2020 in travel: where to travel and when?

Best destinations to visit & when

Where to travel in Winter

Winter is a great time to travel, most popular holidays’ season. January is one of the cheapest months to travel since it is just after the holidays & this is the moment when many travelers are starting to plan their trips for later in the year, February is a great month to travel cheap and avoid crowds as well.

Winter is one of the best periods to watch the Northern Lights in countries like Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, etc. It is also a great time to go skiing in countries like Austria, France, Switzerland, etc. Despite the rainy season, winter is a good time to visit Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flats in the world. If you prefer to spend the winter months sun-bathing on the beach or deep diving in the ocean, you should visit the Caribbean, Mexico, Thailand, New Zealand & South Africa.

GoOpti suggestion: Wanaka, New Zealand

Where to travel in Spring

Spring marks the beginning of the tourist season for many countries & it is still a good time to have a beautiful and affordable trip. All the Mediterranean countries are starting to warm up pleasantly, including islands like Crete, Cyprus, and Malta. USA’s coastal cities like New York City, San Francisco and Boston have a pleasant weather too. Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and the Galapagos Islands are among the top choices as well. Surf lovers looking to catch some waves will want to visit places like the Canary Islands, Mexico, Portugal, Indonesia, Hawaii.

GoOpti suggestion: Havana, Cuba

Where to travel in Summer

Summer is a great period to travel, offering great weather and tons of activities, but bear in mind that anywhere you go there will most probably be thousands of tourists doing the same.

The beginning of summer is a great time to visit the northern European countries, where you can witness the midnight sun at one of many midsummer parties. South in the Mediterranean and the islands are at their peak as well, while Peru is still an excellent choice for hikers, although the temperatures are starting to go down. Summer is also a great time to go on a safari in East Africa, especially in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park where you can witness one of the grandest wildlife spectacles – the Great Migration. With its crystal-clear beaches and stunning volcanic landscapes, Fiji is also popular among nature lovers and beachgoers.

GoOpti suggestion: Machu Picchu & Cusco, Peru

Where to travel in Fall

Autumn is a great time to travel and visit places before the winter crowds come. Mediterranean countries are still pleasant; the south coast of Turkey, Cyprus, southern Italy and Spain. In Asia the best season is just starting; Thailand, Vietnam, China & India will have a very welcoming climate. The northern side of Africa is getting back on the list as well, Morocco, the Tunisian desert and Egypt are getting more comfortable temperatures. Argentina, Uruguay and Chile are ideal autumn destinations with dry and sunny days, Peru and Nepal offer great hiking weather.

GoOpti suggestion: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Have a look at some more ideas where to travel in 2020:

January’s top picks – where to go in January 2020

Northern Lights on Isle of Skye, Scotland 
When: anytime January/February

February’s top picks - where to go in February 2020

Rio Carnival, Rio, Brazil
When: 21 – 26 February 2020

Abu Simbel Sun Festival, Abu Simbel, Egypt
When: 22 February 2020

March’s top picks – where to go in March 2020

Holi, Mumbai, India,
When: 9 – 10 March 2020

Cherry Blossom Festival, Japan
When: March/April (check the forecast here)

April’s top picks – where to go in April 2020

Songkran, Thailand
When: 13 – 15 April 2020

Semana Santa, Guatemala
When: 5 – 11 April 2020

Tulip Season, Lisse, Netherlands 
When: anytime in April

May’s top picks – where to go in May 2020

Great Wall Marathon, Beijing, China
When: 16 May 2020

June’s top picks – where to go in June 2020

Summer Solstice, Anchorage, Alaska
When: 20 June 2020

Midsommar, Skansen, Stockholm, Sweden
When: 20 June 2020

Festa de São João, Porto, Portugal
When: 23 June 2020

July’s top picks – where to go in July 2020

Bula Festival, Nadi, Fiji
When: (TBC)

Summer Olympics 2020, Tokyo, Japan
When: 24 July – 9 August 2020 

August’s top picks – where to go in August 2020

Edinburgh International Festival Fringe, Edinburgh, UK
When: 7 – 31 August 2020

La Tomatina, Buñol, Valencia, Spain
When: 26 August 2020

Guča Trumpet Festival, Guča, Serbia
When: 3 – 9 August 2020

September’s top picks – where to go in September 2020

Berlin Art Week, Berlin, Germany

Dvořákova Praha - International Music Festival, Czech Republic
When: 4 – 20 September 2020

Enkutatash, Ethiopian New Year, Ethiopia
When: 11 September 2020

October’s top picks – where to go in October 2020

Burning Man, Black Rock Desert, Nevada, USA
When: 30 August – 7 September 2020

Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
When: 19 September – 4 October 2020

November’s top picks – where to go in November 2020

Dia de los Muertos, Mexico
When: 31 October – 2 November 2020

Diwali, Nepal
When: 14 November 2020

December’s top picks – where to go in December 2020

Christmas Market, Vienna, Austria
When: mid-november – 31 December 2020

Wonderfruit, Bangkok, Thailand
When: December 2020 (TBC)

Farolitos Walk, Santa Fe, Mexico
When: 25 – 26 December 2020

Looking for more ideas where to go? Here are some bucket-worthy destinations you might be interested in. 
Just booked a flight? Book you airport transfer now to get the best prices.