When it comes to wistfully plotting trips to Europe’s sunniest destinations, we’re as guilty as anyone. But as heatwaves and high temperatures spread across the continent, we’ve found ourselves searching for ways to beat the heat instead of actively seeking it out. The latest travel trend we’re keeping an eye on is “coolcations”—vacationing to countries where the temperature is lower and more manageable in the summer months.
Based on the surge in travel searches for cooler summer destinations, new research by Inghams Walking reveals that coolcations are the new travel trend. The specialist tour operator tracked year-on-year search trends across general destination terms, hotel-related queries, and flight searches for nearly 100 cool-weather European spots. According to their findings, here are the top five emerging coolcation destinations in Europe, with number one recording the greatest popularity in travel searches. See the results—and inspiration for your next coolcation—below.
5. Lahemaa National Park, Estonia
Lahemaa in Estonia is not the only destination on this list that has the best hiking weather in the summer. With a maximum temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, visitors can avoid having to plan their outdoor activities—namely, long walks and wildlife-spotting—to avoid the summer heat. It stays pleasant all day as its northern European location means that the worst of the heatwave won’t quite reach it.
Where to stay: To really immerse yourself in Estonia’s rural landscape, take the one-hour drive to the tried-and-tested cabin in the woods, Mirror House, where one of our in-house editors set up camp for a few days of off-grid creative time. Read the full review here.
4. Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
It’s hard to find anywhere in Italy this summer that won’t be packed with crowds and too hot to handle. The Dolomites offer refuge, however, and Cortina d’Ampezzo has become the cooler alternative to more obvious tourist hotspots. By the time snow caps have melted, the icy white peaks melt into turquoise lakes against a backdrop of vibrant green mountains. Ski trips are swapped for hiking and golfing on the hillsides, and pleasant temperatures floating at around 63 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer make it a worthy coolcation stop.
Where to stay: Hotel de LEN—the modernist take on an alpine chalet—tops our list of hotel recommendations, closely followed by Faloria Mountain Spa Resort where Nordic-simple rooms are animated with dazzling mountain light from floor-to-ceiling windows.
