Best Places to Go for an August Bank Holiday
Five late-summer escapes, with smarter ways to beat the crowds and make a long weekend count.
An August bank holiday sounds like the perfect excuse for a long weekend abroad: warm seas, late evenings and a free Monday. But this is also a period when flights, popular hotels and famous sights can be busy. The best destination is not necessarily the hottest or the cheapest headline fare. It is the one that gives you the most enjoyable time away for the money and days you have.
Our five picks are Dubrovnik, Nice, Malta, Madeira and Copenhagen. They suit quite different priorities: swimming and history, Riviera city life, compact island culture, dramatic landscapes or a cooler northern summer. Here is how to choose intelligently rather than simply joining the busiest beach queue.
First, check which August bank holiday you actually have
Scotland's summer bank holiday is normally the first Monday in August; in England, Wales and Northern Ireland it is normally the last Monday in August. This distinction changes which flights and hotels you need, and the two weekends may have different prices. Check the official UK bank holiday calendar for your nation and year, and confirm your own employer's leave arrangements.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the late-August weekend also falls during the school summer holidays. That is a peak travel period, not an automatic bargain window. If you can add a day's leave, compare Thursday to Sunday, Friday to Monday, Saturday to Tuesday and Monday to Thursday rather than assuming the classic Friday-to-Monday trip is cheapest. Moving a day sometimes helps, but no particular weekday is reliably cheapest across every route.
Which August bank holiday destination suits you best?
- Dubrovnik: for a beautiful Old Town, sea dips and a memorable compact break, provided you plan around crowds and heat.
- Nice: for an easy airport-to-city transfer, seafront days, markets and French Riviera atmosphere without needing a car.
- Malta: for harbours, swimming, history and lively local summer events; hot, busy weather suits heat lovers.
- Madeira: for greenery, cliffs, mountain viewpoints and outdoor adventure rather than classic sandy-beach resort days.
- Copenhagen: for a cooler city break with waterfront swimming, cycling, food and long summer evenings.
Explore holidays departing on your dates
TripsByDate shows advertised package holidays across its wider inventory. The changing options below are not necessarily Christmas-week departures or packages to these five destinations. Use them as starting points, then compare your own dates and check the final price, availability and festive arrangements with the provider.
MAN • 7 nights
AI · easyJet holidays
LTN • 5 nightsHB · Skiline
BHX • 7 nightsHB · Skiline
LGW • 7 nightsSC · Ski LineThe August bank holiday value test: compare usable hours
A £300 short break with a midnight arrival and a 6am return can deliver far less holiday than a £350 break with sensible flights. Before deciding, write down four things: the time you can leave the destination airport, the transfer to your accommodation, the earliest check-in or luggage-drop options, and the time you must leave your hotel to return home.
Compare total trip cost per usable day, not just the per-person headline. Add baggage, local transport, transfers, tourist taxes where applicable, attraction admissions and meals. A central hotel can be worth paying more for if it saves two taxi journeys and precious evening hours.
1. Dubrovnik, Croatia: best for sea views and a dramatic Old Town
Dubrovnik is a beautiful choice for a bank holiday when you want something that feels special in three nights. Its walled Old Town, stone lanes, harbour views and easy access to the sea create a rare combination of history and summertime swimming. The downside is well known: August is high season, and the Old Town can feel much busier in the middle of the day than early morning or evening.
Three-night approach: arrive and enjoy a harbour-side evening; walk the city walls early on your first full day, then cool off at a beach; leave your second full day for the waterfront, a boat excursion if conditions allow or quieter streets once day-trippers depart.
Where to stay: an Old Town address is atmospheric, but check steps, luggage access and noise. A hotel just outside the walls may give you easier transfers and better value without losing convenient access. Do not assume all beaches shown in adverts have sand: many local swimming spots are pebbly or rocky.
Extra planning value: use the Dubrovnik Tourist Board to plan sights and check current admissions and opening times. If a cruise-ship-heavy day clashes with your plans, swap your wall walk for a beach or neighbourhood morning. August heat also makes midday a poor time for an exposed wall circuit.
2. Nice, France: best for an efficient Riviera weekend
Nice is a strong long-weekend option because you can combine the Promenade des Anglais, the old town, food markets and the Mediterranean without hiring a car. It feels unmistakably like summer, but it also has the infrastructure of a proper city: plenty to do if you want a break from the beach.
Why the journey matters: Nice Airport's official transport information shows tram line 2 connecting the airport terminals with the city centre and Port Lympia in under half an hour. A convenient direct flight and this easy transfer can turn a short stay into a substantial holiday rather than two travel days.
Plan a relaxed weekend: visit Vieux Nice and Cours Saleya, walk the seafront and Castle Hill viewpoints, then reserve time for a swim or a coastal excursion. Nice's beaches are generally pebbly; bring footwear you can wear on stones rather than packing as though you're going to a sandy resort.
Hidden calendar consideration: 15 August is a public holiday in France, and local opening patterns may differ around that date. The UK late-August bank holiday falls at a different time, so check any major sights, shops and transport for the dates you actually travel. France's public service guidance explains the national holiday.
3. Malta: best for a hot, activity-filled three-night escape
Malta has plenty to offer a short visit: Valletta's grand streets, the Three Cities across the harbour, historic Mdina and swimming spots along the coast. August brings genuinely hot Mediterranean weather, so it is better for travellers who enjoy full summer heat than anyone hoping for cool sightseeing conditions.
Pick a sensible base: Valletta and nearby harbour areas work well for city exploration, while beach-focused resorts may make more sense if swimming takes priority. On a three-night trip, trying to visit Valletta, Gozo, multiple beaches and every historic sight is likely to feel rushed.
Try this instead: devote a morning to Valletta, an afternoon to a swim, and one full day to your favourite mix of the Three Cities, Mdina or a boat outing. Put exposed sightseeing into the morning, plan a cooling lunch break and leave evenings for harbours and restaurants.
One experience worth looking for: Malta's summer village feasts bring local celebrations, decorations and events that do not fit into a standard beach-holiday description. Browse Visit Malta's official event calendar for the actual dates, rather than assuming an event repeats on the same bank-holiday weekend every year.
4. Madeira, Portugal: best for scenery, walks and active travellers
Madeira is the alternative to a conventional beach break: think Funchal's waterfront, dramatic cliffs, lush valleys and mountain scenery. It offers a different kind of August trip, especially for people who would rather explore landscapes than compete for sunbeds. The island has microclimates, so conditions at sea level can be very different from those in the mountains.
How to use three nights: stay in or near Funchal for restaurants and convenient touring; explore the city and coastal viewpoints on one day; choose just one main guided excursion or walk for the other. Hiring a car or joining a tour can be worthwhile, but budget for steep roads and travel time.
Important hiking rule: Madeira's classified PR trails require advance reservations through the regional SIMplifica platform. The official Visit Madeira trail guide provides current access rules, reservation instructions and open, restricted or closed trail statuses. Check it shortly before your trip; do not rely on an old blog's route description or assume a famous trail is open.
Not for everyone: if your dream is three days on a broad sandy beach, Madeira isn't the closest match on this list. If coastal views, gardens, mountain landscapes and good food sound appealing, it may be the most distinctive of the five.
5. Copenhagen, Denmark: best for cooler summer city energy
Copenhagen is worth considering precisely because it is not another very hot Mediterranean option. August can be excellent for strolling colourful harbour fronts, exploring neighbourhood cafés, cycling and enjoying the city's outdoor spaces. Expect changeable northern-European weather rather than guaranteed heat, and budget carefully: food, hotels and activities can add up.
A two- or three-night plan: explore Nyhavn and the central waterfront on arrival; spend a day on neighbourhoods, design, food markets or museums; and leave room for Tivoli, a canal tour or swimming if the weather is right. Booking too many prepaid activities defeats the point of a relaxed short break.
Unexpected summer bonus: Copenhagen has designated harbour swimming areas, including Islands Brygge and Sandkaj. The official Copenhagen visitor guide explains where swimming is allowed. Never assume every stretch of harbour is safe or permitted for swimming.
Money-saving angle: check whether your hotel includes breakfast, and compare airport-to-hotel transport and family room options before deciding that a cheaper-looking room is the better deal. Copenhagen is especially appealing if museums, dining and waterside city life matter more than temperatures.
Have an August long weekend free?
Compare departures by date, then choose the destination that gives you the most time away.
Explore holidays by dateHow to get better value without sacrificing the holiday
- Compare the days either side: try different departure and return combinations, including extending the trip by one day if your work schedule allows.
- Check nearby departure airports: an apparent fare saving is not useful if extra travel, parking or an overnight airport hotel costs more.
- Choose a base that fits the trip: central Nice or Valletta for sightseeing; a convenient Funchal base for scenery; a beach-accessible location if swimming is the priority.
- Be flexible about the destination: the same budget can buy a very different experience in Copenhagen versus Dubrovnik. Compare what you'll actually do, not just the weather icon.
- Check baggage policy: three nights may suit hand luggage, but personal-item-only tickets and cabin-bag allowances are not the same thing.
- Book popular experiences strategically: early wall visits, major museums or guided hikes may need advance arrangements; leave free time for weather changes.
- Keep the overall trip simple: one hotel, a short transfer and one main activity per day can be much better value than chasing five must-see attractions.
Which destination works for your group?
Couples: Dubrovnik for an atmospheric old town; Nice for dining and the waterfront; Madeira for scenery. Friends: Nice, Malta or Copenhagen offer straightforward mixes of evenings out and daytime exploring. Families: choose a hotel and flight schedule first, then consider Malta for pools and varied activities or Copenhagen for city attractions, with realistic expectations about crowd levels and costs.
Travellers who dislike heat: Copenhagen is the clear alternative, while Madeira's varied terrain may offer cooler excursions than a low-lying Mediterranean city. Anyone travelling to Dubrovnik or Malta in August should plan shade, hydration and a slower midday pace.
What about travelling outside the famous hotspots?
The infographics suggest choosing smaller places for better value, and that can work, but it is not automatic. A cheaper village hotel may require an expensive transfer or a hire car. Compare nearby towns around your chosen city, then add transport costs and the time lost each day. A less-famous destination with direct flights can be smarter than a remote bargain that requires multiple connections.
Frequently asked questions
Is the August bank holiday a cheap time to go abroad?
Not usually if you are restricted to the popular late-August weekend: school-holiday and bank-holiday demand can make flights and accommodation expensive. But there is no universal cheapest day. Compare alternative airports, trip lengths and travel dates, and be willing to switch destinations.
Where is best for a three-night August bank holiday?
Nice and Malta are excellent candidates for compact breaks; Dubrovnik can be memorable if you allow for summer crowds; Copenhagen is ideal when you prefer a cooler city break. Madeira offers rewarding scenery but benefits from slightly longer stays if you want several hikes or island excursions.
Which destination is warmest?
Malta and Dubrovnik generally offer hot summer conditions, with Nice also providing classic Riviera weather. Copenhagen is typically cooler. Madeira's weather varies considerably with altitude and location. Check the actual forecast shortly before travelling rather than treating a monthly average as a promise.
Is the Scottish August bank holiday on the same weekend?
No. Scotland normally observes its summer bank holiday on the first Monday in August, while England, Wales and Northern Ireland normally observe theirs on the last Monday. Confirm your dates via the government calendar.
Should I book a package holiday or flights and hotel separately?
Compare both where available, considering flight times, airport transfers, baggage and the booking's protections and conditions. For packages, check the provider's information and the Civil Aviation Authority's ATOL guidance. A cheaper total is only useful if you understand what is included.
More summer holiday ideas
Explore Where to Go on Holiday in August, Cheapest Holiday Destinations in August, Best Months for a European City Break, Best Places to Go for a May Bank Holiday and Where to Go on Holiday in September if you can travel after the peak.
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