Hotels
Where is it hot in July? Six places with sun but not too much heat
In July almost all of southern Europe is hot, and some places are too hot. We picked six places that are properly warm in July but where the sea or the wind keeps the days bearable, each with the hotel we would book.
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On the pier at Santa Maria on Sal, fishermen gut tuna while children jump into the water from the edge. It is hot, but the wind off the sea means you never feel sticky. It is July in Cape Verde, and nobody is talking about a heatwave.
In July you do not need to look for heat in southern Europe. The real question is where the heat is bearable. We picked six places with average highs between 25 and 29°C, where the sea, the trade winds or the hills make the days comfortable. Figures are monthly averages, and individual days can be hotter.
In short: where is it hot in July?
The Algarve, Sardinia and the Costa Blanca are the hottest places on our list in July, at around 29°C by day. Split reaches about 28°C, Cape Verde about 27°C and Tenerife around 25°C, and those last two are the best picks if you struggle in strong heat. For festivals and Nordic summer, see the best places to travel in July.
Most comfortable heat: Tenerife
Best for wind and beach: Cape Verde
Best for city and islands: Split
Best for clear water: Sardinia
Best for families: the Costa Blanca
The Ritz-Carlton, Abama
The pool and palms at The Ritz-Carlton, Abama.
Tenerife: summer without a heatwave
The south-west coast of Tenerife averages around 25°C by day in July, with the sea near 22°C. The Atlantic trade winds stop it feeling oppressive, which makes it one of the safest choices for families who do not want 35°C.
Ride the cable car up Mount Teide, watch whales and dolphins on a boat trip from Los Gigantes and take the ferry to the neighbouring island of La Gomera for a day.
The catch: the north of the island is greener and often cloudy. Stay in the south or west for sun. Read our Tenerife guide.
The Ritz-Carlton, Abama: a view of La Gomera
The Ritz-Carlton, Abama sits on the cliffs at Guía de Isora, with gardens, several pools and a beach below. From the terraces you see La Gomera floating offshore. In summer there is room for the whole family, and the sea breeze makes afternoons easy.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Ritz-Carlton, Abama
Morabeza
The pool at Hotel Morabeza on Sal.
Cape Verde: trade winds and white sand
Sal in Cape Verde averages around 27°C by day in July, with the sea near 24°C. July is one of the driest months before the August to October rainy season, and the sea breeze blows almost every day.
Swim off the long beach at Santa Maria, try kitesurfing and float in the salt water of the old Pedra de Lume salt crater.
The catch: Sal is flat and dry, with little to see beyond the beaches. This is a beach holiday, not a touring trip. Read our Cape Verde guide.
Morabeza: in the middle of Santa Maria
Hotel Morabeza sits on the beach in the middle of Santa Maria and was one of the first hotels on the island. Rooms are simple and bright, and the pier and restaurants are a few minutes away. Good for couples who want life around them in the evening, less so for lovers of modern design.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Morabeza
Pine Cliffs
The beach at Pine Cliffs in the Algarve.
The Algarve: the Atlantic keeps you fresh
The Algarve averages around 29°C by day in July. The Atlantic is cooler than the Mediterranean, which is exactly why many families choose it at the height of summer: one swim and you are revived.
Pick the east around Albufeira and Tavira for the warmest water, and the west coast towards Sagres for surf and wild beaches.
The catch: the central Algarve is busy in July and Falésia beach fills up. Go early in the morning. Read our Algarve guide.
Pine Cliffs: a lift down to Falésia
Pine Cliffs stands on the red cliffs above Falésia beach, with pine woods, a golf course and several pools, and a lift down to the sand. It is a large resort with room for the whole family and expensive in July, but the kids' club makes a full week easy.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Pine Cliffs
Cornaro Hotel
The rooftop pool at Cornaro Hotel in Split.
Split: the palace and the islands
Split averages around 28°C by day in July, with the sea near 24°C. The old town is built inside the Roman palace of the emperor Diocletian, and the islands sit just offshore.
Take a boat to Brač for Zlatni Rat beach at Bol, or to Hvar for a day in its old harbour town. In the evening the Riva promenade is full of life.
The catch: cruise passengers and day visitors crowd the old town at midday. Go early and swim in the afternoon. Read our Split guide.
Cornaro Hotel: a pool on the roof
Cornaro Hotel stands just north of the palace and has a rooftop pool with views over the bell tower and the rooftops. After a day on the islands, a swim above the city is hard to beat. Ask for a courtyard room, as the street stays lively late.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Cornaro Hotel
Petra Segreta
The lounge at Petra Segreta in Sardinia.
Sardinia: the north-east in high summer
North-east Sardinia averages around 29°C by day in July, with the sea near 23°C. The water around the Costa Smeralda and La Maddalena is some of the clearest in the Mediterranean.
Hire a boat for a day around the La Maddalena islands, and spend evenings in the hill villages, where it is cooler than on the coast.
The catch: July is expensive on the Costa Smeralda and mainland ferries are full. Book early. Read our Sardinia guide.
Petra Segreta: cooler in the hills
Petra Segreta sits in the hills by the village of San Pantaleo, with rooms in small stone houses and a pool looking towards the sea. Evenings are cooler here than down on the coast. You drive to the beaches, so a car is essential.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Petra Segreta
Asia Gardens
The pool at Asia Gardens above Benidorm.
The Costa Blanca: a warm sea for families
The Costa Blanca around Benidorm averages around 29°C by day in July, with the sea near 25°C. The beaches are long and there is plenty to do with children.
Walk the white old town of Altea, drive up to the mountain village of Guadalest and spend a day at the theme parks around Benidorm.
The catch: Benidorm is packed in July and the coast is heavily built up. Stay in the hills or in Altea for more calm. Read our Alicante guide.
Asia Gardens: gardens above Benidorm
Asia Gardens sits in the hills above Benidorm, with tropical gardens, several pools and a large spa. Families get plenty of space, and it is calmer than the beachfront below. It is not by the sea, so you need a car or the hotel shuttle to swim in it.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Asia Gardens
Good to know before you book
Averages are not maximums: figures are July averages. Heatwaves can bring days above 35°C in southern Europe.
Choose shade: pools, trees and air conditioning matter more in July than at any other time.
Book early: July is peak season, and flights, ferries and hire cars sell out.
The Atlantic is cooler: Tenerife, Cape Verde and the Algarve suit people who struggle in strong heat.
July sun: frequently asked questions
Where is hot but not too hot in July?
Tenerife averages around 25°C in July and Cape Verde around 27°C, both with sea breezes that keep the heat comfortable.
Where is hottest in Europe in July?
Of the places on our list, the Algarve, north-east Sardinia and the Costa Blanca average around 29°C by day in July.
Does it rain in Cape Verde in July?
Very little. July is one of the driest months before the rainy season, which runs from August to October.
Where is the sea warmest in July?
The Costa Blanca has a sea of around 25°C in July, with Split and Cape Verde close behind at about 24°C.
Where is best with children in July?
Tenerife and the Costa Blanca work well, warm without the highest temperatures and with lots for children to do.