Photography: Mike Pietersen
Photography: Luke Kelly
Summer travel is getting… well, a little warmer. As heat waves and increasing temperatures reshape the way we move around the world, more travelers are swapping sun-scorched cities for destinations where the air is cool, the days stretch long, and packing a light sweater is a must. Enter the ‘coolcation’, a term rooted in the simple pleasure of going somewhere slightly colder and refreshingly calm in the warmer months. It’s a trend shaped by travelers wanting a version of summer that doesn’t require shade-hopping or an endless rotation of SPF. So whether you're planning a honeymoon or just seraching for a vacation that feels invigorating in all the right ways, a coolcation might just be the move. From alpine towns to Nordic harbors, these are the 14 places offering a cooler way to do Summer 2026.
Photography: Blaine Scinta
Photography: Mike Pietersen
The Dolomites, Italy
A longtime favorite of hikers and design lovers, the Italian Dolomites are having a moment. With the region trending across For You Pages and new hotels opening at a steady clip, summer here feels more exciting than ever. Summer here feels crisp and golden, with morning hikes that turn into long lunches on sun-soaked patios. It’s the kind of place where you pack a fleece and your favorite book.
Forestis Dolomites
Forestis Dolomites
Chamonix, France
Chamonix in summer feels expansive: wildflower paths, sharp Alpine ridgelines, and that electric mountain air that hits the second you arrive. The trails here are genuinely beautiful — from the hiking routes that open onto sweeping valley views to the Lac Blanc hike, where the water mirrors the surrounding peaks on a clear day. And after hours on the mountain, the rhythm shifts to outdoor cafés where everyone is still in their hiking boots at dinner.
Photography: Rod Trevino
Photography: Mike Pietersen
St. Moritz, Switzerland
The jet-set winter icon is unsurprisingly just as chic in the summer, but summer reveals a softer, more scenic version of it. St. Moritz swaps snow for glassy lakes, mountain trails, and the kind of crisp mornings that make you want to walk everywhere. It’s polished, quiet, and effortlessly chic — a European classic, reimagined for warm-weather travelers.
Klum Hotel
Grand Hotel Survetta House, Content: Broken Rackets
Bariloche, Patagonia
Bariloche sits in Argentina’s Lake District, where the Andes meet deep-blue water and summer feels crisp and wide open. Summer days here unfold with boat rides on Lake Nahuel Huapi, hikes through fragrant pine forests, and viewpoints that make the whole region look like a storybook. It’s cooler, calmer, and easier to reach than the wilder corners of Patagonia, making it the ideal base for anyone wanting mountain air without going fully off-grid.
Content: Marco Miglionico
Content: Marco Miglionico
Faroe Islands, Denmark
For a remote and consistently cool summer destination, the Faroe Islands just north of Scotland are ideal. The otherworldly landscape features cliffs wrapped in mist, tiny grass covered-roof villages, and the most consistent sweater weather imaginable. Summer means long days, quiet roads, and a pace that feels almost meditative. It’s definitely for travelers who want to immerse themselves in raw beauty but without crowds.
Photography: Ilhan Eroğlu
Photography: Chris Roams
Tofino, British Columbia
Tofino is where people head when they want ocean weather that stays comfortably cool. Set on the western edge of Vancouver Island, it’s the kind of place where mornings often start with mist over the beach, and by afternoon you’re wandering into town for coffee or sitting on the sand watching surfers in the distance. Summer feels calm here in a way that doesn’t have to be manufactured.
Photography: Kasuni Rankoth
Photography: Jordan Richard
Lofoten Islands, Norway
Lofoten feels almost unreal in summer — the kind of place where the light stays late and the landscape that feels both rugged and calm at the same.Spend your days moving between small places like Henningsvær and Reine, wandering harbors lined with red fisherman cabins, or take a quick cold dis after a coastal hike. There’s a simplicity to being here: calm roads, crisp air, and design-forward cabins perched over the shoreline. It’s still perfect for travelers who appreciate a minimalist, well-designed stay.
Photography: Johannes Hulsch
Photography: Julia Pylak
Reykjavík, Iceland
Reykjavík sits firmly on most of our bucket lists, and summer is when it feels most alive. The city is the perfect launchpad for Iceland’s long days — geothermal pools, coastal walks, and road trips that are low-stress thanks to the endless daylight. Reykjavík itself feels playful and creative when the weather warms: small enough to explore on foot, big enough to stay interesting, and always cool enough to never feel stuffy.
Photography: Luke Kelly
Photography: Kirsten Alana
Skåne, Sweden
Southern Sweden’s countryside has a quietly luxurious feel. The environment here features rolling fields, farm-to-table restaurants, Baltic breezes, and those extra crisp Scandinavian nights.Summer moves at its own pace here — you bike around, visit a few small beaches, browse a shop or two, and end up in cafés that feel more like beautifully decorated homes. It’s a countryside escape with a modern twist.
Photography: Katie Gothenburg
Photography: Giulio Gröbert
Copenhagen, Denmark
If you love design (and a little sweet treat), then Copenhagen is the place to be in summer. The city feels alive — bike-filled streets, locals swimming off the harbor, and restaurants sliding their tables out onto the street. The weather stays cool, the daylight stretches late, and everything somehow feels effortless. It’s the kind of summer city trip that doesn’t melt you.
Content: Vaughn Jocson
Content: Lauri Haajanen
Ötztal, Tyrol, Austria
Ötztal feels like the part of the Alps people don’t talk about enough. The valley stretches south of Innsbruck and includes spots like Sölden, which in summer trades its ski energy for cool mornings and quiet trails. You get easy access to mountain paths and afternoons that somehow always lead to one of the area’s thermal spas. It’s relaxed, scenic, and a great pick if you want Alpine summer weather without the high-gloss resort scene.
Photography: World In Frames
Hotel Ritzelhof
Scottish Highlands, Scotland
The Scottish Highlands are known for their sweeping beauty — open landscapes, heather-covered hills, and rich culture. Summer stays cool and a little misty here, with long daylight hours that make exploring feel unhurried. You can spend your days moving between lochside walks, a round of golf on some of the world’s most scenic courses, or a slow whisky tasting at a local distillery. Evenings end in small pubs that feel warmly unchanged.
Photography: Blaine Scinta
57 Nord, Photography: Viktorija Peciulyte
Nuuk, Greenland
Nuuk feels unlike anywhere else. This small coastal capital set against deep fjords and mountains, still holds snow well into summer so you'll feel that crisp artic air well into July. It has a surprisingly modern edge: colorful houses stacked along the waterfront, a growing food scene, and the Katuaq Cultural Center designed to echo the Northern Lights. Summer days stay bright and cool, perfect for boat trips through Nuuk Fjord or walking the coastal trails just outside town. It’s remote, but not inaccessible, and gives you that rare feeling of being somewhere quiet, contemporary, and close to the Arctic all at once.
Photography: Chris Roams
Photography: Chris Roams
Salzkammergut, Austria
The Salzkammergut is Austria’s resort belt, stretching from Salzburg into a chain of clear lakes and mountain villages that look almost too idyllic to be real. Once the warm weather arrives, it feels like Austrian summer is officially here. The area has a quietly elevated feel with historic lakefront hotels, understated wellness resorts, and classic wooden boathouses that have barely changed over the years. The air stays chilled around the water, so you can move between towns, take a swim, or sit on a hotel terrace watching the Alps settle into the evening.
Wolfganesee, Conent: Sanne Glas
Photography: World In Frames
