Where to go in July

+Harbour swimming, festivals and outdoor dining.

–Peak demand and high prices.

+Beach holidays, exploring, diving and combining Zanzibar with a Tanzania safari

–Higher prices and more visitors

+Good balance of weather

–Peak-season pockets

+Consistently sunny days and excellent conditions for beaches and surfing.

–One of the busiest months, with rising hotel rates and packed hotspots.

+Excellent beach weather + long days

–Heat + higher prices

+Warm, lively and perfect for terraces, canals and outdoor Amsterdam.

–Busy, particularly around Pride-related events.

+Reliable summer conditions and an enormous event calendar.

–Higher hotel rates, traffic and major convention/event crowds.

+Long days and a busy cultural calendar.

–Peak crowds and higher hotel demand.

+Nightlife, outdoor events and warm evenings.

–Heat and peak-season crowds.

+Very sunny and dry

–Intense daytime heat

+Warmest conditions

–Peak crowds and prices

+Long sunny days + late nights

–Serious daytime heat

+Extremely reliable summer weather

–Heat, crowds and prices

+Warm weather, maximum daylight and London's major summer events.

–One of the busiest and most expensive periods of the year.

+Hot, sunny and ideal for the beach.

–Very busy and hot, with high accommodation prices.

+Hot, sunny and full summer energy.

–Expect more tourists and higher accommodation prices.

+Quiet resorts and attractive rates, with strong marine-life opportunities.

–Rain and wind can interrupt boat trips and beach days.

+Good value and quieter resorts, with sunny spells between showers.

–Southwest monsoon conditions and rough seas.

+Quiet season with good restaurant, museum and city-break conditions.

–Cool mornings and evenings; beach weather is limited.

+Hot sea temperatures

–Humidity

+Lower tourism demand can mean better value.

–Frequent heavy showers and thunderstorms alongside high temperatures.

+The city is in full summer mode, with energy everywhere.

–Heat and humidity make long walking days less comfortable.

+Reliable heat, long evenings and the rooftop scene at full volume.

–Peak crowds and the highest prices of the year.

+Quiet period with lower prices and fewer tourists.

–Frequent rain and high humidity can disrupt outdoor plans.

+Hot, sunny weather and long summer days.

–Extreme heat can make sightseeing uncomfortable, while crowds and prices are high.

+Low crowds and low prices across the city.

–Rainy-season weather continues with afternoon showers.

+Summer is when Austin's water activities really come alive — great for SUP, swimming and boating.

–The heat is intense; plan around the hottest part of the day.

+The cleanest air quality of the year, and thin crowds at major sights.

–Peak rainy season — daily downpours are close to guaranteed.

+Huge amount of entertainment and Independence Day celebrations.

–Peak summer heat, humidity, storms and crowds.

+Tenjin Matsuri (24–25) is one of Japan’s great festivals — river procession, huge fireworks.

–Hot, humid, and riverside areas get packed around the festival.

+Fewer tourists

–Frequent rain

+Riverside events and a city in full summer mode.

–The busiest, priciest and hottest stretch of the year.

+Summer festivals and fireworks are a genuine spectacle.

–Heat and humidity are punishing by midday.

+The driest, sunniest month of the year, with the sea at its most swimmable.

–Shoulder-to-shoulder crowds on Corso Umberto, and the White Lotus premium is at its highest.

+Maximum energy — fireworks, festivals, patio season at its peak.

–Hot and humid, and Lollapalooza (Jul 30–Aug 2) pushes rates to their yearly high.

+Plenty happening indoors

–Very hot and humid

+Fewer locals means easier tables and quieter streets.

–Heavy heat, peak prices and long queues at the big sights.

+Low demand can unlock excellent accommodation value.

–Heat, 81% humidity and 272mm of rain make long sightseeing days difficult.

+The lowest hotel prices of the year — five-star properties at a fraction of peak-season rates.

–41–42°C with extreme humidity; only indoor or pool-focused trips work.