It appears that we are taking a weather risk by traveling in southern Europe during the month of July (Barcelona, Southern France, Cinque Terre).
Thank you!
To tell the truth I really never thought too much about it. I've usually traveled in Summer and often the interior of Europe (Germany, Austia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland) was just as hot and humid as Southern Europe. The worst I experienced was going to Greece and Turkey in July - man, that was hot! The day we toured Ephesus it was 110 F. The only real concessions I made to the heat on any of my trips was to always wear a wide brimmed hat to protect my face as much as possible, make sure I have pleny of water with me, and get some time in the shade or in a cool building whenever possible, which wasn't always possible for hours at a time sometimes. So, I guess those are my only suggestions to you. And, by the way, the heat never ever stopped me from enjoying my trips.
Oh, and one other suggestion: if you're near water, get out on the water if at all possible and take any chance you get to visit an island. I've ridden ferries to an island and back just to get a bit of breeze on the water. :)
Do as the locals do in the Mediterranean, limit your activities during the midday and afternoon, do most of your sightseeing either in the morning or evening. In Spain we take a siesta in the hottest hours of the day for a reason, it's not just a stereotype. Make sure your accommodations have air conditioning.
Yes siesta. Yes spring for AC. Yes get up early and get out. Yes stay close to the coast where it is cooler.
We travelled in Southern Italy in August 2021. We had some pretty extreme heat (100 degrees in Pompeii, 105 in Rome). A few things we did that I would highly recommend: (1) a wide brimmed hat - your face and neck will thank you! I’m not normally a hat person, but I was so glad I had one along. (2) a real sun umbrella (the reflective kind). I was worried this would be a wasted item in my already tight carryon space, but this turned out to be a life saver. Pompeii has almost no shade, and some of the ruins in Rome were similar. Those sun umbrellas can really make a huge difference! (3)a few in our group had cooling neck towels (you get them damp and then drape them on the back of your neck). These will get your clothes damp, but if it’s hot enough you won’t care. The neck towels were the least used of the three things I’ve mentioned, but for a few in our group with real heat sensitivities, they were welcome aids on the hottest days. Lastly, I agree with one previous commenter re: AC. Spring for it. You will appreciate the break when you hit your hotel or apartment.
A hand fan can at least give you some level of wind-chill effect, with you (or your travel partner) doing the fanning. I’ll bet you can even find them for sale in Barcelona and in southern France, where some locals undoubtedly own, and use them.
All the above suggestions are good. Google will easily turn up sources for the cooling towel (you just dampen it, swirl it around in the air, and it gets quite cool) and bead-filled ties that go around your neck and cool that area by evaporation (CoolTies and competitors). I have used the latter and tested the former.
I'm sure many people wouldn't like the CoolTie-style products because they mean wearing a sausage-shaped thing around your neck, but in my experience they remain damp all day and do help you stay cool.
The cooling towel is nice because you can use it to wipe your face. However, once you get it wet, you need to have a way to carry it around with you.
You cannot count on air conditioning in all indoor spaces (it's not always available in shops, cafes and museums), so it is very, very valuable to have lodgings (which must be air conditioned) conveniently located near the predominant sightseeing area. That will make it easier to return to your room to cool off. Be cautious about planning day trips, because you will not have access to your room during them. A tip: on really hot days, a door propped open is usually an indication that there's no a/c inside; if you need to cool off, find another shop/cafe/etc.
I want to reinforce the drink-water advice. Not being a fan of ancient ruins, I haven't had to deal with long visits to exposed, non-urban areas in the summer, but I developed heat exhaustion as I walked home on a 90F day, after donating blood. It came on very, very suddenly, and I was lucky to make it to my air conditioned apartment. (It was during the pandemic; nothing was open and there were none of the usual street vendors selling cold drinks.) I was moving at about 1/3 of my normal speed; it was scary.
Wear loose dresses or skirts if you are female….so much cooler than capris or pants.
There are lots of small battery operated or USB charged handheld fans: bring one.
You can also get ones that hang around your neck to be hands free.
I bring a tiny spray bottle of water out with me in the heat.
It’s amazing how much cooler you feel with a “scoosh” of water over your face, arms, neck.
Seek shade everywhere , and move slowly!
Your whole trip from coolest to hottest appears to be 68F to 83F (about the same as Chicago in July) ............ I wouldn't sweat it. Enjoy.
Wear a wide brimmed hat, loose clothing and drink plenty of water.
I am from South Georgia and have traveled extensively in Southern Europe in the Summer, the heat was no worse than what we have back home.
We did a cruise that stopped in four ports in SW India in early April and temps were near 100% F. I organized great tours for the four ports. Some of our participants cancelled the last port due to heat exhaustion. They were from Wisconsin and Ohio.
@Mister E, I recommend not to use posted averages for cities or countries. Your temps are off up to 20 degrees. Southern Spain has been strongly impacted with global warming in the past 8 years seeing 100F in April. Numerous websites will provide actual historical temperatures by calendar dates for the past years. Those are the temperatures and precipitation to be reviewing in the travel planning stages. It's prudent to be aware of potential for heat stroke.
I am one who feels the heat. It is not my friend. But water is your friend, I mean beyond drinking it. I have resorted to wet bandanas (or hankie) tied around the neck or soaking my short hair. I also travel with powdered Gatorade or NUUN hydration tablets (my preferred). You can use less than the recommended 'dose' and I drink them before feeling really off kilter.
Definitely AC, and definitely gelato for internal cooling.
The heat is getting worse each year, so much so that vacationers from south of France have headed in part to Normandie to avoid the heat in some recent summers. “Manage with potential heat”…..you’re deluding yourself. Your endurance is the only thing left.
I live in a stone house, stay inside and close the shutters and only come out in the morning and late evening during the days that the temp clears 100.
The heat is getting worse each year, so much so that vacationers from south of France have headed in part to Normandie to avoid the heat in some recent summers. “Manage with potential heat”…..you’re deluding yourself. Your endurance is the only dependable management with the here and now of a different climate that is with us.
I live in a stone house in Normandie , stay inside and close the shutters and only come out in the morning and late evening during the days that the temp clears 100. I’m still happy/grateful to be here.
Two hints from an Arizonan who spent a lot of time outside with her horses and has had melanoma:
1) Always carry water and drink lots of it. Add Gatorade or something similar once a day.
2) Wear lightweight, light colored, vented long sleeve sun shirts to protect your skin. You will be cooler than wearing short sleeves or sleeveless shirts. Kerrits is my preferred brand https://kerrits.com/ since the material is vented all over, not just underarm mesh.
Don’t forget to wear a broad brim hat. Wear lots of sunscreen, including on your ears.
Always carry water and drink lots of it. Add Gatorade or something similar once a day.
Last time I heard Gatorade is actually banned in the EU.
When I was in Peru this last August I brought with me some dissolvable hydration tablets I got off of Amazon and they work pretty well.
As long as it is not an unusual heat wave, just hydrate and enjoy the day. I like to plan my outdoor sights early in the morning and move on to indoor sights afterwards. In July there will be so much daylight you can stroll in the evening to enjoy the location as well.
ALWAYS have a room with good working AC. It is worth the extra money. Heat and miserable sleep is a combination for an unhappy trip.
Try to avoid too much alcohol.
Wear shorts everywhere. Wear a hat. Don't dress like a local.
Eat light during the day and save a heavier meal for the evening.
Be aware where you are walking. Pick the side of the street with the most shade.
Don't hesitate to go back to your room for 2-3 hours to recharge. Another shower is a good way to cool off and refresh.
Take breaks in the shade during the day. 15 minutes in the shade with a cool drink does wonders.
Pace and plan if you run into a heat wave. Don't be afraid to switch around your plans unless you are tied to a specific time.
Enjoy your trip.
In addition to what's already been said, if I'm staying in a place with a real fridge, I like to freeze a plastic bottle of water that is filled about 75-80 percent. Then, I can carry it around with me, placing it against my neck or inner arm to cool me off when needed, and, as it melts, I have ice water to drink.
MariaF, you are absolutely correct. Here, pick your year: https://weatherspark.com/h/m/47213/2022/7/Historical-Weather-in-July-2022-in-Barcelona-Spain#Figures-Temperature
Its the weather, who knows? I live in South Texas where long stretches of 105F days in the summer are common. And where it only snows once every 20 years until the last few years where we have had snow almost every year and one year it continued for nearly a week.
The summer difference between Texas and Spain is the availability of and quality of air-conditioning. Still, 83 to 85 at the hottest point of the day doesn't seem like a hardship to me as long as it cools down enough to get a good nights sleep; but what is important is that the OP be comfortable and if coming from a climate where that is unusual, the OP should take all of the great advice here.
ALWAYS have a room with good working AC. It is worth the extra money. Heat and miserable sleep is a combination for an unhappy trip.
That's a pretty broad statement and not always possible. I've spent many hot nights in non-A/C accomodations and lived to tell the tale. Most of us grew up without A/C in our homes - I, for one, slept in an attic room that was stifling in the summer but open windows and fans made it managable. And Unless you have underlying health conditions, sleeping in hotels (or other accomodations) without A/C isn't likely to kill you. There are ways to make sleeping in the heat easier. I do feel sorry for people who are so accustomed to A/C that they can't survive without it - that can be somewhat limiting in other countries outside the US.
And by the way, I've never lived in a hot climate, I lived in MN, CO, and OR. I'm not a heat lover by any means, in fact I piss and moan when it gets over 80 where I live. But, I've also never let that bother me or stop me from enjoying my travels.
I'm not necessarily contradicting you, just saying that there are other viewpoints and not everyone is the same.
Mister E, Barcelona is probably the coolest of the three locations the OP's travelling to.
Inland southern France routinely hits 100F, this past July in the Avignon area highs were between 95-100F for most of the month. Yet, most sights are outdoors, so that's one area where to plan carefully. Renting a car is a good idea in such conditions, so as not to wait for trains & buses in scorching heat.
NUUN hydration tablets (my preferred). You can use less than the recommended 'dose' and I drink them before feeling really off kilter
Always carry water and drink lots of it. Add Gatorade or something similar once a day.
Last time I heard Gatorade is actually banned in the EU
MariaF and horsewoofie have it right. My local supermarket has nuun in several flavors, both the original non-caffeinated and the caffeinated version (for endurance athletes) next to the energy bars. Among those are Gatorade Protein Bars, but those aren’t necessary to replace electrolytes lost when sweating profusely.
Compared to bottled “sports” drinks, nuun isn’t cloyingly sweet, and the tablets can easily break in half, if you’re making less than a liter at a time. Drop in the tablet in water, let it fizz for a minute, and you’re all set. Little tubes of nuun tablets were not questioned on recent trips to Italy, Morocco, and throughout southern Africa.
I still say a hand fan, immanently packable and effective wherever you need to be cooled, is low tech and low impact. In a pinch, a guidebook or travel brochure can be a useful fan, too.
Yes NUUN hydration tablets were the ones I used while in Peru, most excellent, maintained my energy and hydration even hiking in high attitudes.
Barcelona may not habitually get up to 100s F in July, I think 80s some low 90s, but it can get quite unpleasantly humid during the summer months, which means you'll be sweating more than in dry heat. Remember as a tourist you are taking on a large load of activities than what locals are doing.
@ MisterE, one thing nothing measures is the increased heat from all those buildings and pavements in a city. Barcelona is known to be 'cooler' than Sevilla, or other more inland Spanish cities, but once away from the coast, I suspect that temps on the street are another 10 or more degrees higher than posted. Some cities in Spain have installed shades over pedestrian streets to help and all have drinking water fountains. But, yes, it depends on what we personally can tolerate. For travel, my comfort is about 65F. I traveled to Texas in the winter.......haha.
Gatarade banned? who knew? Not that I like the taste, but if it does the job, I pack it. But I guess I'll stick to the NUUM tabs. They make such a difference to my travel energy.
On really hot days in cities with lots of heat radiated off the stones or pavement, I planned an hour in the afternoon to rest my feet on my hotel mattress - sometimes they feel swollen in the heat, and I would spend that time drinking water and updating my emails and travel updates/review photos, etc.
Before dinner, I would take a quick shower and put on a different dress. Dresses feel much cooler to me than capris or lightweight pants.
I probably had an extra gelato some days, too.
Also, I like visiting churches, and one benefit is being able to sit down inside a slightly cooler building for some shade.
MariaF, I am absolutely certain that you are correct and that the temperature stations in a city dont reflect the temps in the city. I only picked Barcelona, because its the only Spanish city the OP listed. Would help if we knew where the OP lives. Someone from Montana might have a different comfort level than someone from Dubai.
Thank you for the tips and recommendations. Excellent comments regarding heat in urban centers being higher than the weather stations that record temperatures. For example, the last 14 years of daily weather have been recorded at the Barcelona airport in the link below, and it is most likely that the urban center will get hotter during the day and retain the day's heat in the evening than the airport's recording station.
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/spain/barcelona/historic?month=7&year=2022
No one has mentioned carrying a UHV umbrella. You get to walk in the shade all day long. It will drop the temp a good 10° for you.
If you aren't sure about getting a UHV one, at least try a regular umbrella to see what the difference is for you.
Another point about heat is: will it be dry heat or humid heat?
High humidity to me is very much worse than a dry heat at a higher temperature.
It was so humid on a trip to Italy in early September 2019 that I will only go back in (hopefully) cooler months.
I had 45 showers in 15 days.
Most of the weather apps also give you that day’s humidity index so you can plan your cooling strategies ahead of time.
Of course, it depends on which kind you are used to at home.
Lots of good advice on this thread….I didn’t know about UHV umbrellas.
Sunscreen! The best face sunscreen is LaRoche Posey Anthelios Mineral Ultra-light SPF 50 , for both men and women. It is lightweight and does not feel greasy or heavy. It is expensive if purchased in the US, but in Europe it should be all over the place for cheaper. For body we like Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 55 (they sell a 3 oz).
Other than that everything everyone else suggested. We start later in the day and go till later at night in the Summer due to the very long days, finding it is still ight at 9PM.
I just accept that in the summer I am going to look like a hot sweaty mess, so I wear my hair off my face and neck in braids, cool tank tops and loose fitting clothes. My Husband must wear a hat, as he is very fair but I can be in the sun no problem.
We travel slower in the Summer, more beer/aperol spritz breaks, stop and sit in the shade for a bit and people watch a little more.
I grew up in an attic bedroom without air In Pennsylvania. I now live on the mild coast of S Cal. We do not need air conditioning. I just about died in 100 degree weather in Italy. I developed a painful heat rash on my legs. I saw many people with the same rash too. I take fans, the paper kind. I recently bought a hand held battery fan which works well. But, I don’t see myself traveling when there is a possibility of weather over 80 degrees. I really suffered.
We spent two weeks in southern France in early to mid July several years ago. It was so hot and humid. We wanted to be there when the lavender and sunflowers were in bloom and we knew what we were getting ourselves into. We chose hotels with ac and a pool when possible. We also did our touring in the morning and later afternoon and took midday siestas. I was happy that I brought clothes that could be washed out in the bathroom sink every evening and would dry by the following morning. Our clothes were soaked through at the end of each day. I have never been so hot and sweaty in my life. That being said I would do it again in a heartbeat.
