A growing number of travelers from Southern Europe, particularly France and Spain, are heading to Sweden to experience a cooler summer, according to new data from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Development. The trend is manifesting in various parts of the country, from the northern mountains to the capital city.
In the Swedish north, people from France have begun spending their summer holidays mountain climbing at Skuleberget in Ångermanland. Tero Libell, who operates a climbing business at the site, noted that the guest book looks different this year compared to previous seasons when Germans and the Dutch were the primary visitors. "Something has happened – it is clear and obvious," said Libell, adding that tourists from France, Spain, and Belgium are now testing their fear of heights in the cooler climate. Libell reported that these foreign visitors have explicitly stated that they are in the region because it is too hot at home. "There are a lot of French people in particular this year, actually," he added.
Official figures from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Development highlight this shift, showing that French overnight stays in commercial accommodation in Sweden rose by 28 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year. During the period from January to May of this year, there has been a further 15 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025.
The trend is also evident in central Stockholm. French tourist Julien Mary, who is traveling with his friend Ethan Hanoch, told the Swedish newswire TT that they left the south of France to escape temperatures of 33–35 degrees. "It's very calm here and people are so nice," Mary said, noting their plans to explore the city and visit local restaurants. Similarly, Alba Hervás from Barcelona is currently in Stockholm visiting her friend Mariona Martínez, a biochemistry student at Stockholm University. "It's so nice that you can wear a jacket and avoid temperatures of 35–40 degrees," Hervás said.
Among accommodations managed by the Swedish Tourist Association, the proportion of foreign guests remains at 19 percent, consistent with last year. However, there is a clear increase from specific nations, with French and Spanish visits rising by 20 and 49 percent respectively during June and July, albeit from relatively low levels. Last year, Södermanland, a county south of Stockholm, saw the largest increase in foreign overnight stays, jumping by 29 percent. Klas Stockman, who runs Hälgö Kajak outside Nyköping, noted that he has hosted many customers from Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland. "Especially a month ago when it was so hot. Then I actually had some visitor from Dubai – that was fun," said Stockman.
Scientists have identified recurring heatwaves as a clear marker of global warming, primarily caused by the burning of coal, oil, and gas, and they warn that these events are set to become more frequent, longer, and more intense.
