July and August are the high season in many destinations, and you’ll often find advice to avoid certain locations during this period. I’m not so sure.

I’ve visited all sorts of popular places during these months and had sensational trips. Cooler spots like Norway, Iceland, Hokkaido and New Zealand come immediately to mind, but there’s no need to confine yourself to them. I once went to London specifically in August in order to access royal sites like Buckingham Palace, which is closed to the public most of the year.

Rome, Florence and Venice, though infamously crowded in peak months, can be hugely rewarding to revisit. If you’ve already seen iconic attractions like the Colosseum, the Uffizi and St. Mark’s Square, you can delve into wonderful lesser-known gems and neighborhoods, thus avoiding the masses while still enjoying the warm weather.