The best places to go in July: Our top travel picks for a solo holiday
The living is easy in laid-back July – the beating heart of summertime in the Northern Hemisphere and peak holiday season; a time when half of Europe and America are packing their bags for a well-earned beach holiday. Play your cards right, however, and you can still find places that are tucked away from the summer madness.
Take the wildlife-dotted plains of Tanzania’s Serengeti this month, for example. Or the Rosario Islands, best seen in Colombia’s short shoulder season. So, no time to waste. Here are the best destinations to tick off your bucket list this July. We won’t tell the crowds, if you don’t…
Tanzania
Average temperature: 20ºC / 68ºF
Why you should visit now:
As Tanzania’s rainy season gives way to dry heat in July, vegetation on the open plains of the Serengeti quickly recedes. The arid, yellowing landscape promises great visibility for big game spotting, especially in northern regions. Wildebeest herds flock into the Western corridor at the start of their annual migration, while zebras, giraffes and elephants gather around watering holes. Don’t forget to look up from the wildlife now and again: the clear skies of July bring spectacular stargazing in the bush.
Expert tip:
Stop off at the fishing village of Mwaburugu on Lake Victoria for a taste of local life, especially at the pungent seafood market.
Japan
Average temperature: 26ºC / 79ºF
Why you should visit now:
July is hot and humid in Japan. However, there are fewer visitors in the major cities, so you can soak up the timeless allure of Tokyo’s riverside restaurants, temples and parks in relative peace. You’ll find solace, too, in the Hakone alpine region, as Mount Fuji opens for climbing in July with spectacular views. And let’s not forget, this is a prime time for firework shows, an integral Japanese summer pastime that kicks off just after sunset with a cheery festival atmosphere.
Expert tip:
Japan isn’t commonly considered a beach destination, but the Okinawa Islands, off the country’s southernmost region, are a dream for sun-worshippers come July.
Colombia
Average temperature: 26ºC / 79ºF
Why you should visit now:
July is shoulder season in Colombia, lying comfortably beyond the peak tourist footfall from December to March. It also lands within a dry spell. So, you’ll have less rain on the Caribbean coast, home to the Rosario Islands and Tayrona National Park. And the conditions are ripe for rambling around the Andean highlands outside Bogotá and Medellín; think long, cloudless days and fresh alpine air. Bogotá’s annual Festivales al Parque series hits home during July, with free open-air concerts, from hip hop to opera, bringing the capital alive.
Expert tip:
For breakfast, chow down on arepas, a flatbread stuffed with scrambled eggs and oodles of butter.
Italy
Average temperature: 26ºC / 79ºF
Why you should visit now:
Sure, everyone with a grain of sense wants to idle in Italy over the summer months. But naturally, it can get busy. So, booking onto a group trip for solo travellers can be one of the best ways to swerve the crowds and seek out lesser-visited spots, while still ticking off some of the big favourites, too. Take this Northern Italy adventure by Flash Pack, which skips through the cities of Milan, Bologna, Florence and Rome, but also sneaks through quieter patches of rural Tuscany to visit the hilltop castle of Castello di Verrazzano – Chianti tastings, included.
Expert tip:
Before the start of the group adventure in Milan, tag on some solo time in the Italian Lake District (hello, Como and Garda), or add extra days at the end for a Southern Italy trip that takes in Naples and Puglia, too.
Croatia
Average temperature: 25ºC / 77ºF
Why you should visit now:
Sun-lovers should seek out Croatia in July as it’s the country’s hottest month. Temperatures are toasty, regularly reaching up 30ºC and rarely falling below 22ºC – plus the sea is warm. It’s worth noting that the beaches on Croatia’s mainland are typically rock or shingle. So, if it’s a better class of beach you’re after, head to the islands.
Expert tip:
Sipan, Šolta and Krknjasi, with its snorkel-ready Blue Lagoon, all have shingly stretches and appealing anchorages for island-hopping to escape the crowds in July.
Turkey
Average temperature: 28ºC / 82ºF
Why you should visit now:
Another great place to turn up the heat in summer is Turkey. This one foot in Europe, one foot in Asia continent-straddler knows how to show solo travellers a good time, with atmospheric souks and Sultanate stories in Istanbul, offshore adventures on traditional gulet boats from Izmir – and, in fact, all along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts – and age-old archeological sites, such as Ephesus. Oh, and don’t forget Cappadocia, where you can glide over a landscape of fairytale caves and rock chimneys in a hot-air balloon.
Expert tip:
Flying into Izmir ahead of a group tour? Alacati is a beautiful bougainvillaea-draped Turkish town, packed with smart bars and courtyard restaurants. There’s also the nearby strip of sand at Ilica Beach, that’s perfect for a few solo days of downtime beforehand.
Portugal
Average temperature: 26ºC / 79ºF
Why you should visit now:
How about a spot of sunset yoga or surfing in Ericeira? However you choose to explore it, Portugal’s coast is a fine place to be in July – not least, because it’s less crowded and more affordable than most other stretches of Europe’s shoreline. Ericeira itself sits on the country’s wild west coast, known as ‘the surfing capital of the world’ due to big-wave surfing in Nazaré and Peniche. However, locals from Lisbon favour Ericeira for its fuss-free proximity – just 45 minutes away from the city’s cosmopolitan bars and restaurants – making it easy to combine capital with coast.
Expert tip:
The digital nomad scene is thriving in Lisbon if you’re looking to combine work with play. Try co-working spaces such as Second Home, Outsite and samesame to meet other like-minded solo travellers.
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 August, read our expert travel tips, ideas and inspiration.
Images: Flash Pack
