Top 5 European Destinations For Small Crowds & Less Heat This Summer

We're not here to discuss whether climate change is truly humanity's greatest woe or not, but we guess we can all agree these summers are getting unbearably hotter each passing year…

Especially in the sun-scorched Mediterranean.

Listen, we love a little Greek island hopping and scenic Amalfi drives ourselves, but not when it's over 90 degrees out and it's barely 11 in the morning, and that shoddy, overpriced guesthouse you booked can't even get their AC unit to function.

Top 5 European Destinations For Small Crowds & Less Heat This Summer

All of this to say, we might be giving Southern Europe a miss this year.

Instead, we're heading all the way north, where it's still cozy and warm to be out in shorts (and maybe a light sweater for when the coastal winds start blowing), but at least you won't be fighting for dear life under an unforgiving sun, nor increasing your skin cancer risks by twentyfold.

Here are 5 genuinely-cool, both literally and figuratively, Eurosummer spots to check out within the next few months:

PLUS: We've created an interactive quiz for you at the end of this article to find your perfect match!

Flåm, Norway

Average highest temperature: 54°F
Average lowest temperature: 42°F
Average rainy days in summer: 18 per month

A tiny village in southwestern Norway, located at the innermost end of Aurlandsfjord, Flåm is the unofficial ‘fjord capital‘ of the country.

It's obviously directly on a fjord, with Nordic-style spas and cute little heritage hotels straddling the water, but what you may not know is that Aurland is only a small branch of the much more vast Sognefjord, Norway's largest and deepest.

A short drive out of town will take you to Stegastein, a viewpoint that juts out high above the winding waterways, or if you've packed your walking shoes, Brekkefossen is a trailhead passing cascading waterfalls and offering the most insanely beautiful mountain views.

Viewpoints and scenic wooden-built hamlets aside, Flåm's must-do activity is the Flåm Railway:

Rattling up the glacial Hardangervidda plateau, it connects the fjord village to the mountaintop settlement of Myrdal, and it even stops for a few minutes at intermediate stops so you can get the perfect panoramic selfie.

The best thing about visiting Norway this summer? Unlike most of (Western) Europe, it remains relatively safe and low-risk for American travelers.

U.S. authorities officially consider it a Level 1 destination, meaning Americans have very little, if anything, to worry about when traveling around the country, and it currently scores an impressive 85/100 on the Traveler Safety Index:

Certified-safe as Norway may be, there may still be travel alerts applying to different parts of the country, especially this far west in the fjords, where nature and climate conditions is everything but predictable.

That's why it's paramount, whether you're Norway-bound or anywhere else, to do a quick destination check on the Travel Advisory Checker in the days leading up to your departure.

Shetland, Scotland

Average highest temperature: 59°F
Average lowest temperature: 50°F
Average rainy days in summer: 16–18 per month

The Shetland archipelago is Scotland's northernmost collective of islands, lying some 110 miles from Great Britain proper, and it's one of the wildest, most remote, culturally-distinct destinations you could visit across the pond.

There are numerous islands to explore, and so very little time, though if you're flying out all this way, you might want to spend the longest on the Shetland Mainland, or the largest landmass.

It actually feels more Nordic than Scottish in some ways, with treeless landscapes, tiny villages, and huge skies.

Lerwick is the main town and best base to stay, small yet lively, with a postcard-ready harbor, old stone streets, and traditional pubs.

Stone Houses On Lerwick Harbour, Shetland, Scotland

Where the magic truly happens, however, is when you go off-path in one of those quiet coastal roads: regardless of the route you pick, rest assured dramatic coastal cliffs and uncrowded sandy coves await.

Don't miss Jarlshof, probably Scotland's best-preserved ancient site. You can walk through thousands of years of history here, with cobbled paths passing prehistoric houses and later remains of Viking forts.

Just word of advice before you book that Scotland island-hopping adventure this summer? The country is part of the U.K., and as of this year, Americans must apply for a travel permit prior to flying.

Before making any plans, verify the Entry Requirements in place on this page.

Gotland, Sweden

Average highest temperature: 68°F
Average lowest temperature: 52°F
Average rainy days in summer: 8–11 per month

Viking Europe's truly where it's at this summer, and if you thought peak Nordic heritage was somewhere up in Norway or in the confines of Northern Scotland, you're in for a big surprise.

For those who aren't easily discouraged by long, overnight ferry crossings, you can catch a sleeper boat in Stockholm this summer that will take you to Gotland, Sweden's top summery retreat, home to windswept Baltic nature, picturesque coastal scenes, and the kind of medieval heritage you thought could only possibly exist in storybooks.

Visby is arguably the prettiest historic settlement in the entire Nordics:

Cobbled Street In Visby, Gotland, Sweden

Think sturdy town walls, complete with towers and ramparts that still encircle the urban perimeter, cobblestone streets running along quaint wooden townhouses, and church spires that almost pierce the moody cloudy skies.

It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and your best bet at soaking up that Old World charm without dealing with the usual Mediterranean heat and the whole cruise crowd chaos of it all.

By the way, it's not a Scandi trip until you've had your fair share of cinnamon buns and Espresso House caramel gold chocolate, people-watching on a sunny terrace. You know, a good old, quality fika time.

For the best fika spot in Gotland, check out Själsö Bageri. Stone-oven sourdough, mouth-watering buns, and sea views for days. Best ‘summer-on-Gotland' vibes.

Saaremaa, Estonia

Aerial View Of Kuressaare Castle On Saaremaa Island, Estonia

Average highest temperature: 67°F
Average lowest temperature: 54°F
Average rainy days in summer: 8–10 per month

We're keeping it Baltic-local for this one. The largest island in Estonia, an already pretty-offbeat European country you've all been sleeping on for years, Saaremaa feels like an even-more lowkey, relaxed Gotland minus the hefty price tags.

It's also remote, but easier to reach from its parent nation's mainland—bus from Tallinn to Virtsu port, Virtsu to Kuivastu on Muhu Island, bus or drive from Muhu to Saaremaa via the causeway.

Kuressaare, the main settlement, is one of the nicest little towns in the Baltics, especially around Kuressaare Castle.

Historic Wooden Windmills In Saaremaa Island, Estonia

Think wooden mills, family-run cafés, Finnish-inspired spas, a beautiful sea promenade, and even a hint of a nightlife without Tallinn's stag do rush.

That said, Saaremaa's greatest appeal lies in its verdant, untouched nature.

It has pine forests, juniper fields, smaller villages that have barely seen time go by since the Middle Ages, and Baltic beaches with none of Southern Europe's crowds.

Just beware of the water temps up here: as inviting as those crystal-clear shorelines may be, this is not some island in Greece, after all.

Gijón, Spain

Average highest temperature: 73°F
Average lowest temperature: 61°F
Average rainy days in summer: 6–8 per month

We know what you're probably thinking: how could Spain possibly feature on a list of cooler-climate destinations in Europe when it's the hottest place in the entire continent?

It turns out this may be true for the southern half of Spain, but as for the northern reaches of the country, which are bathed not by the bubbling-hot Mediterranean, or assailed by the occasional Saharan heatwave, it is actually pretty… cool?

Gijón sits on the North Atlantic shore, and it's maybe not how you've pictured your Spanish summers to go like. It's even better:

Panoramic View Of The Coast Of Gijon, Spain

Swap the Madrid pastel-hue houses for weathered stone façades, Seville's touristy tapas bars for local-frequented seafood taverns run by local families and their chatty owners, and Barcelona’s tourist-packed Gothic Quarter for Cimavilla, a historic fishermen district characterised by its narrow cobbled alleys and salt-weathered charm.

Unlike other destinations on this list that lie way too north of the Mediterranean belt to double as proper beach getaways, Gijón actually offers pretty decent weather and swimming conditions in the warmer months.

No, it’s not Mallorca, the water remains gelid compared to your average Spanish coastal hub, but on that odd heatwave day where it’s over 86°F outside, you’ll be glad you can dip your toes in Playa de San Lorenzo’s refreshing, azure seas.

Now take this quiz to find your perfect match!

🧊

Cool Eurosummer Matcher

Escape The Mediterranean Heat Question 1 of 4

Pick your ideal summer climate:

🧥 Crisp 50s with dramatic scenery 🌬️ Mild 60s with windswept coastlines 😎 Warm 70s with refreshing beaches Question 2 of 4

What kind of history are you seeking?

🛡️ Viking forts & stone-walled towns 🏰 Prehistoric ruins & rugged heritage ⚓ Old fishermen districts & salt-weathered charm Question 3 of 4

Choose your perfect afternoon activity:

🚂 Panoramic mountain railways ☕ Fika time with cinnamon buns 🍤 Local seafood & tapas taverns Final Question