Best city breaks from Ireland this July
Reykjavik, Iceland
July is the perfect time to plan a city break to the Icelandic capital. Not only are you guaranteed almost 24 hours of daylight, but it is also a pretty safe bet for mild, dry conditions. The weather in Iceland in July is usually sunny with temperatures averaging 15ºC. Avoiding peak season (June and, of course, Northern Lights season) means you won’t have to elbow-jostle with other tourists to get that perfect shot of Reykjavik’s cute lanes and impressive landscape.
Smaller country roads in the mountains also start to open up in July, allowing you to explore some remote areas just outside of Reykjavik with ease. Pay a visit to the famed Blue Lagoon, then hire a car for the day and follow the ring road around Iceland’s famous Golden Circle, stopping off at stunning lakes, waterfalls, geysers and National Parks as you go. Iceland’s ice has thoroughly thawed by this point in the year, so don your wet suit and snorkel in Thingvellir National Park, where you can swim between two continents.
Get more Iceland inspiration with our photo gallery of images that you won’t believe are real.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
July a great time to explore all this incredible city has to offer. Take some time to explore the beaches in and around Rio (Copacabana, Ipanema and Leme to name but a few), secluded islands (Ilha Grande) and electric nightlife. July is the ideal time to visit Costa Verde and take advantage of cheap prices.
The weather in July (winter in Brazil) is a very pleasant 24ºC which you might find a lot more tolerable than the scorching summer days later on in the year, which often soar to 40ºC plus! Take a stroll around the Napa neighbourhood, snapping a photo on the famous Escadaria Selarón steps which connect Napa to the Santa Teresa neighbourhood – an up-and-coming neighbourhood with a very young and hip vibe. Or take a half-day tour to see Christ the Redeemer up close and personal at the summit of Mount Corcovado.
Nightfall, and it’s time to break out the rum and get on the dance floor. Just avoid the touristy South Zone of the city to find some real South American soul.
For more ideas on what to see and do in Rio, read on.
Search flights to Rio de Janeiro
Stockholm, Sweden
Summer in Sweden is surprisingly hot and its capital, Stockholm, is by far one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. July is the hottest month of the year, with almost guaranteed sunshine, average temperatures of 23ºC and 24 hours of daylight.
Home to three UNESCO heritage sites, numerous museums, art galleries and theatres, Stockholm is the cultural capital of Scandinavia. Take a stroll through the picturesque Gamla Stan (the Old Town), which dates back to the thirteenth century, but try not to spend all of your holiday cash in one go in the many cute gift shops.
Also worth a look are Stockholm Cathedral and the fascinating the Nobel Museum (open daily in July, 9am-8pm, adults about €11,50, children go free). Make the most of the Swedish sunshine and take a sightseeing boat tour through the city, sailing among the islands of the Stockholm archipelago on the Baltic Sea, admiring other boats as well as the stunning architecture on either side of the river banks.
Popular tourist attractions also extend their opening hours and the streets come alive with street performers and open air concerts. Be sure to put some time aside for roaming Stockholm’s Royal National City park, where you can walk with wild moose, deer and spot rare birds overhead.
Best beaches to visit in July 2019
St Helier, Jersey
One of the best reasons to visit Jersey is its proximity to Ireland. You can board the plane, fly over the Irish sea and be sitting on a pristine beach in St Helier in less than two hours! Its location between the south of England and France means it has its own little micro-climate with fab summer weather and temperatures in July reaching 20ºC. Water temperature hangs around a dry suit suitable 16ºC, which makes it a great place for a quick swim or a scuba dive.
Jersey is small enough that you can easily rent bikes and use them to transport yourself around the island for the duration of your stay. Alternatively, take to the water and explore using oar power: rent kayaks at St Brelade’s beach and paddle along the beautiful coastline. If you want some time away from the beach, head to Durrell Wildlife Park or take a look around Mont Orgueil castle on the southern coast. July is also the perfect time of year to take dolphin watching tours in the waters around Jersey.
Did you know Jersey is one of the world’s top cycling holiday destinations? Check out the full list of the world’s best cycle routes here.
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Want a holiday somewhere where the likelihood of you needing an umbrella or a woolly jumper is less than zero? Jamaica is where you need to be this July! The Bob Marley Museum and James Bond cove are just a flight away from Ireland!
Beach time on this Caribbean island should be high on your bucket list. Jamaica and Montego Bay are packed with fun things to do: from learning to surf with the dreadlocked surfing pros at the Jamnesia Surf Club, to hiking the Blue Mountains. And, of course, lying on a hammock and sipping a coconut at the famous Frenchman’s Cove beach in Port Antonio. Be sure to indulge in some delicious jerk chicken while on the island. It’s almost as hot as the weather, which can reach highs of 33ºC in July, with guaranteed sunshine!
Dreaming of golden sands? Our list features 12 of the world’s most beautiful beaches for the ultimate holiday wishlist.
Algarve, Portugal
Flights to Portugal are very reasonable, and it can be a very budget-friendly holiday destination when it comes to eating out and tasting good wine. With average temperatures in July of 24ºC and highs of 33ºC, Portugal is a far cry from an Irish summer and a great choice if you’re looking for a cheap holiday in the sun.
Portugal‘s beaches are consistently voted some of the best in Europe, if not the world, so it’s no surprise they can get pretty crowded. But look hard enough and you can find real hidden gems, away from the sea of beach towels and tacky tourist bars. Try the secluded Praia da Border and Praia do Castelo for starters, while holidaymakers often compare the Algarve’s Praia da Marinha to Australia‘s 12 Apostles, making it one of the most beautiful destinations to visit in Portugal.
Discover the best secret beaches of the Med – and how to reach them.
Bali, Indonesia
While it’s most definitely the furthest place on this list (it takes up to 19 hours to get there from Dublin), it’s also one of most stunning destinations in the world. And is cheap as chips once you arrive. A bottle of beer will only set you back about 90 cent and meals in local restaurants only cost a few euros.
There is a wide selection of perfect beaches to explore, from the world class waves to be found at Kuta and Uluwatu to the more peaceful stretches of sand in Seminyak, Sanur and Nusa Dua. If long stretches of untouched coastline, mangroves plantations, tall palm trees and beautiful orchids equate to paradise in your eyes, then a trip to Bali this July is definitely needed. The Indonesian island gets year round sunshine and warm weather with average July temperatures ranging between 27ºC and 33ºC. Expect up to 10 glorious hours of sunshine every day and a tiny 1% chance that it will ever be cloudy.
Find the best deals to exotic destinations, including Bali, with Skyscanner.
Best events in July 2019
4th of July celebrations, New York City, U.S.A.
You can’t talk about must-visit events in July without mentioning the 4th of July. New York City is by far one of the best cities in the world to celebrate this historic day. A crazy lineup of entertainment includes a huge fireworks show, an all day beach party on Coney Island and walking tours of New York city that take in all of the important sites of revolution.
Official events aside, it is also the perfect time to grab some friends, fire-up the BBQ and spend the day in any of the city’s wide open spaces soaking up the festival atmosphere. Be sure to get yourself to Brooklyn Bridge park by nightfall to watch the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show, which is always sure to impress. With temperatures in July ranging between 29 and 31ºC, you’re guaranteed an great day out in the sun.
Love discovering gems off the beaten path? We’ve got plenty of tips on how to discover New York City like a New Yorker.
Fiesta de San Fermin, Pamplona, Spain, July 6-14 2019
The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain is one of Europe’s best known annual summer events, not to mention one of the most thrilling! Since the thirteenth century, hundred’s of brave runners hit the streets every July to run the 800 metre track while a pack of raging bulls chase them into the stadium (we don’t recommend you join them!).
It’s an exhilarating event to witness and the atmosphere on the streets for the duration of the festival is fun and family-friendly. For one week in July, the entire city turns white and red, the traditional colours of the festival de San Fermin. Expect to make friends from all over the world, taste some of Spain’s best tapas and to party into the small hours of the morning every night for a week. With so many budget flights departing daily from Ireland to Spain, this is by far one of the easiest events to reach this July.
Exit Music Festival, Novi Sad, Serbia, July 4-7 2019
Each year, the number of Irish revellers heading to Exit swells. With tickets costing just €109 for the full four days, Exit is one of Europe’s most affordable festivals too. The 2019 line-up includes The Cure, Skepta, Carl Cox and DJ Snake, among others.
Held inside a fortress in the Serbian city of Novi Sad, the closest and most convenient airport for you to fly to is Belgrade. Flights from from Dublin to Belgrade start from €208* in July 2019, but no doubt this will increase the closer to the festival start date. So book soon! Make sure to extend your trip to spend a few days exploring Belgrade after the festival, too.
Boryeong Mud Festival, South Korea, July 19 – 28 2019
Boryeong Mud Festival is an annual event that takes place in the seaside town of Boryeong in South Korea, 200km south of Seoul and famous for the rich mineral content found in its mud flats. The 9-day festival is the most popular in South Korea, attracting up up 2 million visitors each year. It’s free to attend but you must buy a wrist band if you want to access the fun mud-pit zones where you’ll find mud wrestling pits, mud slides and mud adventure courses.
The final weekend of the festival is when South Korea’s expat population descends on Boryeong to party for about three days. Be sure to pack a decent pair of sunglasses and ear plugs as the mud literally gets everywhere, and expect to throw out your clothes at the end of the weekend too, unless mud stained grey t-shirts are your summer style.
No trip to South Korea would be complete without a few days spent exploring Seoul. So plan accordingly and do as many of the top ten activities on our list as possible.
Where to go on holiday in July 2019
| Best city breaks | Reykjavik, Iceland |
| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Best beaches | St Helier, Jersey |
| Montego Bay, Jamaica | |
| Algarve, Portugal | |
| Bali, Indonesia | |
| Best events | 4th of July celebrations, New York City, U.S.A. |
| Fiesta de San Fermin, Pamplona, Spain | |
| Exit Music Festival, Novi Sad, Serbia | |
| Boryeong Mud Festival, South Korea |
*Updated April 2019. Prices correct at the time of publication and are subject to change and/or availability.
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