When the world is warm, and when you're craving something cooler and a little different, certain countries offer experiences that simply aren't available at other times of year. These four countries, chosen by our hotel gurus, are at their absolute peak in the summer months. In Norway you'll experience the joys of near 24-hour daylight if you head north; the Maldives may be wetter, but the waters are warmer, and there are fewer crowds; Croatia sparkles in summer with its dramatic coastline and stunning National Parks. Whilst in the Netherlands, the weather is perfect for gentle explorations and the beaches are at their best.

Norway

Norway in summer is one of nature's great spectacles: the midnight sun above the Arctic Circle, fjords reflecting cloudless skies, mountain plateaux covered in wildflowers, and coastal towns enjoying the brief but glorious Nordic summer. The Lofoten Islands, the Geirangerfjord, the Jotunheimen mountains, and the hiking trails of the Hardangervidda plateau are all at their finest from June to August. Norway's food culture has developed significantly — the New Nordic movement that began in Copenhagen quickly spread north — and the local seafood, lamb, and dairy are exceptional.

• Lyngen Lodge is an extraordinary property on the Lyngenfjord in northern Norway, above the Arctic Circle, with suites that look directly onto the fjord and the Lyngen Alps. In summer, the midnight sun turns the mountains gold at 2 am; in other seasons, it's one of the world's finest locations for the northern lights. The lodge is intimate, the food uses local produce with considerable skill, and the experiences on offer, which include kayaking, sailing, and mountain hiking, are extraordinary.
• Hattvika Lodge is a collection of restored fishermen's cabins on the Lofoten Islands, one of Norway's most dramatic archipelagos, overlooking a traditional fishing village and the Vestfjorden with the mainland mountains visible across the water. The cabins are beautifully renovated, and the setting — think Arctic fishing village, mountain backdrop, midnight sun — is unmatched.
• Herangtunet is a historic farmstead hotel in the Hardanger region of western Norway, with traditional log buildings, a working orchard, and views over the Hardangerfjord. The summer brings the orchards into blossom and the fjord to its most brilliant colour. Norwegian traditional cuisine and an extraordinary landscape make this one of the country's most distinctive hotel experiences.
• Elva Hotel is a smaller boutique property in Norway that offers intimate access to the Norwegian wilderness experience, with well-appointed rooms and guided nature activities. The river setting and the quality of the local food and hospitality make it a strong choice for those who want Norway's natural world as the primary experience.

The Maldives

The Maldives in summer (the dry season runs from November to April, but the summer monsoon brings warm water, fewer crowds, and considerably lower prices) is a genuinely viable alternative to peak season. Diving and snorkelling, while occasionally affected by reduced visibility, remain excellent; the marine life is extraordinary year-round, and many of the Maldives' island resorts offer their best value in the summer months. The country is an archipelago of 1,200 coral islands in the Indian Ocean, of which only around 200 are inhabited, and the combination of above-water villas, crystal-clear water, and extraordinary reef ecosystems makes it one of the world's great natural destinations.

• Reethi Faru Resort is a dive-focused resort on a circular island in the Raa Atoll, in one of the most biodiverse marine areas of the Maldives. The resort's strong marine biology programme, its house reef, and its commitment to environmental sustainability make it a distinctive choice for those who want the Maldives experience to go beyond beach and pool.
• Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa is a large resort on Dhonakulhi Island in the Haa Alifu Atoll, with a diverse range of accommodation options from beachfront villas to overwater bungalows, a marina, a spa, and some of the best diving access in the northern atolls.
• Lily Beach Resort & Spa is a well-regarded all-inclusive resort in the South Ari Atoll — one of the best dive areas in the Maldives for whale sharks, manta rays, and reef sharks — with overwater and beach villas, multiple restaurants, and the comprehensive programme of activities and diving that makes all-inclusive work well in the Maldives context.
• The Nautilus is one of the most exclusive and imaginative properties in the Maldives: a private island house-hotel with just nine residences, each with its own private pool, beach, and butler. The interior design draws on international art, design, and craft, and the level of personalisation — each stay is essentially bespoke — is unmatched in the archipelago.

Croatia

In summer, Croatia epitomises the Adriatic at its most beautiful and, particularly away from the peak weeks of July and August, at its most accessible. The Dalmatian coastline, with its limestone cliffs, crystal-clear water, and island archipelago, is one of the most photogenic in the Mediterranean. Split's Diocletian's Palace (a Roman emperor's retirement home turned into a city), Dubrovnik's walled old city, the Plitvice Lakes National Park, and the islands of Hvar, Brač, and Vis all reward time. June and September are the optimal months: the sea is warm, but the crowds are manageable.

• Pomalo Inn is a small, carefully conceived boutique hotel on Vis (where Mamma Mia was filmed), one of the Dalmatian islands, with a genuinely personal atmosphere and a strong connection to the local community and landscape. The rooms are well-appointed, and the location provides access to the island's beaches, wine estates, and fishing villages.
• Fenomen Plitvice Resort is a resort near Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of Croatia's most extraordinary natural landscapes, with wooden buildings set into the forested landscape and a commitment to sustainable tourism. The proximity to the park's waterfalls and turquoise lakes is the hotel's primary asset.
• Villa Giardino is a boutique property on the Makarska Riviera with a private garden, a pool, and views over the Adriatic. The combination of a well-appointed boutique hotel with direct sea access and the warm personal service of an owner-operated property makes it a very strong choice for the central Dalmatian coast.
• Hotel Adriatic is a heritage hotel in Rovinj, the most beautiful town in Istria, overlooking the harbour and the old town that rises above it on its peninsula. The historic setting, the excellent Istrian cuisine (truffle season begins in October, but summer produces its own exceptional dishes), and the hotel's position at the heart of the old town make Rovinj one of Croatia's most rewarding summer destinations.

The Netherlands

In summer, the Netherlands is at its most pleasant: the spring tulip fields have given way to lavender and sunflowers, the canal cities fill with outdoor tables and waterway activity, and Dutch cycling culture comes fully into its own on long summer evenings. Amsterdam, Leiden, Delft, Utrecht and The Hague all reward exploration, and the museum density — the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Mauritshuis, and dozens of smaller institutions — is extraordinary. The North Sea beaches at Scheveningen, Zandvoort, and Bloemendaal are warm enough to be enjoyed from June through August.

• Hotel Estherea is a family-run boutique hotel on Amsterdam's Singel canal, with 92 rooms spread across a series of canal houses and a warmth and personal character that larger Amsterdam hotels cannot match. Its canal-side location, carefully furnished rooms, and continuity of ownership give it a distinctive quality.
• Boutique Hotel Beekhuizen is a tranquil country house hotel in the Veluwezoom National Park, east of Amsterdam, with extensive gardens, a spa, and the quiet that Amsterdam's city hotels cannot provide. The woodland setting and the park's extraordinary landscapes offer a very different Netherlands experience from the canal cities.
• Nobel Hotel is a boutique hotel in Amsterdam with individually designed rooms and a strong sense of the city it inhabits — its position in the Jordaan neighbourhood gives it access to one of Amsterdam's most characterful residential areas.
• Hotel Flora Batava is a beautifully appointed boutique property in the Netherlands' flower-growing heartland, drawing on the country's deep horticultural culture. The rooms reference the tulip and bulb-growing heritage, and the surrounding polder and greenhouse landscape reflects the remarkable agricultural feat that is much of the Netherlands.

Still not sure? 

• Browse through our full list of accommodation options in Amsterdam,
• Refine your search to include our recommendations for the Best Hotels in Iceland with Hot Tubs or The Best Hotels in Serbia
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.