School’s out for the summer. Higher prices, bigger crowds, longer waits… For many people, these are reasons not to travel in August. But if you know where to go the best places to visit in August also promise lazy beach days, wonderful festivals, and much more.
Thinking about your budget (or avoiding those long queues)? Jump to KAYAK’s data-backed picks based on popularity, flight, and hotel prices.
Best places to visit in Europe in August
August is the hottest, buzziest month of the European calendar. Peak summer sun makes beaches sizzle. Ancient cities take a break from bad weather to fill their streets with festivals and fun. Lesser-visited, further flung places welcome intrepid tourists in search of new adventures too. There’s no better time to visit them all.
1. Edinburgh, Scotland
- Learn more: Edinburgh travel guide
- Why visit in August? For the month-long roster of arts, comedy, and action.
August is Edinburgh’s most temperate month, with regular sunny days, temperatures averaging 59°F and just 2 inches of rain. In the Scottish climate, that’s about as balmy as it gets. No wonder it’s so popular at this time of year.
The UNESCO World Heritage Old Town and Edinburgh Castle look their very best. The latter plays host to the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo from August 2nd to 24th. Across the city, galleries and lesser-known spaces become a giant canvas during the Edinburgh Arts Festival from August 9th to 25th.
The main event, however, has to be the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – one of the world’s greatest cultural events. A sprawling arts, comedy and music festival, Fringe brings a manic buzz to the city from August 2nd to 26th. A vast roster of the world’s funniest, oddest, and most creative acts perform, many for free. If you like to laugh, Edinburgh is one of the best places to visit in August.
2. Kotor, Montenegro
- Learn more: Kotor travel guide
- Why visit in August? Crowd-free glamor in Europe’s most underrated destination.
Often overlooked for its Croatian neighbor to the north, Montenegro has somehow stayed out of the tourist limelight. All despite its glorious Adriatic coastline peppered with fjords and waterways, beaches, and rocky coves. My favorite spot to visit is the medieval city of Kotor, set deep in a fjord amid the limestone cliffs of Mount Lovćen. It’s scattering of red-roofed houses and winding streets tumble to the water’s edge and some lovely (if stony) beaches.
The first two weeks of August are carnival time in Kotor. Buy one of the colorful masks on sale and join in the local parades and festivities. Don’t miss the trial of the town mascot, punished for any bad luck the town may have suffered over the year.
Not far away in Porto Montenegro, a marina development has brought 5-star luxury to the area. With moorings for mega yachts and the fantastic Regent Porto Montenegro, it has become a new beacon of European glamor. Try skimming across Kotor Bay on a vintage Riva to lunch dockside on oysters and champagne for the full movie star experience.
3. South Coast, England
- Learn more: Brighton travel guide
- Why visit in August? Spectacular English countryside and unique horse racing meet.
Just an hour from London by train, England’s south coast springs to life in August. Head first for Brighton and take a couple of days to embrace its free-flowing, anything-goes vibe. One of the country’s loveliest walks, the South Downs Way starts not far away. Running 100 miles from Eastbourne to Winchester, it snakes along white-chalk cliffs past spectacular beaches and through sleepy hamlets. Walking its length is a wonderful way to spend a week.
Not far from its end-point, the Goodwood Estate sits among archetypal English rolling countryside. From July 30th to August 3rd it plays host to Glorious Goodwood, a week-long horse racing festival at its stunning hilltop race track. Break out your finest threads and go easy on the Pimm’s for a quintessentially English day out.
Just 15 miles south on a peninsula reaching into the English Channel is the lovely seaside village of West Wittering. With huge sand beaches and a thriving surf scene, I can’t recommend it enough – it’s where I grew up.
4. Faroe Islands
- Learn more: Tórshavn travel guide
- Why visit in August? Wild, wild wilderness, zero crowds and lots of puffins!
The last month of the Faroese summer is the best time to make the most of its 18 islands and the natural world adventures they offer. And as it’s not the most obvious choice of where to go in August, it’s never really busy.
Long summer days cast everything in the best possible light. From the tiny capital of Tórshavn to emerald-green mountaintops and untrodden valleys. There’s little limit to the scope of activities available and plenty of space to try them all.
August is the time to see the Faroe’s largest puffin colony on dramatic Mykines Island before it closes to tourists on August 31st. Take a boat or guided tour to see the colorful birds and hear their cacophony up close.
5. Monaco
- Why visit in August? Glamor, culture, cuisine, and the reopening of an icon.
If it’s crowds and high prices you’re keen to avoid, the gilded streets of Monaco may not top your list of best August vacations. Look beyond the glitz though and this tiny enclave on France’s gorgeous riviera shines in the summer sun.
Perfect beaches like Plage du Larvotto. World-class dining at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo’s Le Grill and the newly reopened yet still iconic Café de Paris Monte-Carlo. Unique museums like the Car Collection of H.S.H the Prince of Monaco. Yep, Monaco’s beauty is far more than cosmetic.
August 1st, 4th and 8th play out the tail end of the exclusive concerts at the Prince’s Palace from the celebrated Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Presented in the grand Cour d’Honneur of the Prince’s Palace, Haydn, Brahms, Mozart and Beethoven will seldom sound better. The Monte-Carlo Summer Festival is also in full swing promising more contemporary music from some of the world’s biggest acts.
Best places to visit in August in the US
Don’t feel like paying summer international plane fares? I don’t blame you. Some of the best and cheapest places to travel in August are right here, on home shores. Sprawling megacities, meandering beaches, beautiful islands – the US has it all. For something a little quieter, look to KAYAK’s data picks which promise fewer crowds in Orlando and Las Vegas.
6. Jackson Hole, Wyoming
- Learn more: Jackson travel guide
- Why visit in August? Taste the true Wild West at its 21st-century best.
Amid the plains and prairies of Wyoming, the towering peaks of the Grand Teton National Park claw skywards. Climb and hike them before the snow returns, or take a more serene route on the Bridger and Sweetwater Gondolas. Spectacular as they are, they’re just one of the natural wonders this sparsely populated state has in store for visitors.
Long, sun-soaked days and warm, al fresco evenings. Embark on horseback riding excursions and camp under endless skies for a taste of the real Wild West. Jackson Hole is your August base. Rodeo meets and the almost nightly Town Square Shootout keep things cowboy-themed.
It’s not all stetsons and spurs though. The Grand Teton Music Festival runs for weeks from June 27th to August 17th, bringing a symphonic soundtrack to the summer. Later on in the month, there’s the Art Fair from the 18th to 20th. A long weekend of fine art and photography, ceramics, and culture makes this perfect part of the US even more appealing.
7. Chicago, Illinois
- Learn more: Chicago travel guide
- Why visit in August? For more events than you could possibly visit (but it’s fun trying.)
August kicks off in style with global acts headlining the four-day Lollapalooza festival in Grant Park from the 1st. Spend your down days recovering on the urban beaches of Lake Michigan and strolling the 606. An elevated trail and park system, it runs for nearly three miles through city neighborhoods.
August 9th and 10th are all about baseball. The Crosstown Classic divides Northsiders from Southsiders with the White Sox and Cubs facing off at Guaranteed Rate Field. The same weekend sees the Chicago Air & Water Show kick off, a free lakefront spectacular of in-air and on-water daredevilry.
For everything else, there’s Millennium Park, which always puts on a packed calendar of outdoor events. And should you find yourself still in town at the end of the month, check out Chicago’s legendary (and free) Jazz Festival. Kicking off August 29th, it’s well worth extending your vacation into September for.
8. Outer Banks, North Carolina
- Why visit in August? Celebrate pioneers, pirates, and amazing beaches.
Few places in the US are as storied as this chain of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. OBX, as they’re known, make for a wonderful August vacation – adventure and relaxation, nature and history, culture and cracking cuisine.
Tick off your history list first. At Kill Devil Hills, see where Orville and Wilbur Wright first took to the skies and changed the world forever. Get quirky at the 18th annual free Watermelon Festival on August 1st with a litany of weird watermelon-themed events. Then finally, celebrate the pirate Blackbeard’s final battle at Ocracoke with the family-friendly Outer Banks Pirate Festival on the 7th and 8th.
When all the events gets too much, retire to gorgeous beaches big enough to handle high-season crowds. Sunbathe and windsurf, wildlife and people watch. And if you’re hankering for action, the 3,000-ish shipwrecks that make up the Graveyard of the Atlantic lie just offshore. Dive in – literally.
Best places to visit in August in the world
Take advantage of nature’s high season to witness some of Earth’s most spectacular events and locations. In Africa, the Great Migration is in full swing. In South America, it’s the locals in full swing – to the beat of Tango. And of course, there are the beaches and mountains beautiful enough to take your breath away.
9. Maasai Mara, Kenya
- Learn more: Nairobi travel guide
- Why visit in August? To witness the Great Migration in all its epic majesty.
A place where summer crowds won’t impact your experience, the Maasai Mara is among the best holidays in August. The height of the dry season is also the peak time for the Great Migration, nature’s most spectacular event.
Embarking on a classic safari is high on most people’s bucket lists. Watching two million wildebeest, zebras, giraffes and gazelles ambling across the Mara Triangle is the best way to check that box. Perhaps most extraordinary and gruesome is the crossing of the infamous Mara River. Here, migrating herds are forced to try their luck against toothy predators, hungry for a feast delivered to their home.
Hundreds of tour companies put on safari excursions on behalf of major hotel brands, so you have lots of choice. I preferred the smaller, community-focused but still very luxe Ngerende Lodge. If you’re lucky, you’ll even see the migration from the comfort of your room’s terrace.
10. Queenstown, New Zealand
- Learn more: Queenstown travel guide
- Why visit in August? Summer skiing and skydiving on the other side of the world.
It’s winter in the Southern Hemisphere. There’s nowhere better to spend it than in the adrenaline capital of New Zealand. Queenstown on the South Island is a haven for winter sports, crazy nightlife, and the best burger in the country.
Ski and skydive the Remarkables Mountains with scorching views over Lake Wakatipu. Raft and ride jetboats down the white water rapids of Shotover River. Ziplining, parasailing, and parapenting are all on the table. And just up the road is Kawarau Bridge Bungy, where modern bungee jumping was born.
For something a little more sedate, the Skyline Gondola gives you mountaintop views without the need for skis. Take the Queensland Trail around Lake Wakatipu and finish off in downtown Queenstown at the extraordinary city gardens. And the wining and dining options are of course second to none – this is New Zealand after all.
11. Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Learn more: Buenos Aires travel guide
- Why visit in August? Tango the nights and days away.
Tango is the soundtrack to the streets of Buenos Aires, and also the lifeblood that warms winter temperatures in August. Many visit the city to watch Argentina’s most famous export, but it’s far more fun to get involved.
August 21st sees the Buenos Aires Tango Festival and Championship dance into town. The world’s biggest tango festival will see 2,000 dancers parade and pasada their way across 35 venues. Concerts and performances explode across the city. Milongas thrum in dance halls and all are invited to join the party until the early hours. If you’re still hungry for more, head to Plaza Dorrego in San Telmo on Sundays for the free Tango shows.
12. Seychelles
- Learn more: Victoria travel guide
- Why visit in August? Unbridled beauty in the best month of the year to enjoy it.
The Seychelles are my pick for the world’s most beautiful islands. Be it the Maldives or the Marshall Islands, none can hold a candle to their beauty and brilliance. It’s Dry Season, which also means it’s among the cooler months. But when that means daily temperatures nearing 80°F, it’s not really a problem.
August also means wind, which makes it fantastic for wind and kite surfing and sailing. The latter is a great way to explore the islands. It’s peak time for bird watching too. A trip to see the 1.5 million-strong colony of sooty terns nesting on Bird Island will blow your mind.
Beau Vallon in North Mahe is a great base with some of the islands’ most beautiful beaches. It’s also a convenient kick-off point to trek rainforests in Morne Seychellois National Park and the breathtaking Morne Blanc Trail.
Data-backed picks from KAYAK
If seasonal events aren’t on your wish list, consider instead one of data-based destinations. These destinations are based on KAYAK flight and hotel data, taking into account budget, weather, and popularity (so you can avoid the crowds). For personalized recommendations based on your location and chosen destination check out the Best Time to Travel tool.
| Destination | Country | Avg. flight price | Avg. hotel price | Avg. temp | Avg precipitation | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | TH | $1,295 | $60 | 82℉ | 7 '' | low |
| Los Angeles | US | $383 | $197 | 73℉ | 0 '' | medium |
| Singapore | SG | $1,516 | $139 | 82℉ | 7 '' | low |
| Honolulu | US | $755 | $285 | 82℉ | 1 '' | medium |
| Orlando | US | $325 | $152 | 84℉ | 8 '' | low |
| Sydney | AU | $1,489 | $123 | 54℉ | 3 '' | low |
| Las Vegas | US | $435 | $130 | 91℉ | 0 '' | low |
| London | GB | $890 | $204 | 63℉ | 2 '' | medium |
| Berlin | DE | $916 | $110 | 63℉ | 2 '' | medium |
| Paris | FR | $988 | $273 | 68℉ | 2 '' | low |
| Rome | IT | $1,125 | $168 | 75℉ | 1 '' | medium |
| Vancouver | CA | $502 | $265 | 64℉ | 2 '' | high |
| Seattle | US | $437 | $312 | 66℉ | 1 '' | high |
| Tokyo | JP | $1,195 | $147 | 81℉ | 6 '' | low |
| Barcelona | ES | $968 | $204 | 75℉ | 2 '' | medium |
| Copenhagen | DK | $804 | $252 | 61℉ | 3 '' | medium |
| Edinburgh | GB | $1,118 | $246 | 59℉ | 2 '' | high |
| Osaka | JP | $1,462 | $145 | 84℉ | 4 '' | low |
| Venice | IT | $1,186 | $185 | 72℉ | 3 '' | medium |
| New York | US | $349 | $298 | 77℉ | 4 '' | medium |
The following information refers to the destinations listed in the table.
Recommendation ranking within table:
Our recommendation ranking of where to go is calculated based on average flight prices, average hotel prices, popularity, average temperature, and average precipitation. Flight prices, hotel prices, popularity, and precipitation constitute inverse factors, the less the better. Average temperature optimal values are taken as the median for the destination, and a difference is calculated for the month from this reference point. The smaller the difference the more desirable the city is to visit in this month. This temperature factor is weighed double as much as popularity and precipitation.
Flight and hotel prices:
Average prices are estimated from KAYAK internal data from search period ‘2023-11-01’ to ‘2024-01-15’ for travel period ‘2024-08’. Flight prices include economy class return trips for one traveler, and hotel prices represent 3 stars or below hotels’ nightly rates for a standard double room. Price insights are subject to vary depending on the exact departure airport and over time as travel dates are approaching.
Popularity:
Monthly crowd estimates for each destination are determined by internal flight and hotel search data. This incorporates the latest historical insights from the past year collected on ‘2024-01-15’. For each destination, this popularity estimate is pulled for the particular month to gauge where it might not be too crowded.
Weather (average monthly temperature and precipitation):
Weather data is pulled from a third-party site, Weatherbase, and has not been verified by KAYAK. Monthly average temperature and precipitation data is based on historical insights from the past 102 years. Weatherbase data is updated in real-time from the US Census Bureau and other databases worldwide.
Discover more great places to travel
Not quite scratched that summer travel itch yet? Take a look at my guides for the best places to visit in June and July. Or cast an eye ahead to the cooler month of September.
You can browse the world map with KAYAK Explore and KAYAK Trips. Wherever you plan to go, KAYAK can make your trip smoother with great value flights, car rental, and amazing places to stay.
