This is when official tours take place, and is your best shot of getting an up-close glimpse of these deceptively gorgeous (and quite dangerous!) creatures in their homes. In the Svalbard archipelago, April to September is prime wildlife spotting season – including polar bears as they roam on a ceaseless search for food. Read next Where to see the world's best floral spectaclesĪ polar bear sighting in the wild is one of life's great joys, whether you're hardcore into wildlife watching, or find it makes up only part of your travel experience. It's an annual celebration in France taking place on 14 July, often marked with festivities, fireworks and the odd parade.Īnd if you're determined to set your sights on lavender fields before you go, the spa town of Digne-les-Bains is the self-proclaimed lavender capital of France. Head to Verdon Natural Regional Park for superb gorges, turquoise glacial river waters, and wildlife spotting, or UNESCO-listed Luberon Region Natural Park for its fields of vineyards, limestone mountains, and medieval villages that perch on rugged hilltops.īeyond the blissful summer scenery, a July visit to Provence should also be well timed with France's national day, La Fête Nationale, commonly known as Bastille Day. The steep terrain makes Alpes-de-Haute-Provence perfect for adventurers, with activities such as hiking, rafting and mountaineering all possible to experience. Provence in July is often visited for its endless rows of lavender fields, but if you look beneath the surface, there’s so much more wilderness to explore across the region. And while spring is best for whale-spotting in the Azores, sperm and minke whales do ply its waters year-round, so take a whale-watching trip or keep your eyes peeled from land. The Azores meanwhile hosts a week-long party and regatta on Sao Jorge Island and Santa Maria Blues festival on the eponymous island. Over on Madeira, visitors can attend a 24-hour folk dancing festival in Santana, a jazz festival in Funchal and a canoe regatta and games during Sea Week in Porto Moniz. The next one takes place in July this year (2023). Meanwhile, over in Tomar, women parade through the town carrying bread on their heads during Festa dos Tabuleiros, which is held every four years. As well as watching artists carving 12m high sculptures and seeing them illuminated at night, visitors can attend workshops. Hydrangeas are also popular in the Azores, particularly around Sete Cidades near Lake Azul.įestival goers might want to book a trip around Fiesa, an annual summer sand sculpture festival in Pêra on the mainland. As the name suggests, Pride of Madeira – a bush with purple cone blooms – is native to the island, but if you visit in July you’ll see magnolias, red hot poker trees and hydrangeas. Nicknamed the Floating Garden of the Atlantic, Madeira is in bloom all year round. The Portuguese islands of Madeira and the Azores in the North Atlantic are a few degrees cooler, but all three destinations are ideal if you’re seeking the sun. July is one of the hottest months of the year in Portugal, with average temperatures of 24☌ during the day.
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