Where is cool in July? Our top 10 destinations

Global warming and sky-high temperatures – booking a summer holiday in 2024 isn't as simple as booking a sunshiny trip to the Med and enjoying the good weather. Perhaps you want to plan a holiday where the days are just that bit more temperate, where getting out and actually exploring the destination you've travelled to doesn't go hand-in-hand with sunburn and suffocating crowds. You wouldn't be alone – when asked what travel to Europe looks like this summer, travel specialists agreed that more and more of us are turning to alternative destinations. So here, we round up the 10 places that aren't too hot in July.

1. The French Lakes, France

Average July temperature: 23°C

You know the French Alps best for the powdery snow, cosy chalets and epic fondues – but summer here can be dazzling, too. “The lakes make an excellent set of coordinates for the would-be explorer, especially in spring and summer,” Steve King writes in our feature on Savoy. There's the gorgeous, old-timey spa town Evian, and Annecy, on one of the most beautiful lakes in the area. July temperatures skim a pleasant 23°C – stay in the splashy Hôtel Royal while in the area.

2. Galicia, Spain

Average July temperature: 23°C

Spain's quiet, foodie region is a land of golden sand beaches, craggy coastline, glittering ocean and knotty vineyards. While much of Europe heads to southern Spain during these months, those in the know head for the west coast to Galicia, where days are spent exploring old-school towns such as Sanxenxo and eating simple fish suppers in restaurants like Benboa or fine-dining feasts at Restaurante Culler de Pau. Stay at the affordable Quinta de San Amaro.

3. Latvia

Average July temperature: 17°C

Latvia is one of the most talked-about alternative summer destinations in Europe right now. This country quietly resisted soviet conformity and is now forging its own path. The culture here honours the past – like at the Museum of Occupation, which helps visitors understand the history of occupation that occurred for much of the 20th century, and the Riga Art Nouveau Centre. There's also astonishing, unspoilt nature to explore, and a thriving food scene. Stay at Dome, in Riga.

4. Cape Town, South Africa

Average July temperature: 20°C

While Cape Town is already a firm favourite for those seeking winter sun, savvy travellers are considering the flip-side of travelling to this Southern Hemisphere city, too – that visiting during a European summer can offer needed relief from the sweltering temperatures back home. Average July temperatures are still a very pleasant 20°C – ideal for hiking Table Mountain and visiting stretches of sand which are surely some of the best beaches in the world. Splash out on a stay at Ellerman House.

5. Copenhagen, Denmark

Average July temperature: 22°C

With July temperatures that read like a mild spring day in more southerly parts of Europe, July is, of course, still high summer in the Danish capital. That means locals are soaking up every minute of the light (there's about 18 hours of daylight in July, compared to just 10 in December) and warmer weather with al fresco dining, beers in the parks and days spent on the water. But you're unlikely to be stickily hot, meaning you can actually enjoy it all. The food scene here draws in many visitors – Noma might be closing, but Copenhagen's restaurant roster is ever thriving – as well as the stylish design and excellent shopping. The only thing left to do is choose between the best hotels in Copenhagen – we especially like Manon Les Suites, an eco-savvy stay with a pool, during the summer.

6. Newfoundland, Canada

Average July temperature: 15°C

This remote land is epically rugged, even by Canadian standards. There's the World Heritage Site Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve, which is home to marine fossils that are hundreds of millions of years old, Torngat Mountains National Park – Inuit ancestral homeland which covers 9,700 acres – and mountains, fjords and beaches that will make jaws drop and eyes widen. Fogo Island Inn is the best place to book here – a hotel sat on stilts which is making efforts to revitalise the island.

7. The Andes, Peru

Average July temperature: 22°C

Much like Cape Town, Peru's Andes – the highest mountain range outside Asia, running through must of South America's western side – are in the southern hemisphere. That means July temperatures are mild and explorations of Machu Picchu or Lake Titicaca are ripe for the taking. Take the incredible Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train from Cusco to the Inca citadel, or hike up Rainbow Mountain.

8. Scotland, UK

Average July temperature: 17°C

Ah, bonnie Scotland – not a place for lazing on a beach catching a tan, but that's not why you're reading this article anyway, is it? It's something of a myth that Scotland is always rainy – summer days are long, and blue skies are not unheard of. In the summer, take an epic road trip around the North Coast 500 or do a stint in Edinburgh before the crowds roll in for Fringe in August. The best hotels in Scotland are some of our favourite in the country, too – book Gleneagles in Perthshire for a classic stay on an 850-acre estate.

9. San Francisco, USA

Average July temperature: 19°C

California has to be the ultimate summer travel dream – but in San Francisco, things look a little different. Not least because of the weather: cold ocean currents sweep along the Cali coastline, keeping the air cool all summer long. Stroll the city's distinct neighbourhoods, dip into world-class museums such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, see the iconic Golden Gate Bridge for yourself and explore the city's much-loved Chinatown. Stay at the eco-focussed 1 Hotel San Francisco.

10. South Island, New Zealand

Average July temperature: 15°C

Mountains, lakes and glaciers, oh my. This is mid-winter in New Zealand, so you're visiting for snow-capped mountains, icy fjords and translucent glaciers. Go skiing, snowboarding or take your chances whale watching. Top it off with a stay at Cross Hill Lodge & Domes for stargazing from the shores of Lake Hāwea.