SeasonMap

School holidays, month by month around the world

Family season: full, expensive, lively.

360 destinations on SeasonMap, ranked within each month by the comfort score — because the point is not only where the season is on, but whether the weather is worth the trip while it is.

← All seasons · The world's calendar

When it is on

Number of destinations with school holidays on in that month. Windows move a little each year.

School holidays in January

  1. 🇨🇱 La Serena, ChileChilean summer holidays · 1 Jan – 28 FebThis is the north's family beach and Santiago arrives for all of January and February: the Avenida del Mar is bumper to bumper and Elqui's small hotels sell out.96climate
  2. 🇨🇱 San Pedro de Atacama, ChileSouthern summer holidays · 1 Jan – 28 FebChile, Argentina and Brazil are all on holiday and the village of two thousand takes several times that.95climate
  3. 🇪🇬 Hurghada, EgyptEuropean winter season · 15 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)Charter flights from northern Europe fill the strip through the Christmas fortnight and the February half-terms.94climate
  4. 🇳🇿 Christchurch, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 19 Dec – 1 Feb (usually)The country shuts for a fortnight from Christmas: the city itself goes quiet and half its cafes close, while Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula bays are the busiest they get all year.93climate
  5. 🇪🇬 Sharm El Sheikh, EgyptEuropean winter season · 15 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)Charter flights from Europe fill the bay through the Christmas fortnight and the February half-terms, when the water is coolest and the air is at its most reasonable.93climate
  6. 🇳🇦 Swakopmund, NamibiaThe coast fills up · 10 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)Half of inland Namibia drives to the sea in December and Swakopmund is where it stops.93climate
  7. 🇦🇺 Margaret River, AustraliaWestern Australian summer holidays · 17 Dec – 31 Jan (usually)Perth empties into this coast for six weeks and the beach houses go at holiday rates months ahead.93climate
  8. 🇦🇺 Kangaroo Island, AustraliaSouth Australian summer holidays · 12 Dec – 27 Jan (usually)Adelaide comes across for the summer break and the ferry crossings for cars fill weeks ahead.93climate
  9. 🇨🇱 Viña del Mar, ChileChilean summer season · 1 Jan – 28 FebSantiago moves to the coast for two months and the Avenida Peru is bumper to bumper by evening.92climate
  10. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 20 Dec – 1 Feb (usually)Everyone driving between Christchurch and Picton stops here, and in January that is a lot of people for one main street.92climate
  11. 🇳🇿 Wellington, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 20 Dec – 1 Feb (usually)Parliament rises, the public service leaves town and a good share of the cafes shut for a fortnight.91climate
  12. 🇳🇿 Nelson, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 20 Dec – 31 JanNelson and Golden Bay are where the South Island goes for Christmas.91climate
  13. 🇳🇿 Taupo, New ZealandLake summer holidays · 20 Dec – 31 JanTaupō is where a large slice of the North Island spends Christmas: boats on the lake, the domain full of tents and the bays busy from breakfast.91climate
  14. 🇿🇦 Hermanus, South AfricaSouth African summer holidays · 15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)The Overberg's beach fortnight: the town roughly doubles in size, the whales have mostly gone, and the restaurants along the cliff need booking.91climate
  15. 🇿🇦 Jeffreys Bay, South AfricaDecember holiday season · 15 Dec – 10 JanThe South African summer break turns a quiet surf town into a resort: the main beach is full, the surf shops trade all day and rates roughly double.90climate
  16. 🇵🇪 Paracas, PeruLima's summer season · 1 Jan – 15 MarLima drives down for January and February and the resorts along the bay sell out for every weekend.90climate
  17. 🇳🇿 Auckland, New ZealandAuckland Anniversary Day · 24–31 Jan (usually)The Monday nearest 29 January, and the day of the anniversary regatta on the Waitemata: one of the oldest sailing events in the country and the reason the harbour is solid with boats.89climate
  18. 🇨🇱 Puerto Varas, ChileChilean summer season · 1 Jan – 28 FebSantiago and Argentina both take their holidays here, so the Petrohue road, the rafting outfits and the lakefront restaurants run full.89climate
  19. 🇿🇦 Knysna, South AfricaGarden Route summer holidays · 15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)The N2 through town becomes a queue and the lagoon fills with boats.89climate
  20. 🇨🇱 Iquique, ChileChilean summer season · 1 Jan – 28 FebCavancha and Brava fill with Chilean and Bolivian families for the two months the schools are out, the seafront restaurants queue and the Zofri duty-free car park is full all day.88climate
  21. 🇿🇦 Port Elizabeth, South AfricaEastern Cape summer holidays · 15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)The province's beach fortnight.88climate
  22. 🇳🇿 Paihia, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 20 Dec – 1 Feb (usually)Auckland comes north for three hours and stays for a fortnight, so the motels double their rates and the ferry to Russell queues.88climate
  23. 🇦🇷 Puerto Madryn, ArgentinaArgentine summer holidays · 1 Jan – 15 FebThe whales have gone and the beach crowd arrives instead: Buenos Aires empties onto this coast for January and the diving outfits and campsites run at capacity.87climate
  24. 🇿🇦 Cape Town, South AfricaSouth African summer holidays · 15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)From mid-December the rest of the country arrives and the city runs at capacity: beaches full, restaurants booked, and the coast road round Chapman's Peak at a crawl.86climate
  25. 🇦🇷 Mar del Plata, ArgentinaArgentine summer season · 15 Dec – 28 FebThe city's population multiplies from mid-December, Bristol beach is sold by the tent and the coast road queues both ways on a Sunday.86climate

…and 61 more in January.

What's on around the world in January →

School holidays in February

  1. 🇪🇬 Hurghada, EgyptEuropean winter season · 15 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)Charter flights from northern Europe fill the strip through the Christmas fortnight and the February half-terms.96climate
  2. 🇪🇬 Sharm El Sheikh, EgyptEuropean winter season · 15 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)Charter flights from Europe fill the bay through the Christmas fortnight and the February half-terms, when the water is coolest and the air is at its most reasonable.96climate
  3. 🇨🇱 La Serena, ChileChilean summer holidays · 1 Jan – 28 FebThis is the north's family beach and Santiago arrives for all of January and February: the Avenida del Mar is bumper to bumper and Elqui's small hotels sell out.96climate
  4. 🇨🇱 San Pedro de Atacama, ChileSouthern summer holidays · 1 Jan – 28 FebChile, Argentina and Brazil are all on holiday and the village of two thousand takes several times that.95climate
  5. 🇳🇿 Christchurch, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 19 Dec – 1 Feb (usually)The country shuts for a fortnight from Christmas: the city itself goes quiet and half its cafes close, while Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula bays are the busiest they get all year.93climate
  6. 🇺🇸 Sarasota, United StatesSnowbird season · 5 Jan – 31 Mar (usually)The winter residents are in from January to the end of March, which doubles the traffic on the Tamiami Trail and fills every restaurant at half past five.92climate
  7. 🇨🇱 Viña del Mar, ChileChilean summer season · 1 Jan – 28 FebSantiago moves to the coast for two months and the Avenida Peru is bumper to bumper by evening.91climate
  8. 🇨🇱 Puerto Varas, ChileChilean summer season · 1 Jan – 28 FebSantiago and Argentina both take their holidays here, so the Petrohue road, the rafting outfits and the lakefront restaurants run full.91climate
  9. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 20 Dec – 1 Feb (usually)Everyone driving between Christchurch and Picton stops here, and in January that is a lot of people for one main street.90climate
  10. 🇳🇿 Wellington, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 20 Dec – 1 Feb (usually)Parliament rises, the public service leaves town and a good share of the cafes shut for a fortnight.89climate
  11. 🇦🇷 Puerto Madryn, ArgentinaArgentine summer holidays · 1 Jan – 15 FebThe whales have gone and the beach crowd arrives instead: Buenos Aires empties onto this coast for January and the diving outfits and campsites run at capacity.89climate
  12. 🇳🇿 Paihia, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 20 Dec – 1 Feb (usually)Auckland comes north for three hours and stays for a fortnight, so the motels double their rates and the ferry to Russell queues.87climate
  13. 🇵🇪 Paracas, PeruLima's summer season · 1 Jan – 15 MarLima drives down for January and February and the resorts along the bay sell out for every weekend.87climate
  14. 🇺🇸 Miami, United StatesSpring break · 25 Feb – 31 Mar (usually)Weeks of student holidays hitting South Beach in waves, with the city responding in recent years with curfews, closed causeways and towed cars.86climate
  15. 🇨🇱 Iquique, ChileChilean summer season · 1 Jan – 28 FebCavancha and Brava fill with Chilean and Bolivian families for the two months the schools are out, the seafront restaurants queue and the Zofri duty-free car park is full all day.86climate
  16. 🇧🇸 Nassau, BahamasUS spring break · 25 Feb – 5 Apr (usually)American students take Cable Beach and Paradise Island for most of March.84climate
  17. 🇦🇷 Mar del Plata, ArgentinaArgentine summer season · 15 Dec – 28 FebThe city's population multiplies from mid-December, Bristol beach is sold by the tent and the coast road queues both ways on a Sunday.84climate
  18. 🇺🇸 Fort Lauderdale, United StatesSpring break · 25 Feb – 5 Apr (usually)Tamed a long way from the 1980s version, but March still fills A1A and the beach bars.84climate
  19. 🇳🇿 Rotorua, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 20 Dec – 1 Feb (usually)Families from Auckland and the Waikato fill the motels and the luge queue over the holidays, and the lakes turn into a boating carnival.83climate
  20. 🇦🇷 San Martín de los Andes, ArgentinaArgentine summer holidays · 20 Dec – 28 FebJanuary fills the lake beaches and the Siete Lagos road with campers and there is no quiet corner on Lacar.83climate
  21. 🇲🇽 Cancún, MexicoUS spring break · 25 Feb – 5 Apr (usually)American universities empty into the hotel zone for most of March.82climate
  22. 🇲🇽 Tulum, MexicoSpring break · 25 Feb – 5 Apr (usually)March brings the North American student crowd down the coast, mostly to the beach road hotels rather than the pueblo where everyone actually lives and eats.82climate
  23. 🇦🇷 El Calafate, ArgentinaArgentine summer holidays · 20 Dec – 28 FebJanuary is the town's month: every glacier boat and every bed is taken by domestic holidaymakers and the walkways at Perito Moreno queue from mid-morning.82climate
  24. 🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen, MexicoUS spring break · 25 Feb – 5 Apr (usually)March fills Quinta Avenida with American students working their way down from Cancun.82climate
  25. 🇺🇾 Punta del Diablo, UruguaySummer crush · 15 Dec – 28 FebA fishing village of a few hundred takes upwards of twenty thousand Argentines, Brazilians and Uruguayans for January.82climate

…and 37 more in February.

What's on around the world in February →

School holidays in March

  1. 🇵🇭 Baguio, PhilippinesSummer capital season · 15 Mar – 31 May (usually)The months lowlanders drive up to get out of the heat.92climate
  2. 🇺🇸 St. Augustine, United StatesSpring break · 1 Mar – 10 Apr (usually)March fills the beaches at St Augustine Beach and Vilano with families and Florida students, though the old town itself stays a walking-tour crowd rather than a party one.92climate
  3. 🇮🇱 Tel Aviv, IsraelPassover week · 25 Mar – 30 Apr (usually)The country takes the week off and half of it comes to the beach.91climate
  4. 🇺🇸 Clearwater, United StatesSpring break · 1 Mar – 15 AprMarch into early April is the busiest beach stretch of the year, with staggered university and school breaks running back to back.91climate
  5. 🇪🇬 Hurghada, EgyptEuropean winter season · 15 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)Charter flights from northern Europe fill the strip through the Christmas fortnight and the February half-terms.90climate
  6. 🇲🇽 Los Cabos, MexicoSpring break · 5 Mar – 12 Apr (usually)American college weeks run through March into April and land squarely on Cabo San Lucas — the marina strip, the beach clubs and Medano.90climate
  7. 🇺🇸 Sarasota, United StatesSnowbird season · 5 Jan – 31 Mar (usually)The winter residents are in from January to the end of March, which doubles the traffic on the Tamiami Trail and fills every restaurant at half past five.90climate
  8. 🇪🇬 Sharm El Sheikh, EgyptEuropean winter season · 15 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)Charter flights from Europe fill the bay through the Christmas fortnight and the February half-terms, when the water is coolest and the air is at its most reasonable.89climate
  9. 🇺🇸 Pensacola, United StatesSpring break · 1 Mar – 10 Apr (usually)March is when the southern universities arrive on Pensacola Beach and the sound-side condos fill.89climate
  10. 🇵🇪 Paracas, PeruLima's summer season · 1 Jan – 15 MarLima drives down for January and February and the resorts along the bay sell out for every weekend.88climate
  11. 🇺🇸 Destin, United StatesSpring break · 1 Mar – 15 AprMarch into early April brings staggered school and university breaks from across the South, and Highway 98 through town becomes a single slow lane.88climate
  12. 🇺🇸 Orlando, United StatesSpring break · 5 Mar – 15 Apr (usually)Six weeks of staggered American school breaks, peaking around Easter, and the parks run at capacity through most of it.87climate
  13. 🇮🇱 Jerusalem, IsraelPassover · 25 Mar – 30 Apr (usually)A week of national holiday: hotels at their highest rates, sites full of domestic visitors, and bread off most menus.85climate
  14. 🇺🇸 Fort Lauderdale, United StatesSpring break · 25 Feb – 5 Apr (usually)Tamed a long way from the 1980s version, but March still fills A1A and the beach bars.85climate
  15. 🇺🇸 Miami, United StatesSpring break · 25 Feb – 31 Mar (usually)Weeks of student holidays hitting South Beach in waves, with the city responding in recent years with curfews, closed causeways and towed cars.83climate
  16. 🇧🇸 Nassau, BahamasUS spring break · 25 Feb – 5 Apr (usually)American students take Cable Beach and Paradise Island for most of March.83climate
  17. 🇺🇸 Big Bend National Park, United StatesSpring break crush · 7–25 Mar (usually)The busiest fortnight of the park's year, and there are no overflow options: campgrounds and the Chisos lodge are booked months out and the entrance queue starts before nine.81climate
  18. 🇲🇽 Cancún, MexicoUS spring break · 25 Feb – 5 Apr (usually)American universities empty into the hotel zone for most of March.80climate
  19. 🇲🇽 Tulum, MexicoSpring break · 25 Feb – 5 Apr (usually)March brings the North American student crowd down the coast, mostly to the beach road hotels rather than the pueblo where everyone actually lives and eats.79climate
  20. 🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen, MexicoUS spring break · 25 Feb – 5 Apr (usually)March fills Quinta Avenida with American students working their way down from Cancun.79climate
  21. 🇵🇭 La Union, PhilippinesSummer beach crush · 15 Mar – 31 May (usually)Four hours from Manila on the expressway, so the Urbiztondo strip is bumper to bumper at weekends and the surf schools run flat out on knee-high water.78climate
  22. 🇺🇸 Joshua Tree National Park, United StatesSpring break and festival weekends · 1 Mar – 25 Apr (usually)March and April are the park's busiest weeks, and the two Coachella weekends in Indio empty every rental in the high desert.77climate
  23. 🇺🇸 Grand Canyon National Park, United StatesSpring break crowds · 1 Mar – 15 AprThe first real rush of the year, when the rim is comfortable and the inner canyon is not yet dangerous.76climate
  24. 🇺🇸 Sedona, United StatesSpring break crowds · 1 Mar – 20 Apr (usually)Phoenix is two hours south and it all comes up in March and April.75climate
  25. 🇵🇪 Máncora, PeruPeruvian summer · 26 Dec – 15 MarLima empties onto this stretch of coast for the school holidays and Máncora becomes the country's party beach, loudest between New Year and the end of February.66climate

…and 14 more in March.

What's on around the world in March →

School holidays in April

  1. 🇮🇱 Jerusalem, IsraelPassover · 25 Mar – 30 Apr (usually)A week of national holiday: hotels at their highest rates, sites full of domestic visitors, and bread off most menus.96climate
  2. 🇮🇱 Tel Aviv, IsraelPassover week · 25 Mar – 30 Apr (usually)The country takes the week off and half of it comes to the beach.94climate
  3. 🇮🇳 Ooty, IndiaSummer hill-station season · 1 Apr – 15 JunThe plains come up and the town takes most of its year's business in ten weeks.93climate
  4. 🇮🇳 Nainital, IndiaSummer lake season · 15 Apr – 30 JunThe town's whole year happens in these weeks: rowing boats out from the Mallital ghats all day, the Mall closed to traffic in the evening, and a long queue for the ropeway up to Snow View.93climate
  5. 🇮🇳 Shimla, IndiaSummer hill-station season · 15 Apr – 30 JunDelhi and Chandigarh come up for the school break and the Ridge and the Mall are a crowd every evening.90climate
  6. 🇮🇳 Mussoorie, IndiaSummer hill-station season · 15 Apr – 30 JunThe reason the town exists.90climate
  7. 🇺🇸 St. Augustine, United StatesSpring break · 1 Mar – 10 Apr (usually)March fills the beaches at St Augustine Beach and Vilano with families and Florida students, though the old town itself stays a walking-tour crowd rather than a party one.89climate
  8. 🇺🇸 Sedona, United StatesSpring break crowds · 1 Mar – 20 Apr (usually)Phoenix is two hours south and it all comes up in March and April.88climate
  9. 🇵🇭 Baguio, PhilippinesSummer capital season · 15 Mar – 31 May (usually)The months lowlanders drive up to get out of the heat.86climate
  10. 🇮🇳 Kodaikanal, IndiaHill-station summer season · 1 Apr – 15 Jun (usually)The reason the town exists: when Madurai and Chennai become unbearable, everyone who can afford it comes up here.86climate
  11. 🇺🇸 Destin, United StatesSpring break · 1 Mar – 15 AprMarch into early April brings staggered school and university breaks from across the South, and Highway 98 through town becomes a single slow lane.86climate
  12. 🇲🇽 Los Cabos, MexicoSpring break · 5 Mar – 12 Apr (usually)American college weeks run through March into April and land squarely on Cabo San Lucas — the marina strip, the beach clubs and Medano.85climate
  13. 🇺🇸 Pensacola, United StatesSpring break · 1 Mar – 10 Apr (usually)March is when the southern universities arrive on Pensacola Beach and the sound-side condos fill.85climate
  14. 🇷🇺 Sochi, RussiaThe May holidays · 29 Apr – 11 MayTwo public holidays run into one break at the start of May and the coast takes its first full weekend of the year.82climate
  15. 🇺🇸 Joshua Tree National Park, United StatesSpring break and festival weekends · 1 Mar – 25 Apr (usually)March and April are the park's busiest weeks, and the two Coachella weekends in Indio empty every rental in the high desert.81climate
  16. 🇺🇸 Grand Canyon National Park, United StatesSpring break crowds · 1 Mar – 15 AprThe first real rush of the year, when the rim is comfortable and the inner canyon is not yet dangerous.80climate
  17. 🇺🇸 Clearwater, United StatesSpring break · 1 Mar – 15 AprMarch into early April is the busiest beach stretch of the year, with staggered university and school breaks running back to back.80climate
  18. 🇺🇸 Orlando, United StatesSpring break · 5 Mar – 15 Apr (usually)Six weeks of staggered American school breaks, peaking around Easter, and the parks run at capacity through most of it.79climate
  19. 🇧🇸 Nassau, BahamasUS spring break · 25 Feb – 5 Apr (usually)American students take Cable Beach and Paradise Island for most of March.78climate
  20. 🇲🇽 Cancún, MexicoUS spring break · 25 Feb – 5 Apr (usually)American universities empty into the hotel zone for most of March.76climate
  21. 🇲🇽 Tulum, MexicoSpring break · 25 Feb – 5 Apr (usually)March brings the North American student crowd down the coast, mostly to the beach road hotels rather than the pueblo where everyone actually lives and eats.76climate
  22. 🇺🇸 Arches National Park, United StatesSpring peak season · 10 Mar – 31 MaySpring break traffic starts in March and does not let up until June.75climate
  23. 🇺🇸 Fort Lauderdale, United StatesSpring break · 25 Feb – 5 Apr (usually)Tamed a long way from the 1980s version, but March still fills A1A and the beach bars.75climate
  24. 🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen, MexicoUS spring break · 25 Feb – 5 Apr (usually)March fills Quinta Avenida with American students working their way down from Cancun.74climate
  25. 🇵🇭 La Union, PhilippinesSummer beach crush · 15 Mar – 31 May (usually)Four hours from Manila on the expressway, so the Urbiztondo strip is bumper to bumper at weekends and the surf schools run flat out on knee-high water.72climate

…and 15 more in April.

What's on around the world in April →

School holidays in May

  1. 🇺🇸 Laguna Beach, United StatesSummer season · 23 May – 7 SepCoast Highway through the village backs up from Memorial Day, the beach lots fill before nine, and the free summer trolley is the only sane way in.93climate
  2. 🇷🇺 Sochi, RussiaThe May holidays · 29 Apr – 11 MayTwo public holidays run into one break at the start of May and the coast takes its first full weekend of the year.89climate
  3. 🇮🇳 Mussoorie, IndiaSummer hill-station season · 15 Apr – 30 JunThe reason the town exists.88climate
  4. 🇺🇸 Virginia Beach, United StatesBoardwalk summer season · 23 May – 7 Sep (usually)Memorial Day to Labor Day on a three-mile boardwalk with a stage at every few blocks.87climate
  5. 🇮🇳 Shimla, IndiaSummer hill-station season · 15 Apr – 30 JunDelhi and Chandigarh come up for the school break and the Ridge and the Mall are a crowd every evening.87climate
  6. 🇮🇳 Nainital, IndiaSummer lake season · 15 Apr – 30 JunThe town's whole year happens in these weeks: rowing boats out from the Mallital ghats all day, the Mall closed to traffic in the evening, and a long queue for the ropeway up to Snow View.87climate
  7. 🇺🇸 Boston, United StatesCommencement season · 8–25 May (usually)Dozens of colleges graduate within a fortnight in May and every family in America books a room.86climate
  8. 🇵🇰 Murree, PakistanSummer hill-station season · 15 May – 31 AugThe plains escape up the ridge for the whole summer and the Mall is a crowd from noon until midnight.86climate
  9. 🇫🇷 Paris, FranceMay public holidays · 1–31 May (usually)Three or four public days land in the month and Parisians bridge them into long weekends.85climate
  10. 🇺🇸 Outer Banks, United StatesRental season peak · 23 May – 7 Sep (usually)Memorial Day to Labor Day, when the cottages rent by the week and everyone changes over on the same Saturday.84climate
  11. 🇮🇳 Srinagar, IndiaSummer hill-station rush · 15 May – 15 JulKashmir's peak domestic season.84climate
  12. 🇷🇺 Moscow, RussiaDacha season · 1 May – 31 AugFrom May anyone with a plot outside town is on it at weekends.81climate
  13. 🇺🇸 Arches National Park, United StatesSpring peak season · 10 Mar – 31 MaySpring break traffic starts in March and does not let up until June.81climate
  14. 🇮🇳 Ooty, IndiaSummer hill-station season · 1 Apr – 15 JunThe plains come up and the town takes most of its year's business in ten weeks.78climate
  15. 🇵🇭 Baguio, PhilippinesSummer capital season · 15 Mar – 31 May (usually)The months lowlanders drive up to get out of the heat.72climate
  16. 🇮🇳 Kodaikanal, IndiaHill-station summer season · 1 Apr – 15 Jun (usually)The reason the town exists: when Madurai and Chennai become unbearable, everyone who can afford it comes up here.68climate
  17. 🇷🇺 Krasnaya Polyana, RussiaThe May holidays · 29 Apr – 11 MayRussia runs two public holidays into one long break at the start of May, and the valley fills for the last of the snow at the top and the first of the trails below it.66climate
  18. 🇮🇳 Gulmarg, IndiaSummer hill-station rush · 25 May – 15 JulKashmir's peak domestic season.65climate
  19. 🇲🇾 Perhentian Islands, MalaysiaMalaysian school holidays · 20 May – 15 Sep (usually)The mid-year and term breaks send families from the peninsula out on the Kuala Besut boats, and the handful of beach chalets sell out well in advance.64climate
  20. 🇮🇳 Darjeeling, IndiaHill-station summer season · 15 Apr – 15 Jun (usually)Kolkata and the plains come up to escape the heat and the Mall, the toy train and the Tiger Hill jeeps are all booked out.62climate
  21. 🇲🇾 Cameron Highlands, MalaysiaMid-year school break · 20 May – 10 Jul (usually)The first of the two family waves.62climate
  22. 🇻🇳 Da Nang, VietnamReunification Day break · 28 Apr – 4 MayReunification Day and May Day run together into the year's biggest domestic travel block, and the central coast beaches are where the country goes.61climate
  23. 🇵🇭 La Union, PhilippinesSummer beach crush · 15 Mar – 31 May (usually)Four hours from Manila on the expressway, so the Urbiztondo strip is bumper to bumper at weekends and the surf schools run flat out on knee-high water.59climate
  24. 🇻🇳 Hue, VietnamReunification Day break · 28 Apr – 4 MayThe long weekend sends the whole country on the road, and Hue is a stop on the way to the central beaches.56climate
  25. 🇻🇳 Ha Long, VietnamReunification Day break · 28 Apr – 4 MayHanoi drives to the coast for the long weekend and Bai Chay is solid.56climate

…and 4 more in May.

What's on around the world in May →

School holidays in June

  1. 🇸🇪 Stockholm, SwedenMidsummer · 18–27 Jun (usually)The city empties for the archipelago and the countryside on Midsummer Eve and shops shut.95climate
  2. 🇱🇹 Vilnius, LithuaniaJonines · 23–24 JunBonfires and wreaths on the Neris banks on the shortest night, and a public holiday the next day.94climate
  3. 🇺🇸 Laguna Beach, United StatesSummer season · 23 May – 7 SepCoast Highway through the village backs up from Memorial Day, the beach lots fill before nine, and the free summer trolley is the only sane way in.94climate
  4. 🇺🇸 Newport, United StatesSummer season · 20 Jun – 7 SepA town of twenty-five thousand taking several million visitors a year, most of them in ten weeks.93climate
  5. 🇱🇻 Riga, LatviaJani and Ligo · 21–25 Jun (usually)The city empties for the countryside on 23 June: bonfires until dawn, oak wreaths, caraway cheese and beer.92climate
  6. 🇲🇦 Casablanca, MoroccoThe Marhaba summer · 10 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)The annual return of Moroccans living abroad runs through the port and Mohammed V airport from mid-June to mid-September.92climate
  7. 🇷🇺 Moscow, RussiaDacha season · 1 May – 31 AugFrom May anyone with a plot outside town is on it at weekends.90climate
  8. 🇫🇮 Helsinki, FinlandMidsummer · 18–27 Jun (usually)The city empties for the countryside on Midsummer Eve and almost nothing in town stays open.90climate
  9. 🇵🇱 Gdańsk, PolandPolish summer holidays · 25 Jun – 31 Aug (usually)Schools break from late June to the end of August and the coast is where the country goes.90climate
  10. 🇲🇦 Tangier, MoroccoThe summer crossing · 15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)Millions of Moroccans living in Europe come home through Tangier Med over the summer, and the port, the motorway and every hotel bed absorb the surge.90climate
  11. 🇲🇦 Taghazout, MoroccoThe flat Moroccan summer · 15 Jun – 10 Sep (usually)Small waves, warm water and the beaches taken over by Moroccan families for the holidays.90climate
  12. 🇪🇪 Pärnu, EstoniaEstonia's summer capital · 15 Jun – 20 AugTallinn moves here for the summer: the long shallow beach, the wooden bathhouse, funfairs and clubs, and prices to match.90climate
  13. 🇪🇪 Tallinn, EstoniaJaanipaev · 22–25 JunEstonia leaves for the countryside for midsummer bonfires and the city shuts on the 23rd and 24th.89climate
  14. 🇺🇸 South Lake Tahoe, United StatesSummer peak · 20 Jun – 7 SepThe Bay Area empties up here at weekends from late June, and the two-lane road round the west shore to Emerald Bay is the pinch point.89climate
  15. 🇦🇺 Hervey Bay, AustraliaQueensland winter holidays · 26 Jun – 13 Jul (usually)The two-week winter break lands exactly as the first whales arrive, which is the busiest fortnight the marina sees.89climate
  16. 🇨🇦 Niagara Falls, CanadaSummer peak · 25 Jun – 5 SepSchool holidays on both sides of the border land at once, and the queue for the boat runs an hour or more by midday.89climate
  17. 🇷🇺 Sochi, RussiaThe domestic summer season · 20 Jun – 31 AugThis is where Russia goes on holiday now, and the whole strip from Adler to Loo is full for ten weeks.88climate
  18. 🇱🇹 Nida, LithuaniaSpit summer season · 20 Jun – 25 AugA village of a couple of thousand takes the whole of Lithuania's holiday for two months: ferry queues at Klaipeda, no parking near the dune, and guesthouse prices to match.88climate
  19. 🇺🇸 Bozeman, United StatesYellowstone gateway summer · 20 Jun – 25 AugBozeman is the airport for the north end of Yellowstone, so the whole park's summer traffic passes through town.85climate
  20. 🇧🇷 Campos do Jordão, BrazilWinter high season · 1 Jun – 15 AugSão Paulo drives up here for the cold.85climate
  21. 🇹🇷 Trabzon, TurkeyThe Gulf summer · 15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)Families from the Gulf come here to escape their own summer, and Uzungöl, the hotels and the mountain minibuses are booked out with them.84climate
  22. 🇩🇪 Füssen, GermanyCastle high season · 20 Jun – 10 Sep (usually)Timed slots for Neuschwanstein sell out days ahead through the European school holidays, and the shuttle queue at Hohenschwangau runs to an hour.82climate
  23. 🇮🇳 Srinagar, IndiaSummer hill-station rush · 15 May – 15 JulKashmir's peak domestic season.82climate
  24. 🇮🇳 Mussoorie, IndiaSummer hill-station season · 15 Apr – 30 JunThe reason the town exists.81climate
  25. 🇺🇸 Lahaina, United StatesSummer school holidays · 10 Jun – 15 AugWest Maui runs on the mainland school calendar, and the Kaanapali and Kapalua resorts price accordingly.81climate

…and 37 more in June.

What's on around the world in June →

School holidays in July

  1. 🇬🇧 Oxford, United KingdomLanguage schools and coach season · 1 Jul – 31 AugSummer schools take the empty colleges and the coach tours take the centre, so Broad Street and the Bodleian queue are at their worst exactly when the colleges are most open.95climate
  2. 🇧🇪 Brussels, BelgiumThe August lull · 25 Jul – 20 Aug (usually)The institutions rise for the summer and the city goes with them: neighbourhood restaurants close for a fortnight, the tram is empty, and the museums are the easiest they will be all year.94climate
  3. 🇳🇴 Oslo, NorwayFellesferien · 1–21 Jul (usually)The common holiday: much of the working city takes the same three weeks off, neighbourhood restaurants shut and the streets belong to visitors.94climate
  4. 🇪🇸 Santiago de Compostela, SpainPeak pilgrim summer · 1 Jul – 31 AugSpanish holidays and the busiest Camino months land together.94climate
  5. 🇫🇷 La Rochelle, FranceThe Ile de Re summer · 10 Jul – 25 AugHalf of Paris takes the island for the school holidays and everything crosses the same toll bridge.94climate
  6. 🇬🇧 Bournemouth, United KingdomEnglish summer holidays · 20 Jul – 2 SepSeven miles of sand and the whole of the South East on it in a heatwave; the seafront car parks fill by ten and the trains from Waterloo run standing.94climate
  7. 🇵🇹 Ericeira, PortugalPortuguese summer holidays · 1 Jul – 31 AugLisbon is forty minutes away and comes here at weekends all summer, on top of the surf camps.93climate
  8. 🇺🇸 Laguna Beach, United StatesSummer season · 23 May – 7 SepCoast Highway through the village backs up from Memorial Day, the beach lots fill before nine, and the free summer trolley is the only sane way in.93climate
  9. 🇱🇺 Luxembourg, LuxembourgAugust residents' holiday · 25 Jul – 25 Aug (usually)A small capital of commuters empties for the summer, and the Schueberfouer funfair on the Glacis in the last two weeks of August and start of September is what brings the place back.92climate
  10. 🇬🇧 Birmingham, United KingdomEnglish summer holidays · 20 Jul – 2 SepSix weeks in which Cadbury World, the Sea Life Centre and the Legoland Discovery Centre run at capacity and the centre fills with families.92climate
  11. 🇬🇧 Bath, United KingdomEnglish school holidays · 18 Jul – 1 SepA compact centre takes the whole of the English summer break at once.92climate
  12. 🇨🇦 Tofino, CanadaPeak summer · 1 Jul – 5 SepOne two-lane road over the island brings everyone in, and July and August book out months ahead at the highest rates on the coast.92climate
  13. 🇪🇪 Pärnu, EstoniaEstonia's summer capital · 15 Jun – 20 AugTallinn moves here for the summer: the long shallow beach, the wooden bathhouse, funfairs and clubs, and prices to match.92climate
  14. 🇸🇪 Visby, SwedenPeak Gotland summer · 1 Jul – 15 AugThe whole of Stockholm seems to come over for July.92climate
  15. 🇵🇹 Cascais, PortugalLisbon's summer coast · 1 Jul – 31 AugThe Cascais line runs standing-room only at weekends once the schools break, and the town is as much a Lisbon suburb on holiday as a resort.91climate
  16. 🇬🇧 Isle of Wight, United KingdomSummer ferry peak · 20 Jul – 1 SepCar ferry fares roughly double for the English school holidays and the crossings sell out days ahead.91climate
  17. 🇺🇸 Bar Harbor, United StatesPeak summer season · 1 Jul – 31 AugA town of five thousand hosting several million park visitors a year does most of it now.91climate
  18. 🇳🇴 Bodø, NorwayLofoten ferry crush · 1 Jul – 15 AugMost people are here to get to Lofoten, and in July the car ferry to Moskenes is the bottleneck: reserve a vehicle place or expect to sit in the queue at the quay for a sailing or two.90climate
  19. 🇬🇧 Newquay, United KingdomEnglish school holidays · 18 Jul – 1 SepThe A30 into Cornwall backs up on changeover Saturdays and the town runs at capacity for six weeks.90climate
  20. 🇬🇧 York, United KingdomEnglish school holidays · 18 Jul – 1 SepThe Shambles is a lane wide enough for two people and takes the whole of August.90climate
  21. 🇦🇺 Hervey Bay, AustraliaQueensland winter holidays · 26 Jun – 13 Jul (usually)The two-week winter break lands exactly as the first whales arrive, which is the busiest fortnight the marina sees.89climate
  22. 🇬🇧 St Ives, United KingdomEnglish school holidays · 18 Jul – 1 SepThe town is medieval-narrow and takes the whole of August at once.89climate
  23. 🇺🇸 Mackinac Island, United StatesHigh summer · 1 Jul – 25 AugFifteen thousand day visitors can land on a good July day on an island of five hundred residents.89climate
  24. 🇬🇧 Whitby, United KingdomPeak summer on the harbour · 20 Jul – 1 SepThe car parks are full by ten, the queue at the fish shops runs down Pier Road, and the 199 steps move at the pace of the slowest party on them.89climate
  25. 🇷🇺 Moscow, RussiaDacha season · 1 May – 31 AugFrom May anyone with a plot outside town is on it at weekends.88climate

…and 124 more in July.

What's on around the world in July →

School holidays in August

  1. 🇱🇺 Luxembourg, LuxembourgAugust residents' holiday · 25 Jul – 25 Aug (usually)A small capital of commuters empties for the summer, and the Schueberfouer funfair on the Glacis in the last two weeks of August and start of September is what brings the place back.95climate
  2. 🇵🇹 Sintra, PortugalAugust day-trippers · 1–31 AugPortuguese holidays on top of the Lisbon coach trade.95climate
  3. 🇷🇺 Moscow, RussiaDacha season · 1 May – 31 AugFrom May anyone with a plot outside town is on it at weekends.94climate
  4. 🇵🇱 Gdańsk, PolandPolish summer holidays · 25 Jun – 31 Aug (usually)Schools break from late June to the end of August and the coast is where the country goes.93climate
  5. 🇵🇹 Ericeira, PortugalPortuguese summer holidays · 1 Jul – 31 AugLisbon is forty minutes away and comes here at weekends all summer, on top of the surf camps.93climate
  6. 🇧🇪 Brussels, BelgiumThe August lull · 25 Jul – 20 Aug (usually)The institutions rise for the summer and the city goes with them: neighbourhood restaurants close for a fortnight, the tram is empty, and the museums are the easiest they will be all year.92climate
  7. 🇫🇷 La Rochelle, FranceThe Ile de Re summer · 10 Jul – 25 AugHalf of Paris takes the island for the school holidays and everything crosses the same toll bridge.92climate
  8. 🇬🇧 Oxford, United KingdomLanguage schools and coach season · 1 Jul – 31 AugSummer schools take the empty colleges and the coach tours take the centre, so Broad Street and the Bodleian queue are at their worst exactly when the colleges are most open.92climate
  9. 🇬🇧 York, United KingdomEnglish school holidays · 18 Jul – 1 SepThe Shambles is a lane wide enough for two people and takes the whole of August.92climate
  10. 🇺🇸 Laguna Beach, United StatesSummer season · 23 May – 7 SepCoast Highway through the village backs up from Memorial Day, the beach lots fill before nine, and the free summer trolley is the only sane way in.92climate
  11. 🇪🇸 Santiago de Compostela, SpainPeak pilgrim summer · 1 Jul – 31 AugSpanish holidays and the busiest Camino months land together.91climate
  12. 🇵🇹 Nazaré, PortugalPortuguese August · 1–31 AugThis is a domestic resort before it is an international one, and in August it fills with families from Lisbon and Leiria.91climate
  13. 🇬🇧 Bournemouth, United KingdomEnglish summer holidays · 20 Jul – 2 SepSeven miles of sand and the whole of the South East on it in a heatwave; the seafront car parks fill by ten and the trains from Waterloo run standing.91climate
  14. 🇺🇸 Mackinac Island, United StatesHigh summer · 1 Jul – 25 AugFifteen thousand day visitors can land on a good July day on an island of five hundred residents.91climate
  15. 🇫🇷 Paris, FranceThe August closures · 1–25 Aug (usually)Bakeries and neighbourhood restaurants shut in rotation for two or three weeks and hang a paper note on the door.90climate
  16. 🇵🇹 Cascais, PortugalLisbon's summer coast · 1 Jul – 31 AugThe Cascais line runs standing-room only at weekends once the schools break, and the town is as much a Lisbon suburb on holiday as a resort.90climate
  17. 🇬🇧 Whitby, United KingdomPeak summer on the harbour · 20 Jul – 1 SepThe car parks are full by ten, the queue at the fish shops runs down Pier Road, and the 199 steps move at the pace of the slowest party on them.90climate
  18. 🇬🇧 Birmingham, United KingdomEnglish summer holidays · 20 Jul – 2 SepSix weeks in which Cadbury World, the Sea Life Centre and the Legoland Discovery Centre run at capacity and the centre fills with families.89climate
  19. 🇨🇦 Tofino, CanadaPeak summer · 1 Jul – 5 SepOne two-lane road over the island brings everyone in, and July and August book out months ahead at the highest rates on the coast.89climate
  20. Pristina, KosovoDiaspora summer · 1 Jul – 31 AugFamilies come back from Germany, Switzerland and Austria for the school holidays, and the city runs on weddings, full cafe terraces and German plates on every second car.89climate
  21. 🇬🇧 Isle of Wight, United KingdomSummer ferry peak · 20 Jul – 1 SepCar ferry fares roughly double for the English school holidays and the crossings sell out days ahead.89climate
  22. San Marino, San MarinoCoach day-tripper peak · 1 Jul – 31 AugThe Rimini beach resorts send coaches up all summer, and between eleven and four the duty-free shops on the main street are what most people see of the country.89climate
  23. 🇬🇧 Bath, United KingdomEnglish school holidays · 18 Jul – 1 SepA compact centre takes the whole of the English summer break at once.88climate
  24. 🇩🇪 Sylt, GermanyGerman summer holidays · 1 Jul – 31 Aug (usually)Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia empty onto this island for eight weeks.88climate
  25. 🇬🇪 Mestia, GeorgiaHigh summer in Svaneti · 10 Jul – 31 AugEverything that comes to Svaneti comes in these seven weeks, and the guesthouses in the tower villages take booking months out.88climate

…and 174 more in August.

What's on around the world in August →

School holidays in September

  1. 🇺🇸 Laguna Beach, United StatesSummer season · 23 May – 7 SepCoast Highway through the village backs up from Memorial Day, the beach lots fill before nine, and the free summer trolley is the only sane way in.93climate
  2. 🇨🇦 Niagara Falls, CanadaSummer peak · 25 Jun – 5 SepSchool holidays on both sides of the border land at once, and the queue for the boat runs an hour or more by midday.92climate
  3. 🇺🇸 Boston, United StatesStudent move-in weekend · 28 Aug – 4 Sep (usually)Most student leases turn over on 1 September, known locally as "Allston Christmas": every U-Haul in New England is double-parked in Allston and Brighton, and curbs fill with discarded furniture.90climate
  4. 🇪🇨 Puerto Ayora, EcuadorNorthern summer peak · 15 Jun – 5 Sep (usually)The islands run a visitor cap through the permitted sites, so the pressure shows up as price and availability rather than queues.88climate
  5. 🇲🇦 Casablanca, MoroccoThe Marhaba summer · 10 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)The annual return of Moroccans living abroad runs through the port and Mohammed V airport from mid-June to mid-September.88climate
  6. 🇺🇸 Newport, United StatesSummer season · 20 Jun – 7 SepA town of twenty-five thousand taking several million visitors a year, most of them in ten weeks.88climate
  7. Gibraltar, GibraltarSummer border queues · 1 Jul – 5 SepThe land frontier with Spain can take up to two hours to cross by car in high summer and on Spanish holiday weekends.87climate
  8. 🇮🇱 Jerusalem, IsraelSukkot · 20 Sep – 25 Oct (usually)Booths on every balcony, the priestly blessing at the Western Wall drawing tens of thousands, and a week of school holiday that fills every site in the country.86climate
  9. 🇲🇦 Tangier, MoroccoThe summer crossing · 15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)Millions of Moroccans living in Europe come home through Tangier Med over the summer, and the port, the motorway and every hotel bed absorb the surge.86climate
  10. 🇲🇦 Taghazout, MoroccoThe flat Moroccan summer · 15 Jun – 10 Sep (usually)Small waves, warm water and the beaches taken over by Moroccan families for the holidays.86climate
  11. 🇺🇸 South Lake Tahoe, United StatesSummer peak · 20 Jun – 7 SepThe Bay Area empties up here at weekends from late June, and the two-lane road round the west shore to Emerald Bay is the pinch point.85climate
  12. 🇪🇸 Barcelona, SpainThe August closures · 1 Aug – 5 SepNeighbourhood restaurants, bakeries and small shops shut for the holidays from the start of August into the first week of September.84climate
  13. 🇬🇧 Isle of Wight, United KingdomSummer ferry peak · 20 Jul – 1 SepCar ferry fares roughly double for the English school holidays and the crossings sell out days ahead.84climate
  14. 🇬🇧 Bournemouth, United KingdomEnglish summer holidays · 20 Jul – 2 SepSeven miles of sand and the whole of the South East on it in a heatwave; the seafront car parks fill by ten and the trains from Waterloo run standing.82climate
  15. 🇬🇧 Bath, United KingdomEnglish school holidays · 18 Jul – 1 SepA compact centre takes the whole of the English summer break at once.80climate
  16. 🇬🇧 York, United KingdomEnglish school holidays · 18 Jul – 1 SepThe Shambles is a lane wide enough for two people and takes the whole of August.80climate
  17. 🇬🇧 Whitby, United KingdomPeak summer on the harbour · 20 Jul – 1 SepThe car parks are full by ten, the queue at the fish shops runs down Pier Road, and the 199 steps move at the pace of the slowest party on them.80climate
  18. 🇬🇧 Birmingham, United KingdomEnglish summer holidays · 20 Jul – 2 SepSix weeks in which Cadbury World, the Sea Life Centre and the Legoland Discovery Centre run at capacity and the centre fills with families.79climate
  19. 🇬🇧 Newquay, United KingdomEnglish school holidays · 18 Jul – 1 SepThe A30 into Cornwall backs up on changeover Saturdays and the town runs at capacity for six weeks.79climate
  20. 🇹🇷 Trabzon, TurkeyThe Gulf summer · 15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)Families from the Gulf come here to escape their own summer, and Uzungöl, the hotels and the mountain minibuses are booked out with them.78climate
  21. 🇬🇧 St Ives, United KingdomEnglish school holidays · 18 Jul – 1 SepThe town is medieval-narrow and takes the whole of August at once.78climate
  22. 🇺🇸 Virginia Beach, United StatesBoardwalk summer season · 23 May – 7 Sep (usually)Memorial Day to Labor Day on a three-mile boardwalk with a stage at every few blocks.77climate
  23. 🇪🇬 Alexandria, EgyptThe Egyptian summer season · 15 Jun – 10 Sep (usually)Families take flats along the coast for weeks at a time, corniche traffic doubles and rooms cost roughly twice the spring rate.77climate
  24. 🇩🇪 Füssen, GermanyCastle high season · 20 Jun – 10 Sep (usually)Timed slots for Neuschwanstein sell out days ahead through the European school holidays, and the shuttle queue at Hohenschwangau runs to an hour.77climate
  25. 🇺🇸 Outer Banks, United StatesRental season peak · 23 May – 7 Sep (usually)Memorial Day to Labor Day, when the cottages rent by the week and everyone changes over on the same Saturday.76climate

…and 12 more in September.

What's on around the world in September →

School holidays in October

  1. 🇮🇱 Jerusalem, IsraelSukkot · 20 Sep – 25 Oct (usually)Booths on every balcony, the priestly blessing at the Western Wall drawing tens of thousands, and a week of school holiday that fills every site in the country.92climate
  2. 🇮🇱 Tel Aviv, IsraelSukkot week · 20 Sep – 25 Oct (usually)The autumn school holiday, and the beach is still warm enough to use, so the city fills again for a week.84climate
  3. 🇳🇵 Kathmandu, NepalDashain · 20 Sep – 25 Oct (usually)Nepal's longest holiday.73climate
  4. 🇮🇳 Darjeeling, IndiaDurga Puja and Dashain · 25 Sep – 25 Oct (usually)Bengal's biggest holiday and the Nepali Dashain fall together, and the whole of Kolkata seems to come up the hill.60climate
  5. 🇵🇭 Manila, PhilippinesUndas · 29 Oct – 2 NovFamilies camp overnight in the cemeteries for All Saints' and All Souls', and the rest of the country goes home for it.55climate
  6. 🇫🇮 Ruka, FinlandFinnish autumn break · 10–25 Oct (usually)Syysloma falls in the second half of October, between the walking season and reliable snow, and the resort runs a family programme through it.41climate

What's on around the world in October →

School holidays in November

  1. 🇿🇦 Plettenberg Bay, South AfricaMatric Rage · 20 Nov – 10 Dec (usually)Plett is one of South Africa's biggest Rage destinations: a week when school-leavers from across the country take over Central Beach and Cairnbrogie Farm for parties running from early afternoon into the night.92climate
  2. 🇦🇺 Gold Coast, AustraliaSchoolies · 15 Nov – 12 Dec (usually)Three weeks from mid-November when school leavers take over Surfers Paradise in tens of thousands.78climate
  3. 🇵🇭 Manila, PhilippinesUndas · 29 Oct – 2 NovFamilies camp overnight in the cemeteries for All Saints' and All Souls', and the rest of the country goes home for it.65climate
  4. 🇲🇾 Cameron Highlands, MalaysiaYear-end school holidays · 15 Nov – 5 Jan (usually)The busiest six weeks here, when the year-end break, the cool nights and the festive travel all land together.57climate
  5. 🇵🇦 Panama City, PanamaPanama's November holidays · 2–10 NovFour national days inside nine, with school bands drumming down Via Espana for most of them and the whole country on the move.54climate
  6. 🇵🇦 Bocas del Toro, PanamaPanama's November holidays · 2–10 NovFour national days inside nine: separation from Colombia, flag day, Colon day, then the first cry of independence.50climate
  7. 🇲🇾 Penang, MalaysiaMalaysian year-end break · 20 Nov – 5 Jan (usually)The long school holiday brings peninsular families and Singapore weekenders to Batu Ferringhi and the hill, and the ferry and bridge traffic goes with them.47climate
  8. 🇲🇾 Johor Bahru, MalaysiaYear-end causeway crush · 15 Nov – 5 Jan (usually)Singapore's school holidays turn the two crossings into a several-hour queue on Friday evenings and again on Sunday nights.47climate
  9. 🇲🇾 Langkawi, MalaysiaMalaysian school holidays · 20 Nov – 5 Jan (usually)The long year-end break brings the peninsula's families and the Singapore weekenders, and the island is at its most booked, ferries included.44climate

What's on around the world in November →

School holidays in December

  1. 🇳🇦 Swakopmund, NamibiaThe coast fills up · 10 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)Half of inland Namibia drives to the sea in December and Swakopmund is where it stops.96climate
  2. 🇦🇺 Margaret River, AustraliaWestern Australian summer holidays · 17 Dec – 31 Jan (usually)Perth empties into this coast for six weeks and the beach houses go at holiday rates months ahead.96climate
  3. 🇿🇦 Hermanus, South AfricaSouth African summer holidays · 15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)The Overberg's beach fortnight: the town roughly doubles in size, the whales have mostly gone, and the restaurants along the cliff need booking.94climate
  4. 🇦🇺 Kangaroo Island, AustraliaSouth Australian summer holidays · 12 Dec – 27 Jan (usually)Adelaide comes across for the summer break and the ferry crossings for cars fill weeks ahead.94climate
  5. 🇿🇦 Jeffreys Bay, South AfricaDecember holiday season · 15 Dec – 10 JanThe South African summer break turns a quiet surf town into a resort: the main beach is full, the surf shops trade all day and rates roughly double.93climate
  6. 🇪🇬 Hurghada, EgyptEuropean winter season · 15 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)Charter flights from northern Europe fill the strip through the Christmas fortnight and the February half-terms.92climate
  7. 🇪🇬 Sharm El Sheikh, EgyptEuropean winter season · 15 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)Charter flights from Europe fill the bay through the Christmas fortnight and the February half-terms, when the water is coolest and the air is at its most reasonable.92climate
  8. 🇿🇦 Knysna, South AfricaGarden Route summer holidays · 15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)The N2 through town becomes a queue and the lagoon fills with boats.92climate
  9. 🇿🇦 Plettenberg Bay, South AfricaMatric Rage · 20 Nov – 10 Dec (usually)Plett is one of South Africa's biggest Rage destinations: a week when school-leavers from across the country take over Central Beach and Cairnbrogie Farm for parties running from early afternoon into the night.92climate
  10. 🇿🇦 Cape Town, South AfricaSouth African summer holidays · 15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)From mid-December the rest of the country arrives and the city runs at capacity: beaches full, restaurants booked, and the coast road round Chapman's Peak at a crawl.91climate
  11. 🇰🇪 Nairobi, KenyaJamhuri Day · 12 DecIndependence day, a public holiday with a stadium ceremony, and the start of the stretch when Kenyan families fill the parks and the coast for the holidays.91climate
  12. 🇿🇦 Port Elizabeth, South AfricaEastern Cape summer holidays · 15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)The province's beach fortnight.91climate
  13. 🇳🇿 Paihia, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 20 Dec – 1 Feb (usually)Auckland comes north for three hours and stays for a fortnight, so the motels double their rates and the ferry to Russell queues.91climate
  14. 🇳🇿 Auckland, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 20 Dec – 31 Jan (usually)The country takes its long break from just before Christmas to the end of January.90climate
  15. 🇳🇿 Christchurch, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 19 Dec – 1 Feb (usually)The country shuts for a fortnight from Christmas: the city itself goes quiet and half its cafes close, while Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula bays are the busiest they get all year.89climate
  16. 🇿🇦 Stellenbosch, South AfricaFestive season in the Winelands · 15 Dec – 15 Jan (usually)Cape Town's holiday crowd drives out for lunch and the well-known estates need a booking weeks ahead.89climate
  17. 🇺🇾 Punta del Diablo, UruguaySummer crush · 15 Dec – 28 FebA fishing village of a few hundred takes upwards of twenty thousand Argentines, Brazilians and Uruguayans for January.89climate
  18. 🇺🇾 Punta del Este, UruguayUruguayan summer season · 20 Dec – 28 FebJanuary is the peak and February is the version people actually enjoy: the same beaches, the same restaurants open, noticeably fewer cars on the Rambla.88climate
  19. 🇦🇺 Wollongong, AustraliaSummer holiday peak · 18 Dec – 31 JanThe Illawarra beaches take the overflow from Sydney for six weeks, and the northern ones — Austinmer, Thirroul, Coalcliff — fill first because they are closest to the train line.88climate
  20. 🇦🇷 Mar del Plata, ArgentinaArgentine summer season · 15 Dec – 28 FebThe city's population multiplies from mid-December, Bristol beach is sold by the tent and the coast road queues both ways on a Sunday.88climate
  21. 🇳🇿 Wellington, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 20 Dec – 1 Feb (usually)Parliament rises, the public service leaves town and a good share of the cafes shut for a fortnight.87climate
  22. 🇳🇿 Taupo, New ZealandLake summer holidays · 20 Dec – 31 JanTaupō is where a large slice of the North Island spends Christmas: boats on the lake, the domain full of tents and the bays busy from breakfast.87climate
  23. 🇳🇿 Nelson, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 20 Dec – 31 JanNelson and Golden Bay are where the South Island goes for Christmas.86climate
  24. 🇦🇺 Katoomba, AustraliaNew South Wales summer holidays · 18 Dec – 27 Jan (usually)Sydney drives up for the cool air over the summer break and the lookout car parks fill by mid-morning.86climate
  25. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandNew Zealand summer holidays · 20 Dec – 1 Feb (usually)Everyone driving between Christchurch and Picton stops here, and in January that is a lot of people for one main street.86climate

…and 50 more in December.

What's on around the world in December →