The top places to be, given any time of year
pictured: cappadocia, turkey
We compiled this list after a lot of research on other websites, reading books, other blogs, advice from others, and so on. The list continues to evolve and grow.
We hope this helps you decide where you should be traveling based on when you can. This list is, of course, tailored to our style of travel, the festivals we are interested in, and the level of luxury we like to experience while traveling.
January
— Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Greenland: Northern Lights
— Austria or Switzerland: Skiing the alps
— San Sebastián Festival
— Florida Keys: Deep Sea Fishing (January to March for marlin & tuna)
— Cayman Islands: Cayman Cookout, a celebration of Caymand and global cuisine on the beach
February
— China/Asia: Lunar New Year
— Chang Mai, Thailand: Lantern Festival (~Feb 5)
— Napa, California: Auction Napa Valley
— Cairo, Egypt: Pyramids
— Caribbean: Warm weather
— Sapporo, Japan: Sapporo Snow Festival
March
— Miami, Florida: Jazz In The Gardens
— Mumbai, India: Holi Festival (Elephant Festival)
— Dublin, Ireland: St Patrick’s Day Festival
— Maldives: perfect weather
— Havana, Cuba: Perfect weather
— Braga, Portugal or Granada, Spain: Semana Santa Festival (Easter)
— New Orleans, Louisiana: Mardi Gras
— Venice, Italy: Carnival of Venice
— Anguilla: Moonsplash, a music festival
— Everest Base Camp (March-May, Oct, Nov)
— Menton, France: Lemon Festival
April
— Galapagos, Ecuador: weather & mating season
— Augusta, Georgia: Masters Golf Tournament
— Cordoba, Spain: El Rocio Cordoba walk
— Valencia, Spain: Las Falles
— Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls
— Japan: Cherry Blossoms
— Keukenhof, Netherlands: Tulips in full bloom (or visit Bollenstreek)
— New Zealand: wine region
— Antigua: Antigua Sailing Week
May
— New York: BlueNote Jazz Festival
— Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee: Fireflies
— Louisville, Kentucky: Kentucky Derby
— Indianapolis, Indiana: Indy 500
— Miami, Florida: Formula 1 Grand Prix
— Croatia: before busy crowds
— Portugal: Beaches
— Prague, Czech Republic: Spring Music Festival
— Cusco, Peru: Machu Picchu
— Cannes, France: Cannes Film Festival
— Monaco: Formula 1 Grand Prix
— Scotland: Highland Games (from May to September)
June
— Temecula, California: Balloon & Wine Festival
— Provence, France: Lavender fields
— Aspen: Food & Wine Classic @ The Little Nell
— Various Cities: Wine Spectator Grand Tour
— Ascot, England: Royal Ascot
— Brazil: Iguazu Falls
— Tanzania/Serengeti: Great Wildebeest Migration
— Peru: Incan Priests, tying down the sun (June 21)
— Kilkenny, Ireland: See the famous Curragh Racecourse & Irish Derby
July
— Montreux Jazz Festival
— London: Wimbeldon
— Pamplona, Spain: Running of the Bulls
— South Africa: Shark Diving
— Bali: perfect weather
— Oaxaca, Mexico: The Guelaguetza festival
— France: Bastille Day
— France: Tour de France
— Venice, Italy: Festa Del Redentore
— Seychelles: Perfect weather & bird watching
— Mongolia: Nadaam Festival of Horses
— Montego Bay: Reggae Sumfest
— Galway, Ireland: Galway Races
August
— Pebble Beach, California: Concours d’Elegance
— Fiji: Bula Festival
— Bunol, Spain: Tomatina tomato throwing festival
— Croatia: Music Festivals & sailing
— Oslo, Norway: Oslo Jazz Festival
— Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh Fringe Festival & Military Tattoo Festival
— Kenya: Wildebeest Migration
— Black Rock City, NV: Burning Man
— Brooks Falls, Canada: Bear & Salmon catching
— Tokushima, Japan: Thousands of dancers spill onto the streets to celebrate the spirits of the dead
September
— Napa: Harvest
— Orange County: Huntington Beach Air Show
— Venice: Regata & Film Festival
— Germany & Austria: Oktoberfest begins
— San Sebastián, Spain: Film Festival
— Rioja, Spain: Harvest
— Japan: Turning of the leaves
— Paris, France: Autumn Festival at Versailles
— Rwanda: Baby gorilla naming ceremony
— Gstaad, Switzerland: Alpine Festival
October
— Alba, Italy: Truffle Hunting
— Palm Springs, California: Modernism week
— Germany & Austria: Octoberfest
— Kinsale, Ireland: International Gourmet Food Festival
— Cork, Ireland: Cork Jazz Festival
— Mongolia: Golden Eagle Festival
November
— Cuba & Caribbean: weather
— Mexico City: Day of the Dead
— Hawaii: Vans Triple Crown of Surfing
— Michoacán, Mexico: Monarch Butterfly Migration
— Nazare, Portugal: Nazare Surfing (Nov-Feb)
December
— Orange County: Christmas Parade
— Scandinavia: Northern Lights
— Banff, Canada: Skiing
— Australia & New Zealand: summer weather
— Punta de Este, Uruguay: best time of year to visit
— Miami: NYE
— Bonaire, Caribbean: See pink flamingos in Washington-Slagbaai
National Park
— Miami: Art Basel