Don’t treat heat like a minor inconvenience

One challenge is that many travellers still perceive heat as “good weather” rather than a health risk, and approach summer holidays as they always have: long days outdoors, packed sightseeing schedules and hours spent in direct sun.

But in many destinations, particularly in July and August, that is becoming harder and sometimes unsafe. Temperatures above 40C are increasingly common in parts of southern Europe.

One of the biggest mistakes travellers make is assuming they can simply “push through” the heat. In reality, heat exposure builds gradually during the day. By the time you feel exhausted, dehydrated or dizzy, your body may already be struggling.

If you are travelling during a heatwave, slow your plans down. Build rest into the middle of the day, avoid long walks in direct sun and do not overload your itinerary.

Think about when you travel - not just where

For decades, July and August were considered the default months for European holidays. Increasingly, travellers are moving trips into spring or early autumn instead.

That shift is partly about comfort. Cities are easier to walk around, attractions are less crowded and temperatures are often far more manageable.

If you have flexibility, consider travelling outside peak heat periods altogether. Older travellers, families with young children and people with health conditions may find this especially important.

Hotter summers are also changing tourism patterns more broadly. In some destinations, wildfire smoke, water shortages and transport disruption are becoming regular features of peak-season travel.

Pay attention to night-time temperatures

Travellers often focus only on daytime heat, but warm nights can be just as important.

If temperatures stay high overnight, your body has less chance to recover from heat exposure during the day. After several nights of poor sleep, fatigue and dehydration can build quickly.

Before booking accommodation, check whether rooms have ventilation, shutters, fans or reliable cooling systems. Top-floor and west-facing rooms can become significantly hotter during heatwaves. Do not assume everywhere will have air conditioning, particularly in older buildings or smaller hotels.

If you struggle to sleep in the heat at home, you will probably struggle on holiday too.

Learn where to cool down on your first day

Local residents usually know where to find shade, cool public buildings or quieter walking routes. Tourists do not.
If you are visiting somewhere during very hot weather, spend a little time early in your trip identifying places where you can escape the heat. Museums, shopping centres, cafés, libraries and public buildings can all provide relief during the hottest part of the day.

It is also worth locating water refill points and understanding local transport before temperatures peak. Heat becomes much more dangerous when people are stuck outdoors without shade, water or somewhere to rest.

Don’t assume a “coolcation” solves everything

The rise of the “coolcation” may be an early sign of climate adaptation in tourism. More people are choosing destinations such as Iceland, Norway and northern coastal regions in search of milder weather and more comfortable outdoor experiences.

But cooler destinations come with their own challenges. Weather can change quickly, infrastructure may be less prepared for growing visitor numbers and daylight patterns can feel unfamiliar.

The key is not simply choosing somewhere cooler. It is understanding the conditions you are travelling into.

Check heat alerts as carefully as flight updates

Most people check boarding times and passport rules before travelling. Far fewer pay attention to heat warnings.

That needs to change.

Many countries now issue severe heat-health alerts during the summer, and extreme temperatures can affect transport, attraction opening hours and emergency services.

If you are travelling during hotter periods, check local weather guidance every day rather than only before departure. Heatwaves are no longer unusual travel disruptions. In many places, they are becoming part of the normal summer experience.

Accept that holidays are changing

The traditional idea of the summer holiday - long afternoons in direct sun, constant activity and predictable weather - is becoming less reliable in a warming climate.

The rise of “coolcations” is not just another travel trend. For many travellers, the shift is not simply about preference, but about avoiding destinations where extreme heat increasingly shapes daily life and limits what people can comfortably do outdoors.

That may mean changing destination, travelling at a different time of year or simply slowing the pace of a trip altogether.

The summer holiday is not disappearing. But climate change is redefining what comfortable, safe and enjoyable travel now looks like.