More and more tourists 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.
People from France have started taking their summer holidays mountain climbing in Västernorrland, northern Sweden, and Spanish tourists are enjoying the weather in central Stockholm.
“Something has happened – it is clear and obvious,” said Tero Libell, who runs a climbing business at Skuleberget, a mountain in Ångermanland in the Swedish north.
Germans and the Dutch have long visited Skuleberget, but this year the guest book looks different. People from France, Spain, and Belgium have now also made their way to the mountain to test their fear of heights and enjoy a cooler climate.
“Now there are more foreign tourists and they have explicitly said that the reason they are up here is because it is too hot at home,” said Libell.
Figures from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Development show that French overnight stays in commercial accommodation were the most significant increase in Sweden already in 2025, up 28 percent compared to the previous year.
During the January to May period this year, the increase is 15 percent compared to the same period last year.
“There are a lot of French people in particular this year, actually,” said Tero Libell.
French and Spanish tourists are also enjoying the weather a bit farther south in Sweden, in central Stockholm.
“We have come from the south of France. It’s too hot there, 33–35 degrees. It’s very calm here and people are so nice,” said French tourist Julien Mary to Swedish newswire TT.
He is travelling with his friend Ethan Hanoch.
“We’re going to look around the city and go to nice restaurants,” said Hanoch.
Alba Hervás from Barcelona is in Stockholm visiting her friend Mariona Martínez, who is studying biochemistry at Stockholm University.
“It’s so nice that you can wear a jacket and avoid temperatures of 35–40 degrees,” said Hervás.
Among the accommodations run by the Swedish Tourist Association, the proportion of foreign guests this year is 19 percent, which is unchanged compared to last year. However, a clear increase is visible from some countries. The French and Spanish have increased their visits by 20 and 49 percent respectively in June and July, albeit from relatively low levels.
Last year, Södermanland, a county just south of Stockholm, accounted for the largest increase in the number of foreign guest overnight stays, jumping by 29 percent, according to the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth. The question is whether the European heat will fuel this year’s figures further.
“I have a lot of customers from Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland, especially,” said Klas Stockman, who runs Hälgö Kajak outside Nyköping in Södermanland, a company that rents out cabins in the Stendörren nature reserve.
“Especially a month ago when it was so hot. Then I actually had some visitor from Dubai – that was fun,” said Stockman.
Scientists have shown that recurring heatwaves are a clear marker of global warming primarily caused by burning coal, oil and gas – and warn they are set to become more frequent, longer and more intense.
