The 27 best holiday destinations in June
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The beer gardens are bursting and the piazzas are packed: it’s summertime in Europe. But where should you go on holiday in June; that magic time when the Med twinkles winsomely from dawn until dusk, and nights that resemble day urge spritzes on canals and sangrias in cobbled squares long after twilight? As the continent basks in the beginnings of busy season, it’s a fine time to be a pioneer – to find local beach scenes and hot nightlife in lesser-visited corners (many of which you can even reach by train). Or super-size it and strike out for North America, land of largesse, where vast landscapes are showing off their summer glow, and big cities crank up their festival calendars.
Is it cheaper to go on holiday in June?
In many parts of the world, June isn’t quite peak season – British schools don’t break up for the summer until July, which means flights are often cheaper, and there are deals to snap up. June is an appealing time of year for those without kids to travel, so venturing somewhere lesser-known is a great way to make your budget stretch farther while avoiding the crowds. May we suggest Sweden’s archipelagos or Warsaw? Read more on both below.
Where is hot in June?
June is the start of summer in Europe and North America, so you'll find many corners from these destinations below, including the Amalfi Coast, Croatia, the South of France, Quebec in Canada and Nashville in the USA. Ningaloo Reef in Australia, on the other hand, is in its winter season in June – temperatures hover around 24°C, making it a perfect time to visit.
Getty Images1. Dolomites, Italy
Temperature: 20°C high / 7°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 2 hours
Time difference: BST +1Snow-covered slopes, cloud-piercing mountain tops and brilliant ice-blue skies – the Dolomites are truly one of a kind in the winter months. But come June, the bitter cold thaws, leaving lush green meadows carpeted with thick dark pine forests, unbelievable hiking routes and glittering sun-trap valleys. Spend days walking through craggy paths and hilly tracks to arrive at wooden-clad villages and mountaintop restaurants with some of Europe’s best views.
Where to stay: Forestis Dolomites rises high above the Alps, offering guests a serene escape among the clouds, with sweeping vistas and soothing spas to boot.
Getty Images2. Biarritz, France
Temperature: 23°C high / 15°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 1 hour 55 minutes
Time difference: BST +1This blissful sandy stretch on France’s southwestern coast comes alive in June. While historically associated with glitz and glamour (it used to be a favourite hideout for royals and socialites in search of sophisticated sunshine), the city has been shedding its chi-chi reputation in recent years, moving towards a more subtle allure. One thing it has retained, though, is its epic surf scene – Biarritz is one of Europe’s oldest surfing spots, and those in search of epic waves and picture-perfect shores still flock to the region. Just over the border from foodie San Sebastian in Spain, Biarritz echoes the Spanish city’s culinary charm with a host of locally revered Basque restaurants, and a series of thoughtfully redesigned belle époque hotels beckoning in-the-know travellers.
Where to stay: At the Regina Experimental Biarritz, a century-old hotel with a vast atrium, sculpted frescoes and soothing tones of white, blue and mint green.
Getty Images3. Mykonos, Greece
Temperature: 27°C high; 21°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 3 hours 50 minutes
Time difference: BST +2Those in the know flock to good-time Mykonos in June, when the nights seem to stretch into infinity and the sunshine bounces off the little white stone houses – and before the chaos of July and August. Forget ouzo: magnums of Champagne are more de rigueur in Mykonos as you spend the night dancing to international DJs at Cavo Paradiso, and the days recovering by the bluer-than-blue Aegean sea at one of the hot new beach clubs. If you need a culture fix, take the ferry to Delos, one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece.
Where to stay: Bohème, where guests laze around the kidney-shaped pool on grand super-loungers and bean bags; at night, bearded bartenders turn out flawless Negronis at the chic Bilo Bar, all just a two-minute walk from Mykonos Town. For large groups, takeover Villa Fleur – a beautifully designed, light space sleeping 12. Check our edit of the best hotels in Mykonos for more options.
Getty Images4. Devon, England
Temperature: 19°C high; 10°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from London: 1 hour 10 minutes
Time difference: BST +0If sunshine in the UK were guaranteed, no one would ever need look further than Devon for a classic beach holiday (except perhaps Cornwall). It's just lovely. The county has acres of sandy beaches, characterful fishing villages, rugged moors and coastal paths. For those who prefer the thrill of the great outdoors, Dartmoor is great for hiking, the north coast is the spot for surfing and along the south coast, sailing. The whole area is having a regeneration, from new cycle paths such as the Exe Trail and Drake's Way to Torquay's shiny new seafront redevelopment and Exeter and Plymouth's cosmopolitan updates. Summer – particularly June, before the country lanes get too busy – is the time to while away an afternoon in one of Devon's best pubs or tinker around the seaside towns such as Salcombe, Budleigh Salterton, and inland Totnes.
Where to stay: Cary Arms & Spa, overlooking South Devon’s Babbacombe Bay, is made up of sea-facing guest rooms, a handful of meticulously renovated fisherman's cottages and eight fun beach huts. For more, see our pick of the best hotels in Devon.
Visit Denmark/Kim Wyon5. Copenhagen
Temperature: 20°C high; 12°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 1 hour 50 minutes
Time difference: BST +1For such a small city, Copenhagen is seriously cool. In summer, good-looking Danes whizz around on brightly coloured bikes, drink craft beer outside and sip coffee by the sea. Eating is a national pastime; Noma is in its final run before closing for a second time, or if your tastes are more low-key, grab some organic street food at one of Papirøen's stalls. Mälmo in Sweden is a short 20-minute hop across the Øresund Strait and is great for an afternoon trip. Plonk yourself down in the town square and join in with After Work – the Scandi term for happy hour, which starts wonderfully early, at 4pm. The Danish capital is particularly green-minded – basically everyone here cycles and eats organic, farm-to-table – and that ethos extends to shopping. Check out Gågrøn! (sustainable designer homeware), BauBau (upscale secondhand menswear and interiors), Pure Shop (organic beauty and perfumes) and an embarrassment of vintage boutiques (Devantier, Carmen, Edison & Co).
Where to stay: Hotel Sanders. Comprised of three handsome 19th-century townhouses knocked together, the hotel has 54 bedrooms decked out with glamorous touches in an otherwise homely space. See more at our guide to the best hotels in Copenhagen.
iStock6. Quebec, Canada
Temperature: 22°C high; 12°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 9 hours 35 minutes
Time difference: BST -5Summer is when Québécois finally feel safe to take off their thermals, having survived another winter of -40°C temperatures by the sheer, warming heft of poutine. And what a world they liberate their legs into. Festival-mad Montreal is warming well into the 20s and comes alive with outdoor amusements: Sunday dance parties at Electronik Picnic in leafy Parc Jean-Drapeau; and June’s annual Mural Festival, celebrating Montreal street art. Others may heed the call of the wild coasts of the Gaspé Peninsula, where heavily scented pine forests sweep across impossible promontories. Imagine a more rugged Maine, dotted with oh-so-French gîtes.
Where to stay: Green Key hotels – which are awarded Green Key ratings for efforts to reduce their carbon footprint – are generally self-assessed. The Corporation de l’industrie Touristique du Québec, however, verifies Green Key hotels within the province, so you can be reasonably assured they’re legit. Check out the complete lists of Green Key hotels in Quebec.
iStock7. Corsica
Temperature: 25°C high; 14°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 3 hours
Time difference: BST +1Imagine a Mediterranean island soaked in Italy’s summer sun, only it’s eluded the season’s legions of solar-seekers. Actually, don’t imagine it – see it for yourself, on Corsica. A region of France anchored off the western coast of Italy, it is a tale of two islands: ritzy Porto-Vecchio’s superyachts and designer shops dominate the south, while isolated bays, hilltop stone towns and a growing crop of quiet, designer villas define the north. June comes just just before the crowds and still clocks in the second-highest sunshine hours of the year behind busy July – at a not-too-terrible 11.
Where to stay: U Palazzu Serenu, a 17th-century villa wedged into the hillside, this grey-and-white temple to minimalism resembles a Florentine palazzo except it has contemporary art on the walls, modern sculpture in the lobby and not a hair out of place.
iStock8. Edinburgh, Scotland
Temperature: 17°C high; 9°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 1 hours 25 minutes
Time difference: BST +0A raucous city, Edinburgh has Georgian nooks to wander into and find a sing-a-long at an all-night piano bar and filthy comedians who take over town for a whole month every year. But while August’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a wonderful thing, it’s also a circus: prices are high and vacancies – in the hotels, pubs and restaurants – are scant. Come in June instead, when the Scottish summer is in full flow (it might even touch the 20s), and you can still get your culture fix (both the Leith arts festival and Edinburgh International Film Festival are on then). Sample the super-smart hospitality, too: seasonal Scottish ingredients meet classic French fine dining at Michelin-starred Martin Wishart; Eden Locke, a millennial pink-brushed aparthotel, has its own third-wave coffee shop. Taking the Caledonian Sleeper train from London to the Scottish capital isn’t only more environmentally friendly, it’s a hell of a lot more fun. The smartest cabins come with their own private bathroom, and you can enjoy dinner and a wee dram in the lounge car then snooze your way to Scotland, arriving in time for breakfast.
Where to stay: The Dunstane Houses, a super-smart boutique hotel in Edinburgh's West End with huge fireplaces and ornate cornicing reflecting the building's solid Victorian past. See our pick of the best hotels in Edinburgh and the best Airbnbs in Edinburgh for more recommendations.
Getty Images9. Croatia
Temperature: 27°C high; 16°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 2 hours 20 minutes
Time difference: BST +1Croatia's surge in popularity has been meteoric, and it's not hard to see why. In the past 10 years it has gone from being considered a cheaper, quieter alternative to Italy to being one of the hottest destinations for summer. Take to the islands to dance with beautiful young things at one of the festivals hosted in June, such as Hideout on the island of Pag, or jump aboard a yacht to find a quiet stretch of the Dalmatian coast. If you need a little less beach and a bit more city, Dubrovnik has enough history and culture within its Gregorian walls to keep you busy for a weekend.
Where to stay: Villa Orsula, set in an opulent 1930s villa built of the creamy local stone used to build the ancient party of the city, with pretty terraced gardens tumbling down the hillside.
Martin Morrell10. South of France
Temperature: 23°C high; 17°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 2 hours 15 minutes
Time difference: BST +1The French Riviera has always been film-star stunning. In June the temperature is just right to frolic on the beaches Bardot-style in your designer bikini, before the bulk of the summer tourists descend. On 21 June each year, the Fête de la Musique sees all-night dancing and concerts on the streets of Nice and larger towns along the riviera. For old-school glamour there are the grand dames: Cannes, Nice and St Tropez, packed full of character and charisma. For quieter pockets and a gloriously crowd-free coastline, head to the less well-known Languedoc, with its long sandy beaches, picturesque villages surrounded by vineyards and great little markets. Inland Uzes is laid-back and arty, and then there are Les Iles d'Or, Champagne-coloured- sand islands that seem a million miles from the flashy mainland.
Where to stay: Les Roches Rouges, a stylishly revamped Fifties waterfront retreat. Fifty rooms, some facing the sea, some the garden, all have whitewashed walls, polished-concrete floors, minimalist furniture and balconies. But the real star attraction is the 30-metre saltwater pool carved out of the rock, which spills over right into the sea.
Getty Images11. Hudson Valley
Temperature: 28°C high; 12°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 8 hours
Time difference: BST -5Do as the New Yorkers do and escape Manhattan for the Hudson Valley this summer. After all, it’s only a quick train ride away. Though maintaining the leisurely pace of a pastoral idyll — dotted with apple orchards, farm stands and antiques stores – the valley has gone a bit Brooklyn, adding destination dining, spas, wineries and yoga studios to the mix. Hudson Valley is part of the Drive Electric movement, which means there are plenty of charging stations dotted about, so you can rent an EV with no fear of running out of juice. A thriving art scene includes the cutting-edge Dia: Beacon museum, housed in a former box-printing factory on the riverbank. For minimalist-chic, Rivertown Lodge is lovely, and its tavern does one hell of a brunch (spiced carrot pancakes; 'nduja and soft scramble).
Where to stay: Farmer and Sons, a plush and cosy boutique hotel with an excellent coffee shop, bar and restaurant.
12. Rwanda
Temperature: 25°C high; 4°C low
Season: dry
Travel time from UK: 10 hours 40 minutes
Time difference: BST +2This teeny East African nation is best known for one big activity: tracking mountain gorillas through its steamy bamboo forests. But there’s so much more to explore in plucky Rwanda, which has risen above past tragedies to become one of the continent’s most friendly and forward-thinking travel destinations. Capital Kigali is clean, super-green and on-trend: grab a table on the Choma’D terrace for dry-rub pork ribs, mac ’n’ cheese bowls and strawberry Mojitos in Mason jars. And a couple of hours’ drive-away is lovely Lake Kivu with inland beaches, boat tours and cycle trails. Follow up silverback tracking with luxury at nearby Bisate Lodge and its six thatched villas, plus contemporary design cues such as concrete floors and exposed brick walls. Trekking is at its best in June, when the climate is cooler and drier. Consider hiring a porter to carry your daypack when you’re gorilla trekking – even if your tour operator doesn’t recommend it. It won’t cost you much, but the difference it can make to a week’s wages is huge.
Where to stay: One&Only Nyungwe House, a nature lodge set in a delightfully peaceful tea plantation surrounded by rainforests that is home to 13 primate species and a startling array of strange and wonderful tropical birds.
Getty Images13. London, England
Temperature: 21°C high; 13°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: n/a
Time difference: BST +0London is great any time of the year, but by June the capital is at its most vibrant. Londoners have fully decamped outside to appreciate the long, light evenings on a summer terrace or in a pub garden. No one seems to work at all. Even on the mildest of sunny days, parks are overflowing with scantily clad urbanites hoping to feel some warmth on their skin. Stroll the streets and sample some food at one of London's legendary food markets, grab a coffee at one of the quirky cafés, have an ice cream from a gelateria (or if it rains – this is London, after all – take afternoon tea). The city also has the most astonishing number of superlative hotels from which to explore its endless attractions.
Where to stay: In Covent Garden, Nomad London is a sexy option steps away from the Royal Opera House. Out west, we like Lime Tree Hotel in Belgravia, a small boutique hangout that feels like home. For more, see our guide to the best hotels in London.
Getty Images14. Cappadocia, Turkey
Temperature: 27°C high; 10°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: from 7 hours 20 minutes
Time Difference: BST +3You’d think it impossible to improve upon Cappadocia: a fantasy landscape of famed ‘fairy chimneys’, cave dwellings and underground cities. But come in June and you can add blooming wildflowers to that perfect picture, together with longer days for exploring (and the very best light for photographs). Sure, it’s busy season, but you can beat the hot-air balloon and crowds by hiking or horseback. This gets you onto trails others can’t reach, discovering tucked-away lookout spots and fantastically frescoed, stone-carved churches. Heart set on a cave hotel? Consider Ariana Sustainable Luxury Lodge, with its onsite vineyard, sun terraces affording ridiculous valley views and contemporary cave rooms with marble bathrooms and wood floors.
Where to stay: Olympos Lodge, a 12-room stylish escape among European expats and well-travelled locals, surrounded by four acres of lemon groves and ponds, palm trees and bougainvillea.
Mirjam Bleeker15. Menorca, Spain
Temperature: 26°C high; 17°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 2 hours 20 minutes
Time difference: BST +1Menorca is the most chilled-out and low-key of the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, its big sister, features on this list below). Things are a lot quieter on Menorca, but all the better for taking a week out and totally relaxing on stunning beaches. Still, in the last few years a clutch of interesting openings have cropped up across the island. Hauser and Wirth opened an art gallery here a few years ago, while big-name brands such as the Experimental Group are among some smart places to stay that have finally opened on an island not previously known for its luxe hotel options.
Where to stay: Can Faustino, has the run of a sprawling 16th-century merchant’s palace in the city’s historic centre. The 24 bedrooms are crisp and pared-back, there’s a little spa and steaming hammam down in vaults, and a saltwater swimming pool in the garden. See our pick of where to stay in Menorca for more recommendations.
Getty Images16. Basel, Switzerland
Temperature: 23°C high; 13°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 1 hour 35 minutes
Time difference: BST +1Synonymous with its world-famous art fair, this charming little Swiss town is heaven for art and architecture fans, particularly in June. Not just because that’s when ART Basel rolls in, but also because the arty party continues long into the summer twilight, at the city’s myriad waterside bars lining the Rhine. Building buffs have plenty to take in, from the 13th-century timbered houses of the old town to the bold modern designs by Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid and Tadao Ando. Foodies should make a beeline for three-Michelin-starred Cheval Blanc: snag a table on the riverside terrace and prepare for an avant-garde take on classic French cuisine (macaron with foie gras and garam masala, for example).
Where to stay: Volkshaus Basel is a seductive boutique hotel is renowned for its shaded courtyard brasserie and understated rooms with sleek, sophisticated design.
Getty Images17. Ningaloo Reef, Australia
Temperature: 24°C high; 11°C low
Season: winter
Travel time from UK: from 20 hours 40 minutes
Time difference: BST +8The Great Barrier Reef might get all the press, but Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef is just as incredible – and, in June, it’s one of the world’s best places to swim with whale sharks. Plus, getting up close to these gentle giants doesn’t require a cage. Better still, Ningaloo’s dive and snorkel sites are way more accessible; many of its richest waters are only a few hundred metres off the beach. Choose a reputable tour company when it comes to swimming with whale sharks – getting up too close might not be dangerous for you, but it’s not great for them. Ningaloo Whalesharks, for example, is certified by Ecotourism Australia. Next, take a few days to discover the newly cosmopolitan-cool scene of WA’s isolated capital, Perth, with its al-fresco live-music venues, edgy late-night art shows and white-sand city beaches.
Where to stay: Sal Salis Ningaloo reef, a camp of five tents, each with a private deck and a bathroom with a solarheated shower.
iStock18. Andaman Islands
Temperature: 30°C high; 23°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 16 hours 50 minutes
Time difference: BST +5.30Where do you go for a castaway-in-paradise fix with all the good looks and deluxe touches of the Maldives, but none of the other guests? A savvy few have been whispering about the Andaman Islands – a far-flung archipelago of white-sand beaches and tangled mangroves in the Indian Ocean, 150km off Indonesia – for a while. But, at last, the luxury hotels have caught up. First came eight-suite, teak-chic Jalakara, on Havelock Island, all private tropical splendour in a hilltop plantation. And now, brand-new Taj Exotica Resort & Spa beckons with its 72 glass-and-timber villas, also on Havelock – or, more precisely, Radhanagar Beach, said to be one of the most beautiful in Asia. Nip in just before heavy monsoon rains hit at the end of June – there will be none of the high-season people, so you can go full Alex Garland.
Where to stay: Taj Exotica Andamans was the islands’ first five-star hotel, with 72 villas set in 46 acres incorporating ponds, lawns and indigenous plants, an Olympic-length, infinity-edged pool, three restaurants and vegetable and herb gardens.
Getty Images19. Peru and Machu Picchu
Temperature: 19°C high; 0°C low
Season: dry
Travel time from UK: 12 hours 30 minutes
Time difference: BST -5There's a reason Machu Picchu is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in the world. Set among the clouds, high in the Peruvian mountains, the old Inca city is awe-inspiring. In midsummer, the weather is dry and the light is perfect – beat the tour groups by getting up at the crack of dawn to see the sunrise. The rest of Peru is just as beautiful; the Amazon's dry season starts in June and is the best time for exploring the rainforest. The capital city, Lima, is a delicious mix of European and South American culture, with old colonial buildings jostling for space next to towering skyscrapers and a vibrant food scene.
Where to stay: The trailblazing Explora group are behind Explora Valle Segrado, a remote lodge tucked into a cleft at the base of the Urubamba mountain range overlooking Peru's Sacred Valley, designed to melt into the landscape.
iStock20. Sweden’s archipelagos
Temperature: 21°C high; 16°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: from 2 hours 15 minutes
Time difference: BST +1Summer in Sweden is a giddy time as locals strive to squeeze every last drop of al-fresco fun from the season’s long hours of sunlight. Midsummer Eve, in late June, is a bigger celebration for Swedes than Christmas: all-day, outdoor parties are veritable orgies of pickled herring, schnapps and May Pole dancing (forgive them, it’s a very dark winter). It’s also the time when the country’s archipelagos are at their most idyllic. As well as Stockholm’s and Gothenburg’s, there are the green isles of east coast Östergötland, plus white beaches and windmills on southern Öland.
Where to stay: The Arctic Bath hotel – a circular-shaped, log-covered floating spa-hotel just south of the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland – is an exciting bolthole for intrepid spa seekers.
Getty Images21. Yosemite National Park, USA
Temperature: 28°C high; 10°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 11 hours 5 minutes
Time difference: BST -8The USA is all about scale: big dreams, big burgers and even bigger landscapes. And scenery doesn’t come much bigger than California’s Yosemite, that mighty meeting of granite cliffs, giant redwoods and towering falls, high in the Sierra Nevada. May might be a top time to make a beeline for California, but June is the sweet spot for Yosemite: the snow has melted enough to clear the scenic Tioga Pass driving route (inaccessible from November to late May), but the heat hasn’t dried up dramatic Yosemite Falls yet. Not to mention the June bloom, when wildflowers are at their brightest. Sometimes feeling small can feel pretty good.
Where to stay: The Ahwahnee, with its grand wooden rooms and stone fireplaces, is the perfect escape, hidden between towering cliffs, twinkling waterfalls and vast expanses of land.
Getty Images22. Nashville, USA
Temperature: 30°C high; 19°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 9 hours 5 minutes
Time difference: BST -6The moniker Music City rings even truer for Nashville in June, when the Country Music Association’s annual four-day festival turns downtown into a bigger party than usual. But it’s not just the neon-lit honky-tonks that are fuelling the hippest city in the south (sorry, Austin), which is now growing at twice the national average. There are also the crowds at buzzing bars (Pinewood Social has bocce and bowling lanes), flash-chilled coffee at Steadfast roastery (even better than cold brew, they say), and an argument about where to get the best hot chicken to wade into (you can’t do much better than Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, where the dish was actually invented).
Where to stay: Hutton Hotel is within walking distance of downtown, but far enough away to guarantee a decent night sleep without screaming bachelorette parties outside your window at 2am. Our favourite thing about this handsome hotel is Analog, an intimate live music venue that hosts acoustic sets from big names and up-and-coming artists.
iStock23. Warsaw, Poland
Temperature: 22°C high; 11°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 2 hours 25 minutes
Time difference: BST +1Krakow’s medieval, Christmas-card charm has always lured visitors at the expense of Poland’s more industrial capital. But Warsaw’s grittier edge is finally paying off. Artsy types have packed the place with galleries, studiously scruffy dive bars and craft brewpubs (one of which, Cuda Na Kiju, is in the old Communist Party headquarters). Warsaw is so hot now there’s a Google campus in a vodka distillery and a place locals call ‘Hipster Square’. June’s balmy temperatures are best for dipping into the city’s backyard bars. Try the graffiti-covered scene at 11 Listopada Street, where the last of the parties kick off before locals take off on their summer holidays.
Where to stay: A sensitive renovation has restored many of Le Royal Meridien's florid Art Nouveau flourishes. Edvard Grieg lived here, more recent guests range from Charles de Gaulle to the Rolling Stones.
iStock24. ABC Islands
Temperature: 32°C high; 24°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: from 12 hours 20 minutes
Time difference: BST -4Thought June in the Caribbean couldn’t be done? Sitting niftily outside the hurricane belt, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao differ from the region’s other islands by enjoying a relatively dry summer. But most people still believe this time of year is a no-go — so expect emptier hotels and more favourable rates. Each island caters to a different traveller: flashy Aruba is all-inclusives on beautiful beaches; wild Bonaire is a diving destination with smart, low-key hotels for recharging; and cultural Curaçao has a distinctly European feel, with its rows of colourful Dutch houses and upscale, colonial-style hotels.
Where to stay: Sandals Curaçao is an all-inclusive resort stretching out across a 44-acre estate. Think sparkling sea views, private pools and gorgeous white sand, all fronting mood-boosting, bright colourful architecture.
Sophie Knight25. Mallorca, Spain
Temperature: 22°C high; 14°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: from 2 hours 15 minutes
Time difference: BST +1Yes, there are two Balearic Islands on this list. But they really are that wonderful. Mallorca is Menorca's bigger sister and is wonderfully diverse, from historic Palma to arty towns such as Deià, and the pine-tree-lined hidden coves along the north coast. There are rugged mountains, bright blue waters and snoozy villages to explore. Plus, Mallorca has some of the finest restaurants and hotels in Spain – we love La Vieja de Jonay Hernandez in Palma for playful fine dining and adults-only DINS Santi Taura, also in the capital, for a chef's table experience.
Where to stay: Son Net, a gorgeous estate hotel in the foothills of the Tramuntana mountains, with verdant gardens, breathtaking pool and excellent spa.
26. The Amalfi Coast, Italy
Temperature: 27°C high; 22°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: 2 hours 35 minutes
Time difference: BST +1A single visit to the Amalfi Coast is all it takes to understand the legions of love letters, poems and literature Italy has inspired. Confetti-coloured houses and ornate domes and spires jostle for space on sheer cliffs, looking out over the azure Mediterranean sea. And the light! June is busy, of course, but just ahead of the tour groups that clog the perilously winding road in their droves come July and August. Positano and Amalfi are the most famous villages, and although terribly touristy, they are also absolutely beautiful. Ravello, on top of the cliffs, has unquestionably the best views; while Cetara – our little secret – is quaintly cute with a pebble beach to bronze on.
Where to stay: Monastero Santa Rosa, a 17th-century former monastery dominates the shoreline about a kilometre from Amalfi. It has knockout terraced grounds and a swimming pool that seems to hover between sea and sky. For more, see our pick of the best hotels on the Amalfi Coast.
Ana Lui27. San Sebastian, Spain
Temperature: 21°C high; 15°C low
Season: summer
Travel time from UK: from 4 hours 30 minutes
Time difference: BST +1Summer in San Sebastian: is there anything more alluring? One of Europe’s greatest city beaches, Playa de la Concha, is awash with salty-haired surfers and tanned sunbathers. Bars spill out into cobbled streets, where residents and visitors clink glasses of txakoli, the local sparkling wine, which just so happens to pair perfectly with pintxos – the region’s artistic, avant-garde tapas. Pintxo-bar-hopping, in fact, is the thing to do; you might try sea urchin roe on toast in one spot, the ear of Iberian pig in a wild mushroom emulsion the next. The beginning of peak season has enough buzz to make this well-fed party town charming, without too much of the overcrowding that clogs things later in the summer – plus June has the smallest average rainfall after July.
Where to stay: Hotel Maria Cristina, the official hotel of the Film Festival and a local landmark. The impressive belle-époque building is filled with marble and chandeliers and there's a spa.