20 places to visit for a cold weather escape in the summer

This small island in the Arctic Circle may be challenging to get to, but it will come with major benefits for those who venture there. It’s a cold-weather respite with stunning views you can’t get in other places in the world. The only downside is that Svalbard is in its polar day during the summer months, so the sun is always out. 

You don’t need to leave the United States to get some cool weather in the summer. Travel north to Denali Park. You’ll get to explore a national park without worrying that you’re going to suffer a heat stroke. 

Norway isn’t a snowy paradise in the summer, but it’s far enough north that it’ll still be cooler than most other places in Europe and the United States. It’s a great place to visit if you want to explore some European cities sans scalding temperatures. 

For a truly cold experience, check out Auli in the Himalayas. The Himalayas are always near freezing temperatures, so there’s no chance you’ll be warm on this excursion. 

Iceland is a stunning cold-weather retreat every month of the year, but it’s especially refreshing in the summer. It boasts some of the most gorgeous landscapes in the world, and it’s perhaps the best country on the planet for viewing the Northern Lights. 

If there’s any country better than Iceland for viewing the Northern Lights, it’s Finland. With plenty of open land for exploring and metropolitan areas like Helsinki and Rovaniemi, Finland is the perfect escape for fans of crisp air. 

If you’re interested in taking a trip all the way across the globe, South Island, New Zealand, is a destination to consider. It’s not freezing cold like some of the aforementioned places, but it’s a refreshing change from the balmy heat of the United States in the summer. 

Despite its name, Greenland is most certainly not a tropical paradise. Located about as far north as humans can inhabit, Greenland is quaint, charming, and totally cold in the summer months.

Australia is experiencing winter when we experience summer. Victoria is a great place to explore when you want a major adventure at cool temperatures. 

Australia is an enormous country, so there are plenty of good places to visit for a cool-weather escape. Melbourne is full of history and culture, all of which will be enjoyable even in the hotter months.

The coldest months in Uruguay are the hottest months in the United States, so it’s a great time to visit the South American country. Check out the capital city of Montevideo or explore its diverse landscapes. 

If you want to see snow in the summer but don’t necessarily want to be in it, Patagonia, Argentina (or Chile) is a great place to visit. You can see the snow-capped mountains while you bask in the cool temperatures on its vast shores. 

Antarctica is another place you can always count on being cold. It’s extremely difficult to get to, and there aren’t hotels, but it’s got penguins, seals, whales, and lots of ice and snow. 

June, July, and August are good times to visit the Andes Mountains. The weather will range from cold to temperate, and you’ll be able to bask in the glory of the Peruvian gem without sweating. 

Like some other South American locations, Easter Island in the summer months isn’t necessarily going to be cold, but it will be much cooler than most of the United States. Since there’s so much to explore on Easter Island, it’s a great time to visit. You can dress and move about very comfortably. 

Given its location, Vancouver, Canada is going to have similar weather in the summer months to the states in the Pacific Northwest. Think sunny days and moderate temperatures. If you want to visit a cool city — in more ways than one — while the rest of the continent is heating up, check out Vancouver. 

For a Canadian excursion on the opposite side of the country, check out Cape Breton. This island will be a completely different experience than Vancouver, but it's still fun and quite chilly. 

If you want to stay in the continental United States, head to San Francisco, California. This city is known for its fog and rain, and it boasts cooler temperatures than most of the rest of the country in June, July, and August. 

June, July, and August are typically Latvia’s warmest months, but they’re still cooler than in the United States. The country is full of history and old European charm that is lovely to look at on a cool and crisp summer day. 

To truly escape the heat, enjoy the cool summer with the Danes. The temperatures in June, July, and August are very mild, with only a few exceptional days being considered hot.