Comparison
Where to travel in July — cool Hokkaido, dry-season beaches, and mountains and cities at their summer best
Eight July picks — cool Hokkaido, dry-season beaches, the Alps, Mongolia and North America — from climate normals and our guides, plus typhoon spots.
Published
How to choose a July trip
July is the summer holiday season, so crowds are likely almost anywhere, and many places nearby get rainy spells, typhoons and heat at the same time. You can head for mild Hokkaido, go to a dry-season beach, or pick mountains and cities that are at their best only in summer.
This article uses the 'best time to go' in each city guide and the July normals (average high, average low and rainfall) stored in our guides. Normals are averages over many years, so they don't tell you this year's weather, and the source agency and period differ by city. Bali uses 1961–1990, an older period, and Madrid uses 1981–2010, so treat them as rough figures. Check the forecast before you go.
Temperatures are in °C and rainfall in mm. The sources are listed below; Ulaanbaatar has no normals in our guides, so it appears without figures. July-August heat and rain in Japanese and Southeast Asian cities are covered in our summer-winter climate comparison, and rainy seasons by region in our Southeast Asia rainy-season article.
- Japan Meteorological Agency, 1991–2020: Sapporo, Hakodate, Kyoto and Fukuoka stations
- Korea Meteorological Administration, 1991–2020: Seoul station
- Central Weather Administration (CWA), Taiwan, 1991–2020: Taipei station
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: Seattle (Seattle–Tacoma International Airport station), Guam (Guam International Airport station), Las Vegas (McCarran, now Harry Reid, International Airport station)
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), 1991–2020: Vancouver (Vancouver International Airport station)
- MeteoSwiss (Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology), 1991–2020: Interlaken station
- AEMET (Spanish State Meteorological Agency), 1981–2010: Madrid (Madrid, Retiro station)
- WMO World Weather Information Service, 1991–2020: Da Nang and Hanoi (Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration)
- WMO World Weather Information Service, 1961–1990: Bali (Denpasar; Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics, BMKG)
A cool summer — Sapporo and Hakodate
Sapporo is pleasantly mild in June-August, a good summer escape, and lavender peaks nearby in July. The July normals are a high of 25.4°C, a low of 17.9°C and 90.7 mm of precipitation (JMA, 1991–2020). Biei and Furano, famous for lavender fields, are far, so bus tours or rental cars are common.
Hakodate's cool June-September months are best for walking. July has a high of 24.1°C, a low of 17.3°C and 123.6 mm of precipitation (JMA, 1991–2020). The Mt. Hakodate night view is reached by ropeway; it is busiest around sunset and there are inspection closures, so check official information.
Dry-season beaches — Bali and Da Nang
Bali's April-October dry season brings the most sunny days. The July normals are a high of 30.4°C, a low of 23°C and 55 mm of rain (WMO/BMKG, 1961–1990, Denpasar). They come from an older period, so treat them as rough figures. Prices rise in July-August, and Ubud is busy as the months overlap Indonesian school holidays, so plan early.
In Da Nang, June-August is hot but fairly dry, good for the beach. July has a high of 34.4°C, a low of 26°C and 92 mm of rain (WMO/Viet Nam MHA, 1991–2020). Flights and hotels get much pricier in the summer peak. If you are weighing Da Nang in its September-December rainy season, see our Da Nang rainy-season article below.
At their summer best — Interlaken, Ulaanbaatar, Vancouver, Seattle
Interlaken is best for combining hiking with mountain railways in June-September. The July normals are a high of 24.3°C, a low of 13.8°C and 145.8 mm of precipitation (MeteoSwiss, 1991–2020). The Schynige Platte cogwheel railway runs only from late May to late October.
Ulaanbaatar is best visited in summer, June to August. According to our guide, the national Naadam festival is usually held around 11-13 July, when flights and rooms fill up, so check the official dates and book early.
Vancouver is warm and dry in June-September, the best time for the outdoors. July has a high of 22.4°C, a low of 13.9°C and 34.1 mm of precipitation (ECCC, 1991–2020, Vancouver International Airport). The seawall around Stanley Park is about 9 km.
Seattle is also sunniest and driest in June-September. July has a high of 25.2°C, a low of 13.8°C and 15.2 mm of precipitation (NOAA NCEI, 1991–2020, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport). At the Ballard Locks, you can watch salmon climb the fish ladder roughly from July to September, peaking around August.
Think twice in July — typhoons and rainy spells
Some places see frequent typhoons. In Okinawa, typhoons often pass in July-September and can cancel flights and ferries, and in Ishigaki they often approach from late June to October. Guam's wet season runs roughly July to November, typhoons can occur, and its July rainfall normal is 311.2 mm (NOAA NCEI, 1991–2020). Saipan may also see typhoons from July to November. In Hong Kong, buses and ferries generally stop when Typhoon Signal No. 8 or higher is raised, and Macau's typhoon season is worst in July-September. Taipei's July-September months are hot and typhoon-prone.
Check rainy spells and heavy rain too. Seoul's July-August brings the monsoon and heat, with a July rainfall normal of 414.4 mm (KMA, 1991–2020). Jeju and Busan are crowded in their July-August peak season, with possible rainy spells and typhoons. Fukuoka's rainy season runs from mid-June to July, with 299.1 mm in July (JMA, 1991–2020). Hanoi is hot with frequent rain in May-September, with 300 mm in July (WMO/Viet Nam MHA, 1991–2020), and Ha Long Bay's June-August monsoon season means cruises can be cancelled at short notice.
If a typhoon is coming, watch for messages from your airline and accommodation, and read your travel insurance terms on delays and cancellations before you go. Our Southeast Asia rainy-season article covers how to plan around the rain.
Heat and peak season — Japanese cities, southern Europe, the desert
Japanese cities are very hot and humid in July-August. Kyoto's July normals are a high of 32°C and a low of 23.6°C (JMA, 1991–2020). Himeji Castle has no air conditioning, so bring drinks and a hat, and from early July 2026 to around late July 2027 repair work around the main keep narrows parts of the route and affects the view and the night illumination.
Southern Europe is hot and busy. Madrid often reaches 35-40°C in July and August, with a July average high of 32.1°C (AEMET, 1981–2010, Retiro). Rome often tops 35°C in July and August, and Barcelona is busiest then, with sights booking up fast. Paris brings crowds and possible heat waves, and London is also busiest and priciest in July and August.
Take care in the desert and inland too. Las Vegas is extremely hot at midday in June-August, with a July average high of 40.3°C (NOAA NCEI, 1991–2020). Tashkent's 'chillya', the hottest stretch, runs from around 20 June to early August. San Francisco, by contrast, often has fog and chilly days in June-August, so bring a jacket.
At a glance — July by city
A quick July summary. Figures are 'high/low temperature and rainfall'; sources and periods differ, so the comparison is rough.
- A cool summer: Sapporo 25.4/17.9°C, 90.7 mm; Hakodate 24.1/17.3°C, 123.6 mm (both JMA, 1991–2020)
- Dry-season beaches: Bali 30.4/23°C, 55 mm (WMO/BMKG, 1961–1990); Da Nang 34.4/26°C, 92 mm (WMO/Viet Nam MHA, 1991–2020)
- At their summer best: Interlaken 24.3/13.8°C, 145.8 mm (MeteoSwiss, 1991–2020); Ulaanbaatar (Naadam festival; check the official dates); Vancouver 22.4/13.9°C, 34.1 mm (ECCC, 1991–2020); Seattle 25.2/13.8°C, 15.2 mm (NOAA NCEI, 1991–2020)
- Typhoon check: Okinawa, Ishigaki, Guam, Saipan, Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei
- Rainy spells and heavy rain: Seoul, Jeju, Busan, Fukuoka, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay
- Heat and peak season: Kyoto and Himeji; Madrid, Rome, Barcelona, Paris and London; Las Vegas and Tashkent
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FAQ
Where is less hot in July?
Among the cities here, by July average highs, Vancouver 22.4°C (ECCC, 1991–2020), Hakodate 24.1°C (JMA, 1991–2020), Interlaken 24.3°C (MeteoSwiss, 1991–2020) and Sapporo 25.4°C (JMA, 1991–2020) are low. Sources and periods differ, so the comparison is rough.
Where is good for a Southeast Asian beach in July?
According to our guides, Bali is in its April-October dry season, and Da Nang is hot but fairly dry in June-August, good for the beach. See the Southeast Asia rainy-season article for seasons by region, and the Da Nang rainy-season article for Da Nang from September.
Where should I watch for typhoons in July?
According to our guides, typhoon periods include Okinawa (July-September), Ishigaki (late June to October), Guam and Saipan (July-November), Macau (worst in July-September) and Taipei (July-September). Follow airline updates and keep slack in your plans.
When is Mongolia's Naadam festival?
According to our guide, it is usually held around 11-13 July. Check the official dates, and book early, as flights and rooms fill up then.
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