While a beach holiday is the dream for many, there has been a surge in holidaymakers looking for destinations with cooler temperatures, scenic landscapes and plenty to do.
Akureyri in Iceland has had the biggest spike in popularity, and offers tourists amazing whale-watching, must-see architecture and picture-perfect landscapes, without soaring temperatures that make it difficult to explore.
This comes from new research by experts at Ingham Walking, who looked at year-on-year search trends across destination terms, hotel-related queries and flight searches for nearly 100 European 'coolcation' spots.
While Iceland came first overall, Glen Coe in Scotland was on the list, offering the only UK option for those searching for something closer to home.
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|Akureyri in Iceland has picturesque landscapes and unique attractions
Europe’s top 20 ‘coolcation’ hotspots for 2025
- Akureyri, Iceland (264.13%)
- Tisvilde, Denmark (98.59%)
- Nuuk, Greenland (79.53%)
- Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy (64.16%)
- Lahemaa National Park, Estonia (55.99%)
- Lucerne, Switzerland (51.11%)
- Malmö, Sweden (50.99%)
- Arlberg, Austria (42.62%)
- Belgian Riviera, Belgium (40%)
- Ghent, Belgium (37.84%)
- Kraków, Poland (36.3%)
- Dolomites, Italy (35.36%)
- Glen Coe, Scotland (33.64%)
- Montreux, Switzerland (31.54%)
- Kranjska Gora, Slovenia (30.99%)
- Galway, Ireland (29.92%)
- Bern, Switzerland (29.72%)
- Schaan, Liechtenstein (28.59%)
- Alpach, Austria (28.52%)
- Gdańsk, Poland (27.79%)
Discussing the top result, the experts said: "While much smaller than Iceland’s capital city of Reykjavik, Akureyri is known as 'Iceland’s Capital of the North' and is the country’s second-largest settlement.
"It’s 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.
"With its picturesque landscapes, unique attractions and cool summer temperatures averaging 10-12°C, Akureyri is the ideal ‘coolcation’ destination for those looking to escape the sun."
This was followed in the rankings by Tisvilde, Denmark, which showed a remarkable 98.59 per cent increase in popularity. The experts continued: "The ‘coolcation’ with the second-biggest spike in traveller interest was found to be Tisvilde, a town on the north coast of Denmark.
"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.
"Tisvilde is often dubbed the 'Danish Riviera', and with it located just over an hour’s travel from Copenhagen, it’s perfect for holidaymakers looking to blend a city trip with some laid-back coastal charm.
"In the summer, the temperature in Tisvilde averages between 19-21°C, making it an ideal coastal escape. Warm enough to relax in the sun, but far from the sweltering temperatures of the usual European hotspots."
Overall, the research showed there is high demand to experience something a bit different from the usual summer holiday, and there are plenty of places worth visiting.
TRAVEL INSPIRATION
GETTY | If looking for something closer to home, Glen Coe was the only part of the UK on the list
Head of walking at Inghams Walking, Laura Mason, added: “Our data reveals a growing shift among travellers looking to move away from traditional sun-soaked destinations in favour of cooler climates.
“And search behaviour on Google supports this growing trend, with our research showcasing the ‘coolcation’ destinations across Europe that travellers are becoming increasingly interested in visiting.
“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.”