Where to travel in June

June has all the joys of summer without the peak prices and school holiday crowds. Across Europe, longer days and warmer temperatures bring outdoor festivals and al fresco socialising to places like Ireland and Norway. Canada also welcomes the sunshine after winter by opening hiking trails and rooftop bars for the season, just in time to host this year’s FIFA World Cup. It’s a great month for those looking for adventure, too, whether it’s whale-watching and white-water rafting in Panama or wild swimming in Mauritius. Meanwhile, in the Southern Hemisphere, Australia marks the arrival of winter with elaborate light installations.

Mauritius

Weather: 21-25C (70–77°F)
Why now: Lower humidity, start of the dry season and fewer visitors

The Indian Ocean island of Mauritius is loved by winter sunseekers, yet June has quieter beaches, a still-warm sea and lower humidity for exploring the country’s markets, villages and hiking trails. Capital Port Louis buzzes with street food stalls, colourful Hindu temples and a renovated waterfront, while Goodlands to the north has a traditional market selling souvenirs, clothes and unmissable chilli salted pineapple. Milder temperatures are also perfect for following the picturesque trails of Bras d’Eau National Park on the island’s east coast as they wind through forests to natural pools for wild swimming. 

Like a local: Head to the beach on Sunday where families hold all-day barbecues with pop-up rum shacks after attending church services. Try Tombeau Bay near Port Louis.

Norway

Weather: 16-20C (61–68F) in southern Norway; 5-15C (41–59F) in the Arctic Circle
Why now: Midnight sun and midsummer celebrations

After a long winter, Norway embraces summer with gusto. The sun barely sets, especially north of the Arctic Circle in cities like Tromsø, making June the perfect month for round-the-clock outdoor pursuits including camping, cruising through the mirror-still Geirangerfjord or hiking the Trolltunga Trail. Melting snow has turned to thundering waterfalls and the beaches and seafood restaurants of Kristiansand throng with sun-seeking locals. In late June, the country celebrates midsummer with bonfires, singing and feasting.

Like a local: Always bring layers: even in summer, the weather can change without warning, particularly in rural areas.

Panama

Weather: 26-30C (79–86F)
Why now: Wildlife-watching and quieter trails

While June is the second month of Panama’s rainy season, showers are still brief, tourist destinations are quieter and temperatures more manageable than during the hot, dry months. Rainforests dazzle in emerald green and the likes of Soberania and Coiba National Parks are teeming with active wildlife, including the pygmy three-toed sloth, howler monkeys and keel-billed toucans. By the end of the month, it’s possible to spot humpback whales as they arrive to mate in the warm waters of the Pearl Islands and Gulf of Chiriqui. Elsewhere, the calm morning waters of the San Blas islands are perfect for snorkelling, while high river levels near Boquete make white-water rafting popular for thrill-seekers.

Like a local: Cash is essential, especially outside big cities, and it can be difficult to find a working ATM machine. US dollars are accepted everywhere.

Ireland

Weather: 13-18C (55–64F)
Why now: Mild weather and long daylight hours

Ireland’s weather warms up in June with the sun setting after 9pm each evening, leaving enough time for striding through the lush green countryside, partying at outdoor festivals or just sipping a Guiness in a lively pub garden. Dublin celebrates James Joyce’s Ulysses on Bloomsday, a unique Irish holiday on 16 June and the Galway Folk Festival draws the country’s biggest musical names on 3-7 June, while Pride sees countrywide festivities, including parades and live music in Dublin and Waterford. Wildflowers bloom along the hiking trails of Killarney National Park and Connemara, while basking sharks, puffins and harbour seals can be spotted around the Dingle Peninsula.

Like a local: Pubs and restaurants in more rural areas may have limited hours for serving food, often ending lunch service around 2pm.

Canada

Weather: 20-25C (68–77F) in Ontario; 16-19C (61–66F) in Vancouver
Why now: World Cup fever and hiking before summer’s peak season

Due to host several World Cup games in June, Canada embraces summer after its long cold winter with trendy rooftop bars, lakefront beaches and reopened hiking trails. The car-free Toronto Islands have kayaking and bike trails, while it’s also prime time for spotting transient orcas and black bears in and around Vancouver Island. Visit Jasper or Banff National Parks for waterfalls, hiking and canoeing on glacier-fed lakes, or take scenic road trips along the Cabot Trail for cliffside views and impromptu beach pit stops. Toast the long days with a cocktail on the roof of 1 Hotel Toronto overlooking the CN Tower or on Montreal’s Terrasse Place D’Armes.

Like a local: Be sure to sample a butter tart, a pastry with a maple syrup, egg and brown sugar filling. Try them in St Lawrence Market in Toronto or Vancouver’s Granville Island market.

Australia

Weather: 20-30C (68–86F) in Northern Territory; 15-19C (59–66F) in Sydney and Melbourne
Why now: Ski season, snorkelling and the second half of Vivid Sydney

Visitors to Australia in June can have it all if they’re prepared to travel. The north of the country sizzles at the height of its dry season with ideal conditions for snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef and bushwalking in Kakadu National Park, yet ski resorts in Falls Creek and Thredbo also open for the season starting this month. Those seeking coffeeshops and culture should head south to Melbourne or Adelaide for crowd-free city breaks in cooler weather, while Sydney blazes with huge light installations, such as those on its iconic Opera House as part of the annual Vivid Sydney festival (22 May-13 June).

Like a local: Pay close attention to flags on beaches. Red and yellow flags together denote a patrolled area away from rip tides; no flags mean the beach isn’t supervised and it’s not safe to swim.