Most British tourists head abroad chasing sunshine. After months of grey skies, that’s completely understandable. But not everyone wants to spend a fortnight roasting — and that group is bigger than travel brochures suggest.
If the heat makes you miserable rather than relaxed, you’re not being awkward. You just know what suits you.
Going by cruise makes practical sense
One of the smartest ways to cover several cold-climate destinations in one trip is by cruise. No repacking every few days, no scrambling for train connections. A Norway cruise, for example, might bring you through a succession of fjords — Norway’s western coast has nearly 1,200 of them — working northwards towards the Arctic Circle, where July temperatures average around 12°C.
A few things worth checking before you book:
- How much actual shore time do you get at each port?
- Are the excursions on offer things you’d genuinely do, or just filler?
- Does the itinerary go far enough north for what you’re after — midnight sun, fjord scenery, wildlife?
Travelling outside peak summer brings prices down too. For anyone who wasn’t planning to lie on a beach anyway, that’s rarely a bad trade.
Why cooler weather works better for active holidays
This is where the case gets straightforward. Bergen’s average July high sits at 19°C. Compare that with southern Europe in August — Greece, southern Spain, and much of Italy regularly exceed 35°C — and the difference for anyone doing anything physical is significant.
Hiking, cycling, kayaking — all of it is harder in serious heat. You slow down, you drink more, you spend the afternoon horizontal. In cooler northern destinations, you don’t have that problem.
| Activity | Hot climate (35°C+) | Cool climate (12–19°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Long-distance hiking | Difficult, heat exhaustion risk | Comfortable for full days |
| Cycling | Demanding, requires early starts | Manageable throughout the day |
| Wildlife watching | Animals less active midday | More consistent activity |
| Photography | Harsh midday light | Softer, more even light |
There’s also the mornings. Mist over a fjord at seven in the morning, a pine forest completely quiet — that’s not something you get on a busy Mediterranean island in August. And above the Arctic Circle, from mid-May through to late July, the sun doesn’t set at all. A fair number of people travel specifically for that.
The evenings are worth something too
The assumption is that warm evenings are always better for being outside. Up to a point, yes. But a proper cool evening — jacket weather, a harbour walk, al-fresco dining with a heated patio — has its own appeal.
You’re not counting down to air conditioning. You’re not uncomfortable before you’ve walked half a mile. The evening stretches out in a different way.
These destinations aren’t a consolation prize for people who missed out on sun. They’re a different kind of trip — and for the right traveller, a better one.