Sample trips
50 trips around the world, each at a good time of year and with a real event. Weather shows what those dates are usually like.
50 trips
Photo: Hamerani, CC BY-SA 4.0Luxor
Egypt · 19 Feb – 24 Feb · 6 daysAbu Simbel Sun FestivalOn 22 February, at sunrise, light reaches the inner sanctuary of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel, and late February is cool and dry along the Nile. The downside is that Ramadan is expected to be under way (about 8 February to 8 March 2027), so daytime hours and eating out change.
Photo: Ralf Junghanns, CC BY-SA 3.0Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · 16 Apr – 20 Apr · 5 daysZimbabwe Independence DayZimbabwe’s Independence Day is 18 April every year, and April is when the Zambezi is near its peak flow, so the falls are at their most powerful. The spray can hide the view and everything gets wet, and it is the tail end of the rains.
Photo: Volodymyr Burdiak, CC BY-SA 4.0Maasai Mara
Kenya · 17 Oct – 21 Oct · 5 daysMashujaa DayKenya marks Mashujaa Day, its Heroes’ Day, on 20 October, and the Mara is mostly dry that month. The great wildebeest migration is past its peak by then: herds start drifting back to the Serengeti in October, so some may be around and some gone, and the short rains can begin.
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0Marrakech
Morocco · 16 Nov – 20 Nov · 5 daysIndependence DayMorocco celebrates Independence Day on 18 November, and mid-November is one of the gentlest times in Marrakech: pleasant days and cool nights, well after the summer heat. Expect a few showers and chilly evenings.
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0Cape Town
South Africa · 31 Dec – 4 Jan · 5 daysTweede Nuwe Jaar (Cape Town Street Parade)Tweede Nuwe Jaar, the “Second New Year”, is traditionally held on 2 January. Early January is high summer at the Cape: long, dry, sunny days, but strong south-easterly winds and crowds of holidaymakers.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0Zanzibar
Tanzania · 10 Jan – 14 Jan · 5 daysZanzibar Revolution DayZanzibar marks Revolution Day on 12 January, in the short dry season: hot, humid and mostly sunny, with the odd shower. Official celebrations do not happen every year, so go for the island and treat any ceremony as a bonus.
Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0Kyoto
Japan · 13 May – 17 May · 5 daysAoi MatsuriThe Aoi Matsuri procession leaves the Imperial Palace every 15 May, and mid-May is warm and green with the rainy season still weeks away. In 2027 the 15th is a Saturday, so expect crowds along the route.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0Petra
Jordan · 23 May – 27 May · 5 daysIndependence DayJordan celebrates Independence Day on 25 May, with evening programmes and fireworks in Amman, and late spring is a good time for Petra and Wadi Rum. Afternoons are already hot in the desert, so the mornings do most of the work.
Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0Singapore
Singapore · 7 Aug – 11 Aug · 5 daysNational Day ParadeThe National Day Parade is held on 9 August every year, and in 2027 it returns to the Padang. Singapore is hot and humid all year, and August brings heavy afternoon showers, so every plan has a roof nearby.
Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0Bali
Indonesia · 15 Aug – 20 Aug · 6 daysIndonesian Independence DayIndonesia’s Independence Day, 17 August, falls on a Tuesday in 2027, between the Balinese festivals of Galungan and Kuningan, when decorated bamboo poles line the roads. August is dry and sunny, but it is also high season, so the popular sights are busy.
Photo: Takeshi Aida from Hong Kong, Hong Kong, CC BY-SA 2.0Hanoi
Vietnam · 31 Aug – 4 Sept · 5 daysNational Day of VietnamVietnam’s National Day on 2 September is marked in Hanoi, where the independence declaration was read in 1945. It is also the tail end of the rainy season, so expect hot, sticky weather, heavy showers on most days and a real chance of a typhoon.
Photo: Ermell, CC BY-SA 4.0Beijing
China · 29 Sept – 3 Oct · 5 daysNational DayNational Day on 1 October opens a seven-day holiday, and the whole country travels: from the 1st the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Summer Palace are at their busiest of the year. The weather is usually dry and mild, so we do the booked sights before the holiday and take the crowds as they come.
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0Seoul
South Korea · 7 Oct – 11 Oct · 5 daysHangeul DayHangeul Day, the celebration of the Korean alphabet, falls on 9 October every year. Early October in Seoul is usually mild and dry, with the first autumn colour on the hills, and in 2027 the day is a Saturday, so the city will be busy.
Photo: Arild Vågen, CC BY-SA 3.0Istanbul
Türkiye · 27 Oct – 31 Oct · 5 daysRepublic DayRepublic Day on 29 October marks the proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye in 1923, and the celebrations start the afternoon before. Late October is usually mild but can be rainy, and some sights and shops close or shorten their hours on the holiday.
Photo: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), CC BY-SA 4.0Tokyo
Japan · 13 Nov – 17 Nov · 5 daysShichi-Go-SanShichi-Go-San falls on 15 November, and families in kimono fill the shrines, mostly on the weekends around it. The days are cool and clear, but the autumn colour is only starting: Tokyo’s ginkgo and maples usually peak in the last week of November.
Photo: Delta.jpg, CC BY-SA 4.0Dubai
United Arab Emirates · 30 Nov – 4 Dec · 5 daysUAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad)UAE National Day falls on 2 December, with fireworks, shows and heritage events around the city. Early December is also among the most pleasant times to visit, sunny and mild, but it is peak season, so the big attractions are busy.
Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0Bangkok
Thailand · 3 Dec – 7 Dec · 5 daysNational Day and Father’s DayOn 5 December Thailand marks National Day and Father’s Day, the birthday of the late King Bhumibol, and in 2027 it falls on a Sunday. December is the coolest, driest part of the year, though midday in Bangkok is still hot.
Photo: A.C.T. Alejandre, CC BY-SA 4.0Cebu
Philippines · 14 Jan – 18 Jan · 5 daysSinulog FestivalSinulog is held on the third Sunday of January, which in 2028 is 16 January. January is one of the cooler, drier months in Cebu, but it is also festival week, so expect crowds, closed roads and full hotels.
Photo: Vinayaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0Delhi
India · 24 Jan – 28 Jan · 5 daysRepublic Day paradeThe Republic Day parade takes place on 26 January every year, and late January is Delhi’s cool season, with mild afternoons. Mornings can be cold and foggy, air quality is often poor in winter, and trains and flights can run late.
Photo: Wilfredor, CC0Rome
Italy · 19 Apr – 23 Apr · 5 daysNatale di Roma21 April is Rome’s birthday, and late April is mild enough to walk all day before the summer heat, with the odd shower. The big sights are already busy, so book the main ones ahead.
Photo: Jose María Ligero Loarte, CC BY-SA 4.0Barcelona
Spain · 21 Apr – 25 Apr · 5 daysSant JordiOn 23 April, Sant Jordi turns Barcelona’s streets into an open-air bookshop and rose garden, and spring is mild. The sea is still cold, and the city is very full that day.
Photo: Diliff, CC BY 2.5Amsterdam
Netherlands · 24 Apr – 28 Apr · 5 daysKing’s Day (Koningsdag)King’s Day on 27 April turns Amsterdam orange, and late April falls inside Keukenhof’s 2027 season, 18 March to 9 May. The weather can swing from sun to cold rain, and the city is extremely crowded on the day.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0Lisbon
Portugal · 10 Jun – 14 Jun · 5 daysNight of Santo AntónioLisbon celebrates Santo António on the night of 12–13 June every year, and June is warm and mostly dry. It is also one of the busiest weeks of the year, so the avenue and the old neighbourhoods get crowded.
Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0Reykjavik
Iceland · 15 Jun – 20 Jun · 6 daysIcelandic National DayIceland’s National Day on 17 June fills Reykjavik with a parade and concerts, and in mid-June the sun sets close to midnight. It stays cool, often windy and sometimes wet, and it is a popular time to visit.
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0Paris
France · 18 Jun – 22 Jun · 5 daysFête de la MusiqueThe Fête de la Musique fills Paris with free music on 21 June, the summer solstice and the longest day of the year. June also brings crowds, and the odd hot afternoon.
Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0Pamplona
Spain · 5 Jul – 9 Jul · 5 daysSan FermínSan Fermín fills Pamplona every 6–14 July, and summer is also the driest, warmest time for day trips into Navarra.
Photo: László Szalai (Beyond silence), Public domainDubrovnik
Croatia · 8 Jul – 12 Jul · 5 daysDubrovnik Summer FestivalThe Dubrovnik Summer Festival opens on 10 July every year and runs until 25 August, so music and theatre fill the old town’s squares. July is also the hottest and busiest month, with long queues at the walls by midday.
Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0London
United Kingdom · 27 Aug – 31 Aug · 5 daysNotting Hill CarnivalNotting Hill Carnival takes over west London on the August bank holiday weekend, and late August is usually warm. It can also rain, and the Carnival streets and nearby Tube stations get very crowded.
Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0Venice
Italy · 3 Sept – 7 Sept · 5 daysRegata StoricaThe Regata Storica fills the Grand Canal on the first Sunday of September, and the weather is still warm and bright. It is also busy and can be humid, and a thunderstorm is possible.
Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0Munich
Germany · 17 Sept – 21 Sept · 5 daysOktoberfestOktoberfest 2027 runs from 18 September to 3 October, and the opening weekend has the most ceremony. Mid-September is usually mild and pleasant, but it can rain, and the city is packed with visitors.
Photo: A.Savin, FALPrague
Czechia · 25 Sept – 29 Sept · 5 daysSt Wenceslas Day28 September is St Wenceslas Day, a public holiday with the national pilgrimage in Stará Boleslav, and late September is mild with the first autumn colour. Large shops close on the holiday, and evenings start to feel cool.
Photo: A.Savin, CC BY-SA 3.0Athens
Greece · 26 Oct – 30 Oct · 5 daysOchi DayOchi Day on 28 October brings a parade to the centre and usually free entry to state sites, and late October is cool enough to climb the Acropolis comfortably. Days are shorter than in summer and a shower is possible.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0New Orleans
United States · 6 Feb – 10 Feb · 5 daysMardi GrasMardi Gras Day falls on Shrove Tuesday, which is 9 February in 2027, and parades roll every night in the week before it. February is mild, though it can be damp, and the city is at its busiest and loudest.
Photo: Randal Sheppard, CC BY-SA 2.0Yucatán
Mexico · 18 Mar – 23 Mar · 6 daysSpring equinox at Chichén ItzáThe spring equinox, around 20–21 March, is when the shadow serpent appears on the staircase at Chichén Itzá, and March is dry and bright before the worst heat of April and May. The equinox is also the busiest day of the year at the site, with tens of thousands of visitors.
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0Honolulu
United States (Hawaii) · 9 Jun – 13 Jun · 5 daysKing Kamehameha DayKing Kamehameha Day on 11 June brings a lei draping ceremony and a floral parade to Honolulu, and mid-June is warm and sunny. It is also a busy time on Oʻahu and the sun is strong, so plan for shade, water and sunscreen.
Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0Banff
Canada · 29 Jun – 3 Jul · 5 daysCanada Day in BanffCanada Day on 1 July brings a morning parade to Banff Avenue, and late June and early July mean very long evenings and open trails. It is also the busiest time in the park, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in the mountains.
Photo: Arild Vågen, CC BY-SA 4.0New York
United States · 29 Oct – 2 Nov · 5 daysVillage Halloween ParadeOn the night of 31 October the Village Halloween Parade fills Sixth Avenue, and in 2027 that night is a Sunday. Late October is crisp and good for walking, but evenings are cold and rain is common.
Photo: ProtoplasmaKid, CC BY-SA 4.0Oaxaca
Mexico · 30 Oct – 3 Nov · 5 daysDay of the DeadDay of the Dead is held on 1 and 2 November every year, and Oaxaca is one of the places where it is most visible. The summer rains are over, so days are usually mild, but rooms book months ahead and the cemeteries are busy.
Photo: Benoît Prieur, CC0Los Angeles
United States · 30 Dec – 3 Jan · 5 daysRose ParadeThe Rose Parade rolls through Pasadena on the morning of 1 January, and winter is Los Angeles’s mild season, with sunny days and cool evenings. It is also the wettest part of the year, so pack a light rain layer, and expect holiday crowds.
Photo: Kiwi05, CC BY-SA 4.0Bay of Islands
New Zealand · 4 Feb – 8 Feb · 5 daysWaitangi DayWaitangi Day is 6 February every year, in the middle of New Zealand’s summer. Days are usually warm and bright, but showers can roll in, and the area gets busy over the holiday weekend.
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0Melbourne
Australia · 23 Apr – 27 Apr · 5 daysAnzac Day Dawn ServiceAnzac Day is 25 April every year, and in 2027 it falls on a Sunday. Late April is autumn in Melbourne: mild afternoons, but a cold, dark start at the Dawn Service and some chance of rain.
Photo: Saga70, CC BY-SA 3.0Tahiti
French Polynesia · 11 Jul – 15 Jul · 5 daysBastille Day in Papeete14 July is France’s national day, marked every year with a ceremony and parade in Papeete. July also falls in the drier, cooler half of the year, though the Heiva dance festival is not held in 2027.
Photo: Mark Heard from Canada, CC BY 2.0Fiji
Fiji · 8 Oct – 12 Oct · 5 daysFiji DayFiji Day is 10 October every year, at the tail end of the drier half of the year. Nadi stays fairly dry, but Suva has no true dry season, so the raincoat earns its place in the bag.
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0Sydney
Australia · 29 Dec – 2 Jan · 5 daysSydney New Year’s EveSydney sets off its harbour fireworks every 31 December, in the first weeks of the Australian summer. The price is crowds, hot days and the odd thunderstorm.
Photo: Arturdiasr, CC BY-SA 4.0Rio
Brazil · 4 Feb – 9 Feb · 6 daysRio CarnivalCarnival falls 47 days before Easter, so in 2027 the big Sambadrome nights are 7, 8 and 9 February. It is high summer: hot, humid and often stormy, and the city is at its fullest.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0Cusco
Peru · 21 Jun – 26 Jun · 6 daysInti RaymiInti Raymi, the festival of the sun, takes place in Cusco on 24 June every year, and June is the dry season for Machu Picchu. The downsides are high season: crowds, hard-to-get rooms, seats and tickets that sell out months ahead, and nights that can drop to freezing at this altitude.
Photo: Rjcastillo, CC BY-SA 4.0Santiago
Chile · 16 Sept – 21 Sept · 6 daysFiestas PatriasThe Fiestas Patrias fall on 18 and 19 September every year, and in 2027 Friday the 17th is a holiday too, making a three-day weekend. It is early spring, with mild days and cool nights, and some shops and museums close for the holidays.
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0Cartagena
Colombia · 9 Nov – 13 Nov · 5 daysIndependence festivitiesCartagena declared independence on 11 November 1811, and the city celebrates for several days around the long weekend. November is the end of the rainy season, not the start of the dry one: expect hot, humid days and sudden downpours, and be ready to swap the island day for something else.
Photo: The Cosmonaut, CC BY-SA 2.5 caBuenos Aires
Argentina · 10 Nov – 14 Nov · 5 daysFiesta de la Tradición, San Antonio de Areco10 November is the Día de la Tradición, and San Antonio de Areco holds its gaucho festival around the weekend after it. It is late spring: mild to warm and the jacarandas bloom, although a storm can come in any afternoon.
Photo: Cayambe, CC BY-SA 3.0Quito
Ecuador · 3 Dec – 8 Dec · 6 daysFiestas de QuitoQuito celebrates its founding on 6 December, with a month of events, night-time chivas and a formal ceremony on the day itself. Most parades and the opening pregón take place in late November, so by 3–6 December what remains is the festive atmosphere, concerts and the chivas. December is outside the dry season, so expect clearer mornings and afternoon rain.
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