Where to go on holiday in August: 27 top destinations - Condé Nast Traveller

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Where to go on holiday in August: 27 top destinations

Where to go on holiday in August for a summer stay, plus sustainable travel tips

By Sarah James

12 June 2024

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Time for the final hurrah, folks, now that peak sunshine's approaching. Make the most of the dazzling days – if ever there was a month to take a chance on the English seaside, this is it. Europe's jam-packed, of course, but one can still take refuge in a handful of heavenly secret spots, even in the South of France. To soak up some sun without having to endure the scorching heat, see our guide to where is not too hot in August. Intrepid adventurers might head for the Arctic, however. Meanwhile, festivals are drawing eager crowds everywhere from Wiltshire to Papua New Guinea. And, no matter how busy your destination might be, there's always a way to visit more sustainably. Here are 27 ideas for rounding off the summer in style.

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  Bodrum, Turkey

  Temperature: 34° high; 24° low
  Season: summer
  Travel time from UK: 4 hours
  Time difference: BST+2

  It's all happening along the Bodrum Peninsula right now. The azure waters off these sandy shores are no stranger to sleek superyachts, but in recent years they have arrived in their droves between May and October. The rich and famous zoom over for long lunches in Maçakızı and terra firma stays at the hottest hotels, from Mandarin Oriental to the newly-opened Maxx Royal Bodrum. August temperatures are better for lazy beach days than exploring, but a long afternoon or two is enough to tick off key attractions such as Bodrum Castle and The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus – a now-ruined wonder of the ancient world. Navigate high-class hotspots like the boutiques of Yalıkavak Marina or Göltürkbükü's promenade, or tuck into seafood feasts in charming fishing villages such as Gümüşlük surrounded by animated locals.

  Where to stay: Lujo Hotel Bodrum is a dreamy resort near Güvercinlik ideal for families looking to entertain little ones while enjoying all the picturesque region has to offer. For a more adult-only feel, Maçakızı is one of the most notorious spots in town, complete with a sparkling beach club that has attracted countless stars over the years.

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  Zakynthos, Greece

  Temperature: 33°C high; 21°C low
  Season: summer
  Travel time from UK: 3 hours 30 minutes
  Time difference: BST+2

  Leave the southern shore to the package-holiday people and explore the Greek islands' best-kept secret: Zakynthos' splashy side. One of the stars here is the all-suite Olea hotel: all whitewashed minimalism, dangling rattan pod seats and natural, earthy tones. It almost blends into the sleepy hillside where it sits, surrounded by jagged mountains, fragrant pine forests and serene, sandy shores. Yes, it sizzles here in August, but that's what the hotel's extravagant, lake-like pool is for — not to mention the Ionian's cooling waves. In fact, in these circumstances, booking one of the Olea's swim-up suites makes sense.

  Where to stay: We love Porto Zante, where you can choose from eight villas, all with five-star facilities, set above a pristine bay of finely raked sand. For a more haute hippie vibe, check out Olea's hard-lined concrete minimalism for yourself. Halcyon Seas is a two-bedroom villa located in the hills above the famous Blue Caves. For something truly special, take over this dreamy tree house hidden within the island's olive trees.

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  Comporta, Portugal

  Temperature: 28°C high; 19°C low
  Season: summer
  Travel time from UK: 2 hours 45 minutes
  Time difference: BST+0

  Everyone knows about the Algarve, Portugal's most popular holiday destination, but fewer have heard of the equally as beautiful and far more laid-back Comporta, on the west coast and about an hour's drive from lovely Lisbon. This is the region of golden-sand stretches of beach, of rice paddies, canals and fields bulging with organic courgettes and broccoli. Having attracted designers, models and high society for years, there's an incredible offering of stylishly designed villas to rent, from pared-back and beachy to glass-walled and decked out with mod-cons. Even in August, Comporta remains blissfully uncrowded; rent a villa, stock up on fresh produce from a roadside seller and spend sunny days wandering down sandy tracks and swimming in the Atlantic swirl

  Where to stay: At Campo de Arroz, a family-friendly project that sleeps 10 and makes the most of its views over rice fields. Quinta da Comporta is a smart boutique stay with an emphasis on wellness – think freshly prepared meals from the organic garden and rice-infused spa treatments. If you're looking for something cheap and cheerful, this charming cabin offers a chic getaway with a great location. And it should come as little surprise that hip and ahead-of-the-curve Comporta isn't short on eco-friendly design hotels. See the Biosphere-certified Sublime: private villas built from sustainable materials; on-site organic garden supplying both restaurant and spa; composting plant; solar heating; and more.

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  Oliver Pilcher

  Isla Holbox, Mexico

  Temperature: 33°C high; 24°C low
  Season: wet
  Travel time from UK: 10 hours 30 minutes
  Time difference: BST-5

  Ever seen those envy-inducing Instagrams of 'influencers' posing in kaleidoscopic hammocks while happily pegged into the soothing shallows of an impossibly emerald sea? They were probably taken on Isla Holbox, a drowsy, barefoot island at the northern tip of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, long touted as 'the new Tulum'. Yet Holbox is still so hard to reach that it hasn't quite lived up to that characterisation: it still has no designer yoga studios or restaurant waiting lists, and its roads remain unpaved. The island can only be reached via passenger ferry from Chiquila, a three-hour drive from Playa del Carmen, which makes it a reliable place for going off-grid. There's nothing to do but live the simple life of the 2,000 people who reside here year-round. In August, large pods of whale sharks gather offshore, adding yet more natural splendour to a wonderfully quiet scene.

  Where to stay: Ser CasaSandra has a brilliant beach bar serving top-notch food. Rooms are packed with locally-made furniture – the best have private balconies and sea views. Another option is Punta Caliza, a whitewashed, thatch-roofed boutique hotel with one of the best pools in town.

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  The French Lakes

  Temperature: 25°C high; 12°C low
  Season: summer
  Travel time from UK: 1 hour 40 minutes
  Time difference: BST+1

  The French Riviera and Provence are crazy-busy and crazy-hot from mid July until September. For a breath of fresh air, head instead to the Alpine lakes of Lac de Bourget, Lac D'Annecy and Lac D'Aiguebelette where the waters are just as clear, the food just as French, and the crowds fewer. The lakes are perfect for beach-seekers; at Lac D'Annecy athletic types jet-ski the Mediterranean-blue water, families rollerblade along the shores and the restaurants are far more affordable. There's also something lovely about staying in the mountains; the air is clear and fresh, the surrounding peaks scattered with ancient ruins and the little towns bustle with French provincial life.

  Where to stay: Auberge Du Père Bise, a lakeside hangout with one of the region's prettiest swimming pools.

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  Turks and Caicos, West Indies

  Temperature: 32°C high; 27°C low
  Season: summer
  Travel time from UK: 9 hours 15 minutes
  Time difference: BST-5

  This British overseas territory at the southern tip of the Bahamas might be a favourite of today's splashiest celebrities (the Kardashians are regularly spotted here), but the Turks and Caicos archipelago has been an under-the-radar, superstar hideaway for some time. Keith Richards, Bruce Willis and Donna Karan all own estates here, as do others drawn by the uncommon allure of a Caribbean-style paradise without crowds. Flawless Grace Bay beach on the island of Providenciales is buzzing with high-end hotels, though those seeking a seriously smart stay head to Amanyara at the opposite side of the island for more seclusion. Or leave behind flashy Providenciales for day trips to the lesser-populated islands, where dazzling white beaches bask in splendid isolation. While August can bring scattered showers, temperatures are high and room rates low(er).

  Where to stay: Even Grace Bay has its quiet bits – we like family-friendly West Bay Club or the lush tropical pavilions at Amanyara.

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  Norfolk, United Kingdom

  Temperature: 22°C high; 12°C low
  Season: summer
  Time difference: BST+0

  Britain's festival season peaks in August, with several of summer's biggest hitters taking over forests, parkland and even beaches (Wilderness, Green Man, Creamfields and Boardmasters). One attractive weekender is Houghton – the electronic music event curated by legendary London club Fabric's resident DJ Craig Richards – which will see a top line-up of DJs, sculptures and dazzling light installations set up around the stunning grounds of Norfolk country house Houghton Hall. Come for the party but stay for one of the UK's very best summer getaways: sipping on North Sea Coffee Company's third-wave brews as you stroll Cromer's charmingly retro pier; spotting grey-seal pups in sand dunes at Horsey and Winterton-on-Sea; hiring out one of the colourful beach huts along Wells-next-the-Sea's shoreline; and, of course, boating the Broads.

  Where to stay: The Harper in Langham's former glass-blowing factory fills a contemporary void in the historic countryside villages of north Norfolk. For a more laidback stay, check in to The Chequers Inn. See our pick of the best hotels in Norfolk for more.