Where to go in August: the short answer
Go to Banff, The Dolomites and Lofoten in August; add Swiss Alps, Rio de Janeiro and Fiji if you have the time. August is the month when the Mediterranean is at its most crowded and the cool places are at their most useful. Mountains, fjords and southern winters do the work.
We chose from the 8 destinations whose month bar marks August as a sweet spot (the best balance of weather, crowds and price), then spread the picks across regions. Prices are our own mid-range estimates per person per day, flights excluded, as of October 2026. August is the most expensive month for almost every place here. Book 4 to 6 months ahead for peak, and consider going in September instead.
Five places to go to in August
Banff (about $220 (≈ €195 / £175) a day, crowds 4 out of 5). Warm days, cool nights, and the same crowds as July at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Shuttle bookings and parking limits are the practical constraint. Rooms are pricey, and smoke can interrupt plans.
The Dolomites (about $170 (≈ €150 / £135) a day, crowds 4 out of 5). Crowds and parking limits at the best-known spots peak in July and August. Go early to Seceda and Braies, and book mountain huts for overnight stays. Afternoon storms are common, so be off the ridges by lunchtime.
Lofoten (about $230 (≈ €210 / £180) a day, crowds 3 out of 5). Still bright in the first half of the month, with the dark returning later and aurora season from September. Reine and Hamnøy at dawn or dusk; short, steep hikes. Cost and limited lodging are the catch.
Swiss Alps (about $300 (≈ €270 / £240) a day, crowds 3 out of 5). Warm valleys and pleasant trails, though thunderstorms build in the afternoons. Take the Gornergrat railway early on a clear day. Among the most expensive places in Europe, and mountain trains are pricey.
Rio de Janeiro (about $120 (≈ €105 / £95) a day, crowds 4 out of 5). Winter again: mild and drier. Walk Santa Teresa and Lapa, with samba at night in a group, and keep valuables at the hotel when you go to the beach. Beach theft and phone grabs are common.
Fiji (about $230 (≈ €210 / £180) a day, crowds 3 out of 5). Dry season, sunny and peak. The Mamanuca and Yasawa islands are the classic route, with village visits including a kava ceremony. Prices on resort islands are high, and flights from Europe are long.
August at a glance
The table sets the 6 picks side by side. Crowd and safety scores are our own estimates on a 1 to 5 scale, where 5 for crowds means overtourism at peak and 5 for safety means the lowest risk.
| Destination | Mid-range per day | Crowds (1 to 5) | Safety (1 to 5) | All best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banff | $220 (≈ €195 / £175) | 4 | 4 | Jun-Sep & Dec-Mar |
| The Dolomites | $170 (≈ €150 / £135) | 4 | 4 | Jul-Sep & Dec-Feb |
| Lofoten | $230 (≈ €210 / £180) | 3 | 5 | Jun-Aug & Feb-Mar |
| Swiss Alps | $300 (≈ €270 / £240) | 3 | 5 | Jun–Sep & Dec–Mar |
| Rio de Janeiro | $120 (≈ €105 / £95) | 4 | 3 | Apr–Oct |
| Fiji | $230 (≈ €210 / £180) | 3 | 4 | May–Oct |
Where August is harder work
Our month bars mark Paris, Santorini, Bali, Machu Picchu, Grand Canyon, Uluwatu and Nusa Penida as peak season in August, meaning busiest, dearest or hottest. Tokyo, The Maldives, Dubai, Morocco, Vietnam, Costa Rica and Rome and others sit in the off-peak band: quieter, but check weather and closures before you commit.
Safety scores for every place are on its destination page, with links to the UK FCDO, US State Department, Smartraveller, Japan MOFA and South Korea 0404 pages. We do not quote levels because they change; read the agencies before you book. To see two picks side by side, compare Scotland and Iceland, or browse the rest of the month-by-month guides.
August travel: frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest place to go in August?
Of our August picks, Rio de Janeiro at about $120 (≈ €105 / £95) a day mid-range per person, against about $300 (≈ €270 / £240) for Swiss Alps. Flights are excluded, and these are estimates as of October 2026.
Where will I find the fewest crowds in August?
Lofoten, Swiss Alps and Fiji score lowest for crowds among our picks, at 3 out of 5. Scores are our estimate of how busy each place gets at its peak, so a sweet-spot month is usually quieter than the number suggests.
Is August peak season anywhere?
Yes. Our bars mark Paris, Santorini, Bali, Machu Picchu, Grand Canyon, Uluwatu and Nusa Penida as peak in August. Book 4 to 6 months ahead for peak months and 2 to 3 months ahead for sweet-spot months.
Is the weather the same in all these places in August?
No. The picks are spread across hemispheres and altitudes, so check each destination page for its weather notes and live temperature before you pack.