Best holiday destinations in August

Choosing where to go in August for the best weather is no mean feat: your options close to home are endless as the Mediterranean is bathed in sunshine, making it the most perfect place to holiday in the world at this time.

Hotel on the beach in Nusa Dua, south coast of Bali
Hotel on the beach in Nusa Dua, south coast of Bali © Nikolai Sorokin - Fotolia.com

Top five destinations to visit in August

Although the weather begins to shift slightly from the beginning of August, with days thinking about getting shorter and temperatures having peaked, it's still very much all about holiday weather and a favourite time to go away for thousands of Brits.

Read on to discover just some of the destinations worth considering when working out where to go in August for some seriously hot and sunny weather:

Where to go on holiday in August 2024/2025: Fifteenth century monastery, Hvar Croatia
Where to go on holiday in August 2024/2025: Fifteenth century monastery, Hvar Croatia © Nolte Lourens - Fotolia.com

1. Corfu, Greece

  • Flight time from London: 3.5 hours
  • Daily high: 31°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 11
  • Sea temperature: 25°C

Corfu has a long and colourful history having passed through the hands of various world powers over the centuries. The legacy of 51 years of British rule remains in the form of cricket, which is still widely played, and ginger beer which is still widely consumed.

It's perhaps this familiarity which has helped make Corfu an eternally popular summer holiday destination.

Kalami Bay, Corfu, Greece
Kalami Bay, Corfu, Greece © whl.travel - Flickr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

August is typically the warmest month of the year with bucket loads of sunshine, although heat and humidity is certainly high.

Compared to many other Greek islands, Corfu has lots of lush vegetation which weaves its way between the picturesque beaches (try Glyfada in the west for soft sand), turquoise waters and rocky cliffs.

This growth also keeps temperatures in check, offering plenty of shade, although you'll still lounge in heat as Corfu is hotter than most other Greek islands in August.

It avoids the seasonal winds, which blow across the more southern Aegean Sea destinations. You'd be unlucky to encounter any sustained rain, however you may see the odd shower or thunderstorm, which will quickly roll by.

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2. The Algarve, Portugal

  • Flight time from London: 3 hours
  • Daily high: 29°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 11
  • Sea temperature: 21°C to 22°C

The Algarve has long reigned supreme as a holiday hotspot thanks to the variety of beaches, resorts, and activities that make it a hit with families, couples and groups alike.

However, unlike many eastern Mediterranean destinations, the Algarve is slightly fresher at this time, largely due to its proximity to the Atlantic.

Praia da Marinha beach, Algarve, Portugal
Praia da Marinha beach, Algarve, Portugal © Christopher Elwell - Dreamstime.com

The prevailing wind and cooling currents of this vast ocean help regulate temperatures throughout the region, keeping heat and humidity levels moderate and sea temperatures chilly. Taking a dip can be quite invigorating, even in August, so you might want to look out for a hotel with a heated pool.

However, for many, this cooling influence is a real bonus, guaranteeing warm and sunny weather without it becoming too hot and uncomfortable, making it an ideal destination for those hoping to avoid searing heat.

As a general rule, the further east towards Spain you go, the warmer and less windy it is, while the closer you are to the southwest tip of Portugal (such as Sagres), the cooler and windier it becomes; surfers go west while sunbathers stay east.

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3. Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain

  • Flight time from London: 2.5 hours
  • Daily high: 29°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 10
  • Sea temperature: 26°C

No matter what draws you to the white isle, be it the beaches, bays and pretty villages or world-class clubs and bars, you're certain to find your own slice of paradise in Ibiza.

Naturally, August is an incredibly popular time to go and it can get busy, but don't be put off as there are plenty of quiet spots on this island.

Blue sea around Ibiza
Blue sea around Ibiza © steffus - Fotolia.com

Thanks to its highest annual temperatures, plenty of warm sunshine, and, as it's a relatively small island surrounded by sea, only moderate heat and humidity, Ibiza is a real charmer in August.

There's an ever-present east wind, but Ibiza is small enough that you can switch to another side of the island to avoid it. Generally, it's dry in August apart from the odd thunderstorm, which will quickly pass by.

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4. Madeira

  • Flight time from London: 3.5 hours
  • Daily high: 23°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 8
  • Sea temperature: 23°C

For a destination within four hours of the UK, Madeira is a good call in August. Conditions are thoroughly pleasant with loads of sunshine each day, minimal chance of rain and free from heat and humidity.

While the sea is warm enough for many to jump right in, some might find a little on the cool side, so a hotel with a heated pool might be sensible. Evenings, too, are fresh, dropping to around 17°C, so you will want to pack a few extra layers.

Blue skies over Madeira
Blue skies over Madeira © Thomas Jaworski - Flickr Creative Commons

If you're looking for some warm summer sun without it being too hot or oppressive, then Madeira really is a great choice.

As well as the selection of beaches, generally a mix of sand and pebble, you can tackle the famed levada walks and trails, which zig-zag the island, taking you past the tropical fruit and flowers that thrive in this climate.

Recommended for Madeira

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5. Split, Croatia

  • Flight time from London: 2.5 hours
  • Daily high: 30°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 10
  • Sea temperature: 25°C

Croatia has soared in the popularity stakes and it's not hard to see why: as well as being blessed with an expansive and diverse coastline home to thousands of coves and beaches, it's also renowned for its crystal blue waters, beautifully unspoilt islands, and rich array of historical sites to explore.

Brela, Croatia, just south of Split
Brela, Croatia, just south of Split © Nikolai Sorokin - Fotolia.com

August is one of the warmest months of the year in Croatia, and almost as sunny as July. There's a marked difference between the climate in destinations across Croatia, however.

It's often up to 3°C cooler and less sunny in the north (such as in Istria), while in the south (such as Split or Dubrovnik) you'll find moderate heat and humidity, lower than Greece, and rainfall which is limited to sporadic thunderstorms.

The harbour city of Split and nearby idyllic islands are some of the sunniest places in August and just happen to have some of the best beaches, although many of them are limestone pebble rather than sand.

A big plus about pebbly beaches is that the water tends to be clearer as there's less silt and sediment to stir up.

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Alternative destinations to visit in August 2024/2025

As well as the popular destinations mentioned above, it's only right to include some other places around the world which also enjoy good conditions in August.

Golden gate sunset, San Francisco, California, USA
Golden gate sunset, San Francisco, California, USA © col - Shutterstock.com

If you're thinking of going long haul, California experiences some of its best weather in August, with up to 11 hours of sunshine and temperatures in the high twenties. It's warm enough to make the most of the state's great outdoors, but not oppressively hot.

Another long haul option with great weather in August is Bali in Indonesia. It's still in the dry season at this time, with warm sea temperatures, 10 hours of sunshine most days and daytime temperatures reaching 30°C. This is, without a doubt, one of the best months of the year to visit.

August is a wonderful time of year to get away with loads of places enjoying beautiful weather both near and far from the UK - the tough bit is simply deciding where to go!

Wherever your holiday takes you this summer, don't miss our collection of travel deals and discounts, while the weather in August page will give you more detailed information about where to go on holiday in August in 2024/2025 if you're still unsure.

Destination ideas for August 2024

  • Month: August
  • Daytime temperature: 22 - 28°C [remove]
  • Sunshine hours: 8 hours or more [remove]
  • Sea temperature: 25°C or warmer [remove]

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Rank Rating Score Destination
1 Weather Score for Brazil in August is 100% 100% Brazil
  Weather Score for Bulgaria in August is 100% 100% Bulgaria
  Weather Score for Calabria in August is 100% 100% Calabria, Italy
  Weather Score for Campania in August is 100% 100% Campania, Italy
  Weather Score for Corsica in August is 100% 100% Corsica, France
  Weather Score for Costa Brava in August is 100% 100% Costa Brava, Spain
  Weather Score for Costa Dorada in August is 100% 100% Costa Dorada, Spain
  Weather Score for Crete in August is 100% 100% Crete, Greece
  Weather Score for Croatia in August is 100% 100% Croatia
  Weather Score for French Polynesia in August is 100% 100% French Polynesia
  Weather Score for Greece in August is 100% 100% Greece
  Weather Score for Guadeloupe in August is 100% 100% Guadeloupe
  Weather Score for Hawaii in August is 100% 100% Hawaii, United States
  Weather Score for Italian Riviera in August is 100% 100% Italian Riviera, Italy
  Weather Score for Italy in August is 100% 100% Italy
  Weather Score for Kenya in August is 100% 100% Kenya
  Weather Score for Majorca in August is 100% 100% Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Menorca in August is 100% 100% Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Montenegro in August is 100% 100% Montenegro
  Weather Score for Peloponnese in August is 100% 100% Peloponnese, Greece
  Weather Score for Queensland in August is 100% 100% Queensland, Australia
  Weather Score for Sardinia in August is 100% 100% Sardinia, Italy
  Weather Score for Seychelles in August is 100% 100% Seychelles
  Weather Score for Sicily in August is 100% 100% Sicily, Italy
  Weather Score for Skopelos in August is 100% 100% Skopelos, Greece
  Weather Score for Slovenia in August is 100% 100% Slovenia
  Weather Score for Spain in August is 100% 100% Spain
  Weather Score for Tanzania in August is 100% 100% Tanzania
  Weather Score for Thassos in August is 100% 100% Thassos, Greece
  Weather Score for Turkey in August is 100% 100% Turkey
  Weather Score for Tuscany in August is 100% 100% Tuscany, Italy
  Weather Score for Venetian Riviera in August is 100% 100% Venetian Riviera, Italy
33 Weather Score for Fiji in August is 97% 97% Fiji
  Weather Score for Indonesia in August is 97% 97% Indonesia
  Weather Score for Japan in August is 97% 97% Japan
36 Weather Score for France in August is 96% 96% France
  Weather Score for Madagascar in August is 96% 96% Madagascar
  Weather Score for Monaco in August is 96% 96% Monaco
  Weather Score for Mykonos in August is 96% 96% Mykonos, Greece
  Weather Score for Naxos in August is 96% 96% Naxos, Greece
  Weather Score for Paros in August is 96% 96% Paros, Greece
  Weather Score for Romania in August is 96% 96% Romania
  Weather Score for Santorini in August is 96% 96% Santorini, Greece
  Weather Score for Skyros in August is 96% 96% Skyros, Greece
  Weather Score for Syros in August is 96% 96% Syros, Greece
46 Weather Score for Bali in August is 94% 94% Bali, Indonesia
  Weather Score for Costa Blanca in August is 94% 94% Costa Blanca, Spain
  Weather Score for Halkidiki in August is 94% 94% Halkidiki, Greece
  Weather Score for Ibiza in August is 94% 94% Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Kefalonia in August is 94% 94% Kefalonia, Greece
  Weather Score for Lefkada in August is 94% 94% Lefkada, Greece
  Weather Score for Martinique in August is 94% 94% Martinique
  Weather Score for Mozambique in August is 94% 94% Mozambique
  Weather Score for Puerto Rico in August is 94% 94% Puerto Rico
  Weather Score for Samoa in August is 94% 94% Samoa
  Weather Score for Skiathos in August is 94% 94% Skiathos, Greece
  Weather Score for St Vincent & the Grenadines in August is 94% 94% St Vincent and the Grenadines
  Weather Score for Zante in August is 94% 94% Zante, Greece
59 Weather Score for China in August is 93% 93% China
60 Weather Score for Maldives in August is 92% 92% Maldives
  Weather Score for Papua New Guinea in August is 92% 92% Papua New Guinea
  Weather Score for South Korea in August is 92% 92% South Korea
63 Weather Score for Albania in August is 89% 89% Albania
  Weather Score for Barbados in August is 89% 89% Barbados
  Weather Score for Bodrum & Izmir Coast in August is 89% 89% Bodrum and Izmir Coast, Turkey
  Weather Score for Corfu in August is 89% 89% Corfu, Greece
  Weather Score for Costa Almeria in August is 89% 89% Costa Almeria, Spain
  Weather Score for Cyprus in August is 89% 89% Cyprus
  Weather Score for Egypt in August is 89% 89% Egypt
  Weather Score for Formentera in August is 89% 89% Formentera, Balearic Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Grenada in August is 89% 89% Grenada
  Weather Score for Israel in August is 89% 89% Israel
  Weather Score for Lombok in August is 89% 89% Lombok, Indonesia
  Weather Score for Malta in August is 89% 89% Malta
  Weather Score for Paxos in August is 89% 89% Paxos, Greece
  Weather Score for Rhodes in August is 89% 89% Rhodes, Greece
  Weather Score for St Lucia in August is 89% 89% St Lucia
  Weather Score for Trinidad & Tobago in August is 89% 89% Trinidad and Tobago
  Weather Score for Virginia in August is 89% 89% Virginia, United States
80 Weather Score for Azores in August is 88% 88% Azores, Portugal
  Weather Score for Costa de la Luz in August is 88% 88% Costa de la Luz, Spain
  Weather Score for El Hierro in August is 88% 88% Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Gran Canaria in August is 88% 88% Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for La Gomera in August is 88% 88% La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for La Palma in August is 88% 88% La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Lesbos in August is 88% 88% Lesbos, Greece
  Weather Score for Madeira in August is 88% 88% Madeira, Portugal
  Weather Score for Mauritius in August is 88% 88% Mauritius
  Weather Score for New Jersey in August is 88% 88% New Jersey, United States
  Weather Score for Ontario in August is 88% 88% Ontario, Canada
  Weather Score for Tenerife in August is 88% 88% Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
92 Weather Score for Costa Rica in August is 86% 86% Costa Rica
  Weather Score for Jamaica in August is 86% 86% Jamaica
  Weather Score for Kerala in August is 86% 86% Kerala, India
  Weather Score for Panama in August is 86% 86% Panama
  Weather Score for Philippines in August is 86% 86% Philippines
  Weather Score for Sri Lanka in August is 86% 86% Sri Lanka
98 Weather Score for Anguilla in August is 83% 83% Anguilla
  Weather Score for Antalya Coast in August is 83% 83% Antalya Coast, Turkey
  Weather Score for Antigua in August is 83% 83% Antigua
  Weather Score for Bahamas in August is 83% 83% Bahamas
  Weather Score for Bermuda in August is 83% 83% Bermuda
  Weather Score for British Virgin Islands in August is 83% 83% British Virgin Islands
  Weather Score for Dalaman & Marmaris Coast in August is 83% 83% Dalaman and Marmaris Coast, Turkey
  Weather Score for Dominica in August is 83% 83% Dominica
  Weather Score for Dominican Republic in August is 83% 83% Dominican Republic
  Weather Score for Florida in August is 83% 83% Florida, United States
  Weather Score for Georgia (USA) in August is 83% 83% Georgia, United States
  Weather Score for Kos in August is 83% 83% Kos, Greece
  Weather Score for South Carolina in August is 83% 83% South Carolina, United States
  Weather Score for St Barthelemy in August is 83% 83% St Barthelemy
  Weather Score for St Kitts & Nevis in August is 83% 83% St Kitts and Nevis
  Weather Score for Texas in August is 83% 83% Texas, United States
  Weather Score for Virgin Islands in August is 83% 83% Virgin Islands
115 Weather Score for Costa del Sol in August is 82% 82% Costa del Sol, Spain
  Weather Score for Morocco in August is 82% 82% Morocco
  Weather Score for Samos in August is 82% 82% Samos, Greece
118 Weather Score for Cape Verde in August is 81% 81% Cape Verde
  Weather Score for Gambia in August is 81% 81% Gambia
  Weather Score for Goa in August is 81% 81% Goa, India
  Weather Score for Hong Kong in August is 81% 81% Hong Kong
  Weather Score for India in August is 81% 81% India
  Weather Score for Malaysia in August is 81% 81% Malaysia
  Weather Score for Singapore in August is 81% 81% Singapore
125 Weather Score for Fuerteventura in August is 80% 80% Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Gibraltar in August is 80% 80% Gibraltar
  Weather Score for Lanzarote in August is 80% 80% Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for New York in August is 80% 80% New York, United States
  Weather Score for Pennsylvania in August is 80% 80% Pennsylvania, United States
  Weather Score for South Africa in August is 80% 80% South Africa
  Weather Score for Western Australia in August is 80% 80% Western Australia, Australia
132 Weather Score for Cayman Islands in August is 78% 78% Cayman Islands
  Weather Score for Cuba in August is 78% 78% Cuba
  Weather Score for Curacao in August is 78% 78% Curacao
  Weather Score for Tunisia in August is 78% 78% Tunisia
  Weather Score for Turks & Caicos in August is 78% 78% Turks and Caicos
137 Weather Score for El Salvador in August is 75% 75% El Salvador
  Weather Score for Mexico in August is 75% 75% Mexico
  Weather Score for Palau in August is 75% 75% Palau
  Weather Score for Thailand in August is 75% 75% Thailand
  Weather Score for Vietnam in August is 75% 75% Vietnam
142 Weather Score for Algarve in August is 72% 72% Algarve, Portugal
  Weather Score for Aruba in August is 72% 72% Aruba
  Weather Score for Red Sea in August is 72% 72% Red Sea, Egypt
  Weather Score for Venezuela in August is 72% 72% Venezuela
146 Weather Score for Cambodia in August is 70% 70% Cambodia
  Weather Score for Ecuador in August is 70% 70% Ecuador
  Weather Score for Mexico's Caribbean Coast in August is 70% 70% Caribbean Coast, Mexico
149 Weather Score for British Columbia in August is 67% 67% British Columbia, Canada
  Weather Score for California in August is 67% 67% California, United States
  Weather Score for Cook Islands in August is 67% 67% Cook Islands
  Weather Score for Jordan in August is 67% 67% Jordan
  Weather Score for Massachusetts in August is 67% 67% Massachusetts, United States
  Weather Score for Oman in August is 67% 67% Oman
  Weather Score for Portugal in August is 67% 67% Portugal
  Weather Score for Tonga in August is 67% 67% Tonga
  Weather Score for UAE in August is 67% 67% UAE
  Weather Score for Washington State in August is 67% 67% Washington State, United States
159 Weather Score for Pakistan in August is 64% 64% Pakistan
  Weather Score for Peru in August is 64% 64% Peru
161 Weather Score for Lithuania in August is 61% 61% Lithuania
  Weather Score for New South Wales in August is 61% 61% New South Wales, Australia

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Kirsten Henton

Kirsten Henton

Kirsten Henton is Weather2Travel.com's editor. Kirsten writes, commissions and edits our travel features, liaising with our contributors and ensuring copy is spick-and-span. A member of the British Guild of Travel Writers, Kirsten also freelances writing articles on travel, history and the outdoors for titles such as Scotland Magazine and BBC Travel.

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