Coolcation Trend: Black Forest Attracts More Southern Europeans

The Black Forest is experiencing a surge in visitors from Southern Europe, with tourists from Spain and Italy increasingly choosing the German region for their summer holidays. This trend, dubbed "Coolcation" by tourism associations, is driven by a desire to escape the intense heat of their home countries.

Rocío Hurtado, visiting from Barcelona with her family, cited the significant temperature difference as a key factor in their decision to travel to the Black Forest. "It is a beautiful region," she said, highlighting the appeal of cooler climates.

Statistics from the Black Forest Tourism GmbH, based on data from the Statistical Office of Baden-Württemberg, show a notable increase in Spanish visitors. In the past year, nearly 199,000 overnight stays were recorded from Spanish guests, a 3.6% increase from the previous year. Over the past decade, since 2015, stays from Spain have grown by an impressive 64%. Italian tourists also contributed significantly, with around 194,500 overnight stays in 2025, marking a 0.8% increase.

These two markets combined generated over 393,000 overnight stays last year. The Hochschwarzwald (High Black Forest) region has seen particularly strong growth, with overnight stays from Spain increasing between 11% and 46% annually in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic. The Titisee lake, for instance, recently attracted nearly twice as many visitors from Spain and Italy compared to the same period last year.

While this trend is becoming more pronounced, both tourism associations confirm that cooler temperatures are a primary draw. Guest feedback indicates that high temperatures at home played a crucial role in vacation planning. The Black Forest's forests, lakes, and higher altitudes are explicitly mentioned as attractive alternatives to hot summer periods. The prevalence of Spanish and Italian conversations in Freiburg's city center further attests to the growing presence of these tourists.

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