The 7 best places to ‘coolcation’ in Europe

Average temperature in August: 12-20C (53-68F)

With midnight sun and refreshing breezes from the Gulf Stream, Norway has just about the perfect climate for coolcationers. On the Svalbard archipelago, the sun doesn’t set at all until late August. For those wanting to stick to the mainland, the Norwegian fjords – long sea inlets, carved out by glaciers and scattered along Norway’s northwest coast – offer hiking, fishing and kayaking. And no Norway coolcation is complete without exploring Oslo, home of Scandi-cool.

The best things to do in Norway

Average temperature in August: 10-18°C (50-64.4°F)

Scots may grumble about the cold, wet weather during the winter, but in August, Scotland is the perfect oasis away from southern Europe. Obviously, there’s the world-famous Fringe festival in Edinburgh, and, thanks to the likelihood of cool weather, you won’t get too sweaty as you’re legging it from one show to the next. Outdoorsier types can head north and get a boat to one of the Scottish Hebrides, where they’ll find some of the most unspoiled beaches in the UK, or go hiking in the Highlands.

The most beautiful Scottish beaches

Average temperature in August: 8-13C (46-55F)

Tourists are often put off by Iceland’s inaccessibility but routes are now opening up to visit the Nordic island. Just forty minutes from Keflavik Airport is Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík, which hosts a huge pride festival every August. From there, intrepid travellers can traverse the Volcanic Way, a 700km route passing eight volcanoes, or hike across Thorsmork Glacier Valley. In the north, whale-watching boats set off from Akureyri, a city dramatically overlooked by Eyjafjordur fjord. While UK tourists will have to drive or take an internal flight to Akureyri for now, direct flights will be running from October 2024.

The best things to do in Iceland

Average temperature in August: 10-20C (50-68F)

Blanketed in snow and dotted with skiers, the Swiss Alps have an undeniable charm during the winter. But in the summer, they’re charming in a whole new, children’s storybook kind of way – with luscious grassy mountainsides, blooming wildflower meadows, and grazing alpine cattle. In eastern Switzerland, the Swiss National Park is home to some of the country’s rarest wildlife, from bears to lynxes to wolves. In southern Switzerland, tourists can head to the iconic ski resort of Saas-Fee for equally thrilling summer sports like mountain biking and hiking.

Switzerland’s best camping locations

Average temperature in August: 21-27C (69-80F)

Picture a summer holiday in Portugal and the Algarve probably springs to mind. But given the high temperatures and even higher numbers of people on the Portuguese coast, those of us who run hot might be better advised to head for Madeira. With a verdant, breezy climate, Madeira is nicknamed both ‘the island of eternal spring’ and the European version of Hawaii. It has mountains (filling the whole interior), beaches (such as Ponta Do Sol), natural pools (at Ponto Moniz) and delicious Madeiran wine (produced in and around Funchal). 

The best things to do in Madeira

Average temperature in August: 13-20°C (55-68°F)

Estonia enjoys a 2350-mile coastline and Pärnu is the jewel in its crown, a lively city with golden, sandy beaches where temperatures rarely exceed 20°C. Dubbed Estonia’s ‘summer capital’, the resort has museums, surf schools, restaurants, and a charming old town. But if even the modest hordes of Pärnu are too much, escape to the sleepy island of Saaremaa, where the old town centre boasts the highest number of spas per capita in the world.

Average temperature in August: 14-26C (57-78F)

Lake Bled is Slovenia’s biggest tourist magnet and you can see why. Crystal clear waters. A castle clinging on to a cliff for dear life. A medieval church sitting on top of an island. What’s not to like? But tourists might be less familiar with Lake Bohinj, less than thirty kilometres away. Because of its geology, Bohinj is a slightly cooler alternative to Bled – with colder water too – so if refreshment is the name of your summer holiday game, it’s surely worth the half-hour drive.

The best sustainable holidays in Slovenia