Best Cool Summer Destinations in Europe for 2026 Travelers

This summer, consider ditching the usual European hotspots — as in smoldering heat and packed tourist destinations — and opt for cooler climates that are still hot on the travel radar. Across Switzerland, the Alps, the Nordics and the British Isles, temperatures often hover comfortably below Mediterranean highs, making them ideal for hiking, lake swimming and leisurely al fresco lunches. They also happen to be places where many Hollywood insiders have quietly escaped the spotlight (and smartphone-wielding crowds) for decades. Consider escaping to these spots for a coolcation, if you will, instead.

Switzerland

Switzerland is best known for skiing, but summer reveals emerald green mountains and crisp alpine air. Located in the country’s southwestern Bernese Oberland region, Gstaad remains one of the Alps’ most discreet luxury enclaves. The legendary Gstaad Palace, opened in 1913, has welcomed generations of A-listers; The Alpina Gstaad has been known to host such guests as Leonardo DiCaprio and Madonna; and Le Grand Bellevue blends glamour with modern wellness. Summer activities include hiking around Lake Arnen and Lake Lauenen or crossing Glacier 3000’s dramatic Tissot Peak Walk.

Further east, Saint Moritz offers high-altitude elegance. Badrutt’s Palace Hotel and Kulm Hotel anchor the town, where summer visitors swap ski slopes for sailing, alpine hikes and events like the St. Moritz Celebrity Golf Cup. The Glacier Express panoramic train links Saint Moritz and Zermatt for one of Europe’s most scenic journeys.

In Zermatt, known for its walkable village dominated by the Matterhorn, The Omnia offers a luxurious, modern alpine retreat with floor-to-ceiling windows and 30 rooms.

Tucked high in the Swiss Alps, the LAAX mountains area welcomes guests for year-round adventure. Hikers can explore the UNESCO-listed Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona (an exceptional window into the processes of mountain formation) and the Rhine Gorge. Nearby Lake Cauma, a turquoise alpine lake, is ideal for swimming, paddleboarding and picnicking.

At Lake Lucerne, enchanting properties include Bürgenstock Resort and the castle-like Park Hotel Vitznau. “Lake Lucerne has become increasingly popular with my clients,” says luxury travel adviser Kara Slater. “[Bürgenstock] sits high above the water, offering cinematic views of the lake and the Alps and feels like a modern alpine sanctuary where nature and luxury coexist in perfect balance.”

Tom Marchant, co-founder of bespoke travel company Black Tomato, says he’s seeing interest in an even more under-the-radar area of the country. 

“The hidden side of Switzerland is where we’re sending clients who think they’ve seen Switzerland. This isn’t Gstaad or Saint Moritz. It’s the Appenzell region, the rolling hills between Lake Constance and the Säntis mountain range, where the cheeses have 700-year-old recipes that never get exported and the wines stay local,” says Marchant. “For entertainment clients exhausted by places that market themselves aggressively, this represents the ultimate form of cultural fluency: knowing about something precisely because it hasn’t been packaged for tourists.”

Elsewhere in the Alps

As global warming increasingly bakes southern Europe, the Alps often remain refreshingly cool. London-based producer Kristin Jones tells THR that the heat has changed how many families plan summer trips. “By the time [U.K.] schools let out in July, places like Greece or the South of France are already pushing 40 degrees [Celsius],” she says. “You start thinking, ’What are we in for?’ A lot of people are choosing the Alps instead.”

In northern Italy, the Dolomites have surged in popularity thanks to the 2026 Winter Olympics. Passionate hikers love tackling the multiday Alta Via alpine treks, while cyclists take on legendary mountain passes. Located in Avelengo, Chalet Mirabell offers family-friendly accommodations with a spa, alpaca farm and the region’s largest natural swimming pond. The family-owned sprawling property recently debuted nearby Chalet Zuegg, a more private residential-style lodging. 

“I love the Dolomites in the summer. No mosquitoes, relatively few folk and so much cooler than other parts of Southern Italy,” says Emily FitzRoy of Bellini Travel. “With the recent opening of the Aman Rosa Alpina and the Ancora in Cortina — where we sent Snoop Dog and Stanley Tucci for lunch during the Olympics — there’s never been a better time to explore this extraordinary landscape, even more so when the mountains are carpeted with wildflowers.” 

In Austria, alpine wellness is the focus of many a star’s visit. The iconic Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt has hosted everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Alba to Arnold Schwarzenegger, featuring spa facilities, tennis courts, Europe’s largest boxing ring and a working children’s farm, plus myriad activities for all ages. About two hours away, Hotel Nesslerhof, in Hohe Tauern National Park, offers more than 400 kilometers of hiking and biking trails through alpine meadows, lakes and traditional mountain huts. 

In France, Four Seasons Resort Megève benefits from mild alpine temperatures. Guests enjoy priority access to Golf du Mont d’Arbois, while other activities include hiking, overnight treks, canyoning, mountain biking, exploring the nearby medieval village, helicopter tours or paragliding. An hour and a half to the south, the luxe village of Courchevel offers golf, artisan markets and scenic hikes all summer.

The Nordics & Iceland

Scandinavia offers the ultimate cool-weather escape. Per Fora Travel, bookings increased 131 percent to Norway, 128 percent to Iceland and 117 percent to Denmark in the past year. 

Luxury estate Rauhalinna, on Lake Saimaa in Finland, dubbed the “Hamptons of Finland,” features boating, kayaking, cycling, lakeside sauna rituals and summer-long daylight. Ewan McGregor visited during filming of his Apple TV+ travel series Long Way Home. Plus, the Savonlinna Opera Festival in July adds culture to your itinerary (unless you are Timothée Chalamet).

Additionally, Norway’s fjords offer dramatic scenery — cliffs, waterfalls and UNESCO-listed hiking trails. “Scandinavia is having a real moment, specifically Norway. It’s ideal for summer because the weather is pleasant — not too hot — and it isn’t super crowded,” says luxury travel adviser Michael Torbiak, founder of M.Domo Travel. Torbiak is a fan of Isbreen the Glacier, a luxury igloo retreat with five geodesic domes located above the Arctic Circle in Norway.

Iceland maintains mild temps all summer, with highs in the 60s to 70s Fahrenheit. Travelers can hike volcanic landscapes, explore black sand beaches or unwind at Blue Lagoon. “Iceland is easy to reach, and the long daylight summer hours mean you can stack a full day of adventure,” says Slater. “My clients love to stay at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon for its subterranean spa, private lagoon and total discretion.”

The U.K. & Ireland

England’s Cotswolds region, two hours from London, combines rolling hills, honey-colored villages and mild summer temperatures perfect for countryside walks and pub lunches. Creative Londoners retreat to Soho Farmhouse, frequented by the Beckhams, Prince Harry and Eddie Redmayne, or stay at the historic Lygon Arms Hotel in Broadway or at Estelle Manor, which offers a members-club feel with a Roman-inspired spa.

Known for its cinematic landscapes, Scotland is another top draw for cooler summer climes. This summer, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey will features scene shot along its northeast coast, while The Highlands’ misty mountains have long been the backdrop for Outlander productions. The Gleneagles in Perthshire remains a classic retreat. Travelers can also check in to Knipoch House, overlooking Loch Feochan, the perfect base for a day trip to the village of Glencoe or to set out on boat trips to Inner Hebrides islands Mull and Iona.

In Ireland, Adare Manor is preparing to host the 2027 Ryder Cup, making this summer a prime opportunity to discover its championship golf courses. And in Dublin (just a six-hour flight from the East Coast), The Shelbourne offers mid-60s summer temperatures; the historic hotel has hosted John F. Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, The Rolling Stones, Charlie Chaplin, Rita Hayworth and, most recently, President Obama.

If Mediterranean beaches once defined summer travel in Europe, these cool escapes — with crisp mountain air, quiet lakes, rolling hills and dramatic landscapes — signal that the continent’s most appealing summer destinations may lie far from the heat.

This story appears in The Hollywood Reporter’s 2026 Travel Issue. Click here to read more.