Five cooler holiday destinations you can get to from Germany by train

Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece or Turkey – these are among the first summer vacation destinations that come to mind for most Germans.

But soaring temperatures and increasing tensions between local residents and tourists are turning some of Southern Europe’s dream destinations into nightmares for tourists.

In Spain, vacationers suffer both heatwaves and also unwelcoming residents in some locations. Since last year, some tourist hot spots have seen increasingly loud anti-tourism protests as residents complain that tourists push the cost of living up for locals. So far, it looks like protests are likely to ramp up this summer in the country's biggest travel destinations.

Some Italian cities have seen similar protests, although not quite to the same extent. However Italian destinations can be quite crowded in the summer. Last year, one city did temporarily ban tourists last year over concerns around the water supply.

In Greece major attractions were repeatedly been closed due to extreme heat waves last year summer, and three tourists reportedly succumbed to heat-related deaths.

Taken together, these and similar incidents seen across Southern Europe suggest that the combination of climate change and local frustrations are bound to have dramatic effects on Europeans’ travel habits.

In fact these changes are already being seen to an extent. Swapping a beach vacation for a “coolcation” – that is a trip to a place with a cooler climate – was reported as a major travel trend last year. And, as temperatures continue to rise, the as-of-yet little known trend can only be expected to grow in popularity.

So if a coolcation sounds more appealing to you this year, here are five destinations near Germany. What's more, you can skip the flight and take a train there if you like.

Malmö, Sweden

Relatively unknown among travellers, compared to say Stockholm or Copenhagen, the southern Swedish city of Malmö is gaining a reputation as one of the Nordic’s most underrated cities.

It’s a small, and very green city that allows guests to have a Northern European experience without navigating the large crowds and higher costs seen in the larger cities.

And with average daily temperatures ranging between 14 and 22C even in July and August, it's certainly a good place to escape the heat.

Getting there:

Copenhagen, Malmö and Stockholm and all accessible from Germany by car or train, and Sweden’s Snälltåget train offers a direct night train connecting to Hamburg, Berlin and Dresden.

Departures from Germany leave Dresden at 5:26 p.m., stopping in Berlin close to 8 p.m. and Hamburg around midnight. 

Then at 7 a.m. the next morning the train stops in Copenhagen, and on to Malmö by 7:25. From there the train stops in several more Swedish cities before arriving in Stockholm by 1:20 p.m.

The complete train schedule can be found on the Snälltåget website.

More useful information for planning a trip to Malmö or other Swedish cities can be found at our sister website The Local - Sweden.

READ ALSO: The destinations you can reach by direct night train from Berlin

The Alps 

Central Europe’s tallest mountains are probably the first place that comes to mind when most Germans think about a coolcation, and for good reason.

The Alps offer cooler temperatures (the higher you go the cooler it is) as well as stunning hiking, natural views and crystal clear lakes for a refreshing dip.

While a summer trip is a common idea for many, the mountain range is extensive enough that you can avoid the crowds easily enough by travelling beyond the main tourist hubs.

Getting there:

Some parts of the Alps are only accessible by car (and then foot if you want to go really remote). But there are train routes from Germany that will bring you to some great coolcation destinations in the Alps in Switzerland, Austria or Italy.

Nightjet, operated by Austrian railways (ÖBB) has a line that connects Berlin to Zürich, stopping through Leipzig on the way. Alternatively, there’s a night train from Amsterdam that stops in Bonn close to midnight, and another from Hamburg and stops in Karlsruhe around 6 in the morning.

On the Austrian side, a number of trains from Munich head into the Alps via Innsbruck or Salzburg. For those coming from further afield, there’s a Nightjet train from Amsterdam that can take you directly to Innsbruck from Düsseldorf, Würzburg or Nuremberg, and another from Hamburg that also connects to Hannover and Göttingen.

Some of the trains that connect Munich to Innsbruck also continue on to the Italian Alps. For example, from Munich Hauptbahnhof you can catch an EC train toward Bologna and get off at Bolzano or Trento to access the Italian Alps. The ride from Munich takes about four and half hours.

Slovenia

Less developed than its neighbours to the north and not having as much coastal access as its neighbours to the south, Slovenia remains a hidden gem among European travel destinations. But maybe not for too much longer, as its mountain lakes in particular have gained notoriety in recent years.

Lake Bled, with its castle on a cliff overlooking a crystal blue alpine lake is among Slovenia’s best known attractions. Not too far away, the Bohinj Valley offers similar sights and experiences, including an equally beautiful lake and summer sports galore.

Another natural coolcation draw is the Soča River, which is surrounded by gorgeous hiking trails and offers activities like river rafting and fly fishing.

Getting there:

You can get to Bled in Slovenia in about six hours via train from Munich. You’ll typically have to transfer twice in Villach and Jesenice.

From the station at Bled Jezero you can catch a local bus to your destination at Lake Bled, or Lake Bohinj or other destinations in the area.

Poland’s Baltic Coast

For a more budget friendly vacation, and one a bit more off the beaten track, Germany’s neighbour to the east shouldn’t be overlooked.

Poland’s southern mountains offer hiking, summer sports and rafting that can also make for an exciting summer break. 

But if you’re really looking to escape the heat, the Baltic Coast is generally your best bet. 

Szczecin, which is accessible from Berlin in about three hours with the Deutschlandticket, and is near the Baltic Sea, can be an easy city to visit for a quick overnight or weekend getaway.

Further away, but more properly situated on the coast is Gdańsk, from where you can access plenty of beaches along the coastline in either direction.

Getting there:

Trains connect Berlin to Gdańsk in about seven hours, depending on the transfers.

The fastest route is via Frankfurt Oder and transfers in central Poland in Poznań. There’s also a route through Szczecin, but it takes a bit longer, about nine hours.

Alternatively you could take a Flixbus to Gdańsk (also transferring in Poznań) in about 10 hours.

Germany’s coolcation locations

If you don’t have the time or the energy for an international train journey, it’s possible to have a domestic coolcation right here in Germany.

The coast near the Baltic Sea (Ostsee in German) is generally where the coolest temperatures are recorded in the summer months, and the region’s white same beaches are among Germany’s top summer destinations.

Or if you’re closer to the south, you can explore the edge of the Alps along Germany’s border, including the country’s highest peak, the Zugspitze.

Of course, almost anywhere you go in Germany, you can find a refreshing lake to cool off in. But for the coldest waters, it helps to get as close as possible to the mountains. The rivers coming down the mountains into Southern Germany, such as the Isar in Munich effectively carry snowmelt from the Alps directly into Bavaria.

READ ALSO: 8 of the coolest places in Germany to visit on hot summer days