Best Places to Travel in July

This world is beautiful at any time of year. But sometimes if you travel to a particular place at a particular time, your travel experience sparkles with the added glitter of serendipity. In this particular edition of the ‘Best Places to Travel’ Series, we’re going to be looking at the best places to travel in July.

Generally, in comparison to other countries, Canada can be an expensive location; I’d say it’s comparable to other European countries. Calgary’s rating on Nomad List is low but look at it properly because it scores very highly in lots of different areas that may be a priority to you. I personally think more of us need to check it out. Internet access is great, there are lots of coworking spaces and you’re surrounded by plenty of opportunities to get off the beaten track somewhere beautiful. It’s a win-win.

Another thing to note is that July usually brings the iconic Stampede festival into town - two weeks of fun, games, music and cowboy vibes!

French culture has captivated so many of us for generations. The food, the wine, the fashion, the lifestyle...we think of warm summers and vibrant colours. There are loads of cities to visit in France, but one city that’s piqued our interest is Biarritz. Not a popular choice, if the Nomad List is anything to go by, but you don’t know how you really feel until you’ve been right? It’s actually a very elegant seaside town and it’s a perfect place for surfing enthusiasts...who’d have thunk?

For remote professionals that need great internet access, you’ll get all that, but in Biarritz, you get amazing cafes, a seaside view and all the amazing food and drink that reminds you why we love the French so much. Vive Le France!

Estonia, a gem of a country on the Baltic Sea. It’s a sight for sore eyes at any time of year but in July...the place is alive with culture, history, music and fun. The city that we’re focusing on here is Tallinn; a seaside town that perfectly fuses the old and the new to create a vibrant atmosphere. You’re right on the coastline so you can expect a beautiful sea breeze, incredible food and views you’ll never forget.

Tallinn has more startups per capita than any other city in Europe, and they’ve been making strides in the tech scene for years. Estonians have been responsible for some apps we know and love. Take Skype for example. It was an Estonian team that helped to put that bad boy together. The internet access is amazing, and the coworking spaces are brilliant. It’s also home to some meticulously preserved archaeological sites if that’s your thing and it’s a great nightlife spot too. Quite simply, Tallinn has it all.

The best place to go if all you need is clean air and beautiful landscapes. At this time of year you can see the beauty all around for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We’d argue that’s a fair compromise for not seeing the Northern Lights. In the meantime, you can enjoy black sand beaches, geysers, glaciers and geothermal hot springs.

The weather is a tad cooler here; it’s not what one might call a typical European summer destination, however, you’ll definitely get hot and sweaty doing some of the most amazing hikes on earth. For digital nomads, having a base in Reykjavik will give you what you need in terms of internet speeds and there’s a pretty decent coworking scene going on in the city as well. So you can get plenty of work done and then get some of that active rest and recovery in the volcanic terrain...sounds perfect. 

Germany in the summer is such a joy. The wonderfully lush landscape of forests, rivers and beachy coastline, make it such an amazing country to visit in the summer! Coworking spaces, and even coliving spaces are popping up all over the place and we are loving it.

For digital nomads, Cologne  is perfect. It's got a history spanning over 2000 years, making it a city filled to the  brim  with character, culture and learning. You've got medieval cathedrals, beautiful parks and gardens and museums and art galleries to keep you occupied.

The coworking scene is well established here and there are plenty of  cafes to have productive days in. The internet access is great, with high speeds and few worries. Make sure you get yourself some kölsch (a style of beer Cologne is known for) after a productive day in the office setting of your choice!

Russia is the dark horse location on the list. When you visit, its beauty will catch you off guard in a way you could never have anticipated. The history, the food, the people and the landscapes; it all comes together to ensure you have an experience you’d never ever forget. 

The city we’d highly recommend is St. Petersburg; it’s the seaside city of culture with palaces, museums, ballet...Of course for another city experience, you’ve also got the option of visiting Moscow as well. 

From a digital nomad perspective, getting visas can be tricky, but it just means you have to plan in advance. If you’re going to be staying for an extended period of time, St. Petersburg has the allure of being a really beautiful city with all the modern touches and comforts you’d find in other European cities; there’s a reason why St. Petersburg is known as the ‘Venice of the North’.

Nestled in mainland Europe, Romania is a country with an incredible landscape; mountains, rolling hills and the beautiful Transylvanian forests. In contrast, city life in Romania is upbeat, modern and thriving and digital nomads have been enjoying experiencing this enigmatic country for quite some time. 

The city that is buzzing with nomad life is Bucharest. 50mb internet speeds, reasonable cost of living, hearty food and a thriving startup culture. You will get the benefit of living really well in this gorgeous city. If you need a great place to go out of an evening there's plenty. If you want to visit some of the amazing parks during the day and take a picnic and a good book, you are in luck.

In July, you’ll have missed the rain season so the weather and the visibility should be perfect for you to have the time of your life. Dar Es Salaam is the main city, so this will be your best bet if you need to get work done. Chances are you'll take this time to go on epic adventures so this may not be a priority. WiFi tends to be pretty spotty so a data plan is going to be your best friend. Internet is not amazing but if you only have a few video calls to attend to and the rest of your work doesn’t require a superfast internet connection, you will be fine.