We’re all familiar with ‘winter sun’ holidays, but when temperatures get hotter at home, have you considered jetting off for a ‘coolcation’?
In 2024, holidaying in classic summer destinations like Italy, Greece and Spain looked a little different.
The summer saw locals in traditionally popular destinations protesting against tourism, with water sprayed on tourists in Barcelona and occupied beaches in Mallorca.
Elsewhere, the impact of climate change has left some destinations hazardous, as wildfires spread across Greece in July.
Here is what you need to know.
What is a coolcation?
Tourists are now seeking new holiday destinations, with many turning to countries with a colder climate instead.
The ‘coolcation’ is a trend that grew in 2024 and is expected to become even bigger in 2025.
It sees more holidaymakers opting to travel to areas with lower temperatures and less mass appeal, and we’ve looked at the destinations predicted to be big next year.
Banff, Canada
Data from Expedia has revealed an upward trend for flight searches to Canada, with search spiking in particular for Banff and Lake Louise.
Situated in the western province of Alberta, visitors to Banff can experience Rocky Mountains peaks, vibrant turquoise glacial lakes and vast coniferous forests.
If you are looking for excitement, it’s also a popular spot for skijoring, one of the most dangerous competitive winter sports in the world.
Lake Louise is one of Banff’s best-known tourist attractions, and is a popular spot for hiking and canoeing, while in the winter it’s possible to ice skate on the idyllic lake.
In the summer months, temperatures in Banff reach average highs of a balmy 22°C.
For those who want to experience the Canadian winter, and perhaps strap on their skis while in Banff, temperatures reach average lows of -15°C in the colder months.
Sweden
Scandinavia has long been a hit with tourists, with destinations like Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo attracting holidaymakers in droves.
Offering cooler summer temperatures than southern Europe, these cities are likely to become more popular as holidaymakers search for cooler options.
Several lesser-known destinations in northern Sweden should be on your radar for 2025 travel.
Cities like Luleå and Piteå in Swedish Lapland allow visitors to cross the Arctic Circle. In the far northwest, there’s also Abisko, a small village where tourists can experience the midnight sun in summer.
If you’re keen to see the Northern Lights, Abisko is one of the best destinations in the world to do so.
An ever-increasing number of tourists are adding the aurora borealis to their bucket list, with experts saying 2025 will be a great year for spotting the natural light display.
Where to see the Northern Lights in 2025
- Iceland
- Alaska
- Sweden
- Canada
- Norway
- Greenland
- Finland
Finland
Another prime destination for viewing the Northern Lights is Finland, which has also seen increased interest from tourists over recent months.
As well as the popular capital of Helsinki, there’s the city of Tampere, known as ‘the sauna capital of the world’, and, of course, Finnish Lapland.
Expedia found that flight searches to Finnish Lapland increased by 705% in the first half of 2024, proving it to be an up-and-coming destination.
As well as marvelling at the Northern Lights, visitors can enjoy activities such as snowboarding and skiing in winter or hiking and swimming during the summer – as well as learning about Sámi culture.
Sámi are the only indigenous people left in the EU, and historically made a living through hunting, fishing, and foraging.
Many Sámi make a living from reindeer herding, and tourists can spend time with reindeer herders and their flock, and even witness reindeer migration in spring.
Why not everyone is happy with coolcations
As the concept of the coolcation has grown in popularity, smaller destinations have struggled to cope with the influx of tourists.
Traffic congestion in particular has proven to be a problem for some newly popular holiday spots.
For example, 100 motorhomes were left stranded at the Jektvik ferry dock in Norway after the service was unable to accommodate demand.
Both Norway and Denmark have struggled with motorhome drivers ignoring parking rules.
In the UK, Scotland’s NC500 route is increasingly unpopular with locals.
Many have complained of motorhomes taking up single-track roads, parking in passing places and causing traffic jams.
Alaska, USA
In 2023, Alaska welcomed over 2 million visitors during the summer (a 20% increase from pre-Covid figures), according to the Alaska Tourism Industry Association.
Similarly to the Nordic countries, the state enjoys up to 24 hours of sunlight each day in the summer, while in the winter it’s possible to see the Northern Lights.
Perfect for outdoor adventures, Alaska’s top tourist attractions include the Denali National Park, home to North America’s tallest peak, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, which can be explored by private boat or on a cruise, and the cities of Anchorage, Fairbanks and the capital Juneau.
For those looking for somewhere remote, Ketchikan, a small town on the Southeastern coast, is home to an intriguing airport accessible only by boat.
If you want to know just how cold it gets, in the Far North, where the state is part of the Arctic Circle, average temperatures can be as low as -35°C.
However, Southcentral Alaska, which is home to Anchorage, Seward and Denali National Park, can reach temperatures of 15°C during the summer months.
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is expected to see a surge in tourism in 2025, with data from Tourism Economics forecasting a 7.5% growth rate in the next five years.
As well as its cooler climate and cultural diversity, holidaymakers are likely drawn to the region by its affordability, with money stretching further than in Western European destinations.
In May 2024, the Post Office released its annual City Costs Barometer, which highlighted Vilnius, in Lithuania, as Europe’s most affordable city.
Vilnius was one of seven Eastern European cities in the top 10, along with Krakow (4th), Riga (6th), Budapest (7th), Bratislava (8th), Prague (9th) and Warsaw (10th).
The Lithuanian capital sees average high temperatures of around 18°C in July, with average lows of -6°C during the coldest month, January.
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