The 10 best places to visit in June, from Peru to Puglia
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. We’ve all waited patiently for summer’s arrival, and in June, it finally appears. It brings warm weather to the Northern Hemisphere but often not the dense humidity that blankets many destinations later in the season. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere has the …
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
We’ve all waited patiently for summer’s arrival, and in June, it finally appears. It brings warm weather to the Northern Hemisphere but often not the dense humidity that blankets many destinations later in the season. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere has the last gasps of fall before cold temperatures fully kick in.
June also brings the start of school summer vacation (which can mean higher prices and some crowds), festivals like Pride, and several new or seasonal summer airline routes.
Here are 10 great destinations to consider for your June holiday.
Portland, Oregon
June is an ideal time to visit the City of Roses, not least because its annual Rose Festival runs from May 22 through the end of June, with the famous Grand Floral Parade taking place June 7.
Fly into Portland International Airport (PDX), which unveiled a $2.15 billion makeover last summer. The new forestlike terminal incorporates a timber roof with live trees and plants.
Hungry? Head to the new food hall Flock, next to The Ritz-Carlton, Portland, home to vendors like local favorite ZabPinto Thai Kitchen and HK Bistro for dim sum. Or, visit Portland’s first Indigenous restaurant, Javelina, which opened its first permanent restaurant in January after years of pop-ups.
TPG tip: The new Cascada Thermal Springs and Hotel opened its LEED Platinum-certified doors in January with the largest hydrothermal spa in the city. The three-level spa has four underground pools of varying temperatures, plus a sauna and steam, hammam and ice therapy rooms. The spa’s centerpiece is the Conservatory, a tropical oasis with energy-producing glass, a 25-foot air plant tapestry, and rare flora curated by the Portland Botanical Gardens. Rates start at $299 per night.
If you’re looking for something even more outdoorsy, drive an hour to Columbia River Gorge, where Under Canvas opens its first Pacific Northwest location May 29. Set on 120 acres, the brand’s upscale, safari-inspired canvas tents are furnished with a king-size bed, luxe linens, a gas fireplace and an en suite bathroom. Rates start at $252 or 20,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Related: The most exciting hotel openings of 2025
Washington, DC
Washington, D.C., will be filled with celebrations as it hosts the global 2025 WorldPride from May 17 to June 8 and commemorates 50 years of Pride parades in the capital. The main events occur June 7, with the WorldPride Parade and WorldPride Street Festival.
Other Pride-related events include the annual Capital Pride Honors gala June 5, Pride Plays at the Woolly Mammoth Theater June 3-6, and the exhibit “LGBTJews in the Federal City“ at the Capital Jewish Museum, running from May 16 through the end of the year.
June is also a big month for sports in Washington, with three premier FIFA Club World Cup matches at Audi Field. Al Ain FC takes on Juventus FC on June 18, FC Salzburg challenges Al Hilal on June 22 and Wydad AC plays Al Ain FC on June 26.
Foodies also have a lot to try this month. Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson has taken over all food-and-beverage operations at The Morrow Washington DC, Curio Collection by Hilton (rates start at $191 or 60,000 Hilton Honors points per night) and will open Marcus DC, a seafood-focused restaurant and separate rooftop bar, this spring.
Other notable openings include the Mediterranean restaurant Alara and the South Asian street food spot Tapori. On May 1, Karravaan will open with dishes from Persian, Portuguese, Indian and Turkish culinary traditions.
TPG tip: For a fresh new stay, book one of the 107 rooms at Canal House of Georgetown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, which opened in March near the historic C&O Canal. Rates start at $675 or 43,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night in June.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Every June brings a magical show by Mother Nature to the mountains: the nightly flights of the local synchronous fireflies, which synchronize their bioluminescent lights in an incredible light display. However, you’ll need to enter a lottery and register your vehicle to attend. The lottery typically opens at the end of April. Check the National Park Service page for more details on dates. In 2024, the lottery opened April 26, and the viewing dates were June 3-10.
Another reason to visit the Smokies is that the beloved Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is celebrating its 40th anniversary all year long. Among the festivities planned are a new opening ceremony at the beginning of each operating day; a new anniversary show, “Play On,” which debuts in May; and June 14, the park will kick off its Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration festival and debut a new and enhanced drone and fireworks show for the anniversary. The new Wilderness Pass Restaurant opens in May with rotisserie chickens, smoked meats and hush puppies.
TPG tip: The 168-room Embassy Suites by Hilton Pigeon Forge Resort opens May 23, just a few minutes away from Pigeon Forge’s attractions with an indoor and outdoor pool. Rates start at $216 or 60,000 Hilton Honors points per night in June.
Greenland
As Greenland faces unprecedented political attention, it’s also becoming more attractive for tourists, especially since the opening of Nuuk International Airport (GOH) at the end of last year increased its international airlift.
United Airlines is launching the first direct flights to Greenland from the U.S. on June 14, with twice-weekly seasonal flights between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and GOH.
To prepare for the increase in tourism, on Jan. 1, Greenland passed its first tourism law, introducing a tax of roughly $5 per night per visitor and requiring tour companies to be licensed and two-thirds locally owned.
TPG tip: Expedition cruise line HX is collaborating with Air Greenland for 2025 and launching three new itineraries — Icy Giants of Disko Bay, Mythical Lands of the North, and Farthest North to Thule and Kane Basin — in and out of Nuuk on board the Fridtjof Nansen.
By launching in Nuuk, these sailings can spend more time on Greenland’s west coast and explore farther north than ever, including the remote Thule and Kane Basin regions. Rates start at $13,823 per person for a 12-day expedition.
Puglia, Italy
Southern Italy is about to become much easier for Americans to reach. Starting June 3, Neos will launch the first-ever direct service between New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport (BRI) in Puglia. The route will operate on Dreamliners once per week in each direction.
Once you arrive in sunny Puglia, you’ll enjoy beautiful rocky seasides, historic castles, stunning hikes and charming Italian villages. Going in June means avoiding the crowds of Italians who descend on the boot heel in July and August, and lower prices are likely as well.
June also brings several holidays and festivals: June 23 is San Giovanni in Ostuni, with all-night celebrations including midnight fireworks, live music, and parades with fire eaters, dancers and jugglers. The Locus music festival is held all summer starting in June. May and June are also cherry season in Puglia, with Turi holding the 33rd edition of its cherry festival, Sagra della Ciliegia Ferrovia, May 31-June 2.
TPG tip: Head to the tip of Italy’s heel to use your points at Palazzo Daniele, a Member Design Hotels, which inaugurated four new suites this year. Rates start at $480 or 80,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night this June. Or check in to the boutique Palazzo Zimara, which opened in Lecce in March in a renovated 16th-century estate. Rates start at $260 per night.
Paris
Pretty much any time is a good time to visit the City of Light, but this June is ideal — especially for those who skipped the city last summer to avoid Olympic chaos. In addition to lovely weather and fewer crowds than later in the summer, visitors can now visit the completed restoration of the fire-damaged Notre Dame; the Jacquemart-André Museum, which reopened at the end of last year; and the Grand Palais and the Palais de la Decouverte, which reopen in June following three years of renovation and will begin hosting exhibits immediately.
If the weather gets too hot, the public can swim in the River Seine for the first time, thanks to the Olympics clean-up. There are also several festivals worth traveling to this month: Nuit Blanche Paris is June 7; Fete de la Musique festival is June 21; and the Paris Jazz Festival starts June 25.
There are even more ways to get to Paris now, with Air France adding an Orlando route in May. The airline recently unveiled its fantastic new La Premiere suites for an even more luxurious experience, which launched between Paris-Charles de Galle Airport (CDG) and JFK in April.
TPG tip: Use or earn Hilton Honors points at Sax Paris, LXR Hotels & Resorts, due to open June 15. Rates start at $431 or 110,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Singapore
Singapore in June might surprise you, but the weather is not as hot as you’d think. It ranges between 77 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit, while short rain showers typically last a few minutes.
Starting May 30, Singapore Airlines will increase its Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) route from four to five days a week, making the Pacific Northwest city a hub for Singapore travel from the US.
TPG tip: The new Raffles Sentosa debuted in March as the second Singapore property for the legendary homegrown brand and the country’s first all-villa property. Rates start at $1,270 per night. While on Sentosa Island, go to the new augmented reality experience at the year-old Sentosa Sensoryscape.
Another new hotel is the Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree, set in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, about 30 minutes northeast of Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). Rates start at $227 per night.
Peru
The dry season in Peru runs from May to October, making June a prime month to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. You may want to plan your trip around Inti Raymi, which celebrates the Incan sun god Inti and marks the winter solstice and Inca New Year. The festival is held in Cuzco on June 24 annually and involves music, dancing, processions and ritualistic ceremonies.
Or head north to the Amazon River basin, where June brings low-water season, making it easier to spot wildlife like river otters, dolphins, caimans and more. In late June, Abercrombie & Kent is launching its first riverboat in South America — the 22-passenger Pure Amazon. Rates start at $5,475 per person for three-night itineraries. Earlier in the month, Aqua Expeditions welcomes Peruvian culinary legend chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino aboard Aqua Nera for an exclusive chef-hosted departure. Rates start at $6,560 per person for the four-night itinerary.
TPG tip: For anyone who remembers overcrowding and delays at Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM), the Lima airport expanded earlier this year with a second runway and new terminal, doubling its capacity.
Extend your layover in Lima and check in to the oceanfront Souma Hotel, the first IHG Vignette Collection property in South America, which opened in March. Rates start at $178 or 9,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.
The Whitsunday Islands, Australia
This dreamy archipelago off the coast of Queensland is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. June brings warm days, cool nights and no humidity for exploring the famously gorgeous baby-powder beaches of Whitehaven Island, including Whitehaven Beach, Betty’s Beach and Hill Inlet.
As one of only two sites in Australia designated as a Whale Heritage Site by the World Cetacean Alliance, the Whitsundays host thousands of humpback whales annually, and June is whale migration season. Perfect timing!
TPG tip: Base yourself on Hamilton Island, where the first new luxury hotel since 2019 will open April 24. The Sundays will have 59 rooms, all with either balconies or terraces, as well as a restaurant, a pool and a yoga deck. Rates start at $539 per night.
The Magdalena River, Colombia
As Colombia continues to attract tourists, its limelight is spreading to lesser-known destinations beyond Cartagena and Bogota. The Magdalena River, the country’s longest tributary, spills into the Caribbean Sea at Barranquilla, and its banks are teeming with diverse flora and fauna.
In March, AmaWaterways launched the first major river cruise along the Magdalena with the 60-passenger AmaMagdalena, and in June, a second ship, the AmaMelodia, a newly designed 64-passenger, 223-foot ship, will join the route, sailing between Barranquilla and Cartagena. Rates for seven-night cruises in June start at $3,189 per person.
Related: 8 cruise itineraries you need to book for 2025 and beyond
Stops along the way include Santa Barbara de Pinto, Mompox and Magangue, home to a new river boardwalk. AmaWaterways worked with local communities and officials to develop infrastructure along the river and custom excursion boats to explore secluded areas. In Barranquilla, the city has been building a 3-mile linear park along the Magdalena, inaugurating a portion with a statue of famous native daughter Shakira last year.
Though it is consistently warm this close to the equator, June is the beginning of Colombia’s summer dry season.
TPG tip: Colombia has recently increased flight access, including a daily flight between Miami and Bogota on Emirates that started last year and new routes on national airline Avianca between Tampa and Bogota and Fort Lauderdale and Medellin, both launched in March.
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