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15 Best Places to Travel in August Around the World
Discover the best places to travel in August, featuring top destinations in Latin America, the USA, Europe, Africa, Asia.
August is the peak season for tourists in many parts of the world. In the North Hemisphere, this is the time of the warmest weather, school holidays, and festivals all over the place. Things get a bit cooler in the Southern Hemisphere than usual, making August a fantastic time to explore areas in Latin America that you always wanted to visit. However, August has a lot to offer all around the world. In this article, we’ll list the best places to travel in August worldwide and help you decide where to go and how to stay connected on your travels.
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Must-Visit places in Latin America
South America in August is a vibrant destination with cultural festivals, stunning beaches, and dynamic cities. The weather is nice and balmy in many places, which makes Argentina one of the best places to travel in August. Here are some suggestions offering a blend of festive spirit and natural beauty.
1. Argentina: August – the month of festivals
During the summer, Argentina is one of the most visited places due to its wonderful beaches. There is a stretch of beautiful places and white sand beaches between Mar del Plata and Buenos Aries.
Also, during August, you can experience one of the most important festivals in this country, the Pachamama festival. This festival celebrates Pachamama, the indigenous Andean goddess of the Earth and fertility. You can experience the old traditions first-hand during this time.
Another essential festival in Argentina in mid-August is the Buenos Aires International Tango Festival and World Cup. If you are curious about this sensual dance, this is the time and the place to see professionals from all over the world showcase their skills and art, compete, and even host workshops you can participate in.
2. Brazil: Visit the iconic Brazilian beaches
August is one of the driest months of the year, so it is a great time to visit the famous city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. With an average temperature of 22 °C, this is a great time to visit iconic places such as Christ the Redeemer or the Sugar Loaf without worrying about the rainy season.
You can also visit other famous summer destinations in this part of South America, such as the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, two of Brazil’s most epic beaches.
Colombia, Medellin, and the Fair of Flowers
Colombia is another exciting festival destination to visit during this time of the year. One of the most famous festivals is celebrated in Medellín, Colombia – the Fair of Flowers. This a festival full of color and happiness that you cannot miss.
Other festivals include the Summer Festival in Bogotá, the Petronio Alvarez Festival in Cali, and many more.
However, if flowers and colors are not your thing, you can go to the famous beaches in Cartagena, one of the hotspots in Colombia. You can enjoy the sun and the beach, but also visit the walled city, a place full of history and activities.
Visiting Colombia can be challenging if you are not a Spanish speaker. However, translators and mobile phones can be life-saving tools in these cases. Holafly Colombia is also one of the best alternatives to having internet access and using these apps on your trip.
Best places to travel in August in United States and Canada
With its varied climate and sheer size, the North American continent has something for every tourist out there. Whether you’d rather enjoy a busy festival or more relaxed outdoor activities, August promises some sunny days in this part of the world for you to enjoy. Here are the best places to travel in August in the USA and Canada.
4. The San Juan Islands: Whale Watching
The Pacific Coast is the perfect place to visit in August for those who want to escape the heat and enjoy the evergreen beauty of this cluster of islands. Charming little towns like Friday Harbor are welcoming all year round, but late summer is especially pleasant.
One of the best ideas for a day trip is a whale-watching tour. This is when humpback whales have their great migration and can be seen from a boat and a safe distance. It is always possible to see orcas as a little surprise during your boat ride.
5. Chicago: Lollapalooza Festival
This famous festival takes place in Grant Park in Chicago. Ever since 1991, it has gathered artists from various genres of music, including rock, hip-hop, electronic, and indie. You can see some of the world’s famous names there, as well as emerging talents.
This festival includes music, art displays, interactive activities, and more. It is four days long, so it can be a great time to visit Chicago when the weather is warm and pleasant, and you can explore the festivities and the city’s museums and architecture.
6. Niagara Falls, Canada
This spectacular view is worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. If you visit in August, you will experience the majestic waterfalls under clear blue skies. During summer, you can also take a boat tour and get close to the thundering waterfalls.
Summer events in the nearby area, such as concerts and incredible fireworks displays, can enhance your experience. Given this, it is obvious that using up the warm days of August to visit Niagara Falls makes perfect sense.
Best places to visit in Europe in August
In August, summer is in full swing in the European region and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere. Europe offers a lot to see and explore. Good weather, fantastic food, ancient ruins, hiking paths, rich history and culture, and even beaches will make an impression on any tourist. Pick one of the destinations in Europe and start making a packing list.
7. Italy: Beaches and festivals bustling with life
August is the peak of the holiday season in Italy. If you want to explore the cultural events and Italian festivities, look into:
- The Sun Festival in Toscana – a famous contemporary art event.
- The Palio de Siena – a legendary horse race and show dating back to the 17th century.
- The Palio del Golfo – an epic boat show in La Spezia in which local artisans handcraft boats.
Mediterranean climate means that August is the perfect time to hit the beach and experience the cobblestone streets of Italian cities.. Consider visiting Sicily, with its amazing beaches. Places like Mondello will boast clear waters and well-organized beaches, but the Sicilian coast is full of hidden gems and wild beaches to explore.
8. Greece: The cradle of Western civilization
It is hard to go wrong when it comes to visiting Greece. This country is brimming with ancient archeological sites that blend into the everyday life of modern Greek culture. With around 8,500 miles of coastline and 6,000 islands, Greece is a heaven for exploration, relaxation, and everything in between.
During August, the best way to immerse yourself in Greek culture and tradition is to visit the month-long Olympus Festival. It happens near Mount Olympus and includes theater, music, dance, and art exhibitions.
You can always go with Crete or Rhodes for those who want to explore nature and authentic Greek vacations. If you want to learn where Greek people go for vacation, look into Ikaria.
9. Switzerland: Memorable hiking trails
Switzerland’s busiest time is during the ski season—the Swiss Alps allure ski lovers across the globe. However, visiting the Alps in the summer is an excellent idea. The temperatures range from 60 F to 77 F, making it the perfect weather to spend time exploring Swiss lakes, swimming, enjoying water sports, hiking, and even more adventurous activities like river crossings.
If you come to Switzerland in mid-July and stay there until the 1st of August, you can enjoy Swiss National Day with traditional live music, parades, cultural events, and festivals.
Unforgettable experiences in Africa
Wildlife watching is on the next level in Africa. It is hard to pick from the vast offer of exciting African destinations and spectacular safari experiences. Here is a short list of some of the best places to visit in August in Africa.
10. South Africa: The Sabi Sands
One of the reasons why people choose to go to the Sabi Sands is that this national reserve offers the possibility for fantastic lion and leopard sightings. Leopards are usually very elusive, and spotting them is not easy. Moreover, it is a place where you can spot all the Big Five (lion, buffalo, leopard, elephant, and rhino). It is the oldest private game reserve in South Africa.
11. Kenya: Masai Mara National Reserve
For an even more dramatic safari experience, visit this national reserve in August. This is the time of the Great Migration when hundreds of thousands of zebras, gazelles, and other animals attempt to cross the Mara River from Tanzania.
This attracts lions, leopards, and cheetahs, who see it as an excellent hunting opportunity. This unique spectacle is the pinnacle of wildlife watching for those who enjoy nature’s dynamic.
Of course, in this adventure, being communicated is important, and if you do not know the options for tourists, it can be complicated. Online stores like Holafly provide data plans for travelers through eSIM for Tanzania and many other continent destinations.
12. Madagascar: Exploring the island
This is the dry season in East Africa and Madagascar, making it the perfect opportunity to explore the island. Outdoor activities usually include visiting national parks and spotting famous Madagascar wildlife like lemurs, chameleons, and more. Madagascar also offers spectacular beaches, like Anakao, Ifaty, Nosy Be, and Île Sainte-Marie.
This dry season is also an excellent time for hiking. One of the most famous hiking spots is the Isalo National Park. It is renowned for its rich biodiversity, vertical rock formations, and spectacular waterfalls.
Best places to travel in August in Asia
August is usually the rainy season for the most popular tourist sites like Thailand or Vietnam. While that means that the weather is not what you’d typically expect from this part of the world, it also means lower prices and fewer crowds.
However, not all Asia experiences monsoon season in this part of the hear. This is the prime time to experience the other side of Asia.
13. Singapore: National Day festivities
On the 9th of August, Singapore celebrates the country’s independence and organizes a grand parade, fireworks, and many impressive performances. Days before the centerpiece celebrations, the entire country is decorated with flags. You can expect military marches and aerial displays by Singapore Air Force.
On National Day, everyone gathers in the Marina Bay area for the fireworks, which are the highlight of the festivities.
14. Japan: Obon Lantern Festival
This festival is a unique blend of honoring tradition and blending it with the joy of gathering as a community. Obon or Bon festival is a Buddhist event held in celebration of the deceased. Families clean and decorate graves and dance the Bon Odori dances to celebrate the ancestors.
Families also light lanterns and place them in front of their homes to guide the spirits of the deceased back to their homes, and at the end of the night, the lanterns are released into the water to guide them back to the afterlife. This is a spectacular experience and is well worth staying in Japan in August.
15. Sri Lanka: Elephant Migration
August is smack in the middle of The Gathering, the annual elephant migration. Hundreds of elephants come to the Minneriya Tank for water and vegetation. This natural spectacle gathers enthusiasts across the world because it is a rare and unique occasion to see many elephants participating in social behaviors in their natural habitat.
Staying connected on your travels
No matter where you decide to go this August, your trip will be much more rewarding if you can stay connected at all times. If that’s the case, you will have no trouble finding accommodation on the go, booking and coordinating your tours, exploring ratings for different places and services, uploading your photos on the cloud, and simply staying in touch with friends and family.
The most expensive way to do this is usually to use data roaming. For the longest time, this has been the go-to option for many tourists. However, nowadays, you can avoid the shocking bills and get an eSIM card instead. This is where Holafly comes into play.
The Holafly eSIM card with cellular data
Holafly is a popular eSIM provider and one of the most common choices among travelers worldwide. If your phone supports eSIM technology, using it is amazingly easy.
- Go to Holafly website and pick a destination you’re about to visit. It can be a single country or even an entire region.
- Pick the number of days you want to use your eSIM and buy it.
- Scan the QR code that arrives in your email and install the eSIM.
- Activate the eSIM only when you arrive at your destination.
What does this mean for you? Your phone will still have your usual SIM card active, and you will be able to make calls and SMS on it (according to your tariff) without issues. The only change is that your mobile data should be set to go through your eSIM. This will give you unlimited data for as long as your eSIM is valid.
In this way, your already amazing travel will get only better and more convenient.
FAQs about where to travel to during August
This depends on what you want to get out of your vacation. Mediterranean countries like Greece, Italy, and Croatia are a great choice if you are looking for relaxing beaches and real summer flair. Hiking is wonderful in Switzerland in August, and this is also the perfect time to visit Iceland as it’s not cold. Kenya is a wonderful August destination due to amazing safaris, and Madagascar has a great climate at that time of the year.
The peak tourist season in Greece is the second half of July and the first half of August. During this period, the sea is nice and warm, the weather is hot, and the skies are blue with minimal rain. The most famous tourist spots in Greece can be a bit crowded in August, but this wonderful country has a plethora of hidden gems to explore.
In the USA, the coolest weather in August is in the Northwest. San Juan Islands, Seattle, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, and Oregon are good destinations for a cooler summer vacation in the USA.
Plans that may interest you
With a background in English literature and a focus on storytelling, I’ve turned my interests in travel and technology into a career helping others stay connected abroad. Originally from Serbia, I work remotely with my husband, experiencing local cultures firsthand and bringing that perspective to my writing for Holafly. Fun fact: before focusing on content creation, I was a professional volleyball player.
