ArcaMax

When I travel to Europe these days, I frequently encounter heat waves. Thanks to the impact of climate change, Europe is getting hotter and hotter. In the Alps, once-mighty glaciers have receded, "summer skiing" is just a memory, and new ski lifts routinely come with snowmaking equipment. Places that historically "never needed AC" — like Scandinavia, the Low Countries, and Ireland — are retrofitting old hotels to stay cool during heat waves. Heat records are shattered annually.

As formerly "extreme" weather becomes commonplace, and “storms of the century” trump each other year after year, Europe is doing its best to adapt — and it’s important for travelers to adapt, too. Here are some tips on beating the heat in Europe.

First, plan your trip with weather in mind, both in terms of location and timing. "Coolcations" — traveling to cooler climates during hot months — are trendy these days, but to me, that's just timeless travel smarts. Save July and August for the Alps, Britain, Ireland, and northern Europe. You’ll share outdoor patios with southern Europeans escaping soaring temperatures back home — and locals, eager to stretch out in the rare hometown sunshine.

But for hot destinations — like the Mediterranean countries — visit at cooler times. Italy and Spain can be balmy even in shoulder season months like May and October. But in March or November, it’s pleasantly mild. Check the climate charts and, if your timing is flexible, consider pushing to the edges of the hottest times. You’ll be met with cooler weather and fewer tourists.

Be strategic about taking breaks for shade or air-conditioning. You'll also gain an appreciation for why very hot climates like Spain evolved a "siesta" approach of taking a break in the sizzling afternoon hours. Be a temporary local and consider joining them.

I long prided myself on not needing air-conditioning while traveling. But as things have heated up, I've been prioritizing it when choosing accommodations for summer travel. In general, however, Europe is less reliant on AC. Rather than cranking it up USA-style, Europeans use AC mostly for taking the edge off. You might notice that places like airports and shopping malls aren't refrigerated like back home — they're just cool enough. So even if your hotel has AC, don’t expect it to be Texas-style, where’s-my-sweater robust.

To help reduce their carbon footprint, some cities prohibit AC outside of the hottest summer months. Usually, you won't need it anyway — but if you encounter an out-of-season heat wave, adjust your expectations. When you check into your "air-conditioned" Venetian hotel on a 75-degree day in October, your receptionist may just shrug and say, "Open the window."

These days, with America's “drill, baby, drill” mentality undermining the global fight against climate change, it’s bad style for a Yankee to complain about air-con. So if it’s still just too stuffy in your room, find ways to adapt. Many European cultures make the bed with a heavy duvet and no top sheet. If the front desk doesn’t have sheets to borrow, make one yourself by stripping the cover off the poofy duvet. You can also ask reception to borrow a fan — but these are first-come, first-served, so don't wait until you're sweltering late at night.

When you leave the room to go sightseeing, draw the blinds. It’s also customary to turn off the AC, to reduce energy consumption. (It may turn off automatically when you remove your key card from the power slot.) Meanwhile, time outdoor and exposed activities — such as exploring sunbaked ancient ruins or walking around the top of the town wall — for the relative cool of morning or evening. Either way, bring sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, and a refillable bottle. Stay hydrated.

Above all, we travelers must reckon honestly with the role travel plays in contributing to the climate crisis. Transatlantic flights leave a serious carbon footprint. Do your best to travel in a way that minimizes your impact, like taking energy-efficient trains instead of gas-guzzling flights. And back home, look for ways to help. For example: At Rick Steves' Europe, we've innovated our Climate Smart Commitment — a self-imposed carbon tax, where we annually invest in a variety of projects that address the root causes of climate change and improve the lives of some of our planet's poorest people. We’d love travelers to join our commitment, if not make one of their own, to creatively mitigate the carbon you create by flying to Europe.

Europe is a joy at any time of year. If you happen to be traveling during a heat wave, you can still create wonderful memories — just do what you can to be climate smart, and find ways to adapt when you wish you could just say “no sweat.”

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(Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours. This column revisits some of Rick's favorite places over the past two decades. You can email Rick at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.)

©2026 Rick Steves. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

(c)2026 RICK STEVES DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.