July is one of the most popular months for vacationing, likely because it is when kids are out of school. This warm month is perfect for specific vacation spots, such as those where you can bask in the sun.
But which spots exactly? And just how many people are getting bit by the travel bug? Just alone during Independence Day, 72.2 million people travel for the holiday. This includes domestic and international travel. With each year, more and more people travel. Experts estimate 1.7 million more people will travel this year (2025) for the 4th of July.
For this slideshow, we consulted various tourism sources from around the world to gather experts’ opinions. Click through the slideshow for the most popular travel destinations this July. Are any of these on your list? For the items on this slideshow, we are choosing a mix of countries and U.S. states.
Iceland
- Things To Do: Hiking, eating, viewing the Northern Lights, swimming, spa days, and natural hot springs
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Reykjavík, Hvammstangi, Selfoss, Akureyri, and Grindavík
Mexico
- Things To Do: Eating, ziplining, snorkeling, wildlife viewing, street markets, and archaeological tours
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Oaxaca, Cancún, Merida, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Mexico City
Vietnam
- Things To Do: Shopping, hiking, swimming, visiting museums, spa days, hiking, and sightseeing at national parks
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Hue, and Ninh Binh
Florida
- Things To Do: Swimming, hiking, theme parks, beaches, springs, visiting museums, and tourist attractions
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, Daytona Beach, Clearwater Beach, and Destin
New York
- Things To Do: Mountains, waterfalls, hiking, swimming, live theater shows, eating, museums, zoos, and historical tours
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: New York City, Buffalo, Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs, and Sleepy Hollow
New Zealand
- Things To Do: “Lord of the Rings” filming locations, wildlife viewing, wineries, glaciers, and mountains
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Auckland, Queenstown, New Plymouth, Napier, and Wellington
Michigan
- Things To Do: Swimming, sailing, hiking, lakes, rivers, music and history museums, and sand dunes
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit Traverse City, Grand Rapids, Frankenmuth, and Mackinac, Island
France
- Things To Do: Sightseeing, shopping (fashion), hiking, baking classes, eating, wineries, and boat rides
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Paris, Lyon, Nice, Marseille, Lile, and Bordeaux
Zanzibar
- Things To Do: Swimming, snorkeling, wildlife viewing, spa days, and markets
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Pemba, Mafia, Chumbe, Nungwi, Zanzibar City, and Mnemba
Thailand
- Things To Do: Eating, hiking, exploring, architecture tours, swimming, boating, artisan markets, and wildlife viewing
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Phuket, Pai, Bangkok, Krabi, and Chiang Mai
Oregon
- Things To Do: Hiking, mountains, national parks, scenic routes, swimming, beaches, rock skipping, and gardens
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Portland, Cannon Beach, Astoria, Salem, and Eugene
California
- Things To Do: Sightseeing, eating, fishing, swimming, surfing, museums, celebrity spotting, national parks, and city tours
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and South Lake Tahoe
Japan
- Things To Do: Sightseeing, hiking, temple visits, internet cafes, eating, maid experiences, bath houses, and more
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, Yokohama, and Nara
Alaska
- Things To Do: Eating, wildlife viewing, fishing/crabbing, ice skating, whale watching, mountains, rivers, and hiking
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Fairbanks, Anchorage, Skagway. Juneau, and Ketchikan
The Bahamas
- Things To Do: Spas, resorts, swimming, beaches, snorkeling, body surfing, relaxing, eating, and wildlife viewing/interactions
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Deep Water Cay, Nassau, Andros, and Harbour Island
Puerto Rico
- Things To Do: Swimming, eating, exploring, wildlife viewing, surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, waterfalls, beaches, and a rain forest
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Ponce, San Juan, Dorado, Arecibo, Rincon, and Aguadilla
Brazil
- Things To Do: Church tours, wildlife viewing, hiking, colorful nightlife, festivals, music, dancing, and eating
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, São Paulo, and Recife
England
- Things To Do: Sightseeing, castles, architecture tours, shopping (fashion), museums, and the Harry Potter sets
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: London, Kent, Bath, York, and Liverpool
Norway
- Things To Do: Swimming, kayaking, museums, historical artifacts/architecture, sailing, and wildlife viewing
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Oslo, Ålesund, Bergen, Stravanger, and Tromsø
Costa Rica
- Things To Do: Sailing, snorkeling, beaches, swimming, island, wildlife viewing, eating, and Eco-friendly tours
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Jaco, Tamarindo, Liberia, San José, and Cartago
Turkey
- Things To Do: Museums, hiking, walking tours, archeological finds/ruins, food, music, markets, and historical buildings/landmarks
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Ankara, İzmir, Istanbul, and Edirne
Scotland
- Things To Do: Mountains, prairies, castles, hiking, sightseeing, wildlife viewing, and whiskey experiences
- Best Cities/Towns to Visit: Dundee, Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Inverness, and Glasgow
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Sven Hansche / Shutterstock.com.