Locations for honeymoon trip in August

August...yikes. Bounce around Rick's website and you can find piles of good information...articles and videos. How about Slovenia and Croatia?

It isn’t just a problem with crowds in Greece. Europe goes on vacation in August. Change your tour dates, if possible, and you will find Greece meets your requirements. Santorini is being ruined by cruise ship mobs but there are so many wonderful islands as well as the Pelponneasean Peninsula.

You'll find everywhere to be packed in August. The places that will entice you will also entice many other people so if you're looking for peace and quiet you'll struggle. Of course there are plenty of high end resorts that offer tranquility and private beaches but prices are at a premium, including cultural sites means that inevitably you're going to have to share them with many other people.

We always have our annual summer holiday in August as it's the only time we can take it but we've never found the crowds to be a problem. I don't know why you want to avoid somewhere that's touristy as they're the places that are of interest and besides, you'll be tourists too.

I wouldn't discount Greece, two to three weeks visiting a couple of islands would be a great holiday and there'll always be more quieter parts to choose from. My favourite Mediterranean island is Mallorca, it has a great mix of beaches, cultural sights and topography however you might feel two to three weeks there a bit constrictive if you're keen on maximising your time in Europe. You could combine it with a trip to Barcelona and then on to the Cote D'Azur or perhaps take the ferry to Corsica and Sardinia. Bear in mind that in August all of those places will be hot, too hot for comfort usually particularly if you're going to be moving around sightseeing. For us, August in the Med means beaches and pools.

Another alternative is Southern Germany/Austria. Plenty of opportunity for cultural sights and the lakes are a superb way to cool off. Whilst not as hot as Southern Europe it can still be very warm.

If you are fixed on August, you could have a look at Comporta area, Portugal, not far from Lisbon, like 1 h smth drive. You can travel to Lisbon and around for some adventures and activities. Probably check some less touristy regions like the Spanish Rioja known for its wines (no beach there, for it you shall head towards, eg San Sebastian area) or the Basque Country for nature and if you like hiking etc. Tanzania (well, not really Europe:) sees the end of its rainy season normally at that moment and it is still not hot like in hell.

If beach time is to be a major component of your trip, be sure you understand what you're getting into. Population density in Europe is much higher than in the US. By the time summer vacation rolls around, northern Europeans are dying for some sun and swarm south. Accessible beaches may be far busier than those in the US. Also, a lot of the beaches are rocky rather than sandy.

I'm sure you can find quieter locations in Greece even in August, but they will tend to be on islands that are more challenging to get to--probably no airport, a longer ferry trip from Athens (or from some other island), with service perhaps not every day. Spring for a good guide book to Greece with comprehensive island coverage (or visit your local library). You'll need to go to places you're not hearing about from your friends.

Thank you for all of the quick and helpful responses. Planning our holiday in August is definitely something I would reconsider if I could - knowing what I know now... But hindsight is always 20/20. We don't mind touristy places - just as long as we are still able to enjoy ourselves. I really appreciate all of the wonderful suggestions, and will definitely be doing some reading up on the places listed in this thread.What do you think about spending time in Croatia in August? Any different pluses or minuses to consider? Thank you again!

"We love sunny weather and relaxing on beaches but also enjoy some adventure and cultural excursions as well... What locations would you suggest we consider for a trip? We are open to new ideas..."

Croatia in August? Extremely hot. Rick suggests staying north of the Alps in the hottest summer months. A good suggestion IMO.

Lake Chiemsee, Bavaria's "inland sea," has beaches and bike paths and lies near two major destinations and centers of culture. As you see in this photo, it's wildly close to the Alps as well. Map of lake:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0OQfrHGNLH4/T5frylHisDI/AAAAAAAADgA/mhPd-BhQS5M/s1600/IMAGE0043.JPG

Prien, one of the main lake towns, is one hour east of Munich and one hour west of Salzburg. From there it's a short ferry ride over to one of Bavaria's cultural treasures, Herrenchiemsee Palace, on the island of the same name.

Other Bavarian bodies of water

Nearby Aschau has a mountain lift with great views and hiking if you like:
https://kampenwand.de/index.php?rex_resize=835h__panoramakarte_sommer.jpg
http://www.bayern.by/data/mediadb/cms_pictures/%7Bbcf4b563-5769-1485-2747-fafba2b773d4%7D.jpeg
http://q-ec.bstatic.com/images/hotel/840x460/439/43953086.jpg

If you want a romantic honeymoon, avoid big tourist traps as August brings mob scenes of tourists in droves. What about a lodge in northern Scotland?

Since you have to travel in August, turn that into an advantage instead of a liability. Go to places that are good in summer but not so great outside of summer. I'm thinking of Scandinavia, Poland, Scotland, the Baltics. I don't know about beaches in these places (except that they exist - like Sopot near Gdansk in Poland).

If you can relax on mountains instead of beaches, August should be great in the Alps, like Switzerland (again, very weather-dependent, so take advantage of being able to go when you have a better chance of good visibility for walks and hikes).

I've escaped mid-summer heat in both the Dolomites (Italy) and along the northern coast of Spain. The latter has some magnificent beaches, but you definitely cannot count on consistent sunshine. (The Basque Country is green for a very good reason.)

Germany has North Sea beaches that are popular with locals, but I've never been to that region. I think you'd be fairly sure of avoiding extreme heat up there. During the summer of 2015 when I baked just about everywhere (including in Berlin), it was cool and overcast in Schwerin, which is between Berlin and the coast.

Hello sadiedean,
In August, I recommend going to a location that does not have hot weather. Northern England is not likely to have hot weather.
And, in a honeymoon trip, I recommend being in the best hotel that you can afford. A very good hotel is located at the west edge of the land that the Chatsworth mansion is on. It is three miles to the east of the small town Bakewell, in Derbyshire. I heard it is the best hotel in England. Photographs of the interior of a room there can be seen at its internet website. And for more sightseeing, travel toward the northeast to York. I think the town York is a tourist's delight. Very good B & Bs are at York. If you want the name of the hotel located near Chatsworth, you may send a Private Message to me. And, England has pleasant places at a sea coast. I liked many of the people that I met in England. Many people at England (English and British people) have a wonderful sense of humor.

Hi,

True, there are the crowds in August as it is peak season. A good number of my trips in Europe have included August, the last one in 2009. Recently, because of family reasons I have been going over in May to early July. Still there are advantages going in August, which I don't always get to take advantage of. As to suggestions how about northern France, north and eastern Germany?

You can find many calm, cosy and friendly places in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland, e.g. Tatra Mountains with Zakopane and Liptovský Mikuláš, Bratislava, Brno, Prague, Karpacz, Kłodzko, Cracow, Lublin, Poznań, Szczecin, Świnoujście, Kołobrzeg, Gdynia, Gdańsk and Masurian Lake District. You can start seeking from exemplary details
https://www.zakopane.eu/en/ Zakopane
http://www.termabukowina.pl/ Aquapark Terma Bukovina
http://www.mikulas.sk/en/visitor.php Liptovský Mikuláš
http://www.tatralandia.sk Tatralandia Aquapark
or look for general tourist guides.

I love Croatia, but I would never go there in August. Fighting off half of Europe for a square of pebbles is not at all romantic. Not at all.

I would go to Iceland or Ireland in August.

We have to travel in the summer because I work in a school. We go to Croatia about every other year because of husband's family but it is HOT. Since i am of Irish desent, I suffer during these trips but i always make the best of it. Once we retire, we will avoid july and August at all costs. The summers we don't visit we go north - Amsterdam, Berlin, Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia, Russia, you get the picture. You may not have beaches to relax on but, there are beautiful green spaces in each city to picnic, people watch and enjoy cooler weather. Wherever you end up going, decide ahead of time you will have a wonderful time, just be prepared.

Now that is a wonderful recommendation...the Masurian Lakes area....very nice place to go to by way of a tour. I would have to deal with the heat and the mosquitos in August...basically an unimportant obstacle.

OP is missing two huge issues, I think...

1: Have you been to Europe before?
I'm guessing no, based on your post. If not, you may have a wildly inaccurate idea of the meaning of the following phrase...

2: "We love sunny weather and relaxing on beaches..."
IME, to most Americans, the idea of "relaxing on a beautiful beach" is a picture of a beach in the South Pacific, Thailand, a TV commercial of a beach in the Caribbean, maybe an actual experience in Florida or California. Nothing wrong with those experiences, but "relaxing on a beach" in Europe is nothing like any of those.

If you want a "beach vacation", IMHO you should go to someplace that has the beautiful beach of your dreams - broad swaths of fine white powdery sand, with crystal clear, warm water, and wide stretches between you and others and plenty of room to stretch out. That is generally NOT what you will find in Europe, even in places that are popular beach destinations. You will find crowds (in especially in August), you will usually find pebbles, not white-sugar fine sand, and you will often find tightly packed rows of chaise lounges (all filled with naked, sun-burned northern Europeans roasting in the sun...) rented by the hour. I dunno about you, but that's not the stuff of my beach dreams.

Now, that said, there are many beaches in Europe that are nice and great places to visit - but they are NOT like "the beach of your dreams" that pretty much every American I know envisions. I do think they're worth a look and maybe a brief stop - but IMHO they are NOT worth flying half-way around the world for.

IMHO, if you want a great "beach vacation" it's very foolish to plan a trip to Europe for that. If that's what you want, go to Cancun, Kauai or Phuket or a hundred other places that are all about the beach. You go to someplace to experience what they have that you can't find elsewhere. I go to Europe for the things the OP mentioned as "also" items: culture (mostly). History. Art. Museums. Churches. Food. Adventures? Maybe - depends on your definition of adventure, I suppose.

If you're turned off by your friends' description of how touristy the beaches in Greece are, I think you will be pretty bummed out by most of Europe's best beaches in August.

You want relaxing beach time? If you can't change your dates, then either pick another corner of the world (better be prepared to go someplace either very remote of very exclusive/expensive), or plan a different focus for your trip to Europe. Personally, given all the other great things that Europe has to offer, I'd consider it kind of a waste to spend much time on a beach there in August - like, say, going to Tahiti and spending most of your time admiring their art museums and churches (no offense to Tahitians, I'm sure their museums and churches are nice enough - just not so impressive when compared to Italy's).

Good luck.

Go to culturally rich South America : Brazil and Argentina Uruguay all have beautiful beaches with sand not the hard pebbles you find in Europe warm South Atlantic Water no crowds and bang for your buck. And it is not too hot that time of year. Rio de Janiero for example averages around 70 in August

August is a great time for vacations in Europe so such situation will be also in other countries too. I was in Greece twice, the first time in July and the second one in August, and I can say that July is better in case of time. On the other hand during August it wasn't really so bad as you can imagine, besides it depends highly on where you'll spend your vacation, I mean on what island. From my own experience I can recommend Crete and Santorini, both are totally amazing in case of nature but for the second one it really can be not good for huge crowds :(
Why not to try Spain? We were in Barcelona and Madrid too, I totally adored the first one, it's an amazing place in case of combining beaches and interesting historical places and local events. Besides you can add Madrid too because of very comfortable speed trains there, we planned one of our vacations in this way.
Latvia could be a nice decision too. It's a rather cheap country comparing to many others in Europe and its cities are amazing in case of architecture and historical sightseeings https://greentourbaltic.com/tourcats/latvia/ , there are also very nice beaches in Jurmala and you won't need to waste too much time for moving from one city to another. And I suppose that there won't be so many people comparing with other popular European resorts :)
Portugal and Croatia seem for me like nice ideas too.

Hi,

Some suggestions for staying or visiting beaches in August, assuming you don't think American in this regard, go to Normandy, or the Pas-de-Calais which has some nice beach towns, Stella Plage, Berkplage, etc. In Germany go to the Baltic area.

Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, Madrid , Barcelona , Rome,Florence, Venice, Zurich, Interlaken, Greece (Athens), Turkey( Istanbul), Netherlands( Amsterdam) are the best locations for honeymoon trip in August In Europe.

Based on what? That's a pretty random list of places (many I'd disagree with) and no explanation of why they're suitable. It looks like you just looked at a map of Europe and threw a load of darts at it.

Florence, Venice, Paris, even Bordeaux, and Athens I would take as suggestions and under consideration.

Numerous places I would suggest in Germany too...Berlin, Schwerin, Cuxhaven, Eutin/Holstein, Weimar, Meissen, Munich, the Middle Rhine area, Bamberg, Naumburg an der Saale, Goslar, the greater Potsdam area, the area of Schleswig-Holstein, Leipzig, Celle, Jena, Minden, etc, etc.

Except for the Middle Rhine area, Munich and Berlin, the rest are well off the international tourist radar and that of North Americans as well.

Scandinavia is best visited in August, the weather is the most reliable of the year and the crowds are thin compared to much of Europe in August.

Another choice would be the north coast of Spain, Santander, Donostia/San Sebastian, etc. Much of the year that coast is rainy but August would be beach weather.

I'd avoid much of the south. Italy, Spain, Greece, etc. will most likely be both very hot and overly crowded.

Unless you enjoy really hot temperatures and crowds, I'd agree that you should avoid Southern Europe in the months of July and August. Parts of Eastern Europe with continental climate can also get pretty hot.

If you want a "beach vacation", IMHO you should go to someplace that
has the beautiful beach of your dreams - broad swaths of fine white
powdery sand, with crystal clear, warm water, and wide stretches
between you and others and plenty of room to stretch out. That is
generally NOT what you will find in Europe, even in places that are
popular beach destinations.

Sure you will find that in Europe, but we won't tell you where. ;-) Or do you know a place that can boast the finest white sand you can imagine and a one-mile-broad beach?

Joking aside, you may not have the combination of all these attributes:

Beaches on the North Sea will have the fine sand, and the water will definitely be warmer than the Pacific Ocean, but not anywhere near the temperatures of the Mediterranean. You will not have a sunny weather guarantee along the North Sea though.

Beaches on the Mediterranean, on the other hand, will have pleasantly warm water but no fine sand, or even pebbles instead of sand. You will have sunny weather and hot temperatures, possibly more than is comfortable.

But then, you will hardly have the perfect combination anywhere on earth. In California for instance, you have to go pretty far south in order to find a beach where you can swim for more than two seconds without a wetsuit. In Florida, you have to ward off alligators, crocodiles, and pythons. And if you do find the perfect beach, it may be situated in a country that is politically unsettled and you wouldn't want to travel to. And inevitably, on a perfect beach in a perfect country, you will have crowds. Can't have everything!

I suggest Denmark (of course)!

A combination of beach (http://www.coldhawaiisurfcamp.com or somewhere around there) and Copenhagen with beaches (http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/bellevue-beach-gdk482349 and http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/amager-beach-park-gdk414012) and http://denmark.dk/en/green-living/copenhagen/swimming-in-copenhagen-harbour plus all the other activities a large city has to offer (http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen-tourist)

In Florida, you have to ward off alligators, crocodiles, and pythons

I've never had to contend with any of them on a Floridian beach although sharks were a bit of a threat!

Personally I don't care much for long stretches of sand as far as the eye can see, they can be quite boring. My favourite beaches have been in Europe, secluded coves with sandy beaches, warm, sheltered shallow water and flanked by cliffs and rocks and if you're lucky you'll have it to yourself. which would be the perfect beach for a honeymoon.

It would appear that David has not experienced a lot of what Europe has to offer beachwise and has fallen for the clichés.

Hi,

I've been to beaches and beach towns a few times in July/August. This was in northern France, in Nord Pas-de-Calais, some nice little beach towns. True, some towns were crowded; it didn't bother me, rather interesting since all were locals.

It would appear that David has not experienced a lot of what Europe
has to offer beachwise and has fallen for the clichés.

Well, in all fairness I'll add this much: He is right in pointing out that we do not usually have the photo wallpaper type of beach, with the palm tree and every other cliché.

August in Europe for the budget-conscious . . . . Ireland, Scotland and maybe the north of England. Never too hot and not so crowded, except for the Edinburgh festival, but that's said to be an experience worth having. On the other hand, you can't count on long spells of sunshine, but there's lots of culture and history and fun to be had.

Greece, Spain, Italy, besides the very large crowds, expect heat - yes, lots of sunny weather, but temps in the high 90s and above are the norm.

Maybe my favorite beaches in the world are the Costa de la Luz on the Atlantic coast of Spain between Tarifa and Portugal. There are miles and miles of sand and virtually no one around, barely enough services to survive. If you don't mind cooking in the sun (it will be hot in August) and want a large, virtualy deserted beach, that's where I'd go. Swimming isn't as calm as on the Med side, but Costa del Sol is all condos, golf courses and expats.

As others have said - a few times - Europe goes on holiday in August. In my opinion, there is no better way to see that than to head to a beach. Most will be extremely crowded so, if the beach experience you're looking for involves peace and relaxation 'far from the madding crowd' I wouldn't bother, frankly.

Likewise, the cities that are rightfully known as tourist destinations will be very busy indeed, though less so than the coast in my experience.

When I lived in the UK and twice had to take my European holiday in August, I rented a small house or gite in a pretty, rural area, with the express expectation that we would have a relaxing time living among the locals. Both times were in France - once in Brittany and once in the Vendee. Both were among the best holidays we ever had, even though we had small children with us. Of the two, our fortnight in Brittany (courtesy Gites de France), staying in a beautifully-converted barn set in about an acre of lovely, private gardens, was the most idyllic. We had a large pond to keep our 9yo son happy with his fishing rod, while the soft lawn was a playground for our tiny, 9 month-old daughter. When we were at the gite, sipping wine by the side of the pond, cooking dinner in the quaint old kitchen or snoozing in the sun while little Sarah had her afternoon nap, there was no reason to know it was August. The only time we saw people was when we ventured into the nearest town for groceries and, being a small, rural town, even then the crowds were absent.

So, if you are allergic to crowds and queues like I am but still have to go in August, and provided a tranquil stay in a lovely rural spot would float your boat, that's where you should consider, and pretty much every European country has spots like that.

Hello,

Great news! Congrats :)
If you are planning to this in August, you should now that you can find places that are not so crowded...
Here are my favourite places in Greece... I hope you like at least one of them to live your fairy tale there!

Mt. Pelion, Folegandros, Thasos, Ikaria, Chios, Amorgos, Astypalaia, Peloponnese Peninsula.

If you could choose July or September, I would also suggest:
Paros, Santorini, Lefkada, Corfu, Skopelos, Skiathos

@anniesweetiepie82: You give Athens as your location, but your replies keep making me wonder how well you really know the places you recommend.

You are not seriously trying to recommend islands like Paros, Santorini, or Corfu as "less crowded" in the months of July and September?