How To Keep Cool During Summer In Europe If You’re Traveling, Here Is All You Need To Know

Europe is swarming with millions of tourists every summer, the year’s signing off on record in many Mediterranean parts of the continent. It’s already exceeding 114.8°F in cities like Barcelona, Paris and Rome during summer’s warmest months. Despite the attraction of Europe’s history, culture and glorious sights, soaring temperatures can make for an uncomfortable experience, especially in overcrowded popular destinations for tourists. The hot summer and bustling crowds can influence travel experiences and the direction of tourism, and tourists need to get used to this and have a pleasant journey.

What Warmer Days Mean for Summer Travel

The summer tourist boom is a fixture of the economy in many cities, and it has been for lots longer. Yet every year, as the stifling heat gets harder to escape, tourists are now encountering new obstacles. With temperatures soaring, the outdoor pursuits that typically underpin European summer travel — think sightseeing, alfresco dining and checking out historic sites — can be miserable, particularly between noon and 3 p.m., when the sun is at its most intense and highest.

The heat is not only a comfort issue but also has an effect on tourism. Being over-housebound is not only likely to affect people’s mood and health, but may also act as a so-called “threat” response that encourages people to avoid the sun during its hottest periods of the day. This has led the tourism sector to reconsider how to offer visitors an experience they can enjoy without sacrificing safety or pleasure.

New Hours A Little Less Humid, Days Are Getting Warmer

It’s all about thinking smart about the heat during a European summer. Visitors should plan to schedule outdoor time for early morning, prior to 12 pm., when temperatures are lower. Whether you want a pre-opening tour of landmarks like the Colosseum in Rome or an early-morning stroll along the Seine in Paris, you have the opportunity to wander without the oppressive heat.

In addition, the few hours in the morning is a splendid time for photos because the morning sun has a warmer diffusion effect that makes your picture look more aesthetic. This way, tourists can get pictures of famous European landmarks without having to deal with harsh sunlight or a large crowd. Once the day heats up, it’s time to move indoors or into the shade where it’s more comfortable.

Indoor Alternatives: Europe’s Libraries and Theatres Have Got You Covered

If the heat is too much to bear when the noon sun is too hot to handle, there are numerous things for travellers to do indoors so you can keep cool, but not miss out on the culture Europe has to offer. Some of the most beautiful libraries in the world are part of a European tradition in which the reading rooms are as much works of art as the books on the shelves. These environments also provide cool and calm, a brief respite from the heat and an opportunity to experience European culture with a twist.

For example, the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Venice is not only a treasury of ancient manuscripts, but also a cool refuge from the increasing heat. Likewise, the Stiftsbibliothek Admont in Austria, the world’s largest monastery library, offers the elegance of high Baroque architecture combined with a serene space to cool off from the summer sun. These libraries, with their marble walls and soaring ceilings, provide an oasis for the traveler who wants to experience a bit of culture without braving the sun.

Cool and Comfortable in the AC: Shopping and the Movies

For travellers who choose to be indoors in air-conditioned comfort, there is plenty of retailtherapy on offer in Europe, as well plenty of flashy, modern cinemas to explore that offer a cool and immersive escape during the most sizzling times of the day. Shopping malls and upscale boutiques all over the continent are a fine respite from the heat and an excuse to splurge on some of Europe’s best fashion, art and souvenirs.

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, for instance, is an architectural wonder cupped by its glass roof and gracious design. It’s an ideal place to window shop for high-end brands, or to sip a cold drink, mingling among the throngs just outside. Departmentstore Quartier 206 in Berlin is a beautiful designed space in which to experience German-made fashion and luxury goods — and escape the summer heat outside.

Or visitors can see a movie at a historic or modern European movie theater. Visiting the cinema also comes with the double win of avoiding the heat whilst consuming a slice of local culture. Take refuge from the heat and get some culture (and air conditioning) at this enormous movie theatre in Paris that is one of the largest in Europe and screens films in multiple languages. In Madrid, the same types of experiences are available at the city’s Cineteca, where visitors can see independent films while staying cool in the establishment’s expansive (and metallic gold aesthetic) screening rooms.

Steeping in Art and History: Museums and Galleries to Browse in the Cool

Another great way to escape the heat is by visiting some of Europe’s famous museums and galleries. Not only do these art-infatuated cultural centres offer a cool shelter from the sun but an opportunity to discover a carefully-curated range of history, art and architecture. Apart from the fact that all these museums and galleries contain huge collections of works spanning centuries of human accomplishment, it also means that travelers to the continent can escape the midday heat.

The Marc Chagall Art Gallery in Nice is a case in point. The stunning gardens surrounding the gallery are a serene spot to enjoy the outdoors before heading inside to cool off and see Chagall’s iconic paintings. In Rome, Palazzo Massimo provides a more tranquil and overlooked museum experience, where you can still brush up on ancient Roman art and artifacts without dealing with the hordes descending on the city in search of their “Roman holiday.”

Museums, for instance, allow tourists to pause and appreciate the cultural depth of their travel destination. These are places that invite you to while away hours indoors, ensconced in cool comfort and cultural history. Be it at the Louvre in Paris, the Prado in Madrid or the Vatican Museums in Rome, these establishments offer not just respite from the sun but from urban hassle as well, while also educating the masses.

Changing Travel to Meet a Hotter Future

As European summers get hotter, and thus more unpredictable, thanks to climate change, it’s evident that both tourists and the tourism industry are going to have to adapt. Opting to plan outdoor activities for early in the morning or late at night, to just plain going indoors (like museums or theaters) while making it a point to visit cool shopping or cinema locales, are all key factors in maximizing your summer while minimizing your exposure (as well as maintaining your comfort level).

In addition, European cities should further innovate to keep tourists indoors with ruftop attractions and other air-condition ed facilities during heatwaves. If travelers prepare for the hot weather head and work in solutions now, summer travel through Europe can be as pleasing as it should be.

In summary, European summer heatwaves obviously make travel more challenging, but armed with some thoughtful planning, adaptation and an understanding that cooler indoor activities are available too, travellers can make the most of a European holiday under the heat.

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