The Alps stand out for a cool and active summer vacation: Mont Blanc tops the European rankings

When it comes to summer vacations in Europe, Scandinavia often comes to mind for those seeking cooler weather. However, a new ranking has revealed that the Alps have also become a strong option for travelers looking to combine outdoor activities like hiking and cycling with a cool climate.

In the study prepared by SportsCover Direct, destinations in Europe were scored out of 100 based on criteria such as summer temperatures, humidity levels, the density of hiking and cycling trails, and accessibility. The Mont Blanc region in France took the top spot on the list with 73.7 points.

According to the study, the Alps have surpassed some of the Northern European routes more commonly associated with cool summer getaways. In addition to Mont Blanc, the top 10 included the Austrian Tyrol, Hohe Tauern National Park, and the Swiss canton of Valais.

This trend is also linked to the recently rising search for "coolcations," or cool vacations. The study noted that "coolcation" searches have increased by 74 percent year-on-year, and 65 percent of vacationers want to avoid traveling during the hottest period of the year.

Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc, emerged as one of the centers that stands out for its trail density. It was calculated that there are 217 hiking and cycling routes per 100 square kilometers in the region. In the Austrian Tyrol, this number was recorded as 178.

Scandinavia, however, did not remain off the list. Åre and the Jämtland Mountains in Sweden placed second with 65.1 points, while Norway's Lofoten Islands came in seventh. However, Lofoten lost points in accessibility due to its location north of the Arctic Circle.

Humidity was also highlighted as one of the determining factors in the ranking. While the average relative humidity in Lofoten rises to 82 percent in August, it was reported that this rate is around 74 percent in Mont Blanc and Valais. This difference can affect the comfort felt at similar temperatures.

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The United Kingdom and Ireland also drew attention on the list. The Scottish Highlands ranked third, Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in Wales fourth, and Connemara in Ireland 10th. The common point of these routes is that they combine milder weather conditions in mid-summer with outdoor activities.