For a long time, summer holidays came with an unofficial checklist: guaranteed sunshine, packed beaches, and temperatures high enough to make sightseeing feel like a workout.

But we’ve started to think the best summer escapes aren’t the hottest ones.

Ours usually start with a good coffee, move on to a swim in a lake somewhere, and end with a slow walk home through streets glowing in the evening light, with enough energy left to do it all again tomorrow.

That’s the idea behind the Coolcation. 

A different kind of summer break, where nature is closer, crowds are lighter and the days feel a little more spacious.

Northern Europe has been doing this brilliantly for years - Stockholm’s island-hopping, Tallinn’s seaside charm, Oslo’s effortless outdoor lifestyle, and Helsinki’s love of the sea. We’ve spent enough summers in them all to know that they’re built for slow mornings and unplanned afternoons.

And since we’ve got a place in each one, you can explore like a local, then come home to your own space, your own kitchen, and everything you need to recharge.

Stockholm: Island Hopping, Swimming Spots and Summer Slowdowns

Stockholm knows how to enjoy summer better than most places we’ve stayed.

Spread across 14 islands and surrounded by thousands more, the city is built around the water. Here, a summer afternoon doesn’t have to mean fighting for space on a crowded beach. It might mean jumping on a boat, finding a quiet swimming spot, or settling down for lunch beside the harbour.

Our idea of a perfect Stockholm day? Fuel up with a coffee and brekkie bowl at Banacado on Tegnérgatan, go for a swim off the local’s favourite jetty at Badbrygga in Norrmalm (close to our Bob W), then head out into the archipelago.

Sandhamn is one of our favourites: a laid-back island escape, a 2.5-hour ferry ride from the city centre, where you can cycle between pine forests, take a swim from the rocks, and finish the day with seafood by the water. We love Sandhamns Värdshus, a historic island inn where you can settle in for fresh seafood, local flavours, and a long summer evening overlooking the harbour.

For a day that feels straight from a storybook, we take the 929 train from Stockholm Centralstation to Mariefred. This colourful lakeside town is home to Gripsholm Castle, vintage steamships and independent cafés perfect for a slow afternoon wander. Our regular stop is Slottskafé, known locally for its incredible selection of cakes and pastries – the perfect reward after a slow afternoon exploring.  Look closely while wandering Gripsholm Castle and you might even spot its famously strange stuffed lion, a wonderfully odd 18th-century curiosity that has become one of Sweden’s most unexpected attractions.

For a quieter side of Stockholm, we head to Ekerö, where royal gardens, countryside landscapes and local farm shops sit just outside the city. We recommend travelling like a local and boarding the line 89 commuter ferry from Klara Mälarstrand in central Stockholm, it will make the journey there half the fun.

Stay in Stockholm with Bob W

Helsinki: The Island-Built Capital Where Summer Happens Outdoors 

Helsinki is a city built around the water, where summer naturally pulls you outdoors. With hundreds of islands, leafy parks, and swimming spots woven into everyday life, the best days here aren’t about rushing between sights - they’re about catching a ferry, finding a quiet beach, and following the locals.

We always start by the sea. Eira Beach is where Helsinki’s urban crowd goes to cool off, swim, and make the most of the long Nordic evenings. For a bigger beach day, head to Hietaranta Beach, the city’s largest sandy stretch, perfect for a slower afternoon by the Baltic Sea.

When we want to escape into nature, we head to Nuuksio National Park. Just 35 minutes from the centre, it feels worlds away, with forest trails, peaceful lakes, and plenty of opportunities to embrace Finland’s outdoor lifestyle. Hire a fat bike, take a swim, or stop at one of the free campfire spots - a very Finnish way to spend a summer day.

Of course, no trip to Helsinki is complete without a sauna. Our favourite experience is Lonna, a tiny island just a short ferry ride from the city centre, where traditional sauna meets sea views, island dining and the flow pace of Finnish summer. For something closer to the city centre, you can dip into our very own sauna on the rooftop at Bob W Helsinki Kampi, designed in collaboration with Finnish design brand Littala, it offers far reaching views across the city skyline on a roof terrace built for stylish sunbathing.

If you’re looking for a longer island escape, we love taking the ferry to Iso Vasikkasaari. It feels less like a city destination and more like a floating park, with woodland paths, swimming spots, and the chance to slow down completely. Stay for lunch or dinner at Gula Villan, a classic summer island restaurant.

And for an evening with a little more energy, head to Skiffer Liuskaluoto, a pizzeria on a tiny island just in front of Helsinki. With DJs, live music and long summer evenings stretching late into the night, it’s exactly the kind of place that makes the city feel alive.

Helsinki’s magic is that nature is never far away. One moment you’re in a capital city, the next you’re swimming, stepping into a sauna, or sitting by the sea - exactly what a Coolcation should feel like.

Stay in Helsinki with Bob W

Tallinn always surprises us.

At first glance, it’s a city of medieval towers, cobbled streets and colourful old-town buildings. But look a little closer and you’ll find a creative, coastal city with a relaxed summer rhythm.

We always start in Vanalinn, Tallinn’s UNESCO-listed old town, where wandering between cafés and quiet courtyards is genuinely the best plan. Stop at Pulla Bakery for fresh pastries, or settle into the historic Café Maiasmokk, Tallinn’s oldest café, before finding a hidden courtyard or rooftop view over the city.

When you’re ready for something more contemporary, try heading to Fotografiska for photography exhibitions, creative events and a taste of the Telliskivi neighbourhood - home to some of the coolest vibes in the city. Make sure to pop into Karjase Sai bakery while you’re there for the freshest pastries and a vast range of sourdough.  If you want to stay in the centre of this culturally pioneering neighbourhood, it’s worth checking out our Bob W Tallinn Telliskivi. After that, we swap the city streets for the coast.

For a local-style summer afternoon, follow the Reidi Tee promenade along the Baltic coast. Hire an e-scooter, feel the sea breeze, and stop whenever something catches your eye - a coffee, an ice cream, or even a quick dip in the water.

Later, we slow things right down in Kadriorg Park, where elegant landscaping, winding paths, and a peaceful Japanese Garden come together into one of Tallinn’s most unexpected corners. Not somewhere to rush, it’s a place for wandering slowly, watching squirrels, and enjoying a quieter side of the city.

Once a Soviet-era concert hall and now one of the city’s most atmospheric viewpoints, Linnahall is where we go for a properly cinematic sunset.  (Film fans might recognise Tallinn from Christoper Nolan’s Tenet, which used the city as a filming location.)

Stay in Tallinn with Bob W

Oslo is a capital city with a countryside mindset.

Here, nature isn’t something we escape to - it’s woven into the rhythm of everyday life. The neighbourhoods, forests, and waterways sit surprisingly close together, so it’s easy to swap galleries and coffee shops for fresh air and open space.

For something closer to the centre, wander along the Akerselva River, one of our favourite summer walks in the city. The route winds past waterfalls, green spaces, and old industrial buildings turned creative hubs. We always make time for a coffee at Hønse-Lovisas hus, a tiny wooden café perched above the river, or a slow lunch stop at Mathallen before continuing towards Grünerløkka, one of Oslo’s most creative neighbourhoods.

For a classic Norwegian summer experience, pick up a picnic from one of Oslo’s neighbourhood bakeries - Godt Brød in Grünerløkka is a favourite for fresh bread, coffee and pastries - then hop on the metro to Sognsvann Lake. Surrounded by forest and just a short ride from the centre, it’s perfect for a cooling swim, a walk beneath the trees, or simply doing what Oslo does best: making outdoor life feel effortless. Don’t forget a cinnamon bun for the journey, it’s practically part of the experience.

Our favourite thing about Oslo? The way the city gives you permission to slow down. One day can include a little culture, a little adventure, and plenty of time outside - exactly as summer should be. Oh and don’t forget to try one of Oslo’s cultural sauna experiences. We always include a trip to ARDNA at Salt, where the sauna sits in the middle of this city-centre hotspot. Chill out to music from leading DJs, dine on Nordic tapas, or cool off with a post-sauna dip in the ocean.

Stay in Oslo with Bob W

Sometimes the best destinations are the ones locals have been quietly enjoying for years.

Known as Estonia’s summer capital, Pärnu has long been the place Estonians escape to when the days get longer and the pace of life slows down. With its wide sandy beaches, elegant wooden villas, leafy parks, and relaxed café culture, it’s a seaside town made for lingering.

We’d recommend spending the morning walking along the promenade, taking a dip in the Baltic Sea, or wandering the streets lined with colourful summer houses and historic buildings. Once a prized spa town, Pärnu still has that same restorative feeling today.

Every July, the town becomes a destination for music lovers thanks to the Pärnu Music Festival, founded by conductor Paavo Järvi and his family. While, in early August, the Pärnu Maitsete Uulits Street Food Festival turns the city into a foodie haven.  They’re both perfect examples of what makes Pärnu special: world-class festivals in a town where flip-flops, street eats and classical music concerts somehow sit comfortably side by side.

As the evening light stretches late into the night, we like to pop into Düün beach bar and grab a double-sized watermelon mojito, play some beach volleyball, or wander through town as it slips into its summer rhythm.

Pärnu captures the essence of a Coolcation perfectly: space to breathe, time to explore, and a reminder that the best places are sometimes the ones you didn’t expect to find.

Stay in Pärnu with Bob W

Bob's Coolcation Checklist

1. Swim somewhere locals swim

2. Find the neighbourhood coffee spot

3. Take the slower route

4. Leave room for plans to change

5. Come home to a place that feels like yours

Because the best summer trips aren’t always about going further. Sometimes they’re about finding somewhere that lets you slow down, explore more, and feel at home along the way.

Find your Coolcation with Bob W