When I lived in Rome, I never got used to the sweltering summer heat. I’m from New York City, where July and August sizzle, but Southern European summer was a different ballgame. Like most apartments in the Eternal City, ours didn’t have air conditioning. No matter how many fans were blowing or gelatos eaten, I still dreamed of igloos and icicles. While the beauty and dolce vita lifestyle of Rome was bewitching, summer felt like Dante’s Inferno.
Ever since, I’ve been a fan of coolcations, destinations with crisp midsummer temperatures that act as a springboard for outdoor activity. Copenhagen, London, and Dublin are three of my favorite beat-the-heat cities, whether I’m on a European vacation with my kids or without.
While climate change has affected Northern Europe, often bringing hotter summer temperatures, you’ll still need to pack a sweatshirt. Need a respite from summer’s scorch? Let me tell you more about the coolcation trend.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen’s long summer days and refreshing temperatures fit me like a vacation glove. I marvel over the quality of life and culture that is committed to sustainability; I’m never surprised when it tops the list of the world’s happiest cities.
Visitors are encouraged to lean green with CopenPay, an innovative program that rewards tourists with free experiences in exchange for climate-responsible behavior. Receive a kayak ride through the city’s canals by collecting litter or earn lunch by volunteering in an urban garden.
Do
Tivoli Gardens is an amusement park said to have inspired the fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen and Walt Disney’s Disneyland. A maze of flowery paths and grassy fields are punctuated by amusement rides, from heart-pumping roller coasters to a sweet carousel. Live music daily—last time I visited there was a gospel music festival—takes it to the next level.
Copenhot is a wonderland for anyone who wants to experience Nordic bathing culture. Your reservation scores you a hot tub and sauna plus use of a cold plunge pool. This waterfront spot also has showers, a changing room, and a bar serving soft drinks. Children age six and older are welcome.
COOL DOWN: North America’s top family resorts with lazy rivers
Copenhagen has a comprehensive network of public transportation and is one of world’s most bike-friendly cities. Cruising the canals on a GoBoat, a boat with an electric engine that is recharged with solar panels, is low-impact fun.
If you’re traveling with younger kids, keep in mind that the city is home to 125 public playgrounds, making the point that play is serious business in the Danish capital.
Eat
Absalon is a community center that serves an inexpensive nightly communal dinner, eaten outdoors if the weather cooperates. You’ll eat healthy food (the nightly menu is on the website) served family-style at long tables as you mingle with locals and visitors from all over the world.
For a snack, hot dogs are a Danish street food classic. These juicy links, served in a roll with an assortment of toppings, are sold at carts scattered throughout the city.
Stay
Coco Hotel is a boutique property near Tivoli Gardens. Décor is a bespoke blend of vintage and modern. Kids make the most of the courtyard garden and ping-pong table. The bountiful breakfast buffet will keep you fueled well past lunchtime.
London, England
London’s famously dreary weather often takes a vacation in summer, when skies trend blue but temperatures remain comfortable. Locals and tourists take advantage of fine weather to enjoy the beautiful parks, open-air movie screenings, and al fresco theatrical productions.
My family and I have spent some of the best summers of our life in London, one of the world’s most kid-friendly cities. Whatever your age, you could spend a lifetime in London and still find new things to do.
Do
Catch a ride on the London Eye, an observation wheel that offers a sky-high view of the city’s iconic sights during a 30-minute, slow-motion ride inside a roomy capsule.
Located on the northern edge of Regent’s Park, the London Zoo is home to over 700 animals, from giraffes to penguins. Some of my favorite exhibits are the Butterfly Paradise, where winged creatures fly around and possibly on you; and Tiger Territory, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows providing a memorable view of these majestic big cats. After, rent a rowboat on the lake and search for one of several dozen hedgehogs who call the park home.
A visit to Royal Botanic Gardens Kew feels like a day in the countryside, though it’s a mere 30-minute ride on the Tube from Central London. With 37-acres of woodlands, a children’s garden, and a pollination trail, there’s plenty of room to smell the roses. After, stop for tea on Kew Road at the Original Maids of Honour, which serves classic cakes, traditional tarts, and buttery biscuits that wouldn’t be out of place on The Great British Bake Off.
Eat
London’s global dining scene reflects its multicultural population. Roti King is an inexpensive restaurant with several branches around the city serving Malaysian street food. Roti is a flatbread served hot out of the oven alongside classics of the Malaysian kitchen, from coconut rice to beef rendang, fork-tender beef in a luscious sauce enhanced with aromatic spices.
Stay
London Marriott Hotel County Hall is a five-star hotel and history lesson rolled into one. Formerly London’s City Hall, it respects the past while pampering guests with modern amenities, including a large indoor swimming pool. Indulge in traditional afternoon tea at The Library, where finger sandwiches, scones, and cakes are served on an elegant tiered tray with an unforgettable view of Big Ben and Parliament.
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin is sometimes seen as a launching pad for a more comprehensive trip around the Emerald Isle, though it’s also a worthy standalone coolcation. Fresh temperatures are the norm even in summer, making it pleasurable to walk around the compact city center and soak in the evocative street art.
Do
St Stephen’s Green is a verdant oasis in the heart of the city, with an ornamental lake that attracts mallards and swans. And Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed park in any European capital. Rent bikes and pedal over to the zoo and the Victorian Kitchen Walled Garden, as you glimpse the resident herd of fallow deer.
The Temple Bar district is filled with buskers and pubs with live music; kids are welcome in most pubs until 9 pm.
Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest university, merits a ramble for its lovely architecture and leafy grounds. Many come here to see the Book of Kells, ancient Ireland’s literary treasure.
My family’s hands-down favorite Dublin activity is paddling the waters of the River Liffey on a guided tour with City Kayaking, a novel way to traverse town for those age 12 or older.
It would be a shame to visit Dublin and not explore Celtic culture, even if it means heading indoors. The National Leprechaun Museum is an imaginative gem dedicated to Irish myths and folklore, from leprechauns to pots of gold.
Eat
My family lives to eat and food tours are our favorite way to grasp a city. Fab Food Trails offers guided walking tours that had us noshing and nibbling everything from Mexican food, a growing Dublin culinary trend, to gooey grilled cheese sandwiches and juice shots.
Stay
The Grafton Hotel enjoys a central location and spacious family rooms, including bunk beds for kids, that sleep up to six comfortably.
