Don’t panic! This is the first rule. Here is another heat wave coming, and this time, they tell you, it will be terrible: temperatures above 40C degrees, fire risk, very high humidity. Your instinct tells you to hunker down indoors with the fridge open and the air conditioning on full blast… but what if you tried going out and going on a “Coolcation” instead? This revolutionary term, formed by merging the words “cool” and “vacation”, refers to the deliberate choice to escape the hot weather warnings by taking refuge in cooler places. A fad for the rich, at the moment, because only they can afford to buy a plane ticket last-minute and disappear in a flash at the first warning of a heat wave. But agencies are getting ready to turn the Coolcation into a vacation for everyone!
Hot summer? No thanks
Summer has always been synonymous with heat. We can’t wait for it to arrive so we can enjoy the outdoors without shivering. But since the climate is changing—and, believe us, the climate is really changing!—summer no longer rhymes with “sunny beaches”. Quite the opposite: today, tourists plan vacations in cool locations well in advance. Or at least places that have a reputation for being cool… though sometimes the crazy African climate hits Sweden harder than Sicily! The Coolcation is precisely this: the targeted and deliberate search for a summer… in the cool.
The Coolcation meter
There’s even a meter that measures the Coolcation trend. We could call it a “coolmeter,” or directly by its real name: Summer Heat Escape Index. It consists of a series of surveys that gauge the desires of travelers who have stopped loving the heat. And there are many! Where do these people want to go?
At the top of the list for new summer travel desires are Northern European countries. All of them! Scandinavia, of course, but also Denmark (Copenhagen Airport – CPH ), Poland, and the newcomer Iceland, which seems to have become the new queen of summer! Canada follows closely behind, as does northern Japan (Sapporo Shin Chitose Airport – CTS ). From the Baltics to the Arctic, anything goes, as long as it’s cool. And if that’s not enough, those who can can will circle the globe and land in Australia or South Africa, where July and August are winter months.
When to go on a Coolcation?
The ideal time for a “cool vacation” is during the warmest months, such as July and August. But many people leave as early as June, which has been experiencing prohibitive temperatures for some time now. However, the advice is to book early, perhaps starting to think about your Coolcation in March or April to calmly decide on the right place for you.
Benefits of this new trend
The first benefit of a cool vacation is, of course, the coolness! You may spend less time at the beach, but you’ll return feeling much more refreshed than after a long sweat in the Caribbean or Southern Italy. But another advantage is the economic one, and it’s no small thing! In fact, the search for Coolcations often leads to places that are usually ignored in the summer… for example, the Faroe Islands!… or to locations that are in the low season because they’re located in the opposite hemisphere where it’s still winter. There is a big difference between a vacation in Australia at Christmas and a vacation in Australia in mid-August!
Tips for your Coolcation 2026
So what are the coolest destinations for a Coolcation? Considering that this new trend originated in Europe, many European countries are at the top of the list. The pinnacle of European cool travel is, of course, Iceland, a blissful island where the highest summer temperature barely exceeds 20C degrees .
Next up, the Scandinavian nations’ charm is undeniable and perfect for a proper Coolcation. Sweden, Norway, and especially Finland, where a perpetually cool spring replaces the sultry summer heat from June to September.
Scotland and Ireland are tied for third place among the ideal destinations for those seeking cool weather. Persistently cloudy sky, light summer showers, and temperatures reminiscent of a Mediterranean early March open the doors to bookings for the “heat escapers”.
Next in the ranking are the great mountain ranges of Switzerland and Italy (Valle d’Aosta, Trentino-Alto Adige, Piedmont), although the height of the Alps no longer guarantees coolness, given the sudden spikes in average temperatures even in central Europe.
Last in the “cool” wish list is the Netherlands, undoubtedly very cool in summer but with a large presence of rivers and canals, which—in humid weather—tend to increase the feeling of heat despite everything.
Coolcations in other continents
Outside Europe, the ideal Coolcation destinations are Canada – especially its extreme provinces located almost on the edge of the Arctic Circle ; here, cold winters can last up to eleven months, and the summers are never truly hot. For the same reasons, Alaska attracts travelers seeking coolness on the opposite side of the continent. The island of Hokkaido, the icy north of Japan, welcomes those seeking coolness and the charm of a unique culture like that of the Land of the Rising Sun. Japan is never truly immune to strong waves of muggy humidity, but here in the far north it is greatly mitigated.
Finally, as mentioned, if you have the time and money, take the great journey in search of “other people’s winters”. In July and August, you can find refreshment in New Zealand, Australia’s southern regions (Tasmania, Melbourne), Chile, or South Africa. For the more adventurous, there’s nothing better than a Coolcation in Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego… where volcanoes slumber under meters of polar ice.
In short… long live the cool summer!
A Coolcation offers the incentive to enjoy a variety of activities in contact with nature. You can hike in the mountains, stroll through the woods, explore crystal-clear lakes, or visit small villages rich in history and tradition. The pleasant climate of these cool places allows you to stay outdoors longer, enjoy sports like cycling, kayaking and organize picnics.
Beyond the fun, this type of vacation helps reduce stress and restore well-being. Choosing a Coolcation means enjoying a different experience than usual, full of tranquility, nature, and the discovery of authentic places, creating unforgettable memories without having to face the intense summer heat.
