People are ditching beach holidays for these alternative destinations | Europe | Travel
With the summer holidays fast approaching, many people will be jetting off on their holidays to sun-filled coastal resorts, or for a seaside staycation right at home in the UK. However, not everyone will be heading off somewhere warm, with one recent change to holiday habits seeing people heading off to cooler destinations once the heat arrives in the UK.
Over the past few years, European holidaymakers have been increasingly opting for destinations with lower temperatures and less mass appeal than the usual beach spots—a new trend dubbed ‘coolcation’. Google searches for this term have risen by 624% this year. With this in mind, Inghams Walking has carried out an in-depth analysis of nearly 100 European destinations to determine the emerging ‘colocation’ hotspots for 2025.
Laura Mason, Head of Walking at Inghams Walking, said: “While countries like Greece and Spain have offered holidaymakers a chance to soak up the sun and get some much-needed Vitamin D, the heatwaves rippling across Europe in the past couple of years have undoubtedly shifted travellers to alternative travel for their summer breaks.
“Coolcations allow holidaymakers to foster a deeper connection with nature, often prioritising exploring the outdoors and personal wellbeing, and we hope our findings inspire those looking to mix up their typical travel this summer.”
Topping the list as the most popular ‘coolcation’ spot was Iceland’s second largest city Akureyri, known as the city’s ‘Capital of the North’.
The experts at Inghams note that there has been a whopping 264.13% increase in interest in visiting Akureyi among those looking for a cooler summer getaway.
This picturesque city, which has temperatures of 10-12°C in the summer, is home to the world’s most northerly botanical garden, a striking church designed by the same architect behind Reykjavik’s iconic Hallgrímskirkja, and some of Iceland’s best whale-watching tours.
Next on the list is Tisvilde, a beautiful town on the north coast of Denmark that is often dubbed the ‘Danish Riviera’, which is a perfect destination for holidaymakers looking to blend a city trip with some laid-back coastal charm.
Singing the praises of Tisvilde, the experts said: “Tisvilde is rich in culture and has several palaces and castles, charming colourful beach houses, miles of sandy beaches, and restaurants serving fresh catches from the surrounding waters.”
In the summer months, Tisvilde averages between 19 and 21°C , which means that while it’s warm enough to enjoy a day at the beach, it’s also far from the sweltering temperatures of the usual European hotspots.
From seaside towns on Iceland’s ‘Arctic Coast Way’ to unspoilt and rugged landscapes in the Scottish Highlands, there are plenty of choices for those looking for the perfectly cool getaway.
Popular ‘coolcation’ destinations:
- Akureyri, Iceland
- Tisvilde, Denmark
- Nuuk, Greenland
- Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
- Lahemaa National Park, Estonia
- Lucerne, Switzerland
- Malmö, Sweden
- Arlberg, Austria
- Belgian Riviera, Belgium
- Ghent, Belgium
- Kraków, Poland
- Dolomites, Italy
- Glen Coe, Scotland
- Montreux, Switzerland
- Kranjska Gora, Slovenia
- Galway, Ireland
- Bern, Switzerland
- Schaan, Liechtenstein
- Alpach, Austria
- Gdańsk, Poland
