June is the beginning of the peak holiday season in many Northern Hemisphere tourist destinations, so it’s still early enough to avoid the major crowds. The weather is really warm almost all over, so you won’t be restrained in this way in your choices. It’s also a good time to visit countries that get really humid before the temperatures start to soar. Here’s our guide to popular destinations for June.
MEDITERRANEAN HOLIDAYS
1. NICE
- Temperature: 24°C high; 17°C low
- How to get there from the UK: A 2-hour direct flight from London.
- Why travel in June: You’ll have a wide choice of annual music, arts, and food festivals.
June is a big festival month in Nice, many of which offer free entrance. Fete de la Musique is an outdoor music event celebrated across France. You can go dancing in the streets of Nice. From mid-June you can enjoy Mon Ete a Nice, which promises outdoor events all summer, including dance, theatre, opera, and music concerts. Fete du Port is for foodies, featuring a chef’s village with fireworks, music, and dance.
For even more delicious local cuisine, Les Etoiles de Mougins is an annual cordon bleu festival, where you can taste creations by Nice’s star chefs. Every night in June you can head down to the Promenade du Paillon gardens. This is the venue for Les Contes de l’Apero, an open-air theatre calendar of live music, comedy, and stage shows.
There’s more music on offer in June too. Nice Music Live is a celebration of live jazz and world music. Many of the city’s venues participate. You can also take a short trip to Bellet, where you can sample these award-winning French wines at a winemakers’ open house event.
SIXT’s top tip: Drive to the tiny nearby village of Saint-Etienne-de-Tinee to witness a quaint rural tradition, the running of the sheep, which happens in June.
2. BARCELONA
- Temperature: 24.5°C high; 17°C low
- How to get there from the UK: A 2-hour direct flight from London.
- Why travel in June: Barcelona comes alive with summer events in June.
One of Barcelona’s most important annual festivals occurs in June. The Feast of Saint Joan (called Nit de Sant Joan in the city), celebrates the summer solstice. The city folk create events that celebrate the three main symbols of life: fire for the sun, water for the land and herbs for healing. Rituals include fireworks, dousing your feet with medicinal herbs, and beach bathing. Bonfires are lit on the beaches at night.
Festival Jardins Pedralbes celebrates Barcelona’s love of music. Concerts of all varieties, from classical to Flamenco are held in three areas of the gardens, and there are art exhibits to see. Famous global artists like Woodkid and James Blunt have previously headlined the show. Another huge festival in June is Primavera Sound, the largest in the city and now world-renowned.
The Festa Major del Casc Antic is a major annual festival that pays homage to Saint Peter. It features giant figures parading through the streets and “correfoc” fire runs through neighbourhoods with fireworks. Barcelona Gay Pride also takes place at the end of June.
SIXT’s top tip: A fascinating June festival in Barcelona is Corpus Christi or the Dancing Egg Festival. The drawcard is watching eggs “dancing” on top of water fountain spouts.
ISLAND GETAWAYS
3. TENERIFE
- Temperature: 25.5°C high; 19.5°C low
- How to get there from the UK: A 6-hour 15-minute flight from London.
- Why travel in June: It’s peak beach season when the famous Canary Islands carnivals take place.
June sees Tenerife celebrating its most famous carnival that draws thousands of visitors from around the world. Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival is a riot of colour and crazy fun. It has a distinctly Brazilian flavour and lasts 15 days. Lavish traditional local costumes are on display, along with tons of Latin music and salsa dancing. The festival culminates in the ritual Burial of the Sardine, where a 30-foot model of a sardine is burned on the coast of Santa Cruz to ensure a good harvest next fishing season.
Another great reason to visit Tenerife in June is that it’s the end of the incubation period for the canaries from which the archipelago takes its name. The island comes alive with hundreds of newly-hatched birds that you can observe. There are estimated to be around 90,000 canary pairs across the five islands.
Of course, the beaches are also a very popular attraction in summer. Tenerife has some fascinating black beaches, created by black volcanic sand. Playa Jard is the pick of them. To swim in tranquil water in a quiet cove, head to the golden sands of Abama Bay. If you’re looking for party beaches, you can’t go wrong with Fañabé Beach.
SIXT’s top tip: If you visit in June you can see the hypnotic natural phenomenon known as the sea of clouds. Make your way to the viewing spots on Mount Teide and you’ll see amazing cloud “waterfalls” over the surrounding mountain peaks.
4. ZANZIBAR
- Temperature: 29°C high; 23°C low
- How to get there from the UK: An 11-hour 30-minute flight from London.
- Why travel in June: June is the start of the dry season when the beach lodges open – it’s the best time to visit.
An East African beach holiday beckons from Zanzibar in June. The “long rains”, as they’re locally known, have stopped and the seemingly endless summer has begun. It’s the best time of year to hit some of the Tanzanian island’s glorious beaches or indulge in one of the most popular drawcards of Zanzibar – scuba diving.
The traditional culture of Zanzibar is a mixture of African, Indian, and Arabic influences. To experience it authentically, visit Stone Town, the central fishing harbour and original trading centre of the island. Its colonial-era architecture is charmingly out of place, and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can take guided walking tours to learn more about its history.
The Old Fort is one of the oldest buildings on the island, built by Omani Arabs in the late 1700s. The original structure has been supplemented with an open-air amphitheatre where you can watch shows and live music concerts. For food and drink, head to one of the open-air rooftop restaurants that are a feature of Zanzibar.
SIXT’s top tip: The late Queen singer Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar – you can visit the house that purports to be his birthplace. There is some dispute, but the artefacts inside are authentic.
BEAUTIFUL EUROPEAN CITIES
5. PRAGUE
- Temperature: 21.5°C high; 12°C low
- How to get there from the UK: A 2-hour flight from Heathrow.
- Why travel in June: June is museum month here, culminating in Prague Museum Night.
The capital of the Czech Republic is as historic as it is beautiful. And June is the ideal time to visit, as the city celebrates its cultural history. Museums across the city open their doors for a wonderfully long evening of history and culture. These include such diverse places as the Coffee Museum, the National Film Museum, and the Czech Museum of Music. The Botanical Garden is also open if you just feel like absorbing this magical night on a stroll.
The second half of the Khamaro Festival falls into the first week of June. This celebrates the Roma culture of Czechia, with workshops, live theatrical performances, and lots of music and dance. It culminates in a grand parade at Wenceslas Square. For something more niche, there’s the annual Rumfest, where you can taste brands of the tipple from around the world.
No matter when you’re in Prague, some of its tourist landmarks aren’t to be missed. There’s Prague Castle and Prague Zoo, for a start. To get panoramic views across the city, go to the top of the Old Town Hall Tower, or the more modern and higher Petřín Tower.
SIXT’s top tip: If you intend to visit Prague in June with your kids, you’ll be in time for the annual Prague Ice Cream Festival. It’s a celebration of every type of ice cream you can imagine.
6. BUDAPEST
- Temperature: 25°C high; 14.5°C low
- How to get there from the UK: A 2-hour 30-minute flight from London.
- Why travel in June: You’ll arrive just in time for two of the city’s major annual events: the Danube Carnival and the Budapest Beer Fest.
The Danube Carnival in Budapest in June is one of Europe’s most significant cultural festivals. It’s held by the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts, whose name virtually says it all. You can see international stars along with local artists, contemporary dancers, and Hungarian folk dance troupes. The highlight is the carnival parade along the Danube Promenade.
While the Oktoberfest gets most of the attention when it comes to beer fests, Budapest has a proud brewing history itself. This is showcased every June at the Budapest Beer Festival. You can sample brews from some of the top international producers and the country’s small breweries.
You can take food walking tours of Budapest, stopping at various establishments to sample Hungarian cheeses, meat, and wines. Visit the Central Market for local produce and delicious street food. The warm June weather lends itself to walking around at night in comfort. Buda Castle is a must-see tourist attraction, a royal residence since the 1200s, and now a museum complex.
SIXT’s top tip: Budapest has some wonderful thermal springs, the most impressive being Szechenyi at the City Park. It has nearly 20 different therapeutic pools, including mud baths.
EXPLORE EXOTIC CULTURES
7. VIETNAM
- Temperature: 32.5°C high; 25°C low
- How to get there from the UK: A 12-hour 15-minute flight from London.
- Why travel in June: It’s one of the quieter months, due to the humidity, so it’s a great time to quietly explore attractions without crowds of tourists.
June is a relatively subdued tourism month in Vietnam, but there are a couple of exciting annual festivals taking place. The most spectacular is the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, held on the Han River banks. It’s an international competition that promises dazzlingly creative displays every year.
The Nha Trang Sea Festival is held once every two years. It features kite-flying competitions and local sports events, as well as photography and embroidery exhibitions. Staying with the maritime theme, Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can look out onto a sea of tiny islands. From here you can go snorkelling, scuba diving, and kayaking.
In the south of Vietnam lies Ho Chi Minh City, worth visiting for its arresting architecture. Some of its main attractions include the Jade Emperor Pagoda, and the city’s own Grand Notre Dame Cathedral, a vestige of the country’s French colonial history. Nature lovers can head to Phong Nha Bang National Park, where you can explore natural attractions like the Paradise Cave and Karst Mountain.
SIXT’s top tip: A boat trip along the Mekong Delta will give you a different perspective of the country, as you travel through rice paddies and orchards, stopping off at the local river markets.
8. TOKYO
- Temperature: 25°C high; 20°C low
- How to get there from the UK: An 11-hour 30-minute flight from London.
- Why travel in June: It’s the start of the rainy season, when hydrangeas bloom across the city and the summer events calendar starts.
First head to Akasaka, where the annual Sanno Festival is held at the Hie-jinja Shrine. It’s one of the three great festivals of Edo, where you can watch traditional costume parades accompanied by Japanese cultural music. June is also when Tokyo has its “Firefly Nights”, best embodied in the Fussa Firefly Festival. Otherwise, head to Yomiuriland theme park on a clear night for more firefly celebrations.
Horticulturalists will find June a wonderful month to visit Tokyo, thanks to the numerous floral festivals and events taking place at this time. There’s the Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival at the Hakusan-jinja Shrine, and you can also attend displays at Showa Kiwen Park and Tokyo Summerland. There’s also Shobu Matsuri, the annual iris festival, which you’ll find at Horikiri Shobuen Iris Garden. You can also visit the Imperial Palace East Garden for more flower exhibitions.
Tokyo’s aquariums are also quite something to behold. Choose between Shinagawa Aquarium, with its sea lion and dolphin shows, or Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa, known for its spectacular sound and light displays.
SIXT’s top tip: You can’t visit Japan without seeing Mount Fuji. It’s only about 60 miles to the west of Tokyo, so you can comfortably make a day trip of it.
FABLED HISTORICAL CITIES
9. ISTANBUL
- Temperature: 26°C high; 18°C low
- How to get there from the UK: A 12-hour 30-minute flight from Heathrow.
- Why travel in June: It’s the interval between peak seasons and the weather is good. You’ll find fewer tourists and better deals at markets.
Music lovers get the first pick in June as Istanbul hosts two major European events. The International Istanbul Music Festival is one of the world’s premier classical music events, which you won’t want to miss. You’ll hear everything from baroque to modern classical, performed by some of the world’s leading philharmonic orchestras. There’s also Chill-Out Festival Istanbul, which is all about electronic music and dance.
If you’re on holiday with your family, you can take your kids to Istanbul, one of the best theme parks in Europe. It’s a massive complex comprising theme park rides, entertainment and exhibition areas, and a shopping mall. It also boasts one of the biggest rollercoasters in the world.
Miniaturk offers a really fascinating morning out. It’s an open-air museum containing miniatures of the greatest monuments and architectural landmarks in Turkey. Here you can also visit the full-size Panorama Victory Museum and the Istanbul Crystal Museum. Nature lovers can take a cruise to Princes’ Islands, which you can tour in an old horse-drawn carriage, for a truly memorable experience.
SIXT’s top tip: Take a cruise on the Bosphorus and take in the city’s landmarks from a different perspective, like Maiden’s Tower, Rumeli Fortress, and the awe-inspiring Bosphorus Bridge. Look out for Ortakay Mosque too.
10. VENICE
- Temperature: 25°C high; 17°C low
- How to get there from the UK: A 2-hour 30-minute flight from London.
- Why travel in June: It’s the height of the tourist season and the city goes all out to live up to its reputation as a world tourism capital.
Venice is most famous for its canals, so one of the first things you’ll want to do is take a gondola tour through the “Floating City”. This will take you past and under some of the most significant landmarks in Venice, like the Bridge of Sighs. If you get off here you’ll be in the heart of the city’s social scene, near Piazza San Marco. It’s distinguished by landmarks like the Campanile and the Doge’s Palace.
The Jewish District of Venice, known as the Venetian Ghetto, was the first of its kind in the world. It’s remained the centre of Jewish culture in the city since 1516, and here you’ll find museums, kosher restaurants, and superb bakeries. Go to the Rialto district for more fresh food markets. Here you can also buy Italian leather goods and a classic Venetian mask as a souvenir.
Fine art lovers shouldn’t miss the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a gallery containing works by some of the most important 20-century European and American artists. It’s also not too far from Gallerie dell’Accademia, which houses the most important paintings in Venice.
SIXT’s top tip: One of the most enjoyable ways to spend some time in Venice soaking up the local way of life is to spend some time relaxing at St. Mark’s Square. It’s great for people-watching.
