Where to go in the summer holidays

The school summer break comes at different times around the world: May and June in South Asia, July and August across most of the north, December and January south of the equator. These are the places at their best in each of those months, picked by the rules for families.

May and June

South Asia's school summer break: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal.

May

Almaty Kazakhstan Pleasant, mostly dry and sunny 23°C · 8 rainy days One of the best months to go
London United Kingdom Cool, mostly dry and sunny 18°C · 7 rainy days The best month to go
Barcelona Spain Pleasant, mostly dry and sunny 21°C · 6 rainy days One of the best months to go, busy season
Lisbon Portugal Pleasant, dry and sunny 23°C · 3 rainy days The best month to go
San Francisco United States Cool, dry and sunny 19°C · 2 rainy days The best month to go
Prague Czechia Cool, mostly dry and sunny 20°C · 9 rainy days The best month to go, busy season

June

July and August

Europe, North America, East Asia and the Middle East.

July

August

December and January

Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America, where it is summer.

December

January

How a place is chosen for families with children

It is one of the best months, or a good one, to go.
Days average between 18°C and 33°C.
It rains on no more than 10 days in the month.
The town is below 2,500 m, where altitude sickness starts.
The UK Foreign Office does not advise against travel to the whole country.

A rule over the figures on each place's own page, not an opinion: the same month always gives the same answer.