Where to Travel Month by Month: The Best Destinations for Every Season

From cherry blossom in Kyoto to the Great Migration in the Serengeti, here's where to go each month of the year for perfect weather and unforgettable moments.

Timing can make or break a journey. The same destination can be magical in one month and washed out in the next. Here is our travel designers' month-by-month guide to where to go, and why.

January to March: sunshine and snow

Winter is peak season for the Maldives, with calm seas and endless sunshine. It's also summer in the southern hemisphere, so Cape Town and New Zealand are at their best. For something colder, Iceland and Arctic Norway offer long dark nights, perfect for the northern lights.

• ✦January: Maldives, Cape Town, New Zealand
• ✦February: Iceland for the aurora, Serengeti for calving season
• ✦March: Marrakech, Kyoto's first blossoms

April to June: blossoms and islands

Spring brings Japan's cherry blossom and a sweet spot in the Mediterranean before summer crowds. Late May and June are ideal for Santorini and the Amalfi Coast, while the dry season begins in Bali and Peru.

• ✦April: Kyoto, Cappadocia, Marrakech
• ✦May: Amalfi Coast, Santorini, Machu Picchu
• ✦June: Norway's fjords, Bali, Iceland's midnight sun

July to September: migration and midnight sun

High summer in the north means endless daylight in Norway and Iceland. In East Africa, the Great Migration reaches the Mara River, making July to September the classic time for a Serengeti safari.

If you can travel in shoulder season, you'll get the best of the weather with a fraction of the crowds.

October to December: autumn colour and summer south

October is glorious in Kyoto and Cappadocia, and Morocco cools to perfect temperatures. By December, it's summer again in Cape Town and New Zealand, and the Maldives' dry season returns.

Not sure which month suits you? Tell us your dates and our travel designers will suggest destinations at their best.