Where to travel in June

Corfu

The classic beach holiday

The lowdown

With sea-splashed scenery worth waxing lyrical about (just read Gerald  Durrell’s description of this Ionian island’s ‘clinging’ magic), Corfu is at its best when bathed in sunshine. June is when things really start to warm up, making this a lovely time to paddle in the island’s beyond-blue waters. Expect everything from big beaches for families to secluded bays for explorers. The most romantic beach has to be Canal d'Amour: legend says couples who swim here stay together forever. Inland, you’ll find hills wrapped in olive groves and villages where tavernas and cafes spill out of ochre buildings. Dive into the kantounia (lanes) of the UNESCO-listed Old Town to shop in the shadow of a Venetian fortress and savour glugs of Greek coffee in a Liston arcade cafe.

Stay

Go all-out and all-inclusive at Ikos Odisia, an exquisite resort sat on its own peninsula, with its own beach and its own citrusy woodland. You could spend a whole holiday here without leaving the grounds – there are, after all, ten pools to choose from – but you’ll have a day of car hire included in your stay for when you do fancy popping out for a bit.

Ibiza

The ‘just the two of us’ holiday

The lowdown

This one’s for the clubbers, the beach hoppers, the sunset seekers and the paella adorers. Free spirited and fun-loving Ibiza sways to  its own tune – and, yes, often that tune contains a heavy bass. Of course, there are bars and clubs galore, from glitzy hangout spots to rave dens (go to Pacha with glitter on your face for the iconic Ibiza party experience), but you might be surprised to learn the Balearic island also has a quieter side. San Antonio Bay boasts shallow waters to paddle in and pink sunsets to raise a glass to at the end of laid-back pool days. If you’re looking to feast on magnificent beach views, pop to Sa Caleta to see its seaside cliffs, sand and ancient Phoenician settlement. You’ll find more historic sites in Ibiza Town: follow Dalt Vila’s cobbled lanes to the hilltop cathedral that crowns the town centre.

Stay

Thinking about a couples getaway? TRS Ibiza Hotel is for luxury-seeking adults only. This all-inclusive hotel on Ibiza’s west coast boasts direct beach access and glittering pools. Golden hour is well spent at the Gravity rooftop bar, where you can admire panoramic views of San Antonio’s famous sunsets with a cocktail in hand.

Halkidiki

The big family holiday

The lowdown

Take a deep breath in Halkidiki and you’ll likely catch the scent of pine wafting over from a mountain forest or the aroma of the Aegean Sea. Holidays here start in Thessaloniki, where you’re never far from the waterfront, and can include everything from walks through a million-year-old cave to long days sat on luxuriously soft sand beaches. It’s only logical that history buffs should also visit the ruins of Stagira to see Aristotle’s birthplace while they’re here. Beyond the city, Halkidiki has three ‘legs’ – Kassandra, Sithonia and Mount Athos – dipping their toes into the sea. Stay on the Kassandra peninsula to spend plenty of time by talcum-white sand and cyan water. Sithonia’s a little wilder, with out-of-the-way coves, and the enigmatic Mount Athos echoes with monastic chants (women cannot visit Mount Athos).

Stay

Take the family to Porto Sani, an all-suite hotel within Sani Resort on the Kassandra peninsula. Keeping cool is always on the agenda here: there are lagoon-style pools to dip in an out of and beaches with shallow waters for paddling. After busy days building sandcastles, unwind in your suite. You can have a private balcony, a private garden or even a private pool if you wish.

Malaga

The artsy holiday

The lowdown

This Costa del Sol city’s been enjoying a reputation as Andalucia’s cultural core in recent years, with art exhibits starting to spring up like bougainvillea in the persistent sunshine. While you’re here, visit Centre Pompidou Malaga’s multi-coloured cube by the port and eye works by the founder of Cubism at Museo Picasso Malaga. Stop at al fresco restaurants for small plates and coffees ordered the Malaga way (if you like a lot of milk, ask for a ‘nube’   or ‘cloud’). There’s even more beauty beyond the galleries: get a look at the Roman amphitheatre sitting beneath a mountain and the 14th Century castle beckoning hikers from its hilltop. Oh, and of course, you can pop to a palm-tree-lined beach like Playa de la Malagueta whenever you please. Art, history, beaches, churros – Malaga’s got it all.

Stay

Along the coast from Malaga you’ll find the Hard Rock Hotel Marbella, where you can get into a holiday groove in no time. Looking to relax in style? Sit back by the rooftop infinity pool with a cocktail in hand or listen to DJ sets at the Eden Pool Club featuring underwater speakers. When you’re ready to hit the beach, head to Puerto Banus.

Dubrovnik

The historic  city holiday

The lowdown

Walk along Dubrovnik’s city walls for a dragon’s-eye view of red tiled rooftops and cliffs plunging into the Adriatic Sea. This UNESCO-listed city is dramatically beautiful – hence it appeared in the dramatic TV series Game of Thrones – and its old town is stuffed with ornate architecture. Rector’s Palace melds Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles while Dubrovnik Cathedral is topped with tremendous domes. Stop in at one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe to buy face cream made using a secret monks’ recipe. Then, for a complete change of scene, head to a cliffside bar for sunset. While it might be easy to spend all your time inside the city’s walls, you should also follow Dubrovnik’s coastline to pebbly beaches. Banje is the closest beach to the city, but Sveti Jakov is also nearby and often quieter.

Stay

Sea views are plentiful at Sun Gardens. You’ll see the Adriatic while you’re swimming in the three pools, you’ll overlook its calm waves when you breakfast on the rooftop terrace and you’ll be able to dip into its incredibly clear water at the hotel’s private beach. The Croatian coast awaits.

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