Plan your getaway: The best places to go in June

COUNTRIES

USA

Ruby Beach at Olympic National Park, Washington State.Credit: iStock

Why you should go: Come June, the USA is gearing up for good times. The weather is warm, the sun is shining, and you’re still in that sweet spot before US school holidays begin and the tourist sites start to get properly crazy. June is an ideal time to head north in the States and enjoy the best of the weather, in the likes of New York, New England, Illinois, Montana, and across to Washington state, where everyone is coming out of hibernation and celebrating.

Don’t miss: If you’re into sport, June is the time of the NBA finals, and Major League Baseball has kicked off in earnest. If music is more your thing, in June you can catch the massive Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. See visitusa.org.au

SCOTLAND

View over Old Man Of Storr, Isle Of Skye.Credit: iStock

Why you should go: There’s a particular quality to the sunlight in the north of Scotland, a pale purity that bathes the rugged countryside in romantic hues. It’s a thing of rare beauty, and there’s no better time to appreciate it than in June, when the days – and evenings – are at their longest, and the temperatures are close to their warmest (which, admittedly, isn’t that warm, but still).

Don’t miss: Make the most of those endless evenings by getting outside. There are beautiful walks all over Scotland, from the Isle of Skye to the Cairngorms, from Speyside to Loch Lomond; however, for the classic Scottish experience, “bag a Munro” – that is, climb a mountain that’s more than 3000 feet high. See visitscotland.com

INDONESIA

Tanjung Puting National Park, Kalimantan.Credit: iStock

Why you should go: There are plenty of great reasons to head to Indonesia in June: the sun is shining across most of the country as dry season kicks in, particularly in Bali and Lombok, plus the humidity is low, and temperatures tend to hover around the 27-degree mark. This is also an excellent time for scuba-divers, who will enjoy clear, warm waters throughout the month.

Don’t miss: Hikers also have a pleasant time across much of Indonesia in June, and this is also a great opportunity to spot orangutans in Kalimantan. Dry season makes the animals’ appearances more predictable, meaning less time searching and more time spotting. See indonesia.travel

BOTSWANA

Credit: iStock

Why you should go: June is the perfect month to explore one of Botswana’s best attractions: the Okavango Delta. This is dry season, which means more of the Delta can be explored by car, and the wildlife is easier to spot, given any good guide will know where the animals are likely to appear in search of water. Dry season also means barely any rain, which should make for happy campers.

Don’t miss: Though this is a large country with many amazing places to view wildlife, one of the best experiences can be had at Third Bridge, a campsite in Moremi National Park, part of the Delta. This is a rough-and-ready camp, with no fences and few facilities, where elephants roam and hyena regularly prowl, and it’s heaven for those who want to immerse themselves in the experience. See botswanatourism.co.bw

COOK ISLANDS

Visit one of the Pacific’s most revered lagoons at Aitutaki.

Why you should go: It’s not like there’s a bad time to visit the Cooks – the temperature is pretty steady here year-round, hovering between 25 and 30 degrees most days. That does, however, make it the ideal winter getaway for those of us from cooler climes. June is one of the driest months on islands such as Rarotonga and Aitutaki, plus it’s outside cyclone season, which almost guarantees paradise.

Don’t miss: Though the main island of Rarotonga is a lot of fun, Aitutaki, further north, is almost impossibly beautiful, with its wide lagoon of crystal-clear, bath-warm water. This is the perfect family destination, where you can choose to be as active – scuba-diving, fishing, snorkelling – or as lazy as you like. See cookislands.travel

CITIES

BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in Busan.Credit: iStock

Why you should go: The temperatures are rising in this part of the world by June, as is the humidity, which can make conditions uncomfortable in the likes of China and Japan. Not so, however, in South Korea, which remains dry and pleasant, particularly in beachside Busan. You get the best of both worlds here: a bustling port town with amazingly good markets; and a city beach that’s perfect for swimming and lazing.

Don’t miss: The heart of Busan is Jagalchi, a fish market down by the busy port, where trawlers pretty much tip their catches straight into the display cases. The range of fish and seafood on sale here is mind-boggling, and all you have to do is point at what you like and the catch will be sent upstairs to one of the many restaurants to be prepared and served. Hard to get fresher than that. See visitkorea.or.kr

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

Stockholm’s old town.

Why you should go: There are summer solstice celebrations across much of northern Europe in June, and all have their charms; however, perhaps the best of them is Midsummer in Stockholm, when the normally reserved Swedes cut loose. The sky never darkens on the longest day of the year in Stockholm, and residents make the most of it with dancing and singing, particularly in the buzzing suburb of Sodermalm.

Don’t miss: For the true Stockholm Midsummer experience, join the city’s residents in travelling either to the flower-filled meadows just outside the city, or to the archipelago of 30,000 islands to the east. This is where you’ll find parties that last the full day and “night”. See visitstockholm.com

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA

The swimming lagoon on the Esplanade in Cairns.Credit: MVALIGURSKY

Why you should go: Cold weather already getting you down? Then it’s time to migrate north. Cairns has long been a favourite for winter holidays, given the temperatures up here regularly sit around 26 degrees, with only six days of rain for the whole month. The city took a big hit during COVID-19 lockdowns, so there’s never been a better time to get up there and support the community and have some fun.

Don’t miss: There’s so much to do in Cairns in June. Head out to the Great Barrier Reef to snorkel or scuba in some of the year’s best conditions. Leap off cliffs in Crystal Canyon. Go bungy-jumping. Go fishing. Have one of the best Indigenous tourism experiences in Australia. You can’t lose. See queensland.com

CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY

Hot air balloons flying over Cappadocia.Credit: iStock

Why you should go: Cappadocia is a part of the world everyone should see, a lunar landscape of eerie rock formations deep in Turkey’s desert. Though the weather is beginning to border on boiling in June, this is also the time of the Cappadox Festival, a celebration of music, art and gastronomy amid stunningly beautiful surrounds, and as good a reason as any to pay the region a visit.

Don’t miss: Though the festival makes for a great way to pass your time in Cappadocia, don’t miss out on the true highlight of a stay here: a balloon flight over the rocky landscape at dawn. The only other experience that can come close is being on the ground and photographing all those brightly-coloured orbs above. See cappadox.com

MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA

Credit: Alamy

Why you should go: Life is good in Medellin in June. This is a city that has famously had to overcome serious issues in its recent past, but its modern iteration is an exciting, friendly place that any traveller in Latin America will want to spend some time in. June is shoulder season, meaning you miss the crowds that descend at the beginning of the year, but you still get warm and mostly dry weather, plus a festive atmosphere.

Don’t miss: Every June Medellin hosts the International Tango Festival, so if you love dance – and if you’re visiting Medellin, it would help – this is an ideal time to visit. June is also great for soaking up everything that’s good about this city year-round, from the art-filled streets of Comuna 13, to fancy El Poblado, to the salsa clubs through the city. See colombia.travel