How To Stay Safe When Traveling During Europe’s Heat Wave

Dangerous heat is sweeping across Europe, hitting popular tourist destinations like Italy, Spain, Croatia and Greece with temperatures of 104 degrees Fahrenheit and higher. Travelers may be wondering whether they should go through with the trips they’ve booked as this heat wave continues.

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“I love European travel, but I will never travel to areas near the Mediterranean Sea in July or August,” weather.com senior digital meteorologist Jon Erdman said. “Not only are you risking landing your vacation in the middle of a stifling heat wave, but then you also have locals on holiday crowding beaches.”

For travelers who decide to stick it out and travel in Europe during a heat wave, here are some tips to help keep you safe.

Buy Travel Insurance

Even if you don’t plan to cancel your trip, travel insurance could save you money during an emergency. When traveling in extreme heat, a hospital visit could extend your stay, and rebooking a flight can cost passengers a fee. In some cases, this could cost hundreds of dollars, and insurance can help travelers avoid such fees.

Bring A Reusable Water Bottle

Some European countries such as Spain and France have banned certain single-use plastics to help reduce plastic waste. This could mean that it might not be easy to find single-use plastic water bottles for sale. Travelers should be sure to pack a reusable water bottle to fill throughout their trip to ensure they stay hydrated.

According to the Red Cross, the average person needs to drink three-quarters of a gallon of water each day. Be sure you are hydrating before, during and after exerting yourself in the summer heat, as well as throughout the day.

Don’t Book Excursions During The Hottest Part Of The Day

Italian authorities advise people to avoid direct sunlight between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. This could be a good time to enjoy a slow, lovely meal the way the locals do. Take your time at indoor locations, such as restaurants and museums during midday, as you’ll want to avoid the outside heat.

Be sure to book tickets to heavily visited museums and indoor attractions ahead of time, as they may be even more crowded during a heat wave than they normally are. It may be smart to get to these locations early in the morning to avoid waiting in long lines during the day’s heat.

And Erdman warns that it may even be hot indoors.

“While the use of air conditioning is gradually increasing in Europe, don’t assume every restaurant and hotel will have air conditioning to the extent that it exists in the U.S.,” Erdman explained. “Learn to tolerate a 78-degree indoor air temperature compared to, say, a 70-degree indoor temperature.”

Don’t Forget The Sunscreen

The sun is strong, especially during midday. Be sure to apply sunscreen before venturing outdoors. Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends using a sunscreen with SPF of 60 or higher when spending time outside and reapplying every 2 hours if swimming or sweating.

Go Sightseeing At Night

As the sun sets and temperatures cool a bit, travelers can sightsee more safely. Nighttime is a great time to see the landscape, and you can even look up a beautiful location to catch the sunset.

Keep In Mind That Some Tourist Attractions May Be Closed Due To Heat

Italian authorities were also considering restricting access to some historical monuments during the hottest part of the day.

Avoid Strenuous Activities

Activities such as hiking, climbing, running or vigorous uphill walking should be avoided, especially during the hottest part of the day. Take your time when walking outdoors, and give yourself plenty of time to get to public transportation or your next booked activity so that you won’t be hurrying to make it on time.

Consider Green Spaces

If you insist on being outdoors, and it’s not excessively hot, consider visiting a local park.

“Green spaces tend to be several degrees cooler than the high-density cores and are some of the best parts of European cities,” Erdman said. “Just bring plenty of water, find some shade and enjoy a summer day as the locals do.”

Be Sparing With Alcohol And Sugary Drink Consumption

Alcohol can worsen dehydration, and sugary drinks don’t hydrate as well as water does. When thirsty, opt for water as your drink choice to replace any hydration you’ve lost.

If you are sweating a lot, the Red Cross advises pairing water with a snack or a sports drink to replace any salt or minerals lost.

What’s In Store For Europe This Week?

Twenty Italian cities are under red alert heat advisories as of Tuesday, and that number is expected to rise on Wednesday. This alert means that the heat is a threat to everyone, not just vulnerable groups.

(​MORE: Wildfires, Health Alerts As Europe Bakes)

“A few locations in Sicily reported afternoon temperatures in the low 110s Tuesday afternoon,” Erdman found.

Rome’s all-time record high of 105.4 degrees Fahrenheit could be topped on Tuesday, a record that was just set on June 28 of last year.

(​MORE: Here Are Earth's Hottest Temperatures, According To Reliable Records)

Temperatures above 100 degrees are possible again on Wednesday. The heat is expected to linger into next week across much of the Mediterranean, particularly in Italy, Greece, western Turkey and the Balkans. Temperatures are expected to remain hotter than average in Italy at least through next Thursday, but Spain, Portugal, France and areas from the Alps north could start seeing some relief later this week.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.