The best places to go in June: Our top travel picks for a solo holiday
The start of summer in Europe means two things: infinitely beautiful beaches and laid-back Mediterranean culture. The schools haven’t quite broken up yet, so the crowds of mid-July and August haven’t quite arrived yet. But the weather – and the sea – are heating up.
Looking to really get away from it all? Fear not: we know the top places to visit this month without having to jostle through the tourist traps – from Croatia’s secluded islands to organic wineries in Greece.
Further afield, this is a month where many travel destinations hit their zenith, from midnight sun trips to Iceland in almost constant daylight to orangutan spotting in Borneo’s jungles. We’ve put together a rundown of top destinations for solo travellers this June. But keep schtum: we don’t want everyone turning up…
Croatia
Average temperature: 27ºC / 80ºF
Why you should visit now:
Empty beaches and sleepy villages await in Croatia in June. In fact, it’s one of the best months to explore the country without the crowds. Get your adrenaline pumping with a kayaking adventure down the cascading waters of the Mrežnica river, before journeying to the island-dotted Dalmatian coast. Sipan island near Dubrovnik even has its own desert island-inspired restaurant – BOWA (Best of What’s Around) – overlooking the Adriatic. Don’t want to dine alone? Join a group tour with Flash Pack to experience this secluded spot with other like-minded solo travellers in their 30s and 40s.
Expert tip:
A trip to Croatia wouldn’t be complete without a boat tour. Head to Nečujam on the island of Šolta to snorkel above a sunken shipwreck.
Portugal
Average temperature: 25ºC / 77ºF
Why you should visit now:
The azulejo-tiled streets of Lisbon and Porto make Portugal a popular choice at all times of the year. But June is a good time to get in on the action. This is when the summer season really kicks off, with plenty of festivals taking place, including the Midsummer hoedown of Festa de São João do Porto on 22 to 24 June. Expect traditional fado music, bonfire jumping, a few inflatable hammer fights – and, of course, fireworks.
Expert tip:
Portugal is known for its crisp, fruity rosé. Enjoy an ice-cold glass of Floração or Mateus as the sun sets over Lisbon’s hills.
Italy
Average temperature: 23ºC / 74ºF
Why you should visit now:
Way down in the heel of southern Italy’s boot, the rural region of Puglia – with its cone-shaped trulli huts and quieter coast – basks in balmy temperatures in June, with dazzling blue skies and a gentle sea breeze keeping things pleasant. Make the most of the temperate climate by exploring the atmospheric trulli-dotted town of Alberobello, the white city of Ostuni or the glorious coast…
Expert tip:
Puglia is a largely rural region making it a fine place to taste Italy’s agricultural spoils in the form of locally cured meat, oven-browned bread and lashings of local wine.
Greece
Average temperature: 25ºC / 77ºF
Why you should visit now:
Ready for a full-blown summer holiday? Mainland Greece and its archipelago of islands heat up in June, reaching nearly 30ºC on Crete. Time to pack that beachwear ready to explore snorkel, swim and seek out the nearest sand. Sure, you’ll want to take in Santorini. But nearby you can also swerve the crowds on Serifos, a quiet Cycladic island with crescent moon-shaped coves, cobblestone old town and an organic hilltop winery. After all, Greece is one of the oldest wine-making countries in the world. Try the Serifiotiko wine, harvested right here on the island.
Expert tip:
On Serifos, stop for brunch at Chill & Co. The Tsureki French toast, topped with local goat’s cheese, honey and roasted almonds, is a must.
Borneo
Average temperature: 31ºC / 88ºF
Why you should visit now:
Hot, dry weather takes hold across Borneo in June, making it an excellent time to visit. It is fruiting season, which can mean – due to the abundance of fruit in the forest – that orangutans can be harder to see, as they’re deeper in the jungle and busy feasting on the canopy. But the beauty of Borneo is that wildlife can really appear at any time, in any place, often at the least expected moment. Once you’ve drifted through the rivers of Sabah or hiked the jungles of Sarawak, wildlife-lovers should journey to Selingan Island on the east coast, as June marks the peak time to spot green sea turtles laying their eggs on the beach at night.
Expert tip:
Lower rainfall in Sarawak means great hiking conditions in the 60 million-year-old Mulu National Park, home to spectacular limestone caves.
Iceland
Average temperature: 9°C / 48°F
Why you should visit now:
Brennivín at the ready… it’s the month of the Midnight Sun in Iceland. Signalling the strange, often-eerie phenomenon of near-constant daylight on the island, it’s the sort of thing that can only be made sense of with a strong drink. The longer hours mean the fun-loving locals of the Nordic North Atlantic nation are out enjoying the endless evenings, after a long dark winter. Whether in Reykjavik or the wilds, join them to raise a glass to summertime, or take advantage of the added hours by heading for a geothermal swim.
Expert tip:
There are hundreds of natural geothermal pools across Iceland ranging from the Blue Lagoon to newer retreats, such as Sky Lagoon in Kársnes Harbour near Reykjavik, and the architecturally arresting Vök Baths on the east coast.
Jordan
Average temperature: 28°C / 83°F
Why you should visit now:
June marks the last pleasant month to visit Jordan before the high heat of July and August makes it too hot to handle for most. Lace through the cosmopolitan streets of the capital Amman – at its best with warm days and cooler evenings – or head off into the dune-backed wilds to the deserts of Wadi Mujib for some cooling canyoning, or the Wadi Rum for an off-road 4×4 adventure.
Expert tip:
Naturally, you’ll want to see the ancient rose-pink Nabatean city of Petra. But why not swerve the crowds and take the secret back-door route to it with other solo travellers on a group tour in Jordan.
Ready to take off on your next adventure? Join Flash Pack today to discover group solo holidays with like-minded people in their 30s & 40s.
To find out where to go in July, read our expert travel tips, ideas and inspiration.
Images: Adobe, Flash Pack and Unsplash
