One of the best months to visit, we’ve got a list of great adventures you could take on in July across Europe. Whether you want to attend a festival, get some exercise or go exploring! The temperatures are high at this time of year particularly in the south and the days are long making it a perfect time for booking your next trip. July is the height of the peak tourist season which means booking accommodation early is required and there may be larger crowds but these trips are still worth it!
National 3 Peaks UK Challenge
An event in which participants attempt to climb the highest mountains of England, Scafell Pike (978 m or 3,209 ft), Scotland, Ben Nevis (1,345 m or 4,413 ft) and Wales, Snowdon (1,085 m or 3,560 ft) within 24 hours. It is frequently used to raise money for charitable organisations. Walkers climb each peak in turn, and are driven from the foot of one mountain to the next. The total distance walked is estimated at 42 kilometres (26 miles) to 44 km (27 miles), with a total ascent of 9,800 feet (3,000 m). For more information see our Great Britain’s National 3 Peak Challenge!
Cycle the Hebridean Way in Scotland
The Hebridean Way passes through some of the most spectacular landscape in the UK. It is dual aspect, with a 156 mile long distance walking route and separate 185 mile long distance cycle network route. Steeped in History, the Hebridean Way stretches along the length of the Outer Hebrides from Vatersay in the south to Lewis in the north. The route passes through 10 Islands linked by a combination of causeways and ferries, over rugged hills and along dazzling Atlantic coastline.
The stunning landscapes, the geology, wildlife, heritage and scenery of the Outer Hebrides are truly awe-inspiring. Retaining a culture that is different to mainland Scotland, Gaelic is often spoken as a first language and there remains a sense of culture and tradition on each of the inhabited Islands that make up the Outer Hebrides. The cycling route follows the National Cycle Network 780, following both main and quiet roads, whilst the Hebridean Way walking route has a combination of purpose built sections, existing footpaths, peat tracks, and quiet roads. For anyone considering this trip, check out our Hebridean Way Challenge!
Attend the Bayonne Festival in France
Les fêtes de Bayonne in French. The festival opens with a ceremony at 10pm on a Wednesday night and has done since 1932. From then for 5 days until Sunday the whole town wears white with a red scarf and enjoys the contagious party atmosphere. At midday every day when the King of the festival, King Léon wakens, festivities start and continue throughout the day with traditional bands, floral processions, floats and parades of giant papier-maché figures and floats, bull-runs on Place St André, Pelota tournaments in the Trinquet Moderne and everyone, everywhere is in a festive spirit and wearing white and red! As night falls a festive euphoria takes hold of people of all origins, cultures and languages in the crowded bars, restaurants and stalls lining the River Nive!
Complete the Alta Via 1 in Italy
A 150 kilometre (93 miles) high-level public footpath which runs through the eastern Dolomites in Italy. It passes through some of the finest scenery in the Dolomites. The path runs south from Pragser Wildsee which can be accessed by bus to Belluno which has both train and bus services available.
Within the Italian Dolomites there are 10 Alta Via routes that vary in difficulty but are well signposted and maintained. This challenge is for the classic and easiest high route. However it still generally takes about 10–15 days to complete the full route. With a typical day involving about seven hours walking, with ascents and descents of about 800 metres.
The route is signposted by dark blue triangles with an inset number one. The highest point on the route is Monte Lagazuoi at 2,750 metres. There is a large refuge on Monte Lagazuoi which has a restaurant and accommodation for 69 people. To read further on this amazing trek, we have an Alta Via 1 Challenge!
Attend Tomorrowland Festival in Belgium
An Electronic Dance Music Festival held in Belgium. It takes place at a recreation area, De Schorre, in Boom, which is situated in between Antwerp & Brussels. First held in 2005, it has since become one of the world’s largest and most notable music festivals, thanks to an amazing setting. It now stretches over 2 weekends and usually sells out in minutes. Tomorrowland offers Discover Europe packages in and amongst its other ticket options, taking in some of Europe’s most stunning sights and turning the festival into a much longer adventure than just the weekend! The last edition was something unimaginable: more than 1000 DJs played on 16 stages, and 400,000 visitors participated from 200 different countries!
Run with the Bulls in Pamplona
The most famous bull-run is the encierro held in Pamplona during the nine-day San Fermín festival in honour of Saint Fermin. It has become a major global tourism event, today very different from the traditional, local festival. Held every year from the 6th to the 14th of July. The first bull running is on the 7th of July, followed by one on each of the following mornings of the festival, beginning every day at 8 am. Among the rules to take part in the event are that participants must be at least 18 years old, run in the same direction as the bulls, not incite the bulls, and not be under the influence of alcohol.
Known around the world since 1926 thanks to Ernest Hemingway’s novel The Sun Also Rises. The length of the run is 875 meters (957 yards). It goes through four streets of the old part of the city. A first rocket is set off at 8 a.m. to alert the runners that the corral gate is open. A second rocket signals that all six bulls have been released. The third and fourth rockets are signals that all of the herd has entered the bullring and its corral respectively, marking the end of the event. The average duration between the first rocket and the end of the encierro is two minutes, 30 seconds. This is a very dangerous event and every year, between 50 and 100 people are injured during the run.
