The 10 best places to travel in August

Most travelers want to go somewhere to keep cool at the often sweltering end of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Maybe you want to think beyond the basic beach vacation and head to the mountains or even the Southern Hemisphere, where it's wintertime. Or, perhaps you're looking to finally book that epic safari vacation to see the Great Migration make its way through parts of East Africa.

Since August also brings the last gasps of school summer vacation, you may see higher prices and crowds in popular places. But there are also many new airline routes and festivals worth planning a trip around this August.

Here are 10 of the best places to visit in the U.S. and beyond in August.

Mallorca, Spain

On Aug. 12, a total solar eclipse will stretch across the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, a small corner of Portugal and northern Spain, including Mallorca, as we wrote about in our list of Where to Go in 2026. Mallorca has the best chance for ideal weather for clear viewing of the moment the moon fully covers the sun, which will last 1 minute and 36 seconds. The rest of the time, enjoy the beaches, picturesque villages, Palma's old town and Castell de Bellver.

Montreal locals now have a new direct flight on Air Canada to Palma de Mallorca. Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas resumed its European cruises in May for the first time in five years, including a Spain route that includes a call in Palma de Mallorca.

TPG tip: Mandarin Oriental just debuted its only 2026 opening: Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra, Mallorca. Rates start at $3,128 per night. The hotel is part of American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, so certain cardholders can get perks including upgrades, daily breakfast, $100 property credit and guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout.

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Halifax, also included on our list of where to travel in 2026, comes alive in August when the sun shines and the temperature warms up. There are several festivals, like Rock the Harbour classic rock festival from Aug. 14 to 16, Halifax Busker Fest from July 29 to Aug. 3 and the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival from Aug. 6 to 7.

Late summer is also the ideal season to book a bioluminescent sea kayak night tour, which takes attendees out to calm seas during the new and first-quarter moons for a light show below the water.

It's also easier to get there now: Delta Air Lines added a new seasonal direct route from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) on June 13, and United Airlines launched a seasonal direct flight from Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., in May.

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TPG tip: In February, Delta Hotels opened Delta Hotels Halifax Downtown in what was the former Hotel Halifax, a downtown mainstay that was thoroughly renovated. Rates start at $253 or 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. For a splurge, the Muir, a Luxury Collection Hotel opened on the city's waterfront Queen's Marque neighborhood last spring. Rates start at $718 or 80,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Traverse City, Michigan

Traverse City welcomes the inaugural Traverse City Food & Wine festival from Aug. 19 to 23, bringing dozens of chefs to the shores of Lake Michigan, including restaurant critic and former editor-in-chief of Gourmet Ruth Reichl, Food Network host and judge Aarti Sequiera and local talent like Sarah Welch, a James Beard Award nominee for the Mink and Marrow restaurants in Detroit.

The region is also great to watch the Perseids, an annual meteor shower that peaks around Aug. 12 or 13. For the best viewing conditions, two Dark Sky Places — Headlands Park and Beaver Island — are each located within a four-hour drive of Traverse City. And while not an officially designated Dark Sky Place, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is just 40 minutes west of downtown Traverse City.

There's also a new direct route to this corner of Michigan: In May, Delta launched seasonal nonstop daily flights from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) in Traverse City. One-way fares start at $104 or 8,500 SkyMiles this August.

TPG tip: A new Residence Inn by Marriott Traverse City opened last November. In August, rates start at $193 per night or 41,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. The Dexter Hotel is a design-focused boutique hotel that opened in May (rates from $296 per night in August).

Nantucket, Massachusetts

This beloved island and sailing hub off the coast of Massachusetts comes alive in summer. Nantucket Race Week, which takes place from Aug. 6 to 16, brings yachts and sailboats from around the world to test sailors' knowledge with tricky currents and ever-shifting sandbars along Nantucket's 6-mile-long harbor.

If you prefer art and music, this year's annual Boston Pops concert at Jetties Beach is Aug. 8 and includes a drone light show. Also on Aug. 8, the Artists Association of Nantucket will hold its Sidewalk Art Show, where visitors can stroll along the cobblestone streets to discover local artists' paintings, sculptures and photography.

Local potato chip company Nantucket Crisps has opened a second pop-up location on Nantucket, both selling all its locally inspired flavors, gear and other picnic fare. Additionally, the company launched the Nantucket Music Foundation this year and is hosting a summer concert series at the Muse, with bands like Guster, Dashboard Confessional, Yellowcard and more all performing in August.

Tradewind Aviation launched flights from Laurence G. Hanscom Field (BED) in Bedford, Massachusetts, direct to Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK) this June. American Airlines launched a seasonal service from BOS to ACK on June 18.

TPG tip: Greydon House historic inn recently debuted an expansion with four new suites, a terrace and a new bar. Rates start from $855 per night.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh in August makes perfect sense for a "coolcation" with lots of sun, especially if you're a theater connoisseur. During the world-famous Fringe Festival, which takes place from Aug. 7 to 31, visitors can select from thousands of shows, including musicals, plays and comedy. The Edinburgh International Festival runs concurrently with dance, music, opera and other performances.

There are other cultural touchstones this month: Aug. 15 to 30 welcomes the Edinburgh International Book Festival, with more than 600 events, and Aug. 13 to 19 sees the Edinburgh International Film Festival, with dozens of film screenings and talks. You can get to the city via new American Airlines flights from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Edinburgh Airport (EDI), which launched in March. This route is on the new A321XLR, featuring 20 Flagship Suite seats, 12 premium economy seats and 123 economy seats, and American is the first U.S. airline to use this long-range, single-aisle aircraft.

TPG tip: Point A Edinburgh, St. Andrews Square opens in July as part of U.K. chain Point A Hotels, with rates starting from $206 per night if you become a member of the brand's A List loyalty club. Continental breakfast is included.

Fiji

Fiji's legendary Cloudbreak will host the Fiji Pro surfing competition from Aug. 25 to Sept. 4.

Set aside time to participate in Fiji's new Loloma Hour initiative, which launched last year and invites travelers to dedicate one hour of their visit to conservation or community service. Over 20 hotels and tour operators across Fiji's islands are participating, with activities ranging from coral planting at Six Senses Fiji to reef conservation with Captain Cook Cruises.

Now a full-fledged member of the Oneworld alliance, Fiji Airways launched a new route between Fiji's Nadi International Airport (NAN) and Australia's Gold Coast Airport (OOL). Additionally, the airline launched a new wellness initiative, FlyWell, on its long-haul flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to NAN. Available to business-class passengers, the program includes wearable recovery technology, circadian-support eyewear, mental performance drinks, red-light therapy and electromagnetic field protection solutions both on board and within the Fiji Airways Premier Lounge in Nadi.

TPG tip: Six Senses Fiji recently opened three new private residences, each with direct beach access on a secluded stretch of coastline and private marina access. Rates start from $2,620 or 262,000 IHG One Rewards points per night. The all-villa Vomo Private Island reopened in April after an extensive renovation, with rates from $1,200 per night.

Medellin, Colombia

Colombia is the second-largest exporter of cut flowers globally, exporting more than 4 billion cut flowers to the U.S. annually. Medellin — the City of Eternal Spring — celebrates the country's flower growers with the annual Feria de las Flores, from Aug. 1 to 10. The festival includes more than 140 events, and highlights include the Chiva (open-sided bus) Carnival and the Silletros Parade featuring carefully crafted floral designs worn on people's backs.

Experience the food of Medellin at excellent prices during Medellin Gourmet (from August to September), a culinary circuit where top local restaurants offer special menus at great value.

TPG tip: Wake BioHotel is a new wellness-focused hotel opening in June with 109 rooms and the Sastra Longevity Club, where guests can participate in one- to three-day personalized wellness programs. The hotel is a member of Design Hotels, and rates in August start at $288 or 46,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Shanghai

The 2026 Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season will run from July through October, with six themed sections dedicated to sports, urban exploration, museums, music, entertainment and relaxation. Beyond the six themed sections, Shanghai will roll out a range of citywide experiences, including an interactive urban sports carnival for families, food-focused events showcasing cuisines from across the region, summer pop-up retail experiences and the inaugural Lego Festival at Legoland Shanghai Resort, from June 15 through the end of August. Additionally, Shanghai Disneyland is celebrating its 10th anniversary with new experiences and parades all year long.

Shanghai will also roll out an upgraded version of EasyGo 2.0, featuring Shanghai Summer-themed functions. The platform can accurately recognize user instructions in multiple languages and intelligently connect them to everyday services such as ride-hailing, ticket booking and translation.

TPG tip: The 306-room Andaz Xintiandi, Shanghai opened in February as the first Andaz-branded hotel in Asia. Nightly rates start at $165 or 12,000 World of Hyatt points. Renaissance Shanghai Hongqiao debuted in January, with rates starting from $90 or 20,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Maasai Mara, Kenya

Going on safari in August in the Maasai Mara means excellent weather and a good chance of seeing part of the Great Migration, which typically occurs between July and September. It's prime time to see millions of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles running across the plains and the mighty Mara River.

TPG tip: Kinara, A Luxury Collection Safari Camp, debuts in August along the Mara River. This luxe retreat has tented suites and multibedroom villas, all with private plunge pools. Rates start at $4,802 or 226,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night in August and are all-inclusive, covering two private game drives per day.

Ladakh, India

While much of India is in monsoon season over the summer, the northern region in the Himalayas is finally thawed out enough to complete some epic hikes. Ladakh is the epicenter of India's Buddhist community, set at 11,500 feet — so give your body time to adjust to the altitude.

Make your base in the multicultural capital city of Leh, which features cuisines of Tibet, India and Nepal, alongside Buddhist temples and monasteries. Sign up to do some guided hikes in the Markha, Sham or Zanskar valleys, whether one day or a multiday adventure. You can also cycle, raft and search for snow leopards and grazing yaks.

TPG tip: Dolkhar Ladakh, part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, is the only points hotel in the region — and it's a great option. The boutique Leh hotel features charming split villas built with reclaimed wood and stone. Rates start at $292 or 20,000 World of Hyatt points per night.