Where is hot in June? Best destinations for summer sun

June is a fantastic time to take a summer holiday. Before the schools break up in July, the beaches and tourist attractions are noticeably less crowded, both in Europe and around the world.

As Europe starts to bask in a sunkissed glow, you can laze around a pool or sit peacefully on a beach before most families descend; plus you’ll benefit from cheaper travel costs before the school holidays hit. Countries such as Croatia, Greece and Italy have temperatures ranging from 24-29C and up to 11 hours of sunshine a day, so you don’t have to go far to guarantee warm weather.

However, if you fancy more of an adventure, the US can offer both city breaks and lazy beach holidays and you’ll find that temperatures are still comfortable enough to walk around and explore. Meanwhile, nature lovers can take advantage of fewer rain showers in south-east Asia to meet orangutans in Malaysia or watch elephants bathe in the river in Thailand.

From Aruba to Borneo, we’ve rounded up some early summer travel destinations with sunshine on tap. Here are eight enjoyable places where you can top up your tan, ramp up your levels of Vitamin D and thoroughly escape the stresses of day to day life.

Sardinia, Italy

The second largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sicily, Sardinia is home to white beaches, turquoise seas and some fascinating rock formations. Temperatures heat up to a balmy 29C in June, but there are plenty of ways to cool down in the clear sea, which offers excellent snorkelling opportunities; and there are several diving schools dotted around if you fancy venturing a bit deeper. In the north-east of the island, Costa Smerelda, which translates to the Emerald Coast, has Caribbean-like beaches with luxurious resorts and places to moor super yachts, as well as more affordable guest houses and vilas. Alghero, the main city in northern Sardinia, is full of colourful architecture and you can dine on affordable lobster that proud locals claim is the best in the world. From here you can catch a boat to Neptune’s Grotto, a spectacular stalactite cave.

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Naxos, Greece