The best places to visit in June could just as likely be on your doorstep as on the other side of the world.
With Europe enjoying warm summer weather, outdoor events dominate the calendar, from music festivals to food fights. The weather peaks in many of Asia and Africa’s destinations too, opening up golden beach breaks and once-in-a-lifetime safaris.
While many destinations in June are getting busier, you can still find some solitude if you know where to look. And because we haven’t reached the high seasons of July and August, there are still deals to be found.
Thinking about your budget or looking for something more quiet? Jump to KAYAK’s data-backed picks based on popularity, weather, flight, and hotel prices.
The best places to visit in June
Best places to visit in June in the US and North America
The best vacation spots in June across North America all focus on getting outdoors. Below are some of my personal favorites. For more ideas for a June vacation in the US take a look at KAYAK’s data-backed picks, LA, Honolulu, Orlando and Las Vegas, all of which promise warm weather and medium to low popularity, meaning you’ll escape the crowds.
1. Manchester, Tennessee, US
On Interstate 24 between Nashville and Chattanooga in Coffee County, the town of Manchester is a classic slice of Americana. Charming and friendly, it’s surrounded by spectacular scenery and offers endless pursuits for lovers of the Great Outdoors.
Hike the Great Smoky Mountains, fish, or brave a dip in spectacular waterfalls – Rutledge Falls in particular is lovely. Manchester is also a great place to visit in June for the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Running from June 13th to 16th in 2024, the festival is held on a local farm. Bonnaroo is creole for ‘a really good time’ and it undoubtedly lives up to that moniker.
Among the world-class acts it attracts this year sees Post Malone and the Red Hot Chili Peppers headline. You’ll also find installations, performances, exhibits, and screenings. My tip? Book early.
2. Seattle, Washington, US
At its warmest and driest until September, with average temperatures of 61℉, Seattle is one of the best US cities to visit in June. While that doesn’t guarantee no rain (just 2 ” according to KAYAK data) the city throws itself with gusto into its peak season.
Visit the parks and streets to make the most of its festivals. Or, if you’re feeling bold, strip off and get painted for the naked bike ride. Part of the Fremont Solstice Parade, it runs over the weekend of June 22nd to 23rd. 2024 also sees Seattle Pride celebrate its 50th birthday, covering the city in a rainbow of color for the month. It culminates in the Pride Parade on June 30th, with Downtown the best place to visit from 11am.
In the city, splash out on seasonal Copper River Salmon from Pike Place Market, only available till mid-June. While you’re in the area, check out what may be America’s most disgusting attraction, the ever-expanding gum wall.
For sealife lovers, Seattle is also in the Washington State seaport and June is peak orca and whale spotting season.
3. Hudson Valley, New York, US
As New York cooks in the summer sun, escape the city heat with a trip upstate to the Hudson Valley. Running along the Hudson River from Westchester County to Albany, it’s a haven of bucolic calm. Best of all, it’s only a couple of hours from New York on the Amtrak.
En route, you’ll find vineyards, apple orchards, and farms – classic countryside living. Its growing popularity with New Yorkers has also created a burgeoning wellness and tourism scene. Spas, yoga studios, museums, and high-end restaurants dot its scenic pastures and towns. Don’t miss Dia Beacon, an extraordinary art gallery on the banks of the Hudson River in a converted box-printing factory.
The region is also a beacon for sustainability. It promotes electric driving with a bounty of charge points, so EV rentals are a great way to explore. Eat healthy at the Stone Barns Center, which champions a sustainable future for agriculture and gastronomy.
4. Chugach Mountains, Alaska, US
- Why visit in June? Bask in the majesty of Alpenglow.
A spectacular backdrop to Alaska’s capital, Anchorage, the Chugach Mountains are hiking nirvana in June. Crisscrossed with marked trails, there are endless routes to carry you deep into the American wilderness.
First-timers should kick off with the popular Flattop Mountain Trail. The main Glen Alps trail is a three-mile round trip that traverses rolling hills and craggy rock faces. Better is the backside trail with its gentler incline and less need for rock scrambling. However you get there, the view from the summit is spectacular.
June is the Alpenglow season too. Time your climb to see the light of the setting sun igniting the mountain tops in a red-pink glow. Don’t lend it all your attention though. The trails are well-maintained but still wild. Be prepared for moose and bear encounters with a bear bell and spray, and load up on DEET for the inevitable mosquito assault.
5. Trinidad
- Why visit in June? Baby turtles!
June 16th is World Sea Turtle Day. What better way to celebrate than witnessing the biggest turtle’s cycle of life on the shores of an island paradise?
From March, the nesting season takes over the beaches of Trinidad with Matura to Grande Rivière the hotspots. Dozens of egg-laying female leatherbacks emerge from the Caribbean Sea nightly to lay their precious offspring in the sand. In June, those eggs start to hatch, sending hundreds of tiny turtles on their perilous journey back to the ocean.
Plan your trip around a hatching visit to witness one of nature’s most magical sights. But don’t forget the rest of the island. Fabulous beaches, fun festivals, and bottomless Caribbean hospitality are all waiting.
Best places to visit in June in South America
From solstice celebrations to scintillating wildlife experiences, the wild landscapes of South America are magic in June.
6. Cusco, Peru
- Learn more: Cusco travel guide
- Why visit in June? Witness the world’s greatest winter solstice celebration.
Every year on June 24th, the UNESCO World Heritage city of Cusco hosts the ancient Inca festival of Inti Raymi. Celebrating the winter solstice, it honors the Sun God, Inti, and is an unrivaled riot of color, music, and dancing.
A gigantic reenacting of ancient Inca rituals high in the Peruvian Andes, it takes place across the city. Highlights include the Sacsayhuaman archaeological site, Coricancha Temple, and Main Square. It’s open to everyone, but for the best experience book a hosted tour that includes seats for the main events.
Inti Raymi is a wonderful insight into the Inca way of life and Cusco is a spectacular backdrop for its celebration. It’s also a great launching point to discover Peru’s other wonders – the Manu Rainforest and Machu Picchu.
With the impact of tourism a growing concern, you could instead visit “the other Machu Picchu”. A stunning remote hilltop settlement at the end of the epic Choquequirao Trail.
7. The Pantanal, Brazil
- Why visit in June? For the jaguars.
Remote, vast, and nowhere near as popular as its Amazon neighbor, Brazil’s Pantanal is the world’s largest tropical wetland. It’s home to nearly 5,000 plant and animal species, among them South America’s highest concentration of jaguars and cayman.
The Northern Pantanal in particular is among the best places to travel in June to see jaguars in their natural habitat. It’s the start of the dry season which makes sightings easier. Thanks to their relative habituation, the jaguars aren’t shy of appearing even with tourists around. Spotting them in the wild is one of nature’s most extraordinary and rewarding experiences.
Make sure to book a reputable dedicated tour company, which can take care of much of your itinerary. They should employ local, licensed guides so you know your visit will help rather than harm the jaguars and other wildlife.
Best places to visit in June in Europe
Summer is the best season in Europe. Windows of warm weather mean cooler northern countries pop with festivals, both traditional and bizarre. Celebrations of food and culture dominate events calendars. For something a little quieter, consider KAYAK’s data pick for Europe Amsterdam which enjoys low seasonal popularity in June despite warm weather and Holland Festival.
8. North Cornwall, UK
- Why visit in June? The quintessential English seaside vacation (minus the rain).
There are few better places to visit in June than the beaches of England’s north Cornwall. Fish and chips in one hand, doused in salt and vinegar if you’re anything like me, fast-melting ice cream in the other and one eye on the seagulls. Fantastic!
June is a great time to visit because the school summer crowds are yet to arrive and there’s usually a spread of nice sunny days. Quirky towns and villages are quieter, ancient inns and hotels emptier, and beaches busy but still a little wild.
Head to Tintagel and cross the stunning footbridge to King Arthur’s castle or explore the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in tiny Boscastle. After, wash away the effort of the hike with a dip in the fresh waters of St Nectan’s Waterfall. All are just a few miles from each other; a perfect showcase of how much the Great Garden of Cornwall has to offer.
9. Berlin, Germany
- Learn more: Berlin travel guide
- Why visit in June? The birth of summer and the reawakening of the city.
When I first moved to Berlin in the deep of winter, it was a cold and intimidating place. As summer rolled around, the smallest hint of mild weather transformed the city. Combine that with daylight late into the night and Berlin’s streets buzz with people 24/7.
Wander the districts of Kreuzberg, Neukölln, and Friedrichshain and explore the eclectic backstreet cafes, bars, and restaurants. Running the gamut from ultra chic to ultra grimy, each is unique.
For something different, celebrate the official start of summer at the free Fête de la Musique festival on June 21st. Bands turn city streets into mini music venues and if you play an instrument, you can play on stage. While walking tours offer on-the-ground insights into the city’s tragic past and magic renaissance. Perhaps nowhere is that better encapsulated than at the East Side Gallery.
10. Haro, La Rioja, Spain
Spain loves a food festival and, it seems, a food fight if the infamous La Tomatina is anything to go by. Continuing the tradition is the small town of Haro in the Rioja region. Every year it hosts a wine festival known as La Batalla del Vino, which loosely translates as ‘wine fight’.
The festival runs from June 27th to 30th, but the day of “wine warfare” is the 29th. If you’ve lasted the all-night party leading up to it, prepare to start early at 7am. Follow the horseback-riding mayor and thousands of wine lovers on a four-mile procession to the Hermitage of San Felices on the cliffs of Bilibio.
Here, the wine carnage ensues as the crowd launches into a huge red wine fight, soaking everyone and everything. After several hours, the party descends back into the town for anyone remaining to find their last drinks. Join them in one of the town’s many atmospheric bodegas and market squares.
A word of warning, the wine fight is popular, and Haro is a little light on tourist accommodation. Book early or be prepared to pitch a tent in the convenient and inexpensive campsite.
Best places to visit in June around the world
Farther afield, Africa and Asia are deep in winter. Happily, that doesn’t mean ice and snow. Both continents are at their wild, dry best and safari experiences should be at the top of your list. In Africa, that means gorillas. In Asia, dragons.
11. Taipei, Taiwan
The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese cultural event held annually on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Also known as Duanwu Festival, it’s now celebrated across much of East Asia and beyond. In my opinion, there’s nowhere more fun or frenetic to watch it than Taipei, the capital of Taiwan.
Dozens of international teams will converge on the Dajia Riverside Park from June 8th to 10th for Taiwan’s biggest racing festival. Furious races battle across the water as teams compete for honor and glory to the pounding beat of huge drums. A carnival atmosphere overwhelms the entire city.
On land, try your hand at dragon boat training to work up an appetite and then gorge on traditional zongzi, delicious packets of glutinous rice steamed with various treats.
12. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
- Why visit in June? For the greatest wildlife experience you’ll ever have.
It’s impossible to describe the sensation of seeing animals in the wild. Hence why a safari is such a bucket-list experience for nature lovers. In June, when dry season clears misty skies and brings the jungle into clarity, Uganda’s mountain gorillas are the stars.
More than half of these gentle but powerful animals live in Uganda. Specifically around the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, making it the best region to track them. You’ll need to book a tour well in advance – June is peak season and places are limited to keep tourism impact to a minimum.
Choose a reputable company like Volcanoes Safaris. This makes sure your money goes to the right place, supporting local communities and projects as well as the gorillas. It also takes the effort out of getting to this remote part of Uganda. But trust me, having visited last year I can say without doubt that it’s worth the effort. It’s the best place to visit in June, this year or any other.
Data-backed picks from KAYAK
If seasonal events aren’t on your wish list, consider instead one of these data-based picks in the US and further afield. These destinations are based on KAYAK flight and hotel data, taking into account budget, weather, and popularity (so you can avoid the crowds). For personalized recommendations based on your location and chosen destination check out the Best Time to Travel tool.
| Destination | Country | Avg. flight price | Avg. hotel price | Avg. temp | Avg. precipitation | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | US | $433 | $256 | 68℉ | 0 ” | low |
| Bangkok | TH | $1,606 | $45 | 84℉ | 6 ” | low |
| Cancún | MX | $512 | $248 | 84℉ | 6 ” | low |
| Oranjestad | AW | $694 | $550 | 84℉ | 0 ” | low |
| Singapore | SG | $1,603 | $142 | 82℉ | 6 ” | low |
| Honolulu | US | $925 | $334 | 81℉ | 0 ” | medium |
| Reykjavik | IS | $813 | $231 | 46℉ | 2 ” | medium |
| Lisbon | PT | $1,269 | $135 | 68℉ | 1 ” | medium |
| Orlando | US | $355 | $161 | 82℉ | 9 ” | low |
| Las Vegas | US | $410 | $148 | 86℉ | 0 ” | low |
| London | GB | $1,143 | $219 | 59℉ | 2 ” | medium |
| Seattle | US | $478 | $292 | 61℉ | 2 ” | high |
| Sapporo | JP | $1,312 | $117 | 57℉ | 3 ” | low |
| Amsterdam | NL | $1,317 | $243 | 59℉ | 2 ” | low |
| Fukuoka | JP | $1,290 | $115 | 73℉ | 5 ” | low |
| Vancouver | CA | $488 | $275 | 61℉ | 2 ” | medium |
| Palma de Mallorca | ES | $1,296 | $222 | 72℉ | 1 ” | medium |
| Barcelona | ES | $1,266 | $203 | 68℉ | 2 ” | medium |
| Dublin | IE | $1,076 | $249 | 57℉ | 3 ” | medium |
| Chania | GR | $1,571 | $111 | 75℉ | 0 ” | medium |
The following information refers to the destinations listed in the table.
Recommendation ranking within table:
Our recommendation ranking of where to go is calculated based on average flight prices, average hotel prices, popularity, average temperature, and average precipitation. Flight prices, hotel prices, popularity, and precipitation constitute inverse factors, the less the better. Average temperature optimal values are taken as the median for the destination, and a difference is calculated for the month from this reference point. The smaller the difference the more desirable the city is to visit in this month. This temperature factor is weighed double as much as popularity and precipitation.
Flight and hotel prices:
Average prices are estimated from KAYAK internal data from search period ‘2023-11-01’ to ‘2024-01-15’ for travel period ‘2024-06’. Flight prices include economy class return trips for one traveler, and hotel prices represent 3 stars or below hotels’ nightly rates for a standard double room. Price insights are subject to vary depending on the exact departure airport and over time as travel dates are approaching.
Popularity:
Monthly crowd estimates for each destination are determined by internal flight and hotel search data. This incorporates the latest historical insights from the past year collected on ‘2024-01-15’. For each destination, this popularity estimate is pulled for the particular month to gauge where it might not be too crowded.
Weather (average monthly temperature and precipitation):
Weather data is pulled from a third-party site, Weatherbase, and has not been verified by KAYAK. Monthly average temperature and precipitation data is based on historical insights from the past 102 years. Weatherbase data is updated in real-time from the US Census Bureau and other databases worldwide.
Discover more great places to travel
Realistically, my best places to visit in June barely scrape the surface of all the amazing places you could go. For more spring and summer vacation ideas, check the best places to visit in May, July, and August.
If you need even more inspiration, try KAYAK Explore to take the legwork out of planning. KAYAK also makes it easy to book flights, cars, and places to stay.