Where to go · August
Top 20 Hotel Destinations for August
August favors cooler escapes: Southern Africa's dry winter, the Edinburgh festivals, the Alps, and northern coasts at their warmest.
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Scotland, United Kingdom
Why August
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe and International Festival fill the city through August. Book hotels many months ahead.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~66°F (19°C); showers
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: The Balmoral. Landmark hotel with a clock tower at the east end of Princes Street.
Explore Edinburgh →Mpumalanga, South Africa
Why August
Dry winter thins the bush and draws animals to water, making it one of the best months for game viewing.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~79°F (26°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- adventure
- nature
Where we'd stay: Lion Sands Ivory Lodge. A five-star stay in Bushbuckridge, a strong base for Kruger National Park.
Hotels in Mpumalanga →Sossusvlei, Hardap, Namibia
Why August
Cool, dry winter weather is ideal for climbing Sossusvlei's red dunes and stargazing.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~77°F (25°C); cold nights
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- adventure
- nature
Where we'd stay: &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. Desert suites with skylights for stargazing from bed.
Find hotels in Namibia →Graubünden, Switzerland
Why August
Engadine summer brings crisp, sunny days for hiking and lake swimming, a cool escape from southern Europe's heat.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~64°F (18°C); sunny
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- adventure
- nature
- romance
Where we'd stay: Badrutt's Palace Hotel. Legendary palace hotel overlooking Lake St. Moritz.
Hotels in St. Moritz →Basque Country, Spain
Why August
Milder than southern Spain, with Semana Grande (usually mid-August) bringing fireworks and events.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~75°F (24°C); some showers
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- beach
Where we'd stay: Hotel María Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel. Belle Époque hotel on the Urumea River near the old town.
Hotels in San Sebastián →
Cong, County Mayo, Ireland
Why August
Long, mild days are the best of the year for Connemara and the west coast.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~64°F (18°C); showers
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- nature
- romance
- family
Where we'd stay: Ashford Castle. 13th-century castle estate on Lough Corrib.
Explore West of Ireland →
Colorado, United States
Why August
Summer festival season and wildflower-filled alpine hikes, with cool mountain temperatures.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~76°F (24°C); afternoon storms
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- adventure
- culture
Where we'd stay: The Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection. Mountain Village hotel with gondola access to town.
Explore Telluride →Montana, United States
Why August
Warm, dry days for hiking, fly fishing and day trips into Yellowstone's west entrance.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~76°F (24°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- adventure
- nature
- family
Where we'd stay: Montage Big Sky. Mountain resort with a bowling alley and Spa Montage.
Hotels in Big Sky →
Washington, United States
Why August
August is typically Seattle's driest, sunniest month, ideal for Puget Sound ferries and Mount Rainier trips.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~76°F (24°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- city
- nature
Where we'd stay: Four Seasons Hotel Seattle. Waterfront hotel near Pike Place Market with an infinity pool.
Explore Seattle →
10Zanzibar
Kizimkazi, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Why August
The cool, dry season (roughly June–October) brings sunny beaches and pairs easily with a safari.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~82°F (28°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- beach
- culture
Where we'd stay: The Residence Zanzibar. Villas with private pools on the island's southwest coast.
Explore Zanzibar →- 11
Azores
Furnas, São Miguel, Portugal
Why August
The warmest, driest month for hiking crater lakes and whale watching.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~77°F (25°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- nature
- adventure
Where we'd stay: Terra Nostra Garden Hotel. Art Deco hotel inside a historic botanical garden with thermal pools.
Hotels in Furnas → Edgartown, Massachusetts, United States
Why August
Peak summer beach weather and island events.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~78°F (26°C); warm
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- family
Where we'd stay: Harbor View Hotel. Historic hotel overlooking Edgartown Lighthouse.
Hotels in Edgartown →Bled, Upper Carniola, Slovenia
Why August
Warm lake swimming, rowing to Bled Island and hiking in the Julian Alps.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~77°F (25°C); storms possible
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- nature
- romance
Where we'd stay: Grand Hotel Toplice. Lakefront hotel with its own thermal-water swimming area.
Hotels in Bled →
14Fiji
Kokomo Island, Kadavu, Fiji
Why August
Dry season (roughly May–October) brings low humidity and calm diving conditions on the Great Astrolabe Reef.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~79°F (26°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- romance
- family
Where we'd stay: Sofitel Fiji Resort And Spa. A five-star stay in Nadi, a strong base for Fiji.
Explore Fiji →- 15
Montauk
New York, United States
Why August
Warm ocean water and peak summer beach days at the tip of Long Island.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~78°F (26°C); warm
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
Where we'd stay: Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa. Oceanfront resort with a seawater spa.
Hotels in Montauk → La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada
Why August
Warm days for whale watching on the St. Lawrence, where belugas and other whales feed in summer.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~73°F (23°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- nature
- family
Where we'd stay: Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu. Clifftop château above the St. Lawrence River.
Hotels in La Malbaie →
17Cape Cod
Chatham, Massachusetts, United States
Why August
The warmest water of the year and classic summer beach days.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~78°F (26°C); warm
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- family
Where we'd stay: Chatham Bars Inn. Waterfront inn with a private beach and its own farm.
Explore Cape Cod →
Windermere, Cumbria, United Kingdom
Why August
Long days for fell walking and lake cruises, though it's the national park's busiest month.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~66°F (19°C); showers
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- nature
- romance
Where we'd stay: Gilpin Hotel & Lake House. Country-house hotel with garden spa suites near Windermere.
Explore Lake District →Colerne, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Why August
Gardens are at their peak and long summer evenings suit Cotswold village drives.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~70°F (21°C); mixed
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- culture
- romance
Where we'd stay: Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa. Palladian mansion on 500 acres near Bath.
Hotels in Colerne →Lake Placid, New York, United States
Why August
Warm lake days and cool nights for hiking the High Peaks and paddling.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~76°F (24°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- nature
- adventure
- family
Where we'd stay: Whiteface Lodge. Rustic-luxe lodge with an indoor-outdoor pool.
Hotels in Lake Placid →
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