13 Places Where the Summer Solstice Is Celebrated Around the World
From Stonehenge to Machu Picchu, you’ll want to add these to your list.
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The Summer Solstice is no ordinary day. It occurs around June 21st every year and not only does it officially marks the start of Summer, it’s the longest day of the year. As a result, it’s inspired skywatchers, shamans, architects, and mystics for millennia. And, because of that, ancient peoples have created or discovered some impressive structures attuned to its power.
We’ve gathered the most remarkable places on Earth where you can witness how different cultures celebrate the solstice or participate in honoring it yourself. From gatherings at Stonehenge to Egyptian temples and Incan festivals, here are some of the most magical places of Earth you’ll want to add to your list.
And while you should pin these to your Pinterest board, I’ve also included “how to get there” tips for every location, so you can actually go there. Book ahead, then pack your journal, charge your offerings, and get ready to honor the Sun.
1. Stonehenge, England
Stonehenge was constructed over 5,000 years ago by Neolithic peoples in what is now Wiltshire, England. Its iconic stone circle was finalized around 2500 BCE and while its exact purpose remains a mystery, but the monument aligns precisely with the sunrise on the summer solstice, suggesting it functioned as a ceremonial calendar. The Heel Stone, situated outside the main circle, frames the rising sun on June 21, illuminating the heart of the sacred site.
Every year, thousands of people from modern druids and other neo-pagans to curious travelers gather to witness and pay homage to this ancient alignment. It’s a rare opportunity to feel the energy of the past converge with the present. Unlike most days, access to the stones is permitted during the solstice sunrise, allowing for an intimate connection with one of the world’s most famous megalithic monuments. As the sun rises, the crowds cheer and the space buzzes with the joyful energy. It’s a lovely way to start the summer.
If you can’t make it, you can watch the Sunset the night before and the Solstice Sunrise live on The English Heritage’s YouTube channel.
How to get there:
Take a train from London to Salisbury (90 minutes), then a shuttle or tour to Stonehenge (about 30 minutes). Book early for solstice access, as the event draws large crowds and road closures will occur. I highly recommend booking a tour for this one.
2. Glastonbury Tor, England
The hill known as Glastonbury Tor rises above the Somerset countryside and has long been associated with myth and magic. Some believe it’s the legendary Isle of Avalon and King Arthur, while others associate it with the ley lines and the Earth’s energetic grid. At the summit are the ruins of a 14th century church dedicated to Saint Michael.
While Glastonbury doesn’t host a formal solstice festival, many modern pagans and spiritual seekers gather on the Tor to mark the solstice sunrise with ritual, music, and meditation. Informal ceremonies, drumming circles, and flower-offering rituals often take place.
How to get there:
Take a two-hour train from London to Castle Cary, then a 30-minute taxi or bus ride to Glastonbury. You can hike to the top of the Tor from town. It’s about 20 minutes uphill.
3. Grange Stone Circle, Ireland
Located near Lough Gur in County Limerick, the Grange Stone Circle is the largest stone circle in Ireland, comprised of 113 standing stones arranged in a near-perfect circle. It dates back to around 2,200 BCE and is believed to have been used by Neolithic and early Bronze Age peoples. Local legends tie the circle to the goddess Áine, associated with the sun, fertility, and midsummer in Irish mythology.
The circle is precisely aligned with the rising sun on the summer solstice. Each year, people gather before dawn to watch the sun rise over the eastern entrance stone, illuminating the circle in a dramatic and sacred display.
Unlike the more visited Stonehenge, a community solstice celebration is sometimes held at the nearby Lough Gur Heritage Centre, featuring storytelling, meditation, foraging, herbal workshops, and more.
How to get there:
Fly into Shannon Airport (about 1 hour away). You can rent a car and drive to Lough Gur Heritage Centre, then walk a short path to the circle. There are no large signs, so a GPS or local guide is helpful.
3. Dalarna, Sweden
If you’ve ever seen flower crowns, maypoles, and dancing in the golden light of late June, chances are you’ve glimpsed Sweden’s Midsommar. (The festival looks a lot like modern Beltane celebrations.) Midsommar is celebrated throughout Sweden but the region of Dalarna is widely considered the most iconic.
On Midsommar’s Eve, which is usually the Friday closest to June 24, villagers in Dalarna gather to decorate and raise the majstång (maypole), sing folk songs, and feast late into the sun-drenched night. The celebrations harken back to pre-Christian rituals designed to boost harvests and bless unions.
How to get there:
Fly into Stockholm, then grab a connecting flight to the Mora-Siljan Airport. Or, you can grab a train to Leksand or Rättvik in Dalarna County. Once there, book a local guesthouse or cabin and check village calendars for public Midsommar festivities.
4. Finland
Finland’s Juhannus (Midsummer) celebrations are rooted in ancient rites, fire worship, and forest magic. In the lake regions of Kangasala or Tampere, people celebrate with floating saunas, bonfires by the shore, and late-night swims under a sun that barely sets. Flower crowns and love spells are part of the traditions.
The celebration is traditionally held on the Saturday closest to June 24 and is deeply tied to honoring nature’s peak. If you’re looking for something more raucous, consider attending Solstice Festival Ruka, a three-day electronic music and art festival set against the midnight sun. Whether in nature or at a gathering, Juhannus is deeply woven into Finnish culture.
How to get there:
Fly into Helsinki, then take a two-hour train or bus to Tampere. Kangasala is a short ride from there. Book a cabin on a lake for the full Juhannus experience.
5. Electric Forest Festival, Michigan, USA
Set deep in the woods of western Michigan, the Electric Forest isn’t an ancient solstice experience, but it feels like one.
Held over the Summer Solstice, this four-day electronic music festival transforms the Michigan forest into immersive fairy-like dreamworld. Imagine lights strung through the trees like fireflies, secret pathways that lead to interactive art installations, and plenty of incredible music on stages set among the trees. Adding to that, is the fact tht the sun doesn’t set up there until nearly 10pm and plenty of the festival-goers are dressed in ethereal garb. It’s one of the most magical places I’ve gotten to experience that wasn’t a “magical place.”
How to get there:
Fly into Detroit or Grand Rapids, Michigan, then drive to Rothbury. Camping passes sell out fast, so book tickets and accommodations as early as possible.
6. Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, USA
Built between 850 and 1250 CE by the Ancestral Puebloans, Chaco Canyon was once a ceremonial and astronomical hub for the Southwest. The Great Kiva and massive stone complexes were constructed with celestial precision, many aligned with the solstices and equinoxes.
At Fajada Butte, a famous petroglyph known as the Sun Dagger is lit by a shaft of light on the summer solstice, bisecting a spiral in a perfect solar mark. Chaco’s remote location and preserved darkness make it an ideal spot for solstice skywatching.
While there are no large public solstice events, some skywatchers and archaeologists gather quietly on June 21 to witness the sun dagger phenomenon at Fajada Butte. Note that access to the butte itself is restricted to preserve the site.
How to get there:
Fly into Albuquerque, then rent an SUV or another high-clearance vehicle and drive 3 hours northwest to Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
7. Ásbyrgi Canyon, Iceland
Jónsmessa (St. John’s Mass), celebrated on June 24, is Iceland’s version of Midsummer. According to Icelandic folklore, cows gain the power of speech, seals become human, and herbs gathered on this night are extra powerful. While it’s not as widely celebrated as it is in Sweden or Finland, it’s still considered a mystical and liminal night.
This horseshoe-shaped canyon in Vatnajökull National Park is known in Icelandic folklore as the hoofprint of Sleipnir, Odin’s eight-legged horse. It is also believed to be the capital of the Hidden People (huldufólk). Jónsmessa is one of the four nights a year when you’re said to be most likely to encounter elves and spirits, and Ásbyrgi’s remote, echoing cliffs make it the perfect place to feel that veil thin.
Another cool spot worth checking out during the summer solstice, is Thingvellir. This breathtaking place is where Iceland’s first parliament met. It’s stunning any time of the year, but on Jónsmessa night locals sometimes gather herbs or take quiet walks. Plus, it’s just 45 minutes from Reykjavik.
How to get there:
Fly or drive to Akureyri or Reykjavik, then drive to Ásbyrgi, or link up with a tour group. Camping is available in the area, and it’s rarely crowded even in summer.
8. Temple of Karnak, Egypt
The Temple of Karnak, built and expanded over 2,000 years, starting around 1971 BCE, is one of the most important temple complexes in Egypt. It is considered to be the largest temple complex in the world and contains shrines to many of the Egyptian gods, including Ptah, Sekhmet, and Opet. But, the three primary gods the Temple of Karnak honors are the creator deity and Sun god Amun-Ra, as well as lion-headed goddess Mut, consort of Amun and a solar deity in her own right, and the Moon god Khonsu.
While the Great Temple of Amun-Ra within the temple is famously aligned with the rising sun at the winter solstice — and I have had the fortune to be in the temple complex near that time of year — it is the western gate of the temple aligns with the summer solstice sunset.
All around Luxor you’ll find temples connected to solar power. For instance, nearby on Southern end of the Avenue of the Sphinxes, you’ll find the Temple of Mut, a space dedicated to the lion-headed goddess. Within it are many statues of Sekhmet, the fierce solar warrior aspect of the goddess.
There are no public solstice ceremonies, but travelers and spiritual groups sometimes gather informally at sunrise or sunset to honor the solstice with meditation or quiet offerings near the temple’s western gate.
How to get there:
Fly into Luxor International Airport, then take a taxi or tour to the Karnak Temple complex, located just 3 km from central Luxor. I highly recommend hiring a reputable guide or Egyptologist to get the most out of your visit.
9. Machu Picchu, Peru
Built by the Inca Empire in the 15th century, Machu Picchu is perched high in the Andes and is thought to have served as a royal retreat and sacred astronomical center. At its heart lies the Intihuatana stone. It’s name means the Hitching Post of the Sun and it is believed to be an ancient solar clock or ritual device. During the winter and summer solstice, the sun casts no shadow at noon on the stone. (If you’re flying there in June, just remember that’s their winter solstice.)
There’s no official solstice festival on-site, but spiritual travelers and guides often hold sunrise meditations or offerings at Intihuatana around June 21. Access to the stone is now restricted to prevent damage, but the solstice energy is still palpable throughout the citadel.
How to get there:
Fly into Cusco, then take the train or trek the Inca Trail to Aguas Calientes. From there, it’s a shuttle or hike up to the site. Book well in advance, especially around solstice events.
10. Temple of the Sun, Peru
Held each June 24th, Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) is a modern reimagining of an ancient Inca celebration honoring Inti, the sun god, and the winter solstice. The event takes place at Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) and Sacsayhuamán in Cusco, where the Inca elite once led offerings to ensure the sun’s return and agricultural fertility. It’s at this time that the entire city erupts in colorful parades, music, and ceremonial reenactments.
The original festival took place on their winter solstice, but the modern-day reenactment occurs on June 24, which also coincides with Saint John the Baptist’s Day due to colonial-era Catholic influence.
How to get there:
Fly into Cusco, and explore on foot or via taxi. Inti Raymi events are held at Qorikancha and continue at Sacsayhuamán.
11. Almendres Cromlech, Portugal
Dubbed the “Portuguese Stonehenge,” the Almendres Cromlech complex dates back to around 5,000 BCE, making it one of the oldest known megalithic sites in Europe. There are about 90 stones, some featuring carvings and there are two large stones that mark the summer and winter solstice.
Every year, small groups of neo-pagans, druids, and astrologers gather at dawn on the solstice for quiet ceremonies or meditations. The site is open-access, so solstice mornings tend to draw respectful spiritual visitors.
How to get there:
Fly into Lisbon, drive to Évora (90 minutes), and then another 30 minutes to the site via a dirt road. Rent a car or book a tour. There’s little public transport here.
12. Ħaġar Qim, Malta
Ħaġar Qim is one of the oldest temple complexes in the world, dating back to 3600–3200 BCE, it is older than the pyramids and Stonehenge. Its name means “Worshiping Stones,” and many scholars believe the site was used for fertility rituals and solar ceremonies tied to the cycles of nature. The temple includes stone altars, goddess figurines, and an elliptical layout that feels intentionally cosmic.
According to Heritage Malta, “The sun’s rays form a crescent on a megalith in the chamber, transforming into a disc which finally sinks out of sight as though disappearing into the ground.”
Heritage Malta occasionally hosts guided solstice sunrise viewings at Ħaġar Qim and nearby Mnajdra. These events often sell out in advance so book early.
How to get there:
Fly into Malta International Airport, then drive or take a bus to the site near Qrendi, about 30 minutes south of Valletta, which you might recognize as King’s Landing from early seasons of Game of Thrones.
13. Adam’s Calendar, South Africa
Tucked into the rolling hills of Mpumalanga, Adam’s Calendar is a remote stone circle made by the Bokoni people that has been nicknamed “Africa’s Stonehenge.” Though the exact age is debated, and early claims of it being 75,000 years old have been debunked, the site likely dates back several hundred to a few thousand years. Made from dolomites, it’s one of the few known megalithic sites in southern Africa said to have solstice alignments.
Certain stones appear to align with the sunrise and sunset on the summer and winter solstices, leading some researchers to believe it functioned as a solar calendar. If you visit, honor the fact that the surrounding land is sacred to local communities, so respectful, low-impact travel is essential.
How to get there:
Fly into Johannesburg, then drive 4–5 hours east to Kaapsehoop or Waterval Boven. You’ll need a local guide to visit the site. Look for one who respects both the cultural context and natural environment.
