Danes are escaping the country’s coldest winter in 16 years by booking flights to sunny destinations like Egypt and Thailand at unprecedented rates. Travel agencies report record travel bookings and selling out charter packages 5-7 weeks earlier than usual. Some routes are completely sold out through February. Copenhagen Airport expects 800,000 travelers in week 7 alone, representing a 10 percent increase from last year.
Record Travel Bookings as Winter Drags On
January 2026 ended as the coldest January in 16 years, and Danes are responding by flooding travel websites in search of warmth. Major tour operators report that demand for warm weather destinations has surged well beyond typical winter booking patterns.
Spies, one of Denmark’s largest travel agencies, has seen sales jump 5-7 percent for destinations like Egypt and the Canary Islands compared to last year. Meanwhile, bookings for Thailand, Bali, and Mauritius have skyrocketed by 40 percent.
According to Sofie Lund, communications chief at Spies, the rush started in early January and hasn’t slowed down. By the first week of the year, packages for weeks 7 and 8 were disappearing faster than normal. The agency now has almost nothing left to sell on the charter market for the next month.
Travel Agencies Struggling: New Record Travel bookings
Bravotours reports similar trends. The company has sold 6-7 percent more trips departing in January and February compared to the same period last year. Administrator Peder Hornshøj says the last three weeks of sustained cold have driven a surge in website traffic, phone calls, and in-store visits from customers desperate to leave as soon as possible.
In fact, the pressure has been noticeably higher than in previous years. Customers aren’t just browsing. They want to book immediately and depart within days. Popular coastal areas in Kenya are completely sold out for February, and Thailand routes are filling fast.
Sunweb reports it has sold 90 percent of its winter trips, compared to just 75 percent at the same time last year. The message is clear. Danes want out, and they want sun.
Copenhagen Airport Bracing for Busy February
The travel surge is also visible at Copenhagen Airport, where passenger numbers are climbing. Peter Krogsgaard, the airport’s commercial director, expects around 800,000 passengers to pass through during week 7. That’s 10 percent more than the same week last year.
He attributes the increase to both rising travel appetite and frustration with the prolonged cold spell. Flights to Southern Spain, Gran Canaria, Asia, Vietnam, and Thailand are especially packed. The trend reflects a clear desire to escape the cold and head toward warmth.
Interestingly, search engine data from Momondo supports this pattern. Danish users are overwhelmingly searching for destinations where sun and heat are guaranteed.
One DJ’s Struggle to Find a Spot
Radio host and DJ Kenny Jensen is among the many Danes hunting for a last-minute escape. He admits that every fiber of his body is craving vitamin D in the form of sunshine, ideally with a piña colada in hand.
He has been scouring websites and checking last-minute deals, focusing on Morocco and Egypt. For him, the destination matters less than the weather. Sun, a pool, and some ocean water are the priorities.
Despite his efforts, he hasn’t had any luck yet. Flights and packages have vanished from the shelves faster than he anticipated. He even jokes about standing on the street with a megaphone, pleading for someone to find him a sunny getaway.
While he acknowledges it sounds like a minor problem compared to other global issues, the frustration is real. Waiting too long has left him with few options, and the disappointment is palpable.
Why This Year Feels Different
Travel professionals agree that 2025 stands out. The extended cold snap, combined with dwindling daylight and a seemingly endless winter forecast, has driven more Danes than usual to seek relief abroad.
Naturally, winter vacations are always popular in Denmark. But this year, the intensity and urgency are different. Customers aren’t planning ahead. They’re booking impulsively, often within days of their departure date.
The combination of extreme weather, widespread availability of affordable charter flights, and a general fatigue with cold and snow has created a perfect storm for the travel industry. At the same time, agencies are running low on inventory because demand has outpaced supply.
Even though domestic tourism has grown in recent years, especially for summer house rentals, the appeal of guaranteed sunshine during a harsh winter remains irresistible for many Danes.
What’s Next for Danish Travelers
As February continues, the flight rush shows no signs of slowing. Travel agencies expect high demand to persist as long as the cold weather lingers. For those still hoping to escape, booking early and staying flexible with dates and destinations will be key.
Meanwhile, Copenhagen Airport is preparing for continued high traffic through the month. With more Danes than ever seeking warmth abroad, the travel sector is experiencing one of its busiest winter seasons in years.
For Kenny Jensen and thousands like him, the dream of sun, sand, and a much-needed break from the freeze remains just out of reach. But as spring approaches, the hope is that either the weather will warm up or a last-minute deal will finally come through.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Why Visit Copenhagen as a Tourist
The Danish Dream: Best Travel Insurance in Denmark for Foreigners
DR: Danskere flygter til sol og strand fra sne og kulde: ‘Hver fiber i min krop skriger på sol’
