Best places to visit in Europe in July

Europe

Germany · 24°C (75°F) · 13 rainy days

Munich

Beer gardens, royal palaces, world-class art and the Alps on the horizon. Warmest month, with open-air concerts and opera; thunderstorms can be heavy.

Germany · 25°C (77°F) · 9 rainy days

Berlin

Cold War history, world-class museums and nights that never end. Warmest month, with swimming in the lakes and thunderstorms on hot afternoons.

Denmark · 22°C (72°F) · 9 rainy days

Copenhagen

Harbour swims, Tivoli lights, Danish design and a city made for bikes. The warmest and busiest month, with many Danes on holiday; swimming in the harbour and at the beaches is at its best.

Ireland · 20°C (68°F) · 10 rainy days

Dublin

Georgian squares, free museums, trad-music pubs and a coastline by train. The warmest month and peak season: busy pubs, full hotels and the highest room rates of the year.

Iceland · 14°C (57°F) · 10 rainy days

Reykjavík

A small, walkable capital and base for geysers, waterfalls and northern lights. The warmest and busiest month, with highland roads usually open and puffins on the islands.

Germany · 24°C (75°F) · 10 rainy days

Cologne

Gothic cathedral, Kölsch brewhouses and Germany's wildest carnival. Warmest month; the city's huge Pride celebrations bring big crowds to the centre.

Germany · 26°C (79°F) · 10 rainy days

Frankfurt

Skyline, riverside museums and apple-wine taverns on the Main. Warmest month, sometimes hot; summer festivals and riverside bars at their busiest.

Switzerland · 26°C (79°F) · 8 rainy days

Geneva

Lake Geneva's jet d'eau, a Calvinist old town and the world's diplomats. Warmest month, ideal for swimming at the Bains des Pâquis and lake cruises; occasional thunderstorms.

Germany · 23°C (73°F) · 12 rainy days

Hamburg

Harbour city of brick warehouses, Alster lakes and the Elbphilharmonie. Warmest month, ideal for the Elbe beaches, Alster boating and open-air events; showers are still common.

Lithuania · 23°C (73°F) · 10 rainy days

Vilnius

Baroque old town, a self-declared artists' republic and wooded river valleys. Warmest month, with busy terraces and the most balloon flights; occasional heavy showers.

Switzerland · 24°C (75°F) · 11 rainy days

Zurich

Lakeside old town, world-class art and swimming in the Limmat. Warmest month, with the lake and river baths at their busiest.

Finland · 22°C (72°F) · 8 rainy days

Helsinki

Sea fortress, public saunas and Nordic design on a Baltic peninsula. Warmest month and Finland's main holiday period; some restaurants close for a few weeks while terraces and beaches are full.

Switzerland · 23°C (73°F) · 13 rainy days

Interlaken

Gateway to the Jungfrau region between two turquoise Alpine lakes. Peak hiking season with every lift running; start early, as clouds and storms often build in the afternoon.

Norway · 22°C (72°F) · 11 rainy days

Oslo

Fjord-side architecture, Munch and Viking-age history with forest on the doorstep. Warmest month and peak tourist season, though many locals are away on holiday and some restaurants close for a few weeks.

Latvia · 23°C (73°F) · 9 rainy days

Riga

Art Nouveau boulevards, a Hanseatic old town and a market in zeppelin hangars. Warmest month, ideal for the beaches at Jūrmala and Vecāķi, though heavy showers are common.

Sweden · 24°C (75°F) · 8 rainy days

Stockholm

A capital on 14 islands, a 17th-century warship and the archipelago on the doorstep. Warmest month and peak tourist season; many Swedes are on holiday, so business hotels often discount while sights are busy.

Estonia · 22°C (72°F) · 9 rainy days

Tallinn

Walled medieval Old Town, creative factory districts and the Baltic shore. Warmest month and peak season, with cruise ships in port most days and the beaches at their busiest.

Beach, city or budget: July picks by trip type

What's on in July

Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.

• Munich: Munich Opera Festival (usually July)
• Berlin: Berlin Pride (CSD) — large parade through the centre (usually late July)
• Copenhagen: Copenhagen Jazz Festival — concerts across the city (usually early July)
• Dublin: All-Ireland hurling and football finals at Croke Park (usually July)
• Cologne: ColognePride and Christopher Street Day parade (usually early July)
• Hamburg: Summer DOM funfair (usually late July to August)
• Vilnius: Statehood Day — the national anthem is sung together at 9pm (6 July)
• Zurich: Züri Fäscht — city festival with fireworks, held every three years (early July)
• Interlaken: Swiss National Day celebrations (1 August)
• Oslo: Fellesferie — Norway's main holiday period, when many local businesses slow down (July)

Daylight in July

Day length on these trips ranges from about 15.4 hours in Geneva to 19.7 hours in Reykjavík (sunrise to sunset on 15 July). Longer days mean more sightseeing time; shorter ones favour museums, food and evenings.

July weather compared

Questions travellers ask