Amid increasingly hot summers and increased interest in holidays in cool areas, travel app Polarsteps has launched its first ‘Summer Heat Escape Index’, a ranking of the best European destinations for holidaymakers looking to escape high temperatures.
The index analyzes 25 European countries, taking into account not only air temperatures, but also factors that influence thermal comfort in the summer months, according to Euronews.com.
Criteria include average day and night temperatures in August, seawater temperature, degree of forest cover, population density and access to wild camping. Climate data comes from sources such as Meteostat, EN Climate Data and seatemperature.info.
According to a Polarsteps survey conducted in April 2026, 35% of British holidaymakers chose a cooler destination for their summer holiday this year, with over a fifth making the switch for the first time.
Iceland, clear leader in the list of cool destinations
Iceland ranks first with a score of 83.81 out of 100. The country stands out for average temperatures of just 10.7°C during the day and 8.1°C at night in August, the lowest population density in Europe and the legal possibility of camping in nature.
The sea water remains extremely cold: in the Akureyri area, the average temperature is 9.5°C.
Finland is in second place, thanks to its vast area of forests, i.e. almost three-quarters of the territory, but also to its mild summer temperatures, around 17°C. Norway completes the podium, combining moderate temperatures with the coldest sea waters in Europe: at Ny-Ålesund, the August average is only 5.3°C.
Sweden ranks fourth, with average temperatures of 17°C and the advantage of the constitutional right of free access to nature, “Allemansrätten”. The Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania also make the top 10, confirming their status as alternative destinations for tourists looking for coolness without going all the way to the far north.
The Atlantic coast, the ideal option for those who want moderate heat
For tourists who prefer a warm climate, but with the possibility to cool off in the sea, Polarsteps recommends the Atlantic coast. Ocean currents keep water temperatures cool even in countries with hot summers. Examples include Portsall (France) with 15.1°C, A Guarda (Spain) with 16.6°C and Viana do Castelo (Portugal) with 16.6°C.
Top 10 European destinations from the “Summer Heat Escape Index”:
- Iceland – 83.81
- Finland – 77.02
- Norway – 76.06
- Sweden – 75.14
- Estonia – 72.18
- Latvia – 68.37
- Lithuania – 65.27
- Switzerland – 60.10
- Ireland – 54.44
- United Kingdom – 50.74
