Eid vacation ideas: 20 best places to visit in June, July & August

• We’ve put together a list of the 20 best Eid vacation spots for 2019
• The list of best places to travel over Eid draws from cities and locations around the world
• Each Eid destination idea works equally well for singles, couples or families
• Destinations vary from the islands of Greece to historic cities around Europe

The UAE is situated in a region that provides easy access to many of the world’s most incredible locations to visit. And – what with summer right around the corner – there’s never been a better time to sit down and plan where you’ll be off to next.

That said, with so many places to choose from – and so much travel envy (thanks, Instagram) – it’s never been harder to decide on where to go. That’s where we come in.

Whether you are a beach person or not, travelling with family or want to chill out by yourself this summer, we’ve rounded 20 of the most worthwhile places to visit this summer.

From the sun-drenched shores of Hawaii to the stunning Turkish city of Antalya, the sweltering streets of Barcelona, to the tropical forests of Hanoi – these are some of the most exciting and beautiful locations in all the world.

Still can’t decide? Pick one at random, and then bookmark this page for your next holiday.

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1. Paros, Greece

Located at the heart of the Cyclades Islands, Paros is an island with magnificent scenery, and affordable prices. The island is surrounded by serene landscapes, rolling hills, beautiful villages, and best known for its endless sandy beaches. 

Though the beaches are gorgeous, it’s worth stopping by Lefkes, a beautiful little village located in the region’s hills. The town itself is filled with small restaurants, bars and bakeries.

Paros also boasts many colourful ports worth visiting if not just to take a few snaps for Instagram.

Approximate flight prices from Dubai to Athens are AED 1,160, and AED 382 Athens to Paros.

2. Bali, Indonesia

Known for its yoga and meditation retreats, Bali is also world-renowned for its natural beauty and attractive beach resorts. 

Yes, Bali is pretty well known on the luxury travel circuit, but there is a lot more to do and see than a sun lounger on the beach. One such activity is Bali’s oversized jungle swing – definitely for the more adventurous traveller – which gives you unparalleled views. Swings vary in height (from small 10-metre swings to gargantuan 80-metre drops). 

The best time to visit is anywhere between April and June. Flight costs are approximately from AED 2,500 – AED 3,500.

3. Hawaii, USA

While Hawaii is a fair distance from Dubai, for those who have never visited it’s an excellent spot for sun, sea, sand and – most importantly – shopping. 

Yes, there’s something for everyone in the United States’ most tropical of states, including the ability to delve deem into the island chain’s rich Polynesian history and culture. 

Hawaii is pretty much perfect for those travelling with a family – what with many all-inclusive beach resorts, as well as a large number of activities – from island treks to watersports. 

For the more adventurous, a visit to some of Hawaii’s outlying islands is a must, giving visitors a look at the state beyond the typical resort. 

Flight prices to Hawaii approximately range from 3,000 AED to AED 5,000

4. Malta

This southern European island country located in the Mediterranean is well-known for its beautiful architecture, historical museums, and stunning views. 

Malta is made up of a few islands; Valletta, Malta’s capital city, has some of the oldest structures in the world and is well known for its museums, palaces, and grand churches. Elsewhere, Gozo and Comino boast serene landscapes and pristine beaches. Travelling on the island is a doddle, thanks to regular – and cheap – ferries. 

Flights from Dubai range from AED 1,995 – AED 3,995

5. Antalya, Turkey

The Turkish resort city, Antalya is located in Turkey’s southern Mediterranean region. 

Antalya is known as the Turquoise Coast, mainly due to its pure blue waters. Those waters make Antalya perfect for nature-lovers, letting you get up close and personal with all sorts of marine life. 

The region is also one of the country’s oldest and is full of historic sites including Roman fortresses and caves, and the landmark Düden Waterfalls.

The average flight prices range from AED 945 to AED 3,605

6. Prague, Czech Republic

This Central European City comes into its own when the snow has melted. Best for those who enjoy urban vacations, the city provides good food, unique architecture and bucket-loads of history. 

Dedicate an entire day to exploring Prague’s famous castles, baroque buildings and gothic churches, then refuel with a meal at a classic Czech Tavern or traditional Slavia Cafe. 

Bike rentals are available throughout the city via smartphone app, which makes getting from A to B relatively simple. And if riding a bike isn’t your thing, then a walk over Charle’s Bridge and into Old Town Square is a must. 

Flight prices from to Dubai range from AED 2,369-AED2,775.

7. Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is beautiful all year round, but July is a special month for the city (not least because of the perfect weather). Come the summer, Barcelona opens up for not one, but 16 music festivals during May, June, July and August. Most of these festivals are outdoors, letting you enjoy the Mediterranean’s wonderful weather while dancing to the beat.

For those looking for less music and more cultural appreciation, Barcelona is famous for its architecture, mainly in the form of the Catalan architect Gaudi. His unique, modern architecture stand out from other buildings throughout the city and are best enjoyed on foot. 

Round trip flight prices from Dubai to Barcelona approximately range from AED 2,413 to 3,025.

8. The Amalfi Coast, Italy

Located along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula in the Campania region, the Amalfi Coast is surrounded by sheer cliffs, small beaches, terraced vineyards, and villages. The scenic destination is well known for its lemon trade, which are grown in terraced gardens up and down the entire coast. 

Many people explore the coast by car, stopping off in little cafes and restaurants along the trail of the region’s many heritage sites. It’s best to check with hotels before you plan on visiting over the summer though, as The Amalfi Coast has become an incredibly popular destination of late.

Flight prices range from AED 1,684-AED2,095.

9. Hanoi, Vietnam

Vietnam’s capital city is known for its Chinese and French influences, in everything from culture and food, to entertainment and history. 

The city is surrounded by temples, and is most well-known for the Old Quarter; a little local hub made up of 36 streets that are so-named after the goods once traded along that road. 

It has become a tourist hotspot, with souvenir stands, open-air bars and restaurants as well as Hanoi’s famous egg-coffee stalls – which is a must try. 

Flight prices from Dubai to Hanoi approximately range between AED 3000- AED 4000.

10. Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik is best-known for its spectacular seafront and its distinctive Old Town, or perhaps more recently as ‘King’s Landing’ in Game of Thrones. 

The city is well known for its Summer Festival which takes place every July and August. It showcases artistic talents from across Croatia related to theatre, folk dancing, and music. Films are also screened outdoors during the festival, to further celebrate the summer.  

Direct flight costs range from AED 2000 – AED3000.

11. Iceland

One of the most Instagrammed locations on earth, Iceland is best enjoyed on foot and in nature. Perfect for hiking and camping – between jumping in and out of the country’s famous hot springs – Iceland is best enjoyed over the summer, due to its incredibly long summer days. 

Making the most of that sun, Iceland is home to many music festivals during the summer, including the Lobster Festival in Höf, and the Art Festival in Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital city. 

Roundtrip airline tickets range from AED 2,000- AED3,000

12. Marseille, France

Marseille, located in Southern France, is  France’s oldest city. Founded by Greek traders 2,600 years ago, today it’s a beautiful port city famous for both its historic and contemporary architecture. 

No visit to the old port city is complete without a look at Palais Longchamp – a monument created to celebrate the construction of the Canal de Marseille. It brings water from the Durance River to into the city. 

Panier neighbourhood, which is the oldest part of the city, is a picturesque location perfect for photographers, as it’s lined by multi-coloured terraced houses, artisan shops, workshops, and small cafes. 

Flights from Dubai range from AED 1,448- AED 2,920.

13. Mauritius

Located on the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is known for its eye-pleasing beaches, lagoons and reefs. This paradise of an island also has many hiking trails through its rainforests for those who enjoy walking through nature. 

For those looking to explore, Charamel is a village best known for its unique geological formations: colourful sand dunes that come in different shades of red, purple orange, and yellow.

Foodies will love Mauritius for its street food culture, influenced by African, Indian and Chinese cuisines. 

Airline tickets from Dubai range from AED 3,000 – AED 4,000.

14. Tahiti, French Polynesia

French Polynesia’s largest island, Tahiti is surrounded by beautiful beaches, lagoons and waterfalls. The island is divided into two parts; the larger part, known as Tahiti Nui, and the smaller part, Tahiti Iti. 

Some must-see places on the tropical islands are, the Pearl Museum, Botanical garden, and Le Marché, the Public Market which has been around for 155 years. 

As you might expect from a tropical island, watersports are a big deal here. Snorkelling, feeding sharks and stingrays are popular with the tourists while going out fishing with a local allows you to catch your supper. 

Airline tickets from Dubai range approximately form AED 8,000- AED9,000.

15. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam in the summer is a very different place to in the winter. With the sun out, expect the many of the city’s canals to be full of tourists checking out the unique architecture of the city, or just locals going out and about. Canalboat hire is a simple process, which lets you top by different food trucks for a quick bite, or visit Lindengracht Market, the best place to try out Dutch food.

 Music festivals are a big thing in Amsterdam during the summer as well, especially in the genre of electronic music. 

Airline tickets range between AED2,000- AED 3,000.

16. Porto, Portugal

The coastal city of Porto, located in Northwest Portugal, is known for its bridges, port wine production, and Dauro river cruises. If you are the adventurous type, climb the Ponte Da Arrabida, Dauro’s bridge. Safety gear is given to those who wish to climb. 

Admire architecture by visiting the Porto Cathedral, the oldest part of Porto. While admiring the city, and all it has to offer, you can’t forget about the beaches. Porto has beautiful beaches that are worth visiting, even if it’s for a short evening stroll. 

Airline tickets from Dubai range from AED 2,200- AED 3,000.

17. Poznan, Poland

The university city of Poznan, located on the Worta river in Western Poland, makes a great summer destination for those who enjoy quiet places to relax in. Poznan is well known for its old town, complete with renaissance style buildings and an old market square. Today, the city is an important business and cultural centre, and one of Poland’s most populous regions. 

Summer festivals along with KontenerArt are a must visit while visiting over the summer, and the city has many parks, and a unique summer cuisine – mainly consisting of a variety of cold soups, salads and refreshing drinks.

Airline tickets range from AED 2,300-AED4,600.

18. Budapest, Hungary

Hungary’s Capital, Budapest, is best known for its bathhouses and  Opera. If you’re visiting, you must stop by Gellert Spa, one of the most famous thermal spa baths in Budapest (founded back in 1918). 

No visit is complete without walking the Danube’s famous 19th-century chain bridge, which connects two sides of the city. Not only is it beautiful and iconic to look at (especially at night while the city is all lit up) but it is also pedestrian friendly. 

Other sites worth visiting include St. Stephens Basilica (one of the most important buildings in Hungary), Budapest’s famous wine cellars, flea markets and pubs. 

Airline tickets range from AED1,000-AED3,000.

19. Chengdu, China

We’ve got one word for you; pandas. The city of Chengdu has several panda centres which breed and preserve pandas, as well as other rare animals.

Chengdu is great for food as well. The city is known for its Sichuan style of food, so named after the famous chilli used in many of these dishes. A must-try for foodies is the Sichuan hotpot; a communal spicy pot of broth where you dip in various meats and vegetable to cook. There are different variations of the Hotpot, Sichuan being the spiciest. 

Elsewhere, Chengdu boasts several opera houses with a variety of folkloric performances.

Airline tickets range between AED 1,945-AED 3,000.

20. Kyoto, Japan

Japan is always a great place to visit all year round, however Kyoto during the summer months is truly unique. Located on the island of Honshu, it is best known for its festivals in July- August. 

Kyoto is also well known for its classical Buddhist temples as well as gardens, imperial palaces and Shinto shrines. A festival you must not miss when in Kyoto is the Gion Festival, one of the three biggest festivals in Japan. 

Airline tickets range from AED 3,000- AED5,000

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Been there, done that? From all 20 locations? What are you, an Emirates Platinum Member?

No worries. In that case, head over to Esquire’s Ultimate Travel Bucket List – the 100 best destinations to visit before you die (kicking the proverbial bucket, as they say). It is chock full of places to stay, things to do and sights to see – and we guarantee you’ve not been to them all.