ye not – there are still resales and ballots until the games begin on 26 July. That’s when Paris and beyond will go sports crazy, with all eyes on the capital and beyond for this major global event. Over 15 million visitors are planning a visit to Paris over the games, which run until 11 August, and there’s an upsurge in other French cities hosting tournaments too – like Nice, which will see out the Olympic football tournament, and Colombes, near Paris, where the hockey competitions will be held. You’ll need to book accommodation as soon as possible to get the best value for money, but after that, expect Olympics-related revelry and a trip to remember.
Wherever you plan to head this year it’s important to cover your trip with travel insurance. With Switched On’s feature packed travel cover you get a 24/7 emergency medical helpline, Air Doctor in-resort medical support, plus gadget cover included automatically.