How to Survive the Summer Heatwave While Travelling Europe 2026

June 26, 2026
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A heatwave in Europe can quickly turn that summer holiday to your personal version of hell. That doesn’t mean you should dread your long awaited city-break. Here is how to beat the heat in Europe’s hotspots and still make the most of your holiday!

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Table of Contents

How to survive the heatwave while travelling in Europe

1. Bring a mini-fan

I’m currently a tour guide in Europe and the number one thing that has saved my sanity in this heat wave is my mini-fan. I use this one from Amazon, but you can literally get them anywhere even from streetsellers in Europe. I also really like the neck ones.

A mini-fan is literally the only way to survive places like busy metro trains to your accommodation or the queue into the Colosseum in a heatwave. And trust me, I am speaking from experience.

2. Go sightseeing early/late

This may seem like common sense, but heading to e.g. the Colosseum at 8.30am when it opens, makes all the difference. For Rome especially, I’d recommend seeing highlights of the city like the Trevi Fountain (which is also free before 9am) and Pantheon before that to make the most of the city before it becomes unbearably hot.

The same applies to any European city in the heatwave though. You can then take a nap during the worst of it (usually from around 12-3pm).

Once it starts to cool down in the evening, it’s a great time to head back out and just wander, exploring new areas and trying local food.

3. Make use of the free water fountains

I sometimes see videos on social media where visitors in Europe complain about the lack of water, and it honestly baffles me. Most major cities in Europe have free water via fountains, some even add portable drink water fountains during peak months (like Vienna).

Most of the time, you just need to know what to look out for. In Rome for example, the fountains are called Nasoni which means big noses, because that’s what they look like. They are typically cast-iron with a thin spout and found around every corner. Or in Paris, the Wallace Fountains are usually green and beautifully detailed.

Simply Google “your city” and “drinking water fountain”, and you’ll find what you’re looking for. Remember on a hot day, you should drink much more and more frequently too.

4. Avoid public transport

Many of the public transport systems in Europe are pretty old and don’t have functioning air conditioning, which can actually lead to dangerously hot conditions during a heatwave.

If you can, avoid public transport at all cost, especially during peak hours. I’d highly recommend walking where possible or maybe even renting a bike.

5. Plan around ACs

If the day is going to be unbearably hot, but you still want to explore some of the main sights, try planning around ACs. Many of the famous museums across Europe (like the Louvre, British Museum, The Prado Museum) actually have some sort of air conditioning or at least temperature control to protect the art.

I’d research which places do have them and plan the day around it. Other ideas to check out are shopping centres (like Galeries Lafayette in Paris), royal palaces, caves or salt mines and some restaurants.

Word of warning: The Vatican is technically “temperature controlled”, but felt like a furnace in summer.

6. Book high-speed trains

This isn’t foolproof, but usually when you opt for high-speed, slightly more expensive trains in Europe over the regional, slower ones, you are more likely to get a modern, air-conditioned train.

I’d also try and travel as early or as late as possible, as dragging a suitcase through 35°C is hell. Just keep in mind that check-in is often not until 3pm in Europe, so have a plan for arrival in your new destination (like one of the AC places we talked about in the last point).

How to book the right accommodation for the heatwave

Booking a hotel, AirBnB or Hostel with aircon is honestly one of the most important steps. On most sites like Booking.com, Expedia or Agoda have filters for places with air-conditioning. That includes many hostels too btw.

I’d also recommend booking somewhere as central as possible, as we have discussed how unbearable public transport becomes during a heatwave.