Holiday spots in Europe - avoiding the heat

[Chocchops72]

Is anyone planning a European holiday this summer but concerned about the likely temperatures in their usual places? What alternatives do you know / are you considering?

We live in France, usually holiday in France / Italy, plus some time back in the U.K. to visit family. We went to Sardinia this year, mostly for diving but it was so boiling hot that we really couldn’t do anything other than dive and snorkel. No walking, no exploring towns etc. The heat just ruined it for us tbh, at 38-40 degrees plus.

We are a bit stumped as to where to go this summer. Greece is out, Italy is out, Spain is definitely out. In France, we’ve never been to the north in summer, so I guess that’s an option? Brittany? But even that was boiling this year.

Belgian / Dutch / Danish coast?

Switzerland? We've had some fantastic summer holidays there.

Up in the mountains somewhere.

Scandinavia?
Iceland?
Germany?

Finnish Lapland. I’m here at the moment doing the snowy stuff but photos of it in summer look incredible and the temps are around 10-20 so perfect for being outdoors in nature. Plus I believe it is cheap and everyone goes in winter!

Good thinking. We had a week in the Dordogne last year, during the canicule and it was unbearable at times even with a pool. We normally holiday in the Alps, near Evian where DFIL lives, and it is always pleasant in the (low) ski resort town, and up the mountain, via telecabine, I've never known it too hot for walking. And there's Lake Geneva to cool down in too. There is lots of accommodation in the ski resorts in the summer, and plenty to do for all ages.
We have had super holidays in The Netherlands too. There is lots of water, if you like the coast (we stayed in an inland sea near Amersfoort), and it is very easy to get about if you want to visit towns and historic sites. The other option is Normandy, which can be combined with a trip to the UK. It is absolutely gorgeous, with so much to see and do.

I don't do hot holidays. The last few Summers I've been to Finland, Iceland and various places in the Alps.

In terms of our own holiday plans, we are visiting Normandy for a week, and then catching the ferry from Cherbourg to Dublin and spending a week driving about Ireland. DD is keen to spend time on the west coast and in Galway, for the music.

We went to northern France recently and while it’s not usually that hot, it sometimes is. While we were there we had days of 34 and it really wasn’t geared up for it, or no air con. So that’s something to bear in mind.

I went in winter and then back in summer. You need a very good insect repellant, but apart from that it was lovely. We were just inside the artic circle and it was over 20 degrees every day, although I understand that is unusual.

Austria and Norway are both glorious in the summer, without awful high temperatures

We went to the Austrian Alps end of July this year and the weather was between low 20s to 30ish degrees.
We also went to the Algarve end Aug/early Sept and it wasn't too hot there 26 to 28 degrees.

Great loads of ideas.

so the extra demands are:

BIL is coming, he doesn’t ‘do’ walking, hiking, anything too strenuous. Swimming yes, and he’d like to try a jetski 🙄.

our plans are still very up in the air, but we might end up driving to Scotland after this trip… so the Dutch coast? German coast maybe? Ferry goes from Amsterdam. Equally we could go via Switzerland or Austria.

part of the problem is working out what DSIL and and BIL want to do 🙄.

Finland is on our bucket list, for sure.

Oh and we are limited to the last two weeks of July and great week of august - peak holiday season 🙄

Not much help but I'm wondering the same thing. We usually go on holiday at Easter but will be confined to the summer holidays this year.
Thinking maybe Canada?
I've always wanted to go to the Italian lakes, but I assume that would be really hot

Madeira has a temperate climate all year round. Mostly doesn’t go above 25c and as it’s in the Atlantic there’s usually a breeze.

Could you not have the holiday in October?

Agree about the Netherlands, northern bit has nice coastline.

Swiss national day is August 1st. It's a fantastic day to be there if you pick the right village. We've done helicopter rides and paragliding, then there's fireworks and parades in the evenings.

You can travel all over in the chairlifts and cable cars, there's always a restaurant for the reluctant walkers whilst the rest of you can enjoy walking in the mountains. Jet ski on Lac Léman?

Italian lakes are very hot in summer.

Easter isn’t possible as the French / Scottish school holds don’t overlap. October… would be much nicer temps and maybe cheaper for places like Greece?

@NellieJean I’ve been banging the drum for Madeira for ages now! It has good diving as well. Unf I think it might be outside the budget for SIL / BIL.

Switzerland is def a possibility: DH used to live there, and I have fond memories of camping there on Swiss national day - frequents and champagne corks popping in the forest!