Where to go in August
August is a dry month in much of southern and eastern Africa. Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania get only 0.1 to 2.2 rain days, with highs of 21 to 29°C. Chile is mild at about 20°C, and Fiji has warm sea water at 26.4°C. In Europe, Gibraltar is warm and dry, while France and Romania have more rain. Mongolia is pleasant at 24°C. Avoid Thailand and Haiti: Thailand gets 23.6 rain days and Haiti 19.5, with highs of 33.5°C and 34.1°C. Egypt and Mauritania are very hot, with highs near 38 to 39°C.
Top picks
Best places to go in August
Ranked by our month score: temperature, rain, sunshine and sea.
-
21°C
1.Madagascar
9.7/10Africa
Scores 9.7. Driest month at 4 mm of rain, with highs of 20.8°C and 10.8 sun hours.
- High / low
- 21°C / 8°C
- Rain days
- 1
- Sun daily
- 10.8 hrs
-
20°C
2.Chile
9.6/10Americas
Highs around 20°C, rain on about 2 days.
- High / low
- 20°C / 9°C
- Rain days
- 2
- Sun daily
- 9.9 hrs
-
26°C
3.Zimbabwe
9.6/10Africa
Top score of 9.6, with just 6 mm of rain over 2.2 days, 10.3 sun hours and highs near 26°C.
- High / low
- 26°C / 11°C
- Rain days
- 2
- Sun daily
- 10.3 hrs
-
27°C
4.Gibraltar
9.1/10Europe
Scores 9.1. It is the warmest month at 27.2°C, with 12.4 sun hours and 6 mm of rain.
- High / low
- 27°C / 21°C
- Rain days
- 1
- Sun daily
- 12.4 hrs
-
28°C
5.Zambia
8.9/10Africa
Scores 8.9. Dry with 2 mm of rain and 11.2 hours of sun, but warmer at 28°C.
- High / low
- 28°C / 15°C
- Rain days
- 1
- Sun daily
- 11.2 hrs
-
28°C
6.Fiji
8.7/10Oceania
Scores 8.7, with 6 rain days, 10.1 sun hours a day and a mild 27.6°C high.
- High / low
- 28°C / 21°C
- Rain days
- 6
- Sun daily
- 10.1 hrs
-
24°C
7.Mongolia
8.5/10Asia
Scores 8.5. Warm at 24.3°C, but the wettest month, with 54 mm over 7.6 days.
- High / low
- 24°C / 12°C
- Rain days
- 8
- Sun daily
- 10.9 hrs
-
26°C
8.Romania
8.3/10Europe
Top score of 8.3. Warm highs of 25.5°C, 12 sun hours and only 8.7 rain days.
- High / low
- 26°C / 15°C
- Rain days
- 9
- Sun daily
- 12.0 hrs
-
28°C
9.France
8.0/10Europe
Scores 8. Lyon has the fewest rain days (7.2) and 12 hours of sun, but highs reach 28°C.
- High / low
- 28°C / 17°C
- Rain days
- 7
- Sun daily
- 11.9 hrs
-
28°C
10.Paraguay
7.8/10Americas
Scores 7.8: warmer 28°C highs, 8.9 sun hours and just 5.7 rain days.
- High / low
- 28°C / 18°C
- Rain days
- 6
- Sun daily
- 8.9 hrs
-
30°C
11.Turkey
7.8/10Asia
Highs around 30°C, rain on about 2 days.
- High / low
- 30°C / 16°C
- Rain days
- 2
- Sun daily
- 12.9 hrs
-
27°C
12.Bolivia
7.5/10Americas
Joint top score of 7.5, the fewest rain days of the best months at 11, and 8.9 sun hours daily.
- High / low
- 27°C / 18°C
- Rain days
- 11
- Sun daily
- 8.9 hrs
-
23°C
13.Papua New Guinea
7.0/10Oceania
Highs around 23°C, rain on about 26 days.
- High / low
- 23°C / 18°C
- Rain days
- 26
- Sun daily
- 9.9 hrs
-
19°C
14.Taiwan
7.0/10Asia
Highs around 19°C, rain on about 27 days.
- High / low
- 19°C / 11°C
- Rain days
- 27
- Sun daily
- 8.7 hrs
August
Warm & sunny
Highs of 24 °C or more and few rainy days.
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Zimbabwe 9.6/10Highs 26°C · 2 rain days
-
Gibraltar 9.1/10Highs 27°C · 1 rain days
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Zambia 8.9/10Highs 28°C · 1 rain days
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Fiji 8.7/10Highs 28°C · 6 rain days
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Angola 8.0/10Highs 30°C · 0 rain days
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Paraguay 7.8/10Highs 28°C · 6 rain days
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Turkey 7.8/10Highs 30°C · 2 rain days
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Montenegro 7.1/10Highs 30°C · 5 rain days
August
Short-haul from Europe
Within about 3,500 km of central Europe.
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Gibraltar 9.1/10Highs 27°C · 1 rain days
-
Romania 8.3/10Highs 26°C · 9 rain days
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France 8.0/10Highs 28°C · 7 rain days
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Poland 7.9/10Highs 25°C · 11 rain days
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Turkey 7.8/10Highs 30°C · 2 rain days
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Bosnia and Herzegovina 7.7/10Highs 26°C · 11 rain days
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Belgium 7.6/10Highs 23°C · 12 rain days
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Germany 7.6/10Highs 23°C · 12 rain days
Honest advice
Toughest weather in August
Places where the weather is usually at its worst this month.
-
Haiti 0.4/10
Very hot: highs around 34 °C.
For better weather, try Costa Rica · 7.0/10 · highs 23°C
-
Thailand 0.8/10
Monsoon season: rain on about 24 days.
For better weather, try Taiwan · 7.0/10 · highs 19°C
-
Mauritania 3.2/10
Very hot: highs around 39 °C.
For better weather, try Gibraltar · 9.1/10 · highs 27°C
-
Qatar 3.5/10
Very hot: highs around 44 °C.
For better weather, try Turkey · 7.8/10 · highs 30°C
-
Egypt 3.5/10
Very hot: highs around 38 °C.
For better weather, try Turkey · 7.8/10 · highs 30°C
Side by side
August weather comparison: top 10 destinations
Average weather of each destination's main city this month, and our month score out of 10.
| Destination | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Sun hrs/day | Sea temp | August score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madagascar | 21°C | 8°C | 4 mm | 10.8 hrs | – | 9.7 |
| Chile | 20°C | 9°C | 17 mm | 9.9 hrs | – | 9.6 |
| Zimbabwe | 26°C | 11°C | 6 mm | 10.3 hrs | Inland | 9.6 |
| Gibraltar | 27°C | 21°C | 6 mm | 12.4 hrs | Inland | 9.1 |
| Zambia | 28°C | 15°C | 2 mm | 11.2 hrs | Inland | 8.9 |
| Fiji | 28°C | 21°C | 89 mm | 10.1 hrs | 26°C | 8.7 |
| Mongolia | 24°C | 12°C | 54 mm | 10.9 hrs | Inland | 8.5 |
| Romania | 26°C | 15°C | 72 mm | 12.0 hrs | – | 8.3 |
| France | 28°C | 17°C | 61 mm | 11.9 hrs | – | 8.0 |
| Paraguay | 28°C | 18°C | 67 mm | 8.9 hrs | Inland | 7.8 |
FAQ
Travelling in August
Where is the best place to travel in August?
Madagascar scores highest in August, at 9.7. Days reach about 20.8°C and there are only 1.4 rain days in the month. Chile and Zimbabwe come next, both at 9.6. Chile has highs of 20°C with 1.9 rain days. Zimbabwe is warmer, at 25.8°C, with 2.2 rain days.
Where in Europe is good to visit in August?
Gibraltar is the top European pick in August, with a score of 9.1. It has highs of 27.2°C and just 1.4 rain days. Romania (8.3) and France (8) also do well, but expect more rain: 8.7 and 7.2 days. Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina get 10.7 and 11 rain days.
Where can I go for warm sea in August?
Fiji is a good choice for warm sea in August. The sea is about 26.4°C and daytime highs reach 27.6°C. It scores 8.7. Be ready for some showers, though. Fiji has about 6 rain days in August.
Is Thailand good to visit in August?
No, August is a poor month for Thailand. It scores just 0.8. There are about 23.6 rain days, so expect rain on most days. Highs of 33.5°C add heat and humidity. Haiti is also a poor choice, scoring 0.4, with 19.5 rain days and highs of 34.1°C.
Is Egypt too hot in August?
Yes, for most travellers Egypt is too hot in August. Daytime highs average 37.6°C and there are 0 rain days, so there is little relief from the heat. It scores 3.5. Mauritania is even hotter, at 38.9°C. Brazil also scores 3.5, with highs of 35.5°C.