Europe is hot.
And I'm not only talking about what's happening in your favorite social media feed. In fact, the momentum from 2023 – a yr when seemingly everyone hopped on a plane across the pond – seems unbroken, with crowds currently flooding the continent in early summer, resulting in the standard hand-wringing and a plethora of reports stories about overtourism.
I'm talking about temperatures.
As I write, temperatures in top destinations comparable to Rome and Florence are only above triple figures and extreme heat warnings are in place. Athens is forecast to see highs of around 35 degrees and sunny skies for the foreseeable future.
So here's a friendly reminder to not underestimate the warmth in Europe.
No matter how much dry heat or humidity you might be used to, conditions in Europe are different and that you must have a plan for how one can cope with it should you travel there in the summertime.
Why do the utmost temperatures in Europe differ from those in our homeland?
First off, regardless of what a part of the U.S. you're from, you almost certainly don't spend all day walking around sightseeing in the summertime. If you're traveling during a heat wave, chances are high you'll be bouncing between air-conditioned spaces.
It's unavoidable: you'll be out and about loads and exposed to the weather in your European vacation. No matter what time of yr it’s, you didn't come all the way in which here to take a seat inside and watch TV, so your days are sure to be filled with things to do and see. Activity and high temperatures can result in levels of exhaustion you're simply not used to.
Another reason is that air con units, while quite common in southern Europe and bigger hotels across the continent, are often not as powerful as you would possibly want. This is very true of the units in apartments or older hotels. Even should you do have air con, it probably won't be pumping out air as arctic as your property. Additionally, there are sometimes limits on how low you may run the air con and/or settings that ensure it doesn't run if you're not within the room.
Finally, lots of us in Europe are inclined to overeat, and alcohol, caffeine and heavy meals can exacerbate the results of the warmth.
How are you able to beat the warmth in Europe in summer?
Get up early, go to bed late
No matter where you might be on the European map or what heatwave you're experiencing, it's not as oppressively hot between 6am and 9am, as these are almost all the time the good hours of the day. While it might probably still be sticky at night, you don't should worry in regards to the sun scorching you after 8am.
Although you may't cram all of your tourist activities into these hours, it's the proper time to take walks, explore things for later (thus spending less time outside through the hotter parts of the day), and avoid the crowds at photogenic beauties.
Book your attraction tickets prematurely if possible to scale back wait times through the hottest hours. And if the attraction is outdoors, book it later within the day when it's less busy (day trips often flood attractions at lunchtime) and also you won't should wait outside as long.
What to wear
In terms of clothing, wear a hat and loose-fitting, airy clothing in light colours. These will keep you cooler than tight-fitting dark clothing, whether it’s moisture-wicking or not.
Keep reapplying sunscreen, drinking as much as you may, and resting within the shade every time possible. And as for the aforementioned alcohol and caffeine, you’ll want to use it sparsely.
It's not all doom and gloom: the summer season in Europe offers long days, great beach experiences and lots of other travelers to fulfill and create memories with. However, the warmth may be quite depressing should you don't take precautions.
So just take the suitable precautions and you might be guaranteed to have one of the best time of your life this summer!
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