Thinking about taking a trip in August? Learn the best places to visit in August to experience the last hurrah of summer weather with ample outdoor recreation, endless attractions, or gorgeous scenery you’ll want to write home about.
We’ve found that August is generally an excellent month to travel with warm weather, smaller late summer crowds, better deals on hotels and flights, and plenty of activities and events to wrap up the summer season.
But where should you head to experience the month at its best? We’ve cobbled together a list of the absolute best places to visit in August to show you the ones that are most worthy of your late summer trip.
The 12 Best Places to Travel in August
Traveling in August helps you pack in some great experiences before the warm weather turns chilly, school starts back, and the fall tourism season ramps up.
Check out the 12 best places to visit in August, from scenic national parks where you’ll camp and hike your heart out to faraway tropical isles where summer stretches endlessly before you.
1. Glacier National Park, Montana, United States
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If you’ve ever wanted to visit Glacier National Park in northwest Montana, August is the prime time to go. Promising ideal weather with highs in the 70s, little rain, and summer scenery at its finest, now’s the time to hike, bike, fish, and camp!
It’s one of the busiest months of the year for the park with 700+ miles of rugged trails, glacier-carved mountains, lakes, and wildflower-carpeted valleys. But sticking to paths less traveled means you won’t be swamped with crowds while you’re here.
One of our favorite such paths is the moderate hike to Hidden Lake and Logan’s Pass. You’ll start on a paved path that transitions to a wooden boardwalk and then rugged terrain as the Hidden Lake comes into view with mountains surrounding you.
You’ll run into few fellow hikers on the path to Medicine Grizzly Lake in the Cut Bank portion of the park, boasting the most abundant wildflowers and wildlife in the park.
The short 3.6-mile Beaver Pond Loop is another great option for hiking Glacier in August. Short and sweet, this trail is kid-friendly and has great meadow, forest, and valley views with minimal elevation change.
Camp in the front country or backcountry while you’re here to immerse yourself in Montana’s gorgeous wilderness surrounded by mountains and 130 lakes.
Keep an eye out for grizzly bears, mountain goats, marmots, bighorn sheep, and — if you’re lucky — glimpses of the Northern Lights when skies are clear.
Read Next: Best Time to Visit Glacier National Park & Where to Stay in Glacier
2. Oslo, Norway
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Norway’s capital, Oslo, is awe-inspiring any time of year, but August is the best month of all for a visit. This city is equal parts cultured and rugged, offering lots of museums, galleries, and trendy eateries along with dramatic fjords, lakes, and coastal views.
Daily highs around 71F in August mean the weather is mild and comfortable for walking around town, exploring museums, and venturing out to the Olsofjord, hiking trails, and beautiful parks around the city.
You’ll be able to visit the Norwegian Maritime Museum, Viking Ship Museum, and Norsk Folkmuseum on the Bygdøy Peninsula this month with daily and weekend activities and events while the weather is still warm.
The open-air Vigeland Sculpture Park and its 200+ bridges, fountains, sculptures, and monoliths is incredible to see in August, just before the daily hours shorten for fall and winter.
August is also a month of festivals and events in Oslo. The biggest are the Mela Festival (early August) with music, dance, plays, and booths and the Øya Festival (mid-August) with dozens of rock bands. A jazz festival, concerts, dance events, and more happen in August.
There’s no better time to hike out to the Oslofjord to see lighthouses with excellent views and opportunities to swim. The moderate Lysaker River trail leads you past hidden falls, bridges, and rapids in the river to see Oslo’s wild side.
3. London, England
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A global symbol of diversity, sophistication, and appreciation of the arts, London is a fascinating city to visit in August. This is when the weather is dry and the city is buzzing with late summer tourists intent on soaking up the fun and comfortable temperatures.
You’ll be here for daily highs around 73F with lows that sit around 59F and very little rainfall to ruin your sightseeing and city strolls. Crowds are part of the charm in August as tourists descend on London for a farewell to summer and its back-to-back festivities.
Plan ahead to grab tickets or skip-the-line passes to tour the main attractions, like the royal Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the British Museum. You’ll be grateful once you see the lines!
Walking tours are one of our favorite ways to see and experience the true soul of London. You can choose a general tour to lead you past famous streets and areas, like the posh Oxford Street and Kings Road, or opt for a fun theme like Jack the Ripper or pub crawls.
Food and drink will not elude you in London, where a traditional English breakfast, ploughman’s lunch, Yorkshire pudding, and fish and chips will fill your belly. Wash it down with tea or a fizzy gin and tonic in true London style!
Read Next: What a Trip to London Costs & The Best Day Trips From London
4. Fiji Islands
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Switch gears for your August trip by heading to the Fiji islands, where the summer never really ends and August affords you smaller crowds, lower prices, and warm, dry weather to rejuvenate your spirits in this tropical, scenic setting.
With over 300 islands in the archipelago, there’s always an island with a deserted feel where you can escape the peak season crowds in favor of seclusion and privacy. We especially like Vanua Levu, the 2nd-largest but rarely-visited island, this time of year.
Daily highs hover around 78F to keep things warm enough for swimming, water sports, and lounging on the beach while the rain holds off in the dry July-August period for ideal recreation conditions.
Visiting botanical gardens, diving and snorkeling the coral reefs, hiking out to waterfalls in lush rainforests, and spending hours on the pristine beaches of Fiji are all ideal in the month of August.
Hot springs and mud pools, intricate Hindu temples, rugged and lush tropical terrain, and adventures like rafting and zip lining in the dry season make Fiji so much fun to see and experience this month.
Keep in mind that August is a very popular time to travel to Fiji because conditions are prime, so book early and start your days early if you’ll be staying on the busiest island, Viti Levu.
Read Next: How Long Is the Flight to Fiji From the US? & What a Trip to Fiji Costs
5. Lake Como, Italy
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If you want a relaxing, romantic August getaway somewhere exotic that feels exclusive, head to Lake Como, Italy. Situated just 32 miles from Milan with the Alps as a backdrop, this lakeside town is perfectly picturesque and gorgeous in August.
Temperatures are balmy and comfortable this month, ranging from highs around 64F to 77F. You’ll deal with some rain, but showers give you the opportunity to tour the Renaissance villa museums, ornate churches, and historic castles here.
The Saint Mary Assunta Cathedral, Villa Carlotta, and Castello di Vezio are some of the most popular sightseeing spots. Sprawling villas and ancient castles overlook the lake and mountains, creating a stunning postcard-worthy scene.
Eating and drinking your way through Lake Como is a pleasure, with fresh Italian seafood dishes and regional wines to delight your palate. The area’s architecture is impressive and you’ll be amazed at the sight of colorful wooden houses on the shore.
The lake itself is pleasant this month with water temperatures warm enough for swimming, but still cool enough to be refreshing (around 68F). You’ll be just ahead of the fall shut-down, ensuring all the best hotels and restaurants are open for your August visit.
Ride the Como Brunate Funicular up to a sleepy mountain town in the Alps, Brunate, for sweeping views over Lake Como and a bird’s eye view that makes you appreciate the beauty of the area even more.
Read Next: Where to Stay in Lake Como & Is Lake Como Safe to Visit?
6. Berlin, Germany
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Berlin is a cardinal part of the history of Germany, Europe, and the world. August is the perfect time to come and see incredible architecture, taste diverse cuisine, and tour fascinating museums in this historic 13th-century city with eclectic edge.
Boasting 75F highs and lows around 58F, the weather is really nice and warm in Berlin around August. Expect around 8 rainy days, making it one of the driest months of the year in this storied city.
Walking tours are a great way to experience Berlin in August. Pass the historic Berlin Wall, the intricate Baroque-style Charlottenburg Palace, the Holocaust Memorial in central Berlin, and the neoclassical Brandenburg Gate.
The famous Museum Island in Mitte (the heart of Berlin) will be one the highlights of your visit. Five museums, including Altes, Neues, Bode, and Pergamon museums along with the Alte Nationalgalerie, can be toured on the island.
While museums and galleries are amazing here, Berlin is also known for its foodie scene and edgy side with lots of nightlife and bars where you can keep the party going after wrapping up sightseeing each day.
From global eats and delicious street food offered from carts to 15-course fine dining and tasting menus at gourmet restaurants, you won’t go hungry in Germany’s capital. Snag some sausages, pretzels, and Pfannkuchen (German donuts) while you’re in town!
August is busy for Berlin because of the ideal conditions, so booking in advance and setting out early each day are key to enjoying your trip to the max.
Read Next: Is Berlin Safe to Visit? & Where to Stay in Berlin
7. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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You won’t be disappointed with an Amsterdam visit in August, which happens to be one of the best times of year to see and explore this exciting Dutch city filled with cycle paths, canals, parks, and culture.
The best time to visit is in August, as it sees warm temperatures with highs around 71F each day. There’s enough rain to make it smart to have backup plans in case of a downpour, but there are typically only around 10 rainy days in Amsterdam each August.
On those rare rainy days, you’ll find it’s a great time to duck into any of the excellent museums and galleries in the famous Museum District. From the Van Gogh Museum to the Rijksmuseum with classical works, Amsterdam is an art-lover’s paradise.
This is a densely-packed city with buildings side-by-side. The canals and bike paths break things up a bit and give you the best opportunities to explore and see the city from a bike ride or canal cruise.
Just touring around the city and stopping for meals along the way is a lovely way to spend your time here in August. Narrow, multi-story houses packed along the canals alongside historic Dutch Baroque and Gothic Revival buildings.
The nightlife in Amsterdam can be as tame or wild as you want it, with a famous Red Light District that supplies the latter and plenty of bars and nightclubs blasting electronic to jazz music all night long.
You won’t be here in time to catch the colorful tulips of spring, but it’s a busy time for the city with locals and tourists walking and cycling the paths, kayaking the canals, and enjoying picnics in the parks.
Read Next: Average Trip to Amsterdam Cost & Is Amsterdam Safe to Visit?
8. Kyoto, Japan
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Kyoto isn’t just an anagram of Tokyo — it’s a unique and vibrant city on the island of Honshu that once served as Japan’s capital. It sits in a valley in the Tamba Highlands and truly gorgeous to visit during August.
August can be on the warm side for a trip to Kyoto with temperatures climbing to an average high of 92F this month. But the higher temperatures keep many tourists away and help you find better deals on hotels and attractions in August.
This is a city with a sacred feel, packed with Buddhist temples built in traditional and ornate designs, shrines of the Shinto religion, and stone-paved streets that make it feel like a city trapped in time.
Tradition is big in Kyoto, where formal multi-course dining is still practiced with chefs painstakingly preparing 9 detailed courses of gourmet, in-season foods. Locals visit the temples and shrines on special holidays throughout the year.
You can tour some of the meticulously-maintained Japanese gardens in Kyoto surrounding the Kyoto Imperial Palace, admire traditional temples like Higashiyama Jisho-ji, and see geishas performing in the Gion district.
Don’t miss the chance to explore Nijō-jo Castle in its beautiful shoin-zukuri architectural style. Monkeys run the show at Arashiyama Monkey Park, while you’ll be able to wander shady, cooler bamboo forests outside the city.
Read Next: Is Kyoto Safe to Visit in 2024?
9. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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An August visit to Rio de Janeiro is in order if you want to experience the festive fun and scenic wonder of Brazil during one of the driest months of the year with comfortably mild temperatures in the 70s.
The late summer is one of the least busy times you can visit Rio, with more people choosing to visit during the fall and winter months. You’ll appreciate shorter lines, less crowded beaches, and better prices on hotels this month.
Sand and sun are part of the experience with great beaches like the laid-back, upscale Ipanema Beach and the tourist-packed Copacobana Beach. Lounge, fish, kayak, or snorkel along Rio’s shores.
Every visitor comes to marvel at the stunning Christ the Redeemer statue with arms outstretched on a mountain you can see from anywhere in the city. Take the Corcovado train to the base of the statue, where you can take photos and visit the museum to learn about its origins.
The mountainous Tijuca National Park is the perfect place to explore the wild side of Rio. Hike to a waterfall, through dense forests filled with exotic trees, and take in vista views of the city and surrounding mountains.
The culture in Rio is palpable through its festive celebrations, but also in places like its museums, galleries, theaters, and cathedrals. Check out the Festival of Cachaça celebrating a local alcoholic drink and the 2nd-biggest rodeo in the world at the annual Festival of Peão.
Read Next: Average Trip to Rio de Janeiro Cost in 2024
10. Montreal, Canada
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The Quebec province of Canada is home to Montreal, an island on the Saint Lawrence River and the biggest city in the province. It’s a phenomenal place to visit in August when the weather is warm, dry, and the city crackles with life.
Late summer sees big crowds in Montreal, owing to the nice weather this time of year and temperatures hitting around 78F. You can expect around 9 rainy days in August in Montreal, making it and September the driest months of the year here.
Montreal is a gorgeous city that’s too often overlooked. Cobblestone streets, colonial French architecture, stunning Neo-Gothic cathedrals, and funky neighborhoods lined with shops, bakeries, and eateries make it so much fun to visit.
This time of year is ideal for exploring Montreal’s green spaces and parks, like Montreal Botanical Gardens that span 70+ hectares and Gault Nature Reserve with miles of scenic hiking trails just out of the city limits.
With its cool island setting, you’ll enjoy opportunities to paddle a kayak in the river or take a guided boat tour around the island for a unique perspective. Waterfront parks are popular places to picnic and wander on nice days.
Don’t miss the Notre-Dame Basilica in the Historic District and see it illuminated at night with fantastic light displays. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Museum of Archaeology and History are fantastic stops on your tour, too.
11. Chicago, Illinois, United States
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As one of the major metropolises of the U.S., Chicago is one of our favorite places to visit in the country and it’s even better if you can arrange your stay during August. The weather is at its warmest and mostly dry, making conditions perfect for sightseeing.
Every Chicago visit should start with a stroll or guided tour along the Chicago Riverwalk, where you’ll make your way down a 1.25-mile path along the Chicago River in the heart of downtown.
Restaurants, cool sculptures (like Cloud Gate, the bean in Millennium Park) amazing bridges with unique designs, hotels, and shops in the downtown area make it easy to spend a day just taking in the sights.
But you’ll want to schedule some time to wander through Chicago’s museums and galleries, like the Field Museum of Natural History, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Chicago History Museum.
It’s known as the Windy City, but in August, the breezes are gentle and provide a nice cooling effect from the temperatures that hover around 81F. It’s a little cooler this month than July and you won’t see much rain.
Some of the city’s best views can be seen from The Skydeck in Willis Tower if you dare to take a bold step onto a clear glass platform and look down at the city from above.
Navy Pier boasts some of the city’s best shopping, dining, and entertainment with a permanent Ferris wheel and fireworks every Saturday in August.
Read Next: Is Chicago Safe to Visit in 2024? & What an Average Trip to Chicago Costs
12. Nashville, Tennessee, United States
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Nashville is known as Music City and its heartbeat sounds like the twang and rhythm of country music. It’s an awesome place to visit in August with warm weather, cool riverfront views and activities, and tons of events and concerts in the late summer.
Nashville’s weather in August makes it hospitable for tourists with highs around 89F and just 6 rainy days during the month. It’s a popular time to come, but it’s not the most crowded (that’s fall).
With downtown humming with life and music, you’ll find some of the famous spots, like Tootsies Orchid Lounge and Wild Horse Saloon, the best places to be on a Friday or Saturday night with live music, karaoke, and free-flowing drinks.
Line dancing, Titans preseason football games, and cultural outings to the Frist Art Museum or Country Music Hall of Fame are great ways to spend some time in Nashville in August.
August is the perfect time to head to Centennial Park to see the life-sized replica of the Athens Parthenon and enjoy a picnic with great views of the city and downtown.
As far as food, you’ll find Nashville a wonderful melting pot of flavors with classic Southern, global, and fusion cuisines scattered across the downtown area and in the surrounding Gulch and East Nashville neighborhoods.
Read Next: What a Trip to Nashville Costs in 2024 & Is Nashville Safe to Visit?
Frequently Asked Questions
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With the best places to visit in August in mind, you might have a few more unanswered questions. Take a look at the FAQs below to learn more!
Where is the best place to vacation in August?
The best place to go in August could be sightseeing in cities like London or Chicago, camping and hiking in Oslo or Glacier National Park, or tropical weather for a beach trip in Fiji or Rio de Janeiro.
August vacations can sometimes be crowded as the last of the summer visitors come out for a trip, but some places see low travel volumes this month and many areas see mild to warm weather with little rainfall.
Which place has the best weather in August?
In places with hot summers, August can still be sweltering and humid. The places with the best weather in August are those with milder summers and cooler winters, like Montreal, Chicago, Kyoto, Glacier National Park, and Amsterdam.
Many places see a dip in rainfall during August with slightly cooler temperatures than July. With long sunshine hours in August, it's usually a good time to travel.
Is August a good time for a vacation?
August is typically a great time for a vacation, owing to its position at the end of summer, good weather, little rainfall in most areas, and the potential for good deals on hotels and flights.
Traveling in August can be particularly nice in areas with spring and early summer peak seasons, since many travelers clear out by August.
Where to avoid crowds in August?
August crowds can be avoided in places that don't experience a summer peak season. Look for locations that are busiest in the spring, fall, or winter months with fewer travelers in the late summer.
Hot destinations, like Las Vegas, and popular winter destinations, like Rio de Janeiro, see fewer visitors during the month of August and can be great places to sidestep big crowds.
How is Costa Rica in August?
Costa Rica in August is warm and wet with average daily highs between 78F and 91F. It's right in the center of the rainy season that lasts from May to November and it's common for regions to see almost 11 inches of rainfall in August.
It's not the wettest month of the year (that's usually September), but it's one of the rainiest overall and less crowded with tourists due to the increased precipitation.
So, Where Should You Visit in August?
Armed with a list of the best places to visit in August, you’ll be able to jumpstart your trip planning process and land on a great spot to spend the late summer in unique cities and parks around the world.
Whether you’re taking a canal cruise in Amsterdam, hiking in Glacier National Park, sightseeing in London, or lounging on the shores of Fiji, there are so many places that are at their prime in August.
Keep your budget and travel goals in mind to settle on the right August destination for your travels. You might be planning to stick close to home or venture to a faraway place that feels otherworldly and new.
If you stick to the destinations listed above, you can be sure you’ll arrive to great weather, a wide range of activities and attractions, and the ideal conditions to explore, engage, and embrace a new place in the beautiful month of August.