Top 10 holiday destinations to beat the heat: As southern Europe heats up, travel experts pick the best alternatives where you won’t be cooking in the summer sun
With temperatures in Spain reaching 40 degrees this week and more heatwaves expected in southern Europe, it’s no wonder that a growing trend is to take holidays to avoid the heat.
With average temperatures in the south rising year after year in July and August, many are thinking differently. The focus is shifting north — or to cooler mountain regions.
Can the mercury reach 48.8 degrees again, as it did in Sicily in 2021, breaking the previous European record of 48 degrees, set in Athens in 1977?
Let’s hope not. But you’re safe on one of these heat-scorching vacations, where average August temperatures—shown in Celsius on each listing—are guaranteed to be pleasant without threatening meteorological records.
Polar bear on the island of Spitsbergen in Svalbard, Norway
POLAR BEARS IN NORWAY: 16c
To experience true Arctic temperatures, take a cruise through Spitsbergen, the world’s northernmost archipelago, into the icy wilderness. Join a six-day four-person voyage at sea aboard MS Nordstjernen, cruising from Longyearbyen, the last town before the North Pole, via Liefdefjord, through Spitsbergen under the midnight sun, and explore glaciers with polar bears and walruses (hurtigruten.comfrom £1,503 pp).
Or book a city trip to Oslo, the intriguing Norwegian capital.
How to get there: Edinburgh-Oslo flights from £55 return (norwegian.com).
On a budget: Doubles at Citybox Oslo from £101 (cityboxhotels.com).
Exceeding the budget: Double rooms at The Thief boutique hotel in Oslo from £229 B&B (dedief.com).
A climber beneath the surface of Iceland’s Langjokull glacier
RELAXING IN ICELAND: 11c
With a glacial landscape of cirques, fjords, glaciers and sulphurous fumaroles, Iceland is extraordinary. But it’s not the best choice for sea bathing: the water is far too cold for that. Most people float in the wonderful thermal waters of the Blue Lagoon instead.
Other attractions include the spectacular Godafoss waterfalls, cruises to see seals lying on icebergs in Jokulsarlon Lagoon and whales. Or go hiking through gloriously empty landscapes and visit the cathedral-like interior of the Thrihnukagigur volcano.
How to get there: Stansted-Reykjavik return flights from £214 in August (flyplay.com).
On a budget: Double rooms at the smart, central Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik from £140 (odinsve.is).
Exceeding the budget: Junior Suites at the Blue Lagoon with unlimited spa access, breakfast and welcome drinks from £1,479 (bluelagoon.com).
Red houses in the outer archipelago of Stockholm in Sweden
SWEDISH COOL: 17c
Stockholm is set on 14 beautiful islands and a great way to get to know the city is to take a boat trip around the archipelago (£27 for two to three hours, stromma.com).
The city is great for a short break and attractions include the City Hall (home of the Nobel Prize Banquet), the National Museum with its art and design treasures and the ever-popular ABBA The Museum. The once working-class Sodermalm district has become a vibrant bohemian haunt.
How to get there: Return flights Stansted-Stockholm Arlanda from £132 in August (ryanair.com).
On a budget: Double rooms at the conveniently located Hilton Stockholm Slussen from £132 (hilton.com).
Exceeding the budget: Double rooms at the Art Nouveau Hotel Diplomat with views of Stockholm Harbour from £230 (diplomatenhotel.com).
The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia
JUST GOOD IN ESTONIA: 19c
The average daily temperature in Tallinn, the vibrant capital of Estonia, in August is ideal for a summer holiday if you are not a fan of heat waves.
The city is known for its vibrant nightlife, beautiful medieval buildings and the richly decorated Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
Estonia is a great destination for a road trip to the tranquil island of Saaremaa. Visit Vilsandi National Park, home to migratory birds and wild orchids. Also visit the Kaali field with meteorite craters, Panga Cliff (with beautiful cliff walks) and the sandy Jarve beach.
How to get there: Luton-Tallinn return flights from £144 (wizzair.com).
On a budget: Double rooms from £70 at the central Metropol Spa Hotel in Tallinn (metropol.ee/spa).
Exceeding the budget: Double rooms from £383 at the five-star Telegraaf Hotel in Tallinn (telegraafhotel.com).
Helsinki, the capital of Finland, on a summer evening, with the Uspenski Cathedral in the distance
NICE WEATHER FINLAND: 15c
Temperatures range from 11c (52f) at night to 19c (66f) during the day in Helsinki, Finland’s capital. So it’s not too hot, but this far north means long summer days: it’s sunny from 6am to 10pm. Twilight lasts until midnight.
One way to visit is to take a fly-drive (balticholidays.com), exploring the vast, wild country, travelling through forests of brown bears and wolves, and past pristine lakes, all the way to Lapland near the Arctic Circle. Stop at Savonlinna (home to an annual summer opera festival) and save time for the sights of Helsinki.
How to get there: Return flights Gatwick-Helsinki from £144 (norwegian.com).
On a budget: Double rooms at the modern Scandic Grand Marina in Helsinki from £115 B&B (booking.com)
Exceeding the budget: Double rooms at the elegant, central Hotel Kamp in Helsinki from £286 B&B (hotelkamp.com).
Fishing boats in the harbour of Torshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands
FRESH FAROE ISLANDS: 13c
The Faroe Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean between Iceland and Scotland, just south of the Arctic Circle. In June there are 19.5 hours of daylight, but in December there are less than six hours of daylight. Summer is therefore the ideal time to visit the impressive cliffs and waterfalls.
Visit the art galleries and lively restaurants of the capital Tórshavn and hire a car to explore the remote Northern Isles via road tunnels that dig beneath the sea (regent-holidays.co.uk). Or take a helicopter to the island of Mykines, famous for its puffin population.
How to get there: Return flights Gatwick-Sorvagur from £294 (atlanticairways.com).
On a budget: Double rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands in Torshavn from £103 B&B (hilton.com).
Exceeding the budget: Stay at 18 Reyngota, a three-bedroom house in central Torshavn from £344, including self-catering (booking.com).
Dunes on the Curonian Spit in Lithuania
QUIET IN LITHUANIA: 18c
Sand dunes at 55 degrees north? Welcome to the Curonian Spit, a 60-mile-long strip of sand shared by Russia (part of the Kaliningrad enclave) and Lithuania, separating the waters of the Baltic Sea from the Curonian Lagoon. Access is, of course, via the Lithuanian side. It’s an oasis of tranquility and a hotspot for birdwatchers. Expect bike trails and hiking trails through dense forests where wild boar and elk lurk. Climb the dunes (the highest is 220 feet) or search for amber on the shore. Be sure to try the locally smoked fish.
How to get there: Return flights from Luton-Kaunas, 140 miles away, from £148 (wizzair.com).
On a budget: Double rooms from £85 at Villa Lotmiskis in Nida (kambariunuomanidoje.lt).
Exceeding the budget: Double rooms from £385 at SPA Nida, a spa hotel (spanida.lt).
Gstaad in Switzerland is the perfect place for cycling in the summer
SWISS ALPS ALLURE: 17c
How about an alpine ski resort in the off-season? Gstaad is a great choice. A jet-set favourite in winter, it boasts stunning mountain scenery, with river rafting, hot air ballooning, mountain biking and hiking in summer. Cultural highlights include the annual Gstaad Menuhin Festival, which runs throughout August and was founded by the late violinist Yehudi Menuhin (gstaadmenuhinfestival.ch).
How to get there: Return flights from Manchester-Geneva, 75 miles away, from £133 (easyjet.com).
On a budget: Things are pricey in Gstaad, but double rooms at the charming Hotel Kernen start from £185 B&B (hotel-cores.ch).
Exceeding the budget: The Alpina Gstaad is a legendary luxury hotel with a Six Senses Spa and Michelin-starred restaurants, with double rooms from £958 (thealpinagstaad.ch).
Sopot in Poland, with its pier and long, wide beach
PLEASANT IN POLAND: 17c
The Eastern European country may not be exactly a beach holiday destination, but Poland does have a number of sandy beaches on the Baltic Sea.
One of the best spots is Sopot, with its long, wide beach and pier, pretty tree-lined promenade, a lighthouse, market stalls and Krzywy Domek, a ‘crooked house’ with shops, restaurants and cafes.
Be sure to also visit nearby Gdansk, the birthplace of the Solidarity movement, a 35-minute train ride away.
How to get there: Luton-Gdansk return flights from £166 (wizzair.com).
On a budget: Double rooms at the smart, modern Umi Hotel in Sopot from £126 B&B (umihotel.nl).
Exceeding the budget: Double rooms at the elegant beachfront Sofitel Grand Sopot from £262 (sofitelgrandsopot.com).
Loch an Eilein at Rothiemurchus in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland
A REFRESHING HOLIDAY IN SCOTLAND: 17c
How about a staycation? The average high temperature in Fort William in the Scottish Highlands is 17c. Cairngorms National Park is great for walkers and cyclists in the summer. Hit one of the well-marked hiking trails (see walkhighlands.co.uk) or consider ‘climbing a Munro’ – climbing to the summit of one of the mountains named after Sir Hugh Thomas Munro (cairngorms.co.ukOther summer activities include pony trekking, archery and clay pigeon shooting, plus paddle boarding and fishing on tranquil lakes.
How to get there: Return trains from London to Fort William in August from around £240 (trainline.com).
On a budget: Double rooms at the Croit Anna Hotel on Loch Linnhe, five miles from Ben Nevis from £90 (leisureplex.co.uk).
Exceeding the budget: Three nights in a self-catering cottage for four on Rothiemurchus Estate in the Cairngorms National Park from £1,200 (hiddenhighlandretreats.com)
