Where to go in

July

Where to go in

July

It’s July, which means that unbridled ‘school’s out for summer’ feeling can fully take hold and fling you headfirst into your next adventure. What’s not to love? In Europe, things are truly hotting up with maximum good weather, maximum crowds and maximum high season vibes. Yes, it’s going to be busy but with that comes buzz and endless possibilities. Discover the Dis-loyalty way to do Paris, Copenhagen and beyond this July. Summer is finally here!

Paris

OK, listen up. Paris is the place to be this July thanks to a small global event known as The Olympics. We appreciate that this might have you jumping for joy and eager to dive into the action (we’re cool with sporting metaphors), or it might have you fleeing for literally anywhere else, like a lot of Parisians will be doing. So here’s the plan. If you’re very much anti-Olympics craziness then hit The City of Light at the beginning of the month, up to around Bastille Day on the 14th before it gets too crowded. Bastille Day is an event itself - think fireworks at the Eiffel Tower, free concerts on the Champ de Mars and a traditional procession that also features the Olympic flame this year. Otherwise, the Games kicks off on 26 July and it’s a time to experience the French capital like never before. Top tip? Stay a little off the beaten track at one of our lively Mama Shelter hotels. Mama Shelter East is in the historic Saint-Blaise neighbourhood - all flower-lined café terraces, cobbled streets and artists’ studios with the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery just around the corner (drop by to say to Jim Morrison). Whilst Mama Shelter West in the southernmost part of the Left Bank is full of local charm thanks to the Haussmann buildings, wide open parks, and weekend markets. You never know, with the mass exodus of Parisians, you might get the place to yourself.

Copenhagen

Forget hygge and embrace high summer in the hip Danish capital instead. After hibernating all winter, the Danes are truly ‘out out’ in the summer months with sunsets happening well after 10pm and so much outdoor fun and festivities to be had. Copenhagen is such a pretty, walkable - or cyclable - city so ideal in July to take carefree meanders absorbing the Scandi streetstyle, culture-defining cuisine and lush gardens. It’s also a harbour town - there’s water everywhere - so take a canal boat trip, swim in the super clean harbour with the locals or head to Bellevue beach north of the city for a chic seaside experience with facilities designed by the great Danish designer Arne Jacobsen. Into jazz? Then don’t miss Copenhagen Jazz festival. Another huge reason to hit up Copenhagen in July is the brand new 25hours Hotel Copenhagen Paper Island. Opening on the 29th, Dis-Loyalty members can book stays until 29th October with 50% off. Massive bonus.

Zurich

Who says Zurich is just for business travellers? This postcard-picturesque Swiss lake city might not the first destination you think of when planning a summer trip but that’s all the more reason to go. Be the first of your group to experience the stupendous mountainous beauty then come home and boast about the idyllic summer scenes of lake swimming, lakeview rooftop terraces and open air festivals (we’re particularly into the Rundfunk.fm live radio festival at the National Museum). The big pull though is nature. Uetliberg is Zurich’s very own ‘mountain’, with panoramic views of the city, lake and even a glimpse of the Alps if you’re lucky. Lake Zurich is one of Switzerland’s ‘Big Five’ in terms of lakes and in the summer it’s a paradise for bathers. There are also islands to explore. Out of the water, you’ve got the abundant charm of the old town, pedestrian shopping zones like Niederdorf, with shops tucked in cute alleyways that really come alive at night. Then there’s the culture too, which goes al fresco in July. Zurich opera house stages spectacular open-air opera and ballets. Or, after dark, you won’t want to miss the Unterer Letten open-air bathing facility transform into the city’s most beautiful open-air movie theatres between July 10 and 28.

Marseille

France’s historic and sun-bleached second city is intoxicating in high summer. Hit a town beach, take a culinary tour or play petanque in the city that invented it. Where else but Marseilles would you find a shop dedicated solely to boules? Start your tour there, then head off for pastis and Provencal snacks. Then, of course, there’s the beaches. Marseilles’s best beaches are to the south of the city and you can reach them easily by bus or bike. Jump off at Prophète, below the Corniche, and enjoy the party atmosphere after dark. Marseille is an assault on the senses – mixing up the sublime with the street. You’ll want to check out the amazing graffiti and you can take ‘ugly’ tours of the grittier neighbourhoods if you’re in the mood for keeping it real. As for days to mark in the calendar, Bastille Day on the 14th is one big party with people gathering in the streets and on the Old Port to see the spectacular fireworks fired over Vieux-Port and Fort d’Entrecasteaux. Marseille loves a festival, too. Jazz des Cinq Continents sees artists from all over the world come to perform for the first two weeks of July. Got your sea legs? Marseille is a port town – the pastel-hued harbour, filled with boats, is so pretty come golden hour and there is so much to do involving the water. The Olympics sailing competition comes into town from 28 July so you can be part of this historic event, too.

Bordeaux

An historic 18th Century port, elegant boulevards, world-class culture and, of course, wine. There are many reasons Lonely Planet named Bordeaux the best city in the world and July is the ideal time to visit. Not least, too, because of the beach life. Yes, really. Bordeaux often gets overlooked for France’s other iconic beach destinations, but it has unmissable beach resorts along the Atlantic coast. Like Arcachon with its laidback vibe and giant sand dunes just a short distance away - perfect for a day trip. Back in town and the city itself comes alive in high summer with a ton of festivals and music events (it’s something of a pioneer of new wave classical music). Bordeaux is a foodie destination, too, with everything from haute cuisine to ‘coffee and a canelé’, a Bordelais version of brioche with lashings of custard. In the summer months, you have to go for a drink (we hear they do a good Bordeaux) in one of the city’s summer bars. Rooftops, terrace cafes and open bars are surging all over the city. Our tip? Head to Mama Shelter’s rooftop bar in the historic centre with jaw-dropping views of Cathédrale Saint André. Cheers to that.