Best Places to Visit by Month: 10 Picks for Every Month for Malaysians

Many Malaysians plan a holiday around school holidays or public holidays, and only then look for a country that fits. However, the same country can feel completely different from month to month: snowy and cold, very hot, rainy or packed with tourists. For this reason, this guide lists 10 destinations for every month from January to December, with a short reason why that month works. Also, dates for blossoms, autumn leaves and snow can shift a little each year, so check the current forecast before you book.

How to use this list

Using this list of the best places to visit by month is simple. First, start with the month of your holiday, then pick the kind of trip you want: snow, flowers, beaches or mild weather for walking. Then, before you book, check three things: public holidays in that country (for example Golden Week in Japan or China’s national holiday), ticket prices during Malaysian school holidays, and halal food options there. Treat this list of the best places to visit by month as a general guide, not a weather promise, because seasons can come a few weeks early or late.

One more tip: countries in the southern hemisphere such as Australia and New Zealand have the opposite seasons to Japan and Korea. For example, when Korea is in winter in December, Australia is in summer. So if you want snow during the mid-year school holidays, Australia and New Zealand are the closest options. For current season forecasts, check official tourism sites such as JNTO for Japan and Visit Korea for Korea.

Best places to visit by month: January

1. Hokkaido, Japan: full snow season, good for playing in the snow and skiing in Niseko. See also places to visit in Japan.
2. South Korea: winter, with snow in the Gangwon mountains and at ski resorts.
3. Melbourne and Sydney, Australia: summer, long days and good beach weather.
4. Queenstown, New Zealand: summer, good weather for outdoor activities and road trips.
5. Chiang Mai, Thailand: the cool, dry season in northern Thailand, with crisp, pleasant mornings.
6. Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc, Vietnam: the dry season in southern Vietnam.
7. Dubai, UAE: winter in the Gulf, with milder weather for being outdoors.
8. Cairo and Luxor, Egypt: lower temperatures, good for visiting the pyramids and ancient temples.
9. Cappadocia, Turkey: winter, with a chance of snow on the rock formations.
10. Lapland, Finland: snow season and a chance to see the aurora borealis.

February: snow, Chinese New Year and dry weather

1. Sapporo, Japan: the Sapporo Snow Festival is usually held in early February, with ice and snow sculptures.
2. Seoul and Gangwon, Korea: still winter and snowy. See places to visit in Korea.
3. Hong Kong: Chinese New Year festivities (the date changes each year, January or February) and cool, comfortable weather.
4. Perth and the Gold Coast, Australia: summer, good for the beach.
5. New Zealand: late summer, less crowded than December and January.
6. Phuket and Krabi, Thailand: dry season on the Andaman coast, when the sea is usually calm.
7. Dubai, UAE: still cool and pleasant.
8. Istanbul, Turkey: winter, sometimes with snow.
9. Egypt: cool, comfortable weather for historical sites.
10. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: the dry season continues.

March: the end of winter and the first cherry blossoms

1. Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan: cherry blossoms usually start to bloom in late March.
2. Jinhae, Korea: the Jinhae cherry blossom festival usually runs from late March to early April.
3. Keukenhof, the Netherlands: this famous tulip garden usually opens from mid March to May.
4. Samarkand and Bukhara, Uzbekistan: spring begins, with pleasant weather for walking.
5. Hanoi and Sapa, Vietnam: spring in the north, milder than winter.
6. Taiwan: spring with moderate weather.
7. Hong Kong: mild weather before the summer heat.
8. Istanbul and Cappadocia, Turkey: spring begins.
9. Melbourne, Australia: early autumn, cooler and comfortable.
10. Jordan: spring, a good time for Petra before the summer heat.

April: cherry blossoms, tulips and Songkran

1. Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan: cherry blossoms usually peak in early April.
2. Seoul, Korea: cherry blossoms in Seoul usually bloom in early April.
3. Keukenhof, the Netherlands: April is usually the best time to see the tulips.
4. Istanbul, Turkey: the Istanbul tulip festival takes place in April.
5. Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand: Songkran is celebrated from 13 to 15 April. Read places to visit in Thailand.
6. Srinagar, Kashmir: the Srinagar tulip garden opens from around late March to April.
7. Uzbekistan: spring, ideal for the Silk Road cities.
8. Beijing, China: pleasant spring weather before the heat.
9. Bali, Indonesia: the dry season usually starts around April.
10. New Zealand: autumn, with colourful leaves.

May: spring and the east coast islands

1. Pulau Redang and Perhentian: the island season on the east coast of the Peninsula usually runs from around March to October.
2. Hokkaido, Japan: cherry blossoms bloom later in the north, around late April to early May.
3. South Korea: spring, with pleasant weather before the rainy season.
4. Cappadocia, Turkey: good weather for hot air balloon rides.
5. Switzerland: green valleys and Alpine views in spring.
6. London, United Kingdom: longer days and gardens in bloom.
7. Paris, France: spring, good for exploring on foot.
8. Bali, Indonesia: dry season.
9. Yogyakarta, Indonesia: dry season, good for Borobudur and Prambanan.
10. Uzbekistan: late spring before the summer heat.

June: snow in Australia and summer in Europe

1. Snowy Mountains, Australia: the snow and ski season in Australia usually runs from June to September.
2. Queenstown, New Zealand: the ski season begins.
3. Bali, Indonesia: dry season. See places to visit in Indonesia.
4. Lombok, Indonesia: dry season, good for beaches and the Gili Islands.
5. Hokkaido, Japan: lavender in Furano starts to bloom around late June.
6. Switzerland: hiking trails in the Alps start to open.
7. London and Paris: early summer with long daylight hours.
8. Istanbul, Turkey: summer begins.
9. Pulau Redang and Perhentian: still island season.
10. Yogyakarta, Indonesia: the dry season continues.

Best places to visit by month: July

1. Furano, Hokkaido: lavender usually peaks in July.
2. Switzerland and Austria: summer, when the lakes and mountains look their best.
3. Masai Mara, Kenya: the great wildlife migration usually runs from around July to October.
4. Bali, Indonesia: the height of the dry season.
5. Lombok, Indonesia: dry season, good for climbing Rinjani.
6. Australia: snow season in the mountains.
7. New Zealand: ski season.
8. Pulau Redang and Perhentian: the sea is usually calm for snorkelling.
9. Turkey: summer, good for the Aegean coast.
10. London, United Kingdom: summer with long days.

August: summer and dry season

1. Switzerland and Austria: still a comfortable summer in the mountains.
2. Bali, Indonesia: dry season.
3. Lombok, Indonesia: dry season.
4. Masai Mara, Kenya: wildlife migration season.
5. Hokkaido, Japan: a cooler summer than southern Japan.
6. Australia: snow season.
7. New Zealand: ski season.
8. Pulau Redang and Perhentian: island season continues.
9. Iceland: summer, when most roads and trails are open.
10. Turkey: summer.

September: the shift into autumn

1. Hokkaido, Japan: Japan’s earliest autumn leaves start in the Hokkaido highlands.
2. South Korea: early autumn. Watch out for the Chuseok holiday, whose date changes each year.
3. Turkey: cooler weather after the summer.
4. Switzerland and Europe: early autumn with fewer crowds.
5. Bali, Indonesia: still dry season.
6. Lombok, Indonesia: still dry season.
7. Masai Mara, Kenya: the migration season continues.
8. Uzbekistan: a pleasant autumn.
9. Beijing, China: autumn begins, with comfortable weather.
10. Lapland, Finland: the aurora borealis season begins.

October: best places to visit by month for autumn leaves

1. South Korea: autumn leaves start at Seoraksan, then reach Seoul in late October.
2. Japan: autumn leaves in Hokkaido and the mountains, before Tokyo and Kyoto in November.
3. China: a pleasant autumn. Avoid the national holiday week in early October, as it gets very crowded.
4. Taiwan: cooler and drier weather.
5. Turkey: a comfortable autumn.
6. Uzbekistan: autumn, good for visiting the old cities.
7. Kashmir: the chinar trees change colour in autumn.
8. Nepal: October and November are among the best months for trekking.
9. Switzerland: autumn in the mountains.
10. Bali, Indonesia: the end of the dry season.

November: autumn in Japan and mild weather in the Middle East

1. Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan: autumn leaves usually peak in mid to late November.
2. Seoul, Korea: the end of autumn in early November, before the weather turns cold.
3. Chiang Mai, Thailand: Loy Krathong and Yi Peng are celebrated on the full moon night, usually in November.
4. Phuket and Krabi, Thailand: the dry season on the Andaman coast begins.
5. Hanoi, Vietnam: a cool, pleasant autumn.
6. Dubai, UAE: the weather turns pleasant after the summer.
7. Egypt: temperatures start to drop, good for historical sites.
8. Nepal: trekking season continues with clear skies.
9. Taiwan: cool, dry weather.
10. Sydney and Melbourne, Australia: spring with pleasant weather.

December: winter up north and summer down south

1. South Korea: winter begins and snow usually falls around the end of the month.
2. Hokkaido, Japan: the snow and ski season begins.
3. Switzerland and Austria: snow in the Alps and a wintry feel in the towns.
4. Lapland, Finland: deep snow and a chance to see the aurora borealis.
5. Australia: summer.
6. New Zealand: summer.
7. Dubai, UAE: a pleasant winter.
8. Egypt: cool, comfortable weather.
9. Chiang Mai and Phuket, Thailand: the cool, dry season.
10. Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc, Vietnam: the dry season begins. See places to visit in Vietnam.

Travel food for the best places to visit by month

Whichever of the best places to visit by month you choose, eating abroad can be a challenge, especially in countries that are not Muslim-majority or in remote areas. But many countries restrict bringing in meat products. Japan and Korea ban meat products without inspection certificates, Thailand requires a permit and a declaration, while Vietnam and Indonesia generally require a permit or a health certificate.

• Going abroad: do not bring chicken or meat dishes. Choose meat-free food such as retort white rice.
• Fish and prawn based products follow different rules in each country. Declare them if you are unsure.
• Domestic trips such as to the east coast islands or a road trip are not bound by these quarantine rules.

To find halal food in popular destinations, read our guides to halal food in Japan, halal food in Korea, halal food in Thailand, halal food in Vietnam and halal food in Hong Kong. For packing, see our travel packing tips and travel food guide.

FAQ about the best places to visit by month