Coolcation: beat the heat this summer with a cool climate holiday
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Cool summer holiday destinations in Europe
Despite the current weather in the UK as I’m writing this (rain), more and more UK families are searching for cooler holidays in Europe. So it’s no surprise that the word “coolcation” has officially entered the dictionary. As summers get hotter, many parents are choosing destinations where they can enjoy warm sunshine without sweltering temperatures, crowded beaches and sleepless nights.
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A family summer holiday doesn’t have to mean intense heat and air-conditioned hotel rooms. Some of our best trips as a family are those where we have explored cities, cycled through countryside, swum in lakes, and enjoyed outdoor adventures in comfortable, child-friendly (and parenting-friendly) temperatures.
I really struggle in hot weather, which is why I loved the cooler climate on our recent summer trips to Devon and Scotland. We’ve also visited Denmark in spring and it made me realise just how appealing cooler climate family holidays can be. Europe is full of brilliant destinations that offer relaxed summer breaks without the Mediterranean heatwave.
From Scandinavian beaches to French seaside towns and alpine lakes, the following coolcation ideas for families combine mild summer weather with culture, outdoor fun and easy travel. Many include fantastic sea or lake beaches too – perfect for paddling, swimming and unwinding.
I love cycling so I do mention it quite a bit in this article!
Denmark – cycling, beaches and Lego
Best for: Active families, beach days, cycling holidays
Perfect age: All ages
Denmark is one of the easiest and most family-friendly countries in Europe, and a perfect destination for a cooler summer holiday. Summer temperatures usually sit between 20–24°C, making it ideal for sightseeing and outdoor fun without melting.
We loved visiting Copenhagen when our kids were little. It has some of the best playgrounds we’ve ever come across and its museums are incredibly child friendly. Highlights include the Tivoli Gardens, harbour swimming pools and relaxed boat trips through the waterways.
It was great fun cycling around the capital with our kids in a cargo bike. While cycling in Copenhagen itself is challenging for children to cycle around themselves, the rest of the country is brilliant for family bike rides. Denmark is criss-crossed with flat cycling paths, meaning even younger children can pedal between beaches, ice-cream shops and seaside towns.
The Danish coastline is spectacular. Huge sandy beaches on the west coast of Jutland are perfect for kite flying and splashing in the North Sea, while the calmer waters around Funen and Zealand are ideal for younger kids.
No Danish family coolcation is complete without a visit to Legoland and Lego House. Legoland Billund attracts a fraction of the visitors of its London counterpart, and Lego House remains one of the best days out we’ve ever had on holiday. Our kids loved staying at nearby Lalandia (similar to Center Parcs). Located a short walk from Legoland, it features self-catering lodges and an excellent indoor swimming centre with slides and a wave pool.
Read more about visiting Copenhagen with kids
Brittany, France – beaches for everyone and kid-friendly history
Best for: Road trips, beaches, outdoor adventures
Perfect age: 5+
Brittany is a fantastic alternative to the hotter south of France and a classic choice for a cooler holiday close to the UK. It has rugged cliffs, turquoise seas, medieval towns and some of the best seafood in Europe – all wrapped up in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere.
We loved the variety of beaches here. The Quiberon area was amazing for bodyboarding, while the sheltered coves of the Morbihan region were perfect for exploring on our paddle board. We had a great day out on Île-aux-Moines, a little island in the Morbihan Gulf. Île-aux-Moines is crisscrossed with pathways used by walkers and cyclists, perfect for an escape from cars and crowds.
Carnac is a brilliant beach town for families – a long sandy beach for little ones, lots of shops and cafés for older kids, and some excellent ice-cream parlours. The standing stones of Carnac offer some kid-friendly history with a modern and interactive visitor centre.
One of the biggest appeals of Brittany as a family coolcation is how easy it is to reach. Ferries run directly to Roscoff and St Malo, making it ideal if you want to avoid flying and take your car.
St Malo is great fun for an overnight stay either side of the ferry crossing. On our visit the old walled town was buzzing with street performers, music and a real holiday atmosphere.
Read more about our visit to Brittany
The Netherlands – easy, fun and stress-free
Best for: Beaches, bike rides, culture
Perfect age: 5+
The Netherlands might not scream “summer holiday” in the traditional sense, but it’s actually one of the most relaxing places to travel with children.
Dutch cities are compact and easy to navigate, and the North Sea coast offers miles of sandy beaches. Zandvoort and Scheveningen are particularly family-friendly, with shallow waters, playgrounds, beach cafés, and plenty of room for kite-flying or sandcastle building. For a quieter, more natural setting, the Frisian Islands have endless dunes and peaceful beaches perfect for exploring.
Cycling culture means getting around is simple and fun. Many families choose to stay in holiday parks near the coast, combining day trips to Amsterdam, Utrecht, or The Hague with long lazy days on the sand.
We took our kids to Amsterdam for a long weekend recently by train. They really enjoyed exploring the canals on a boat trip and loved the chip shops (an unexpected highlight!).
The Van Gogh Museum is child-friendly – we joined a tour of the galleries with some characters from the artist’s paintings; it was very entertaining and interactive. We also visited the Anne Frank House (our kids were aged 14 and 11 at the time), a more sobering experience but an essential part of visiting Amsterdam.
Austria – mountains, lakes and fresh alpine air
Best for: Multi-generational holidays, active kids, lake swimming
Perfect age: 4+
Austria is one of the very best destinations in Europe for families looking for an active and refreshing cooler climate summer holiday. When the ski season ends, the mountains transform into a giant outdoor playground packed with activities that appeal to all ages.
Summer temperatures in Austria are pleasantly warm rather than stifling, usually hovering around the low to mid-20s°C. That makes it perfect for hiking, cycling and sightseeing without anyone wilting in the heat. Even on warmer days, the higher altitude and mountain breezes keep everything feeling comfortable – ideal conditions for a true family coolcation.
The country’s beautiful lakes are a huge draw for families. Lake Wolfgangsee, Lake Achensee and Lake Wörthersee all have fantastic lidos and grassy “beaches” with safe, shallow swimming areas for children. Many lakeside towns have diving platforms, pedalos and waterslides, turning a simple swim into a full day of fun. The water is often surprisingly warm by mid-summer, making lake swimming a real highlight of any trip.
Away from the water, there’s no shortage of adventure. Cable cars whisk families up into the mountains where you’ll find gentle walking trails, summer toboggan runs, high-ropes courses and themed adventure parks.
Austria is also brilliantly set up for family travel. Many hotels offer excellent children’s facilities, from kids’ clubs and playrooms to free activity programmes and complimentary lift passes. Resorts in Tirol and Salzburgerland are particularly good at catering for families, often bundling transport and attractions into great-value guest cards.
For days when you want a bit of culture alongside the outdoor fun, cities like Salzburg, Innsbruck are easy to weave into a trip. Wandering pretty old towns, eating enormous slices of cake and cooling off with an ice cream by a lake is my idea of holiday heaven.
If you’re searching for a summer break that combines adventure, relaxation and beautiful scenery – without the intense heat – Austria is a perfect choice for a cooler holiday with kids.
Norway – fjords, beaches and midnight sun adventures
Best for: Older children and teens, fjord beaches, outdoor adventures
Perfect age: 8+
For families dreaming of a truly unforgettable cooler climate summer holiday, Norway is hard to beat. This is a destination where nature takes centre stage – with dramatic fjords, towering waterfalls, scenic railways and some of the most spectacular landscapes in Europe.
Norwegian summers are refreshingly mild, with temperatures generally ranging from 18–23°C in the south. That makes it a perfect choice for families who want to stay active without battling intense heat. Long daylight hours – and even the magical midnight sun in the far north – mean you can fit more into every day. It’s the ultimate coolcation destination for adventurous families.
One of the big surprises for many visitors is that Norway can also be a brilliant beach holiday destination. In southern Norway, around Kristiansand and the Skagerrak coast, there are lovely sandy beaches with relatively gentle waters that are ideal for children. These feel more like classic seaside resorts, just with a Nordic twist.
Away from the coast, Norway is packed with family-friendly adventures. Boat trips through the fjords offer chances to spot seals, porpoises and even eagles. Scenic train journeys such as the Flåm Railway are exciting for children and adults alike, while gentle hikes to viewpoints and waterfalls give kids a real sense of achievement.
There are also plenty of easy outdoor activities for families: kayaking on calm fjord waters, cycling along traffic-free paths, and visiting open-air museums and Viking heritage sites. Even city breaks work brilliantly in Norway – Oslo and Bergen both combine culture with easy access to nature.
Although Norway isn’t a budget destination, it offers incredible value in terms of experiences. Many of the best things to do – exploring beaches, hiking trails and national parks – are completely free. Staying in cabins or campsites can make a family trip surprisingly affordable too.
If your idea of a summer holiday is fresh air, big landscapes, gentle adventure and the chance to experience something totally different, Norway delivers all of that and more. It’s a cooler holiday option that will leave families with lifelong memories.
Germany’s Baltic Coast – an off the beaten track beach holiday
Best for: Beach holidays without crowds, cycling, historic towns
Perfect age: All ages
Northern Germany’s Baltic coast is a hidden gem for families seeking a blend of natural beauty and historical charm. The coast is lined with expansive sandy beaches, elegant seaside resorts, and good network of cycle paths that stretch for miles.
Islands like Rügen and Usedom are particularly renowned for being family-friendly. Their shallow, calm waters make beach days stress-free for parents, while the resorts feature grand promenades, historic piers, and modern playgrounds. These shores are perfect for swimming, paddling, and sandcastle building. My family would love the paddleboarding and kayaking opportunities and I would love all the cycling.
Beyond the beach, the region is packed with quirky attractions. I love the look of the tree-top walks in Binz and families with little children will no doubt be drawn to Molli steam railway, a narrow-gauge train that whistles through charming coastal villages. Actually, I reckon my teen and tween would also enjoy that – you’re never too old for a steam train journey!
For a dose of culture, the towns of Lübeck, famed for its marzipan and medieval gates, and the port city of Rostock provide a stunning architectural backdrop of red-brick Gothic buildings.
With its unique mix of adventure and relaxation, this coastline feels refreshingly different from the overcrowded hotspots of Southern Europe, offering a summer destination that is both sophisticated and wonderfully authentic.
If you fancy combining this trip with a visit to Berlin, you can reach Rostock in two hours by train from the capital. Berlin is a great destination for older children – I still look back on my A Level history trip with fond memories! The Check Point Charlie museum is particularly interesting.
Scotland – wild landscapes and seascapes
Best for: Road trips, nature, outdoor fun, beaches
Perfect age: 5+
Don’t feel like you need to leave the British Isles to have a proper adventure holiday. Our family road trip along the NC500 in Scotland felt really off the beaten track with huge empty landscapes and equally empty roads.
Although Scotland’s weather is definitely at the chillier end of the coolcation weather spectrum, we still enjoyed swimming in the sea off the north coast. We opted to hire a 4WD with a roof tent and camp our way around Scotland’s coastline. The campsites were all excellent (bar one) with stunning views and good facilities.
It’s hard to put into words just how beautiful Scotland’s landscapes and seascapes are, my photos are a fairly feeble representation. The country’s weather adds to the drama of the scenery with vast lochs and high mountains moving in and out of view with the clouds.
Aside from the views, there are rewarding hikes, waterfalls to admire, wildlife boat trips and castles galore. Many of the most dramatic beaches are devoid of visitors, such is the remoteness of their location.
You can easily add on a stay in Edinburgh at the start or end of a North Coast adventure – we enjoyed a few days in Edinburgh during the Fringe which was great fun for our kids.
Sweden – archipelagos and outdoor living
Best for: slow travel, cycling, lake and sea beaches
Perfect age: All ages
Swedish summers are perfect for a relaxed cooler climate summer break. While the country is famous for its forests, the coastline and inland waters are the true heart of outdoor living during the long, luminous days of July and August.
The Stockholm archipelago, a sprawling network of over 30,000 islands, offers a quintessential Swedish experience. Families often gravitate to these islands for their sheltered sandy coves and iconic wooden jetties, which serve as perfect platforms for crabbing or jumping into the Baltic.
For those seeking expansive, windswept beauty, Gotland Island is a premier destination. Its famous Tofta Strand provides white sands and turquoise waters that rival Mediterranean resorts, but with a distinct Nordic charm (and temperature!).
The adventure continues inland, where thousands of lakes are dotted with red timber holiday cottages. These retreats often feature private docks for kayaking and swimming.
My family are keen cyclists so we would be keen to explore the flat, coastal terrain of Skåne in the south which offers world-class cycling paths like the Kattegattleden, which winds past picturesque fishing villages and open fields. For those seeking a more rugged pedal, the island of Öland provides limestone plateaus and coastal tracks that are as scenic as they are accessible for all ages.
Northern Ireland – beaches, legends and culture
Best for: Culture, scenery, beaches, surfing
Perfect age: 4+
Northern Ireland is a brilliant choice for families seeking a cooler-climate summer holiday that’s packed with variety, natural beauty and plenty of fun things to do with kids. Despite its relatively small size, this corner of the UK delivers an amazing mix of beaches, outdoor adventures, dramatic scenery and child-friendly attractions that work beautifully together to create a holiday that’s active, memorable and genuinely enjoyable for all ages.
One of the biggest draws for families is the coastline and beaches. On the Antrim Coast, Whiterocks is brilliant if the weather is chilly and you just fancy a walk – the rock formations, arches and towering dunes are great fun for kids of all ages. On sunny days, Portstewart Strand allows families to drive straight onto the sand – a huge practical bonus when you’re juggling buckets, spades, picnic gear and pushchairs. This was our favourite beach in Northern Ireland. If surfing’s your thing, nearby Portrush is a good spot for riding the waves and is popular with teens.
Read more about Northern Ireland for families here
The Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is not only visually extraordinary, with its hexagonal basalt columns rising from the sea, it’s also a natural playground where children can climb, explore and absorb history and geology in one go.
The friendly National Trust visitor centre is modern with lots of interactive exhibits. We visited the Giant’s Causeway on a particularly rainy day and it was still a brilliant day out – the coastline looks all the more dramatic in stormy weather! Our boys spent hours clambering around on the rocks.
Northern Ireland is perfect for families who enjoy walking. There are engaging short walks for little ones – our kids loved the riverside walk at Tollymore Forest Park. We sat by the river eating our picnic whilst watching a red squirrel on a tree across the water. For more challenging hikes, the Mourne Mountains are ideal for families with older children.
Older kids will also find the cities a real hit – Belfast and Londonderry are packed with history and culture. Our children enjoyed exploring the Titanic Museum, an excellent interactive and sensitively thought out exhibition.
Read more about visiting Northern Ireland with kids
Have you enjoyed a coolcation with your family? Let me know in the comments below if you can recommend a good destination for beating the summer heat wave.
