Where to go on holiday in June

You don’t need me to tell you that June is a great time to go away, but where is at its best? Here are our 5 favourite destinations for June.

It was L.M. Montgomery who wondered “what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June”. Pretty magical, I reckon, especially if you’re in Europe. Across the continent, spring showers have eased off to make way for long, reliably sunny days that mark the start of the eagerly awaited summer months.

Festivals are kicking off, solstice is being celebrated, the countryside is in full verdant beauty and beach days are firmly back on the menu. All that without the influx of families and inflated prices of July and August. Heaven!

If you want to go further afield, June can be a tricky month for travel. Much of the southern hemisphere is in winter while some tropics are experiencing monsoons. However, there’s a certain African island that comes into its own at this time of year…

1 The Italian Lakes

☀ Average June temperatures: Highs: 25°C; Lows: 15°C

If seeing the timeless Italian Lakes is on your bucket list, make sure to do it in June. This is the sweet spot when the cool, wet spring has been replaced by balmy days, but the summer crowds are yet to swoop in. I spent a week in Lake Como at this time of year and experienced lots of sunshine, a few short-lived storms, and pleasant temperatures that worked for both hiking the surrounding hills and sunbathing by the water.

It’s a great time to see Como’s iconic villa gardens (many are open to the public); the pastel rhododendrons that bubble over waterfront terraces bloom in May and early June. Garda is usually slightly warmer and a hotspot for outdoor pursuits like mountain biking, windsurfing, and golf. You could also easily take a day trip to Verona. Maggiore has a unique blend of Swiss and Italian architecture (it straddles the border) so the towns are particularly pretty – makes a great road trip. Tiny Orta is still a hidden gem, so while the others are filling up, you might find you have this lake all to yourself.

Water temperatures will still feel brisk (you’re in the mountains after all) but will warm up as the month goes on. Hire a kayak or private boat to fully explore the lakes, stopping at beaches for picnics or little villages away from the tourist trail. June sees the start of Lake Como’s annual festival, so you can expect lots of live music in the towns and fireworks at night.

3 The Balearic Islands, Spain

☀ Average June temperatures: Highs: 26°C; Lows: 15°C

June is a wonderful time to explore the Balearics. These islands are popular summer destinations thanks to their golden bays and glassy sea, but can be uncomfortably hot (and busy) in July and August. If you want to spend several uninterrupted hours basking on a beach or hopping between a few deserted coves, June is ideal.

Across the islands, you’ll find lots going on. On the 23rd June, Fiesta Sant Joan is widely celebrated, with one of the biggest events held in Ciutadella in Menorca. A highlight is the Caragol del Born, when people gather in Plaça des Born to watch over a hundred elegantly dressed horses parade around the square. Elsewhere, bonfires will be lit on beaches and town squares will buzz with revellers and music. There are several other festivals in Mallorca in June, honouring all sorts of things: saints, flowers, herbs, potatoes… And there’s always a party going on in Ibiza, but the big one in June is Gay Pride, a 4-day long spectacle that is one of the largest in Europe.

4 Provence, France

☀ Average June temperatures: Highs: 27°C; Lows: 17°C

Picture Provence, and I’d guess regimented rows of lavender bushes spring to mind. It’s an iconic image of the South of France. The fields are out in full bloom throughout July and August, but you’ll be paying high prices and wrestling with the masses if you want to see the purple flowers then. Come in June and you’ll get the first look (and smell) of them – some fields will be completely in bloom, others will just be starting to flower. If you come early in the month, you’ll also find vast pastures of swaying red poppies. Artists will be in their element!

With afternoon temperatures often reaching into the late 20s, June is a great time to take advantage of Provence’s network of rivers, gorges and lakes. Some spectacular wild swimming spots include Pont du Gard, near Nimes, where the shallow river flows under a Roman aqueduct, and the Gorges de Toulourenc below Mont Ventoux. On the eastern-most edge of the region, you can kayak through the dramatic Verdon Gorge, then cool off in the turquoise waters of Lac de Saint Croix. If you prefer a salt-water swim, the Med is never too far away.

However, mornings are still mild enough to be inland without melting – a relief if you plan to wander around the countless medieval castles and towns, like Palais des Papes in Avignon. It’s also the perfect time to tour the many vineyards, before the busy harvest season begins at the end of summer.

5 Zanzibar

☀ Average June temperatures: Highs: 28°C; Lows: 22°C

Zanzibar is pretty much a year-round destination bar a couple of months when the rains fall, but June is one of the best times for value-for-weather – following the long rains in April and May, it’s often said to be the sunniest month of the year and marks the very start of high season. Temperatures are at their lowest which, in Zanzibar, is a great thing – humidity has eased off and daytime averages hover around 28 degrees. June also aligns with the wildebeest migration in Tanzania, so it’s a fab time for a beach and wildlife holiday combo.

The ‘kusi’ wind starts blowing in along the east coast, making it popular with kitesurfers. The coast around Paje in particular becomes a hotspot for watersports. If you’d prefer to relax by the sea, the west coast is more sheltered and offers better conditions for swimming and snorkelling. Diving is also possible, but visibility is usually better later in the year. Wildlife lovers should go to Mafia island to catch the start of turtle hatching season.

The early crowds might start gathering in the major resort areas, but it’s easy to ditch them if you go elsewhere. Try Pongwe on Unguja’s east coast, which has a gem of a beach that is pleasingly undeveloped. Or get off the main island and go north to Pemba, a much less explored part of Zanzibar with a mix of white-sand beaches, clove and palm forests.