Why Cooler-Weather Countries Could Be Hot This Summer

10 destinations worth considering to get out of the heat

a hiker walking over a footbridge in Europe

Get away from the warm temperatures in southern Europe with a trip to northern Europe. Here, a view from Sandavágur, Vágar, in the Faroe Islands.

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Bill Fink,

Updated June 18, 2025

AARP

En español

Published March 28, 2024

/ Updated June 18, 2025

After record-breaking heat the past few summers in southern Europe, with one location reaching an astounding 119.8 degrees, many travelers are looking to destinations in northern Europe, such as Scandinavia, Scotland and Iceland, rather than the figurative and literal “hot spots” of Italy, Spain and Greece. They are even looking to cooler destinations in South America, Japan, South Africa and New Zealand.

“Destinations like Norway, Greenland, Scotland, Ireland and the Faroe Islands [were] especially popular [in 2024],” said Scott Abbott, director of product at Wilderness Travel, in an email to AARP. Given that Wilderness Travel’s primary clients are above the age of 50, “having confidence that you’ll be comfortable while exploring these places and be able to enjoy your vacation is a very understandable consideration.”

Extreme weather and climate change probably will have a major impact on travel decisions now and into the future. “Forget chasing the sun. Future travelers will instead be seeking shade as destinations which are popular today will be rendered inhospitable by rising temperatures,” according to a Future Laboratory study sponsored by tour operator Intrepid Travel. There is already a “chasing the shade” trend, with “a shift away from beach vacations to cooler destinations in summer months, with parts of Scandinavia and the Baltic … predicted to emerge as top options for those looking to avoid the high summer heat,” said Matt Berna, Intrepid Travel’s president of the Americas, in an emailed statement.

Travelers may even want to consider the Arctic Circle as a potential summer destination. “We are seeing substantial interest in northern destinations as a way for travelers to escape the heat and crowds that have become synonymous with Europe in the summer,” said Stefanie Schmudde, senior vice president, global product strategy for luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent, in an email to AARP. “Many [travelers] are shifting their focus away from traditional European destinations and heading to cooler places, like Norway and even the Arctic.”

The increased demand toward the north is reaching travel advisers as well. The Virtuoso travel network reports they “are seeing increased demand for cooler weather destinations like Scandinavia, where Virtuoso bookings for summer [2024] climbed by 77 percent compared to 2023.”

“I have had a few clients shift [destination] due to temps getting unbearable, and I’ve been advising many to do so,” Jessica Parker, founder of the Trip Whisperer Agency, tells AARP. Kaleigh Kirkpatrick, travel adviser and founder of The Shameless Tourist, shares that she has clients “headed to Scandinavia and Scotland, noting that they were averse to the [southern European] temps.”

For those travelers potentially interested in chasing more moderate temperatures to northern Europe and other destinations this summer and beyond, here are 10 cool destinations that may be worth exploring.

a town near a body of water in the forefront with a mountain behind it

A trip to Akureyri, a town on the northern coast of Iceland, is a chance to be immersed in history, culture and nature.

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Akureyri, Iceland

Iceland has become a very popular destination in recent years, but many visitors just visit the easily accessible capital city of Reykjavík and nearby attractions like the famed Blue Lagoon hot springs. Icelandair offers free stopovers in Reykjavík to passengers on its transatlantic flights, an easy way to get a taste of this cool location.

Travelers looking for more of an immersion into Icelandic history, culture and nature may enjoy a road trip around the country, with Akureyri, a town on the northern coast of the island, as a featured destination. Intrepid Travel said its most booked tour in the summer of 2023 by American travelers was its Icelandic Discovery itinerary along this route.

Akureyri, a scenic town of around 19,000 inhabitants just south of the Arctic Circle, boasts a relaxed atmosphere far from the hustle and bustle of the capital. The walkable city features a history museum highlighting the region’s past and present, nearby hiking and waterfalls, whale-watching tours and even a botanic garden.

aerial view of the fjords in Bodø, Norway

Bodø, Norway, sits within the Arctic Circle. Here, an aerial view of the fjords around Bodø.

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Bodø, Norway

If you’re looking to head north in Europe this summer, you can’t get too much farther than Bodø, Norway, inside the Arctic Circle. “Regarding cool places to visit in Norway this summer, Bodø is definitely a must,” says Innovation Norway’s PR manager, Harald Hansen.

This colorful city of about 50,000 was a European Capital of Culture for 2024, with an extensive series of festivals, events, art exhibitions and concerts to entertain and educate visitors throughout the year. And you’ll have plenty of time each day to enjoy the city in the summer since the midnight sun is in full effect, with sunlight 24 hours a day in Bodø from approximately May 31 through July 12.

Touring Bodø’s museums, design-forward boutiques and restaurants can fill a summer day in town, while outside the city limits, boat tours and hiking opportunities abound, including excursions to clamber over Svartisen, one of Europe’s largest glaciers — definitely a cool summer activity.

a small country home in the Faroe Islands

A vacation in the Faroe Islands, including Tórshavn, or Thor’s Harbor, is off the beaten track.

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Faroe Islands

This archipelago of 18 islands located about halfway between Scotland and Iceland has cool summer temperatures (with highs in the mid 50s), spectacular scenery of sea cliffs, waterfalls and lush farmlands, unique local cuisine and its own Nordic culture and history. It’s a special destination for those willing to travel off the beaten path.

The Faroe Islands in summer feature multiple music and cultural festivals, great hikes, farm visits, museum tours and art galleries. And you can saunter by the brightly painted buildings of the capital city of Tórshavn (Thor’s Harbor).

The archipelago of Göteborg, Sweden, is reminiscent of the northeastern U.S.

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Göteborg, Sweden

“The phenomenon of ‘coolcation’ … is definitely a hot topic here,” says Visit Sweden media representative Victoria Sallmann, referring to the trend of vacationing in cooler destinations. “The diversity of cool water options [in Sweden], whether it’s the extensive coastlines, lakes or archipelagos, is increasingly appealing to international visitors.”

A good place to experience such a coolcation is in and around the city of Göteborg, on the west coast of Sweden. According to Visit Sweden, American guest visits there increased more than 53 percent from 2022 to 2023, showing the city’s increasing popularity.

Göteborg is a great place to visit in summer not just for the history and culture of this strategic port town dating to the 17th century but for a trip to the nearby archipelago. These islands are evocative of the U.S. northeast, with hardy fisherfolk still earning a living on trawlers mixing with summer visitors who come to enjoy the cool ocean breezes, fresh fish fries and even a few sandy beaches. On the nearby island of Vrångö, Håkan Karlsten, owner of the Kajkanten boutique hotel, notes a trend shift, with guests “saying that they choose a Swedish/Nordic vacation instead of a Mediterranean one, both due to climate changes and costs.”

One notable benefit of visiting a northern destination in summer is sharing in the joy of the locals who have been cooped up all winter. Visit Göteborg in summer and you’ll see the parks, outdoor cafés and patio bars full of smiling people leaning back and slowly rotating their faces to soak in the sweet — and not too hot — summer sunlight.

the ring of brodgar on a hill in Scotland

The Ring of Brodgar is a neolithic stone circle in Orkney Islands, Scotland.

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Orkney Islands, Scotland

Scotland’s famously inclement weather “isn’t a key motivator for visiting,” says public relations representative Jessica Barnes of VisitScotland. But the saying “It’s possible to experience four seasons in one day,” as Barnes notes, may become a selling point to visit the country during these summers of extreme heat.

Visitation is increasing to Scotland with “record demand … added from the U.S. over the last year,” including a 70 percent increase in spending compared with pre-pandemic numbers, Barnes says.

For a cool, off-the-beaten-track summer destination in Scotland, head to the country’s “Wild North.” “[We] definitely have seen a strong interest in places like the Orkney Islands,” says Wilderness Travel’s Abbott, regarding the island chain located off Scotland’s northern coast. With the islands’ great hikes and famed neolithic monuments, tours there “have been especially popular” recently, according to Wilderness Travel.

a building with Japanese architecture surronded by trees

In the mountainous Japanese countryside, you can marvel at the multi-leveled Tsuraga Castle.

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Tohoku region, Japan

Japanese summers can be oppressively hot and humid, which is why travelers in the know head north to the cooler mountainous Japanese countryside. The Tohoku region offers scenic nature hikes, peaceful temples and cultural attractions, including Aizuwakamatsu, “the land of the Samurai.” Tour traditional samurai homes, marvel at the many-leveled Tsuraga Castle, shop for traditional Japanese pottery and lacquerware and sip some of Aizuwakamatsu’s famous miso soup and warm local sake on a cool evening. Nature lovers can explore countryside hikes, including to the 6,000-foot summit of Mount Bandai, a “destination dupe” for the over-visited Mount Fuji.

people riding a ski lift on a snowy mountain

When it’s summer in the U.S., it’s winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Head to Catedral Alta Patagonia in Argentina, one of South America’s top ski resorts.

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San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina

When it’s summer in the U.S., it’s winter in the Southern Hemisphere. High temperatures in this town — nearly 1,000 miles southwest of Buenos Aires — are generally in the 40s from June through August. The scenery is stunning, with the snow-capped Andes mountains on the shores of dazzling blue Lake Nahuel Huapi, about 2,500 feet above sea level. So, while you won’t be going to the beach, the town is commuting distance to Catedral Alta Patagonia, one of South America’s top ski resorts. Influenced by its European immigrant heritage, Bariloche has earned the title of “Argentine Capital of Chocolate”; more than two dozen chocolate shops populate the area.

a person sits facing multi-colored mountain dunes

From Cusco, Peru, you can travel to the Rainbow Mountains.

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Cusco, Peru

At more than 11,000 feet above sea level, Cusco can be chilly year-round, but June through August are the driest months, with plenty of sunshine for outdoor activities and exploring. Daytime highs average in the 60s, due to high elevation. Walk along Cusco’s cobblestone streets to discover the city’s amazing architecture, deep history, colorful markets and tasty cuisine. Restored historic buildings provide luxury lodging. And you can take a train to see Machu Picchu, a marvel in the mountains.

elephants walk under a tree near a watering hole

During the dry season, it’s easier to see animals such as elephants at Kruger National Park.

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Kruger National Park, South Africa

June through August are Kruger’s driest months, averaging less than an inch of rain during the whole period. The lack of greenery is a bane for animals but a boon for visitors, with “incredible wildlife viewing as the bush is less dense and green, making lions, elephants, giraffes and other creatures easier to spot,” says Dervla Pinto, the head of Africa sales and product for the tour operator Vaya. “You also tend to find more active wildlife as the sun is not baking things.” Also consider adding Botswana’s Okavango Delta to a summer safari to South Africa. June through September is the Delta’s famed “flood” season, when animals gather around floodwaters, making for spectacular concentrated viewing opportunities in cooler weather.

a person walks down a walkway in a wooded area near hot springs

Rotorua, New Zealand, is known for its hot springs. From June to August, average high temperatures linger in the low 50s.

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Rotorua, New Zealand

The hot springs capital of geothermally active New Zealand, Rotorua offers both natural hot spring excursions and luxury spa experiences. From June to August, average high temperatures linger in the low 50s, perfect conditions for a hot mineral water soak and a stay at a cozy inn. A little outside town, the Hell’s Gate Geothermal Reserve and Mud Spa offers therapeutic mud soaks and tours around its otherworldly steaming landscape. Rotorua is also notable for local indigenous Māori culture. Visitors can watch a traditional Haka performance and explore Māori arts and crafts at the Te Puia cultural center in Rotorua. Te Puia also showcases New Zealand’s native kiwi birds in its conservation center.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published March 28, 2024. It has been updated to reflect additional information.

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Bill Fink is an award-winning travel writer covering global adventures for BBC, Lonely Planet, Thrillist and many other outlets. Follow him @finktravels.