Will Heatwaves in Europe Push Holidaymakers to 'Coolcations'?
Searches for Copenhagen rooms jumped 246% and Oslo bookings rose 154% as travelers seek cooler summer destinations, Hotels.com and Fora said.
- European holidaymakers are increasingly snubbing Mediterranean destinations for cooler northern climes, a trend dubbed 'coolcations' that has surged in 2026. Searches for Copenhagen rooms on Hotels.com jumped 246 percent since May's first heatwave.
- New York-based Fora Travel advisor Jonna Robertson observed this shift globally, noting Oslo booking growth of 154 percent year-over-year. Searches for Dublin in Ireland have similarly risen by 151 percent as travellers look beyond traditional summer hotspots.
- Temperatures in Europe regularly climb toward 40 Celsius in The South, driving interest in cooler regions. Terje Viblom Pedersen, a guide in Stockholm, said tourists are 'amazed' by the sea breezes and cooler conditions found in Sweden.
- Swedish professor Stefan Gossling said temperature is only 'one aspect' of vacation planning, countering the 'coolcation' narrative. Exceltur reported spending by tourists in Spain rose more than eight percent in the second quarter of 2026.
- Travellers' choices depend on factors including pricing, security, and air connections beyond temperature alone. It remains unclear whether this 'coolcation' trend represents a durable market shift or a temporary response to recent extreme heatwaves across Europe.
26 Articles
26 Articles
European tourists, tired of repeated heatwaves, are now avoiding Mediterranean destinations in favor of cooler climates further north in the continent. Whether this is just a temporary fad or a permanent shift in the tourism market remains to be seen. With temperatures in Europe regularly dipping below 40 degrees Celsius (100°F) in the summer, cool...
The peak season is shifting to spring and autumn, and more travelers are heading north. These are some of the changes that tourism researcher Robert Pettersson sees ahead as fires and extreme heat become more common around the Mediterranean. At the same time, there is a paradox: despite fires, heat waves and evacuations, more people than before are traveling to southern Europe.
The 'coolcation' takes root amid rising temperatures
The new high season. The rise of the shoulder season. The advent of the “coolcation.” The tourism industry is adept at naming and claiming new travel phenomena. But the times when we choose to travel are undeniably shifting, and by extension, where we’re going. New findings from the popular tourism website Booking.com released in April show that more people – nearly three-quarters – factor in extreme weather, in particular heat, when choosing wh…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
