31 Northern Hemisphere summer hotspots

The summer solstice marks the start of warm and sunny days in the Northern Hemisphere. Check out what’s new and happening in our favourite Northern Hemisphere hotspots this summer.

Europe | Japan | North America

Europe

1. Hauser & Wirth Menorca, Spain

Hauser & Wirth Menorca is one of the Mediterranean’s dreamiest art destinations. Make a day of it and explore eight galleries in the repurposed 18th-century outbuilding of a naval hospital and follow an outdoor sculpture trail with works by seminal artists, including Louise Bourgeois and Joan Miró, in a garden designed by Piet Oudolf. Its summer exhibition is Come In From An Endless Place, by LA-based artist Christina Quarles.

Hauser & Wirth Menorca is a dreamy spot worth checking out. (Image: Daniel Schäfer)

2. The Barcelona EDITION, Spain

Bask in the rays of a Mediterranean summer at The Barcelona EDITION’s al fresco terrace, The Roof, a bustling poolside bar that overlooks the Gothic Quarter and cobbled streets of El Born. The bartenders at this inner-urban sanctuary are said to be some of Barcelona’s best: ask them to muddle up a Clara de Yuzu (yuzu sake, beer and sherbet).

3. La Terraza, Generator Madrid, Spain

If you find yourself in Madrid, make a beeline for La Terraza at Generator Madrid. It’s blessed with great views and is the perfect spot to watch the city turn golden in the evening, sangria in hand.

Kick up your heels at La Terraza, Generator Madrid. (Image: Anatol Gottfried)

3. After Impressionism: Inventing Modern Art, National Gallery, UK

Bathers (1874-1875) is one of Cézanne’s first paintings in his series of nudes. The iconic artwork is on show in After Impressionism: Inventing Modern Art, at London’s National Gallery until 13 August. Do make time to pop next door to check out the transformational rebuild of the National Portrait Gallery.

Hauser & Wirth Menorca is hosting an exhibition featuring works by LA-based artist Christina Quarles. (Image: Keith Lubow)

4. The Rossettis, Tate Britain, UK

The Rossetti family comprised of painter and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti; his sister Christina Rossetti, a writer; and Dante’s wife, Elizabeth Siddal – a fellow artist, art model and muse. The Rossettis at London’s Tate Britain pulls together paintings, poetry and photographs from all three, evoking the unconventional world of these bohemian visionaries who rocked Victorian-era Britain.

5. The MAINE Mayfair, London, UK

Surrounded by foliage reminiscent of a classic British garden, The Terrace at The MAINE Mayfair is a peaceful oasis in the heart of London. The Terrace was once the original stables of 20 Hanover Square, a private townhouse built in 1720.

Meet up at The Maine Mayfair. (Image: Chris Terry)

Today, the Maine-meets-Mayfair space decked out with striped awnings, bamboo chairs and banquettes is a convivial place to gather to sample the hotel’s unrivalled selection of rosé.

Refuel with a hearty breakfast at The Maine Mayfair. (Image: Chris Terry)

6. Ridgeview and Wiston Estate on the South Downs, UK

The UK may be best known for its hoppy ales and honeyed meads, but most would look across the Channel when it comes to selecting a bottle of bubbly. But British sparkling is carving out a niche in the world of wine.

It’s the annual wine harvest at Wiston Estate.

The chalky soils of Sussex and Kent have yielded award-winning batches of bubbles, served up at cellar doors on charming stretches of English countryside. Ridgeview and Wiston Estate on the South Downs are part of this new vanguard of English winemakers. Both wineries serve up top drops and imaginative dishes surrounded by serene rolling hills just two hours from London.

Indulge at The Rows & Vine, Ridgeview. (Image: Xavier D. Buendia/XDB Photography)

7. The Belvedere Hotel, Mykonos, Greece

The Belvedere Hotel ushers in a new era in 2023 aimed at elevating the arts. The family-owned boutique hotel on the island of Mykonos has commissioned a site-specific mural by British artist Luke Edward Hall that pays homage to the creative ethos that informs the hotel. It has also appointed DJ Arman Naféei as ‘director of ambience’.

8. La Tartane, Saint-Tropez, France

The needle is pointing towards Saint-Tropez and five-star hotel La Tartane as the place to be during the northern hemisphere’s warmer months. Designer Jordane Arrivetz, of Notoire Agency, has updated the 27-room seaside hotel in line with the sunny, old-world ambience of the French Riviera. Spend your days sipping cocktails by the stylish poolside bar.

Linger a little longer for happy hour at Hôtel La Tartane. (Image: Romain Ricard)

9. Hotel Windsor, Liguria, Italy

The beautifully renovated Hotel Windsor leans into its location in Laigueglia, a small seaside village regarded as one of Italy’s prettiest. The hotel’s stunning seafront setting makes it idyllic for dipping a toe in la dolce vita of the Ligurian Riviera.

Hotel Windsor is the latest Ligurian locale. (Image: designhotels.com)

10. Vocabolo Moscatelli, Umbria, Italy

There are just 12 rooms at Vocabolo Moscatelli, a 12th-century monastery transformed into a hotel in the heart of Umbria. The atmospheric inn marries mid-century design with a style that befits the bones of the 800-year-old building.

Vibe at Vocabolo Moscatelli. (Image: designhotels.com)

11. La Roqqa, Tuscany, Italy

Surrounded by Tuscan history and natural beauty, you’ll want to lock down during a stay at this Small Luxury Hotels of the World property. La Roqqa nods to the fact the 55-room hotel is surrounded by defensive structures built by the Spaniards when they ruled Porto Ercole.

12. Casa Angelina, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Casa Angelina has reopened with the new design-forward Suite Azure offering headswivelling views of sea and sky from its cliffside perch on the Amalfi Coast. See you in the Seascape Cocktail Bar for limoncello mojitos.

Soak up the seaside and cliffside views from your balcony at Casa Angelina.

13. Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como, Italy

Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como’s new 40-metre infinity pool blends into the blue of the sunlit lake. The pool is one of the largest infinity floating pools in the world. And that golden deck is set to become prime real estate, pronto, for soaking up some rays.

Splash out on a stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como.

14. The Rebello, Porto, Portugal

Another member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, The Rebello is housed in a collection of UNESCO warehouses on the banks of Porto’s River Douro in Portugal. Named for the boats that transported wine down the river, it bills itself as ‘a new hotel with an old soul’.

The Rebello offers new perspectives over the city of Porto.

15. Ljubljana by train, Slovenia

Travelling by train across Europe is back in fashion, especially when it comes to reaching off-the-beaten-track destinations. “There are numerous high-speed and regional trains connecting hundreds of European capitals and secondary cities across Europe,” says Jody Bauer, research analyst at Eurail.

Slovenia is an oft-overlooked destination on the rise “which gained a new position in the top 10 countries,” Jody says. The capital, Ljubljana, can be reached via direct trains from cities across Europe, including Vienna, Munich, Zurich, Budapest and Belgrade.

Eurail is back on track.

Japan

16. More joy, less planning with Travel Associates

There’s been a 907 per cent surge in bookings to Japan from Australia for the first quarter of 2023. And while this spike relates to Japan reopening after two years of isolation, it’s also part of a broader trend. Travel Associates’ Danielle Galloway says travel trends include “revenge travel, holiday stacking, longer itineraries and upgrades”. Bring forward your Japan bucket list – explore caves in Mt Fuji, watch fireworks in Nagaoka or sip sake in a hidden izakaya in Tokyo.

17. Japan’s flower parks

It’s no surprise that summertime in Japan is one of the most picturesque times of year to visit. There are vast flower parks all over the country where you can simply walk or ride at leisure through the vibrant blooms that blanket the hills. Appreciate the seasonal beauty of Japan’s summer while strolling through sunflowers in Hokkaido or spotting blue and pink hydrangeas in Kamakura.

Shirakawa-go is famous for its gassho-zukuri farmhouses.

18. Hoshinoya Hotels

Hoshinoya offers unique stays that are in sync with the four seasons in Japan. The luxury hotel brand has six locations dotted across the country that have specially curated experiences that coincide with summer. Paddle past soaring cliffs in Okinawa’s pristine waterways, enjoy a seasonal kaiseki feast at Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture and a one-of-a-kind stargazing experience on Taketomi Island.

The lavish Hoshinoya Okinawa seaside resort in the Okinawa Islands, Japan.

19. Seeing fireflies

Firefly viewing has been a traditional summertime activity in Japan for centuries, with the luminescent flies featuring as a metaphor for passionate love everywhere from ancient poetry to popular culture.

Visiting one of the country’s firefly fields over summer is a must as the beetles unite to create a mesmerising show of pulsing light. Top spots to see fireflies include: Hotel Chinzanso, Tokyo; Tsukiyono Firefly Village, Gunma; Kemi Firefly Village, Nagano; Tottori Prefecture; and Nasu Fishland, Tochigi.

Fireflies turn a forest in the Tottori Prefecture into a buzzy light show.

20. Stargazing

Camping while travelling overseas doesn’t have to mean roughing it. You can experience a true wilderness escape in Japan with all the modern conveniences of a hotel stay. Expect plenty of forest bathing at glamping sites in spectacular locations such as Circus Outdoor near Tokyo, Grax near Kyoto, and Mt Fuji Satoyama Vacation where you can glamp under the stars by the country’s star attraction.

Go glamping at Mt Fuji Satoyama Vacation.

North America

21. Dude Ranch, Montana, USA

City slickers will appreciate holing up at a Yellowstone pop-up at the historic O.T.O. Dude Ranch near Yellowstone National Park.

Stay in a rustic lodge at O.T.O. Dude Ranch in Yellowstone. (Image: Scott T Baxter)

Montana’s first Dude Ranch will offer classic adventures such as hiking, trail riding, fly fishing and archery, as well as traditional campfire cookouts. Proceeds from a stay during the pop-up (25 June to 12 August) go toward preservation efforts at the ranch.

Ranch adventures await at the Montana pop-up. (Image: Scott T Baxter)

22. Wildland Trekking, Washington, USA

Wildland Trekking’s new tour includes a hike through North Cascades National Park and a stay at a remote lodge on Washington’s Lake Chelan. Backpack over alpine passes and through pristine wilderness to the lodge, then hike to views of the Stehekin Valley before returning to civilisation by boat.

23. Hike to Athabasca Glacier, Jasper, Canada

Jasper in Canada’s Alberta province is home to some of the world most exquisite glacial terrain. Rockaboo Mountain Adventures’ guided hike to Athabasca Glacier is its most popular summer tour, seeing visitors don crampons to trek to the glacier, take scientific samples and descend down into the ice via rope – conditions permitting.

24. Tombstone Territorial Park, Yukon, Canada

Despite its name, Tombstone Territorial Park in Canada’s Yukon Territory bursts with life and colour in summertime. The trees and rocks are mottled with lichen, the landscape is blanketed in wildflowers and you’ll spot an abundance of wildlife roaming through the park as you meander along the trails.

25. Matonabee, Churchill, Manitoba

Lazy Bear Expeditions will offer its passengers greater access to wildlife with the launch of Matonabee, the new 23-metre catamaran that is the only cruise ship able to hug the western coast of Hudson Bay. This next-level experience will provide out-of-this-world opportunities to spot beluga whales, polar bears and bearded seals during the Canadian summer in Churchill, Manitoba.

24. Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody, The Broad, Los Angeles, USA

The Broad is the first-ever museum in Los Angeles to present Keith Haring’s expansive body of work. Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody will feature more than 120 artworks and archival materials at the exhibition, which runs until 8 October.

In addition to Haring’s animated imagery, the exhibition will highlight his philanthropic legacy with a program of events curated by the American artist’s own inner circle from the 1980s clubbing scene.

Book a ticket to Summer Happenings: 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop to celebrate a half century of the genre that inspired Haring with legendary artist Grandmaster Flash on 26 August.

Check out Keith Haring’s famed artwork in LA.

25. Aman New York, USA

Aman New York is inviting guests to delve deeper into the dynamic city with a range of Exclusive Journeys for 2023. The hotel occupies the historic Crown Building, which remains connected to the city’s creatives.

The experiences range from interludes with local artists in their city studios, a Through the Lens program designed to capture New York City in its best light and walking tours of local neighbourhoods led by art historians.

While you’re in town, make it a point to stop by the Met Museum’s Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, an exhibition that examines works spanning the iconic designer’s 60-plus-year career.

The Aman New York gets creative. (Image: Robert Rieger)

26. Hotel Genevieve, Kentucky, USA

The new design-forward Hotel Genevieve is the latest project from Bunkhouse, the hip hospitality brand born in Austin. The 122-room hotel in Louisville aims to ‘go beyond Bluegrass’ in line with the brand’s commitment to connecting guests with the cultural fabric of the local community. It comes complete with a rooftop bar serving French street-food-inspired fare and views across the city and the Ohio River.

Get cosy in Bunkhouse’s new Hotel Genevieve. (Image: Nick Simonite)

In addition to its colourful portfolio of properties in Texas, California and now Kentucky, the acclaimed Bunkhouse brand opened its first international property, Hotel San Cristóbal in Baja, Mexico. The stunning Bunkhouse properties are known for their bold use of colour and rich interiors.

Laze under the sun by the sandy pool at Hotel San Cristóbal. (Image: Nick Simonite)

27. Crested Butte, Colorado, USA

Putting off getting your summer flower fix? Well, Colorado has got you covered, as the state sees its best blooms in July and August. Head to the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, Crested Butte, in July, where you will also find great hiking opportunities. Or stay in Steamboat Springs to spot the red Indian paintbrush flower on the trails.

Stroll along the carpet of wildflowers in Crested Butte.

28. A taste of Colorado, USA

A lively celebration of food and culture will take place in downtown Denver for A Taste of Colorado on 9 July and 6 August. Local food vendors such as Flavor of Tabasco and The Rolling Stoves will converge for the food fair, which will coincide with Viva Streets Denver when the city streets are reclaimed for pedestrians.

29. Guided food tours of Juneau, Alaska, USA

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has curated three Epicurean Explorer Tours to tie in with its summer season cruising the Inside Passage in Alaska.

Admire Juneau views onboard Seven Seas Explorer using your telescope. (Image: Stephen Beaudet)

Highlights of Seven Seas Explorer sailings between Seward, Alaska and Vancouver include shore excursions to a sustainable oyster and kelp farm, seafood masterclasses and guided food tours of Juneau.

Conquer Alaska’s Hubbard Glacier. (Image: Stephen Beaudet)

30. Mississippi Delta Hot Tamale Trail, USA

Learn about the history of hot tamales when you connect the dots along the Mississippi Delta Hot Tamale Trail. The cultural journey was developed by the Southern Foodways Alliance to celebrate the portable snack, thought to have arrived in the early 1900s with waves of Mexicans who moved to the region to work. Download the SFA app to curate a road trip that celebrates the many versions of this parcel of dough stuffed with meat, vegetables and jalapeños and wrapped in a corn husk.

Indulge in the trail of tamales and tradition in the Mississippi Delta.

31. Vancouver Foodie Tours, Canada

Vancouver’s Gastown is bursting with restaurants, bars and nightclubs. On an outing with Vancouver Foodie Tours, your guide will pull back the curtain on the district’s signature eats, which you’ll sample in tandem with tipples from the bars most beloved by locals. Experience all things classically Canadian, from regional wines to local produce.