If you’re heading to Europe for a holiday or long weekend, the weather forecast may feel quite intimidating right now. I was worried when I went to Athens last weekend because it was due to hit 40 degrees, but preparing myself helped a lot.
Here are my top tips to help you prepare for your holiday during a heatwave:
Items to bring with you:
- Linen clothing
- Natural fibres like linen are light, breathable and quick-drying, so they’re the perfect choice for hot weather. However, they can also be expensive, so I bought some high quality items from Vinted and managed to get them at a fraction of their original price.
- Suncream
- Having fair skin, I decided to go hardcore and use factor 50 suncream, In such high temperatures it’s just not worth messing about with lower factors due to the risk of getting sunburnt and/or sunstroke.
- A fan
- A friend of mine leant me her POWERBeast handheld fan and I can’t recommend it enough. The misting setting struggled (I think the water evaporated as soon as it left the fan) but the strong breeze it provided helped me through some darned scorching moments at the top of the Acropolis.
- A UV sun umbrella
- This was one of the most effective items for me. I bought this CUBY umbrella from Amazon, which blocks 99% of UV rays and it’s also wind and waterproof.
- I know it’s not a particularly stylish, sought after item whilst strolling about amongst ancient ruins… but it’s incredibly effective at keeping direct, strong sunlight off your skin. On top of that, it avoids the sweatiness involved with wearing a hat whilst also covering your shoulders, chest and back – completely worth it.
- Sandals
- As I was going to be doing a lot of walking, I invested in Birkenstock sandals, but they weren’t fully broken in so became quite sore after a full day of walking. After that I reverted to my tried and tested Havaianas; they’re comfortable, hard-wearing, and keep your feet aerated. Highly recommend.
How to organise your time
- Plan your routes
- Work out how you’re getting from the airport to your accommodation, and then plan your routes from there before you set off. In Athens, we used the Welcome Pickups app (perhaps not the best name!) and it was fantastic and is available worldwide. We had trusted, experienced drivers and we knew exactly how much each journey would cost because we’d paid through the app beforehand – so there were no last minute haggles or disagreements. Another great option in Athens is to travel using the metro, which works really well and has air conditioning.
- Head out early or late
- If you’re visiting sun-traps (like the Acropolis) then head out in the early morning, or the late afternoon/early evening. We climbed the big hill to the Acropolis at 6.30pm and it was still extremely hot, but manageable. (Just.) It was also much quieter by then so we could enjoy our time without getting swamped by other tourists.
- Choose your activities wisely
- Many people told us to leave Athens for the day when the temperatures soared to their highest, and it was the best advice we received.
- We headed out to Lake Vouliagmeni and sat on sun beds sheltered by airy pine trees in between enjoying a cooling dip in the natural lake. It was brilliantly relaxing, and the best way to stay cool during the heatwave.
- It’s also worth keeping an eye on any places you plan to visit to ensure that they’ll be open – the Acropolis closed for two afternoons whilst we were there because it was dangerously hot up there (48 degrees).
- Stay hydrated
- I don’t think it’s possible to drink enough water during Europe’s heatwave. I ordered a bottle of sparkling water alongside any other drink I had, and I also bought large bottles of water back to my hotel room with me. (They’re much cheaper from the corner shop rather than the mini bar.)
- Avoid the hottest part of the day
- One of the best things about being on holiday is having a long, leisurely lunch, and this is a great way to survive the midday sun. This is especially true if you’re on a city break, as I was.
- Stay out of the sun as much as possible
- Find the shade whenever you can and make the most of air conditioned places like museums, restaurants and hotels.
If you’re heading abroad for a holiday during a heatwave, you can still have an amazing time. Planning ahead will help you to enjoy all the incredible aspects of a new place whilst staying safe and comfortable during the hottest days we’ve seen.