Just when you thought it was safe to pack away the desk fan, the heat is mounting a comeback. Following last week’s record-shattering European scorcher, forecasters warn the UK is due for a repeat performance. But instead of stripping off, plenty of us are packing bags for much crisper climes.
New data from travel agent Opodo shows a massive spike in travellers hunting for milder European getaways immediately after the heatwave. It is the rise of the ‘coolcation’ – the trend of deliberately booking northern destinations to swap heat rash for scenery and sweaty, sleepless nights for fresh fjord air.
So, where should we be headed? Well, with comfortable average temperatures in August from between 13-21C (55-70F), Gothenburg is top of the coolcation leaderboard, and it’s easy to see why. Sweden’s second city trades Stockholm’s crowds for canals, colourful clapboard houses and coastal air that makes a heatwave someone else’s problem.
Spend a day island-hopping the southern archipelago by ferry (a single transit pass covers the lot), then refuel on cinnamon buns in the Haga district, Gothenburg’s oldest neighbourhood, lined with 19th-century wooden houses in the city’s landshövdingehus style. No wonder search interest soared by 33 percent, right?
But, it’s not the only Swedish city worthy of a trip to flee the hot temperatures. Stockholm followed closely in second place, bragging similar weather conditions and an increase in search interest of 22 percent.
The city is spread across 14 islands, so there’s always water nearby to cool off in, plus an excellent public swimming culture if the sun does show up. Hellasgården’s lake is a short bus ride from the centre where locals go to escape the crowds. Wander Gamla Stan’s medieval old town, then catch the ferry out to the archipelago’s 30,000-odd islands for an afternoon that feels a world away from Mediterranean sunburn.
If you’re after even more inspo, destinations in Switzerland, Norway and Austria also claimed a spot on this ranking. Scroll on.
These are Europe’s top ‘coolcation’ destinations for summer 2026
- Gothenburg, Sweden
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Oslo, Norway
- Innsbruck, Austria
- Salzburg, Austria
❄️ Craving more cold comfort? Here are the best coolcations in Europe.
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