The summer months are peak travel season, and it can be hard to decide what type of holiday to book. Do you want to go somewhere hot? Or would you prefer to enjoy your culture in a walkable city? Do you like to have a mix of beach and city vibes? Our hotel gurus recommend these five cities as they offer some of summer's most interesting experiences. From Norway's midnight sun to the temples of Beijing, the pubs of Dublin, and the unique character of Australia's Northern Territory.

Stavanger, Norway

Stavanger in summer is the Norwegian coast at its most vivid: the midnight sun extends the days to an almost surreal length, the fjords are at their most accessible, and the city's excellent food scene, old quarter of white wooden houses, and proximity to some of the most dramatic hiking in Scandinavia all make it a rewarding destination. The Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) and Kjeragbolten are within day-trip distance and are best hiked in the long light of summer. Stavanger is also Norway's oil capital, so it has the infrastructure of a prosperous, internationally connected city alongside its small-town charm.

• Eilert Smith Hotel is one of Norway's finest small hotels: a 12-room boutique property in a 1937 functionalist building designed by the local architect who gives the hotel its name, converted in 2019 by owners who take the heritage seriously and hospitality even more so. The rooms are chic in an understated Scandinavian way. Think natural wood, marble, brass, Nespresso and complimentary minibars; most have kitchenettes, and breakfast is delivered to the room. The hotel shares its ground floor with RE-NAA, Norway's only three-Michelin-star restaurant. Run by Chef Sven Erik Renaa it combines intimacy with culinary seriousness.
• Hotel Skagen Brygge is a waterfront hotel on Stavanger harbour in a beautifully restored heritage building, with the old quarter's wooden houses immediately adjacent and fjord views from the rooms and public spaces. Its warm atmosphere and harbour location make it the most characterful of the city's larger hotels.
• Ydalir is a boutique hotel with a strong Nordic design identity and well-appointed rooms that offer a quieter alternative to the harbour-front properties. The service is personal, and the design is carefully considered.
• Sola Strand Hotel is located outside Stavanger on the Jæren coastline in Sola, one of Norway's finest stretches of beach. The traditional seaside hotel setting, the long sandy beach, and the extraordinary sunsets over the North Sea make it an excellent complement to the city's cultural attractions.

Beijing, China

Beijing in summer, despite the heat, which can be intense in July and August, offers the Chinese capital at its most energetically alive. The Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the Great Wall (most accessible at Mutianyu and Jinshanling), and the hutong alleys of the old city all reward early mornings, when the heat is manageable, and the light is extraordinary. Beijing's restaurant scene has become one of the finest in China, and its contemporary art district, 798, is the best in the country.

• The PuXuan Hotel and Spa is a luxury hotel in the heart of Beijing near Wangfujing, with a strong design identity that draws on traditional Chinese culture — silk, lacquer, carved jade, hand-painted screens — and applies it with contemporary refinement. The spa is exceptional, and the hotel's position near the Imperial Museum and Tiananmen Square makes it an excellent base for the main historical sights.
• Cours et Pavillons is a boutique hotel in a restored hutong courtyard complex in the Dongcheng district, offering one of the most genuinely immersive historic Beijing experiences available to hotel guests. The traditional courtyard architecture, careful restoration, and quiet location in the heart of the ancient city give it a character modern luxury hotels cannot replicate.
• The Rosewood Beijing is a five-star hotel in the Chaoyang district, Beijing's most international neighbourhood, with impeccably appointed rooms, a strong spa and wellness programme, and the reliable quality of the Rosewood brand. For those who want the security of a well-known luxury operator alongside access to the city's best restaurants and galleries, it is a compelling option.
• Opposite House is a boutique hotel in Sanlitun, Beijing's most fashionable commercial and entertainment district, created by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, with 99 rooms of spare, elegant design in bamboo and glass that feel entirely original in a city full of design hotels that have borrowed heavily from international templates. The hotel's restaurants and bars draw Beijing's creative class, and the overall atmosphere is genuinely of the city.

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin in summer is the Irish capital at its most sociable and most alive: the Georgian terraces glow in the long evening light, the pubs of Temple Bar and the Liberties are full to capacity, and the city's literary, musical, and cultural life — the Abbey Theatre, the Chester Beatty Library, the National Gallery — is all in operation. The Wicklow Mountains are 30 minutes south, the Boyne Valley's passage tombs (Newgrange, Knowth) are 45 minutes north, and the coastal villages of Dalkey and Howth are accessible by DART. Dublin's food scene has developed considerably, and the city now has restaurants of genuine international quality.

• The Devlin is a boutique hotel in Ranelagh, one of Dublin's most pleasant and locally authentic residential neighbourhoods, with well-designed rooms and the warm, unpretentious character that distinguishes the best Irish hospitality. The neighbourhood's cafés, restaurants, and independent shops are excellent, and the short tram ride to the city centre is easily manageable.
• Stauntons on the Green is a Georgian townhouse hotel on St Stephen's Green, one of Dublin's finest squares, with individually designed rooms, a warm atmosphere, and the green itself as a summer amenity. The location puts guests within walking distance of Grafton Street, Trinity College, and the National Museum.
• The Hoxton Dublin is the Hoxton brand's Irish property, occupying a Georgian building in central Dublin with the relaxed, design-forward personality that the group brings to each of its hotels. The restaurant and bar draw locals as much as hotel guests, and the Dublin location is well-chosen.
• The Leinster is a boutique hotel in the Leinster Street area of the city with individually appointed rooms and the warmth of a genuinely personal property. The service is attentive, and the hotel's connections to the city's cultural and culinary life make it a useful base.

Darwin, Australia

Darwin in the dry season (May to October) is one of Australia's most striking and underappreciated cities: the heat and humidity of the wet season have broken, the sunsets over the Timor Sea are extraordinary, and the city's unique character — its mix of Indigenous Australian culture, Asian influence, and frontier-town energy — is most comfortably experienced in the cooler months. Kakadu National Park, two hours south-east, is one of Australia's great wilderness areas, with Aboriginal rock art dating back 20,000 years. The Mindil Beach Sunset Market (Thursday and Sunday evenings during the dry season) is one of Australia's finest outdoor food and craft markets.

• Darwin Waterfront Luxury Suites is a suite-only property on Darwin's wave-pool waterfront development, with generous apartment-style accommodation, water views, and proximity to the restaurants and bars of the waterfront precinct. The location is the best in the city for those who want to be close to the harbour.
• H on Smith Hotel is a boutique hotel in central Darwin with a strong design identity and well-appointed rooms, offering a more personal experience than larger chain properties in the city. The service is warm, and the hotel's connections to Darwin's cultural and culinary scene make it a practical base for exploring the Top End.
• Argus Hotel is a long-established Darwin property with comfortable rooms and facilities, making it a reliable choice for those using Darwin as a base for Kakadu and the wider Northern Territory.
• Mindil Beach Casino Resort is Darwin's largest resort, on the beach that hosts the famous sunset markets, with a full range of facilities — pools, spa, casino, multiple restaurants — and the best natural setting of any hotel in the city. The sunsets from the resort's beach-facing areas are remarkable.

Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki in summer is Scandinavia's most underrated city break: the sun barely sets in June and July, the archipelago of islands around the city is accessible by ferry and full of beaches and sauna culture, and the city's extraordinary design culture — Aalto, Saarinen, the Design District's galleries and shops — is at its most enjoyable in the warm months. The Suomenlinna sea fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site accessible by ferry from the market square, is one of Scandinavia's most interesting historical sites. The city's restaurant scene, once overshadowed by Stockholm and Copenhagen, has become genuinely excellent.

• The Hotel Maria is a beautifully restored Art Nouveau building in the Ullanlinna neighbourhood, one of Helsinki's most elegant residential districts, converted into a luxury hotel with 173 rooms, a spa, and a level of quality that reflects the building's considerable ambition. The neighbourhood is quiet and residential, and the hotel's design faithfully honours the building's Art Nouveau exterior.
• Hotel St George is a heritage hotel in a historic building in the design district with a very strong art programme and an interior design that draws on Finnish craft and design tradition with considerable skill. The rooms are warm and well-appointed, the restaurant and bar are among the city's better hotel dining rooms, and the art collection — including a private gallery space — adds a cultural dimension beyond most hotel experiences.
• The Folks Hotel is a contemporary boutique property in Helsinki with a strong design identity and a convivial atmosphere that attracts local Helsinkians as much as visiting guests. The neighbourhood restaurants and the hotel's own food and drink programme are both good.
• Hotel Lilla Roberts is a 1908 Art Nouveau building in the Kamppi neighbourhood, restored as a boutique hotel with 122 rooms, warm interiors that blend period features with Nordic design, and the kind of personal atmosphere that makes smaller hotels in Helsinki stand out. The neighbourhood is central and walkable, and the hotel's bar and restaurant draw a loyal local following.

Still not sure? 

• Browse through our full list of accommodation options in Stavanger, Norway.
• Refine your search to include our recommendations for the Best hotels in Dublin or Best Hotels in Austria
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.