Staycations and ‘coolcations’ are the new ways to holiday
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With temperatures rising in Southern Europe, there is potential for regions offering less traditional summer getaways, such as Norway (pictured), to exploit their more comfortable climate through so-called ‘coolcations’.
PHOTO: PIXABAY
Andrea Felsted
- Climate change is making southern Europe too hot for holidays, while northern Europe is becoming more attractive for staycations and cool-cations.
- Travel trends in 2026 show a rise in bookings for northern and cooler destinations like Scotland, Norway, and northern Spain.
- Tourism companies are adapting by investing in northern resorts, extending holiday seasons, and promoting cool-cations.
AI generated
In 2026, I have taken my holidays in Whitstable, Kent, where I live. I have swum in the unusually warm sea, and dined out locally using the money saved on an exorbitantly priced overseas vacation. I am so tanned, people have asked if I’ve been to Spain or Greece. With temperatures rising, and the biggest fire season in European history, I may soon have more company in opting for a staycation.
Climate change is redrawing the travel map. It could make parts of southern Europe too hot for even the most dedicated sunseekers, and transform more northerly spots, such as the Kent coast, into viable vacation destinations. There is also the potential for regions offering less traditional summer getaways, such as Norway, to exploit their more comfortable climate through so-called “coolcations”.
