Language 
How to deal with a heatwave while traveling Europe (7 hot tips!)
Live like a local and avoid the heat during your Euro Summer with these seven hot tips from a Brit living in Italy!
As a Brit living in Bologna, I have had to adjust more than most to summers that often reach 40°C (104°F).
Every year gets hotter, and the heat is becoming harder to escape for tourists and locals alike.
Thankfully, I’ve picked up a few local and not-so-local tips during my time in Italy.
Before diving into the details, here’s a quick rundown for heat-heavy heads:
- Embrace the local timings!
- Close your windows (and your curtains)
- Check for public water fountains – there’s an app!
- Ask your hotel about its AC
- Don’t forget about the UV or the humidity
- Escape to the countryside. Avoid the cities.
- Slow down! You are on vacation, after all
Still hiding from the inferno? Let’s take a look at each of these tips in more detail.
1. Embrace the local timings!
Early rise, afternoon siesta, dinner after 9 pm. This may sound like a romanticized Mediterranean lifestyle, but there is a reason behind it. Follow this timetable, and you will avoid the hottest parts of the day.
I often see fellow Brits in Bologna sitting down for their evening meal at an outside table at 6 pm. With the sun yet to set and the buildup from rising temperatures, this is never a comfortable experience.
It’s tough to cut loose from daily habits and routines away from home. If you do, however, you’ll both avoid the sizzling moments that can sap your energy. You’ll also find much better atmospheres at the attractions, restaurants, and bars you visit.
So, grab a 4 pm snack and hold out to explore again during sunset – you’ll enjoy it much, much more.
2. Close your windows (and your curtains)
Back home, when things get hot, we open a window to let in a breeze. Do that in one of today’s heatwaves, and your accommodation is only going to get hotter.
In Italy, everyone has shutters (or tapparelle) on their windows. As soon as the sun gets strong enough, the shutters come down.
You don’t have to sit in the dark all day. Use this time to find an air-conditioned cafe, museum, or art exhibit.
The main thing is to make sure you do this before you go out exploring in the mornings. This way, you won’t return to a hotel that feels like an air fryer!
3. Check for public water fountains – there’s an app!
It’s a common complaint among US tourists: “Why is there no free water in Europe?”
While restaurants may not be as liberal with their drinking water across Europe as in the US, there are ways to stay hydrated. For example, there are plenty of well-maintained, public water fountains across most European countries.
Download apps like Water Finder to find free drinking water spots in the area you are visiting. It’s the best way to use your phone in Europe during a heatwave. P.S. Don’t forget to add your Stanley Cup to your packing list!
4. Ask your hotel about its AC
Only 20% of Europeans have air conditioning in their home. In the US, this number is almost 90%.
It’s important to check when you book that your accommodation has working AC, especially if you are staying in an Airbnb. While larger hotels will likely have modern facilities, many European homes will not have AC installed.
By checking ahead, you can avoid frustration upon arrival or change your booking to a place that will keep you cool. The summer my AC broke in Bologna is not something I would like to repeat!
5. Don’t forget about the UV or the humidity
Temperature isn’t the only factor in what makes us feel uncomfortable. UV is the deciding factor in whether your skin will burn, while a humid day can make the heat much harder to handle.
Use the weather app on your phone to check the day’s UV and humidity, as well as the temperature, before you leave your hotel in the morning. This way, you can know which sunscreen factor is right, or plan your day for more stops in the shade.
Stuck outside exploring without suncream? Having mobile internet in Europe is crucial for checking the weather and finding local stores on Google Maps. Holafly’s eSIM for Europe comes with unlimited data, so you’re never left wanting in the sun.
6. Escape to the countryside. Avoid the cities.
European city breaks are brilliant. Rome, Paris, and Madrid make for the trip of a lifetime. However, with cities come hard-to-handle heatwaves.
Here’s another moment where you can take a lead from the locals. In Bologna, the city empties out over the summer months. Instead, you’ll find the locals tanning at the beach or cooling off in the mountains.
If you are planning a ‘Euro Summer’, it’s best to avoid the stifling cities of Southern Europe in July and August.
Short on ideas? Check out these underrated European beach towns, or these favorite places Europeans travel to during the summer.
7. Slow down! You are on vacation, after all
This was the hardest thing for me to learn after leaving the UK. Not everything has to be a rush.
It’s easy to want to squeeze every monument, church, and attraction into your trip. But by rushing around, you only risk tiring yourself or even risking heatstroke.
The real star of Europe in the summer? Slowing down, relaxing, and taking in your surroundings at a stroll.
Holafly has your back during the heat with unlimited data for Europe
Staying connected during a heatwave can make or break your trip.
- Check weather forecasts real time
- Search for nearby water fountains
- Book an Uber when that walk is just too hot
These are just a few of the countless things you can do to manage the heat as you travel. That’s why having unlimited data is so important.
Holafly’s eSIM for Europe keeps you covered in 33 countries with a single eSIM.
Wherever you travel across the continent, you’ll be covered with unlimited data, 1 GB of daily hotspot, and 24/7 customer support.
Plus, with Always On, you get 1 GB of monthly backup data at no extra cost! Use it however you like, from instant data on your next trip to covering your airport journey on the last of this vacation. Don’t delete your Holafly eSIM, and Always On is always there.
Unlimited data. Peace of mind.
Make sure you have travel data that's there when you need it most.
Plans that may interest you
Born and raised in the UK, I discovered content creation as a journalist while studying at the University of Manchester. I've since covered a range of roles, both editorial and SEO, across the travel, hospitality, and professional services industries. I spend my weeks ensuring Holafly's content is relevant, insightful, and helpful, and my weekends exploring new destinations to satisfy my ever-growing travel bug.
