This week I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the cooler weather in the UK. But with another heatwave looming – temperatures are expected to climb into the high 30s in Paris next week and are already nudging the low 40s in Spain and Portugal – I’ve been looking at how the weather could affect holidays to Europe this summer.
While many of us actively seek out the heat when booking a summer holiday, the temperatures we’ve been seeing can be uncomfortable and, if not managed properly, potentially very dangerous. In fact, in a previous newsletter, The Travel Insider community was almost split down the middle on the subject, but hot holidays just edged it, with 55 per cent of readers saying they’d rather chase the sunshine than escape it. Yet the recent heatwave has also been a stark reminder of the risks posed by extreme temperatures. More than 1,300 deaths have been linked to Europe’s June heatwave, with France alone recording at least 1,000 additional deaths over three days.
The UK Foreign Office currently has extreme temperature warnings in place for France, Spain and Portugal. However, it has stopped short of advising against travel, and it is highly unlikely that it would do so because of a heatwave alone. As a result, travel firms have no obligation to let people cancel their holidays because of the heat. The Foreign Office also has a number of warnings relating to wildfires, which have unfortunately become increasingly common across Europe, with 2025 proving to be the EU’s most destructive wildfire season on record. In recent years, holidaymakers have been evacuated because of wildfires, including during the summer of 2023, when nearly 20,000 tourists were flown off the island of Rhodes.
Heatwaves can also create the ideal conditions for thunderstorms, which can severely disrupt air travel – as we saw last weekend when hundreds of flights were delayed at Heathrow and Gatwick.
Although Mediterranean countries are generally far better equipped to deal with extreme heat than we are in the UK, June’s heatwave still caused significant disruption. Around 68,000 households in Brittany were left without electricity following an incident involving a transformer. Attractions including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre closed early, while in Greece, last year’s heatwaves forced Athens to temporarily close the Acropolis.
Holidaymakers heading out to explore tourist attractions should also be aware of the dangers of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, particularly children, older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions. When we’re on holiday, it’s easy to spend hours outdoors without realising how dehydrated we’re becoming. The NHS recommends taking sensible precautions, including staying in the shade, particularly between 11am and 3pm, wearing sunscreen, a hat and lightweight clothing, and drinking plenty of extra fluids.
If you’re swapping the city for the coast – or perhaps a countryside hotel or villa – the sea or pool can provide welcome relief. However, it’s worth remembering that drowning deaths tend to rise during heatwaves (there were at least 40 in France during the recent heatwave), so it’s important to be aware of tides and rip currents and to ensure children are always supervised around water. Just because it’s hot and you’re abroad, don’t be tempted to take risks you wouldn’t at home – something many of us have probably been guilty of while travelling.
This may sound like a lot of doom and gloom, but the reality is that the vast majority of holidaymakers heading to the Mediterranean this summer will experience little or no disruption from the heat and enjoy stress-free breaks.
And if you’ve not yet booked your summer holiday and are already sweating at the thought of 40C temperatures in the Med, why not opt for the cooler climes of destinations such as Iceland or Estonia, and save Spain or Greece for later in the year?
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Ryanair names airports struggling with EU entry exit system
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What England fans should know about Mexico City
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European city dedicates entire island to saunas
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Severe Eurostar disruption due to Rotterdam fire
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Cows block railway line for more than three hours
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As the number of European visitors jetting in to glow-up skyrockets, Hayley Spencer finds out if it’s worth it.
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With King Charles at Clarence House, is the palace Britain’s most interesting tourism opportunity?
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The City of Light has some affordable options – you just have to know where to look.
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Last month, Wizz Air started flying from London to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, making the country far more accessible to UK travellers. The Independent’s Rich Booth was on the inaugural flight and quickly fell for the charms of this former Soviet city.
In his article, he describes the many flower sellers lining the streets, writing: “Blooms stand to attention outside supermarkets and train stations, and arriving at Yerevan airport you can’t move for floral welcomes. Even late at night, locals stroll with enormous bouquets. Entire shopfronts disappear beneath blankets of flowers and roses seem to grow easily from any patch of earth that will have them.”
Yerevan also offers an excellent introduction to Armenian cuisine, including lahmacun – flatbread topped with minced meat, vegetables and herbs – as well as local wines, which are enjoying something of a renaissance.
Rich also recounts watching tourists wander among the stalls of Vernissage market, their attention drawn not to the jewellery and clothes but to boxes of military medals, Soviet badges and other USSR relics. These artefacts reflect Armenia’s complex Soviet past – also evident in the city’s striking brutalist architecture – which has inspired a form of “red tourism”.
Local tour guide Morgan Bourven told Rich that the trend is being fuelled by the gradual disappearance of Soviet heritage, creating a sense of urgency among travellers. He said this type of tourism should “encourage understanding rather than nostalgia”, adding: “The aim is to learn about history, not celebrate it; and definitely not teach the locals how they should feel about their own past.”
Read Rich’s full article about his trip to Yerevan
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It came as something of a surprise to me (someone who gets antsy standing in line for my morning coffee) that The Wimbledon Queue has firmly established itself a reputation as a tourist spot. This week, writer Kate Strick assured us that standing in line for entry to the Championships is just as fun as watching the tennis itself. Taking part in what she described as “part-village-fete, part-festival, part-social-experiment”, Katie pointed out that The Queue is “one of the few genuinely democratic traditions left in elite sport”.
I didn’t think I could be convinced, but it was heartwarming to hear her describe the camaraderie – including strangers playing cricket using water bottles and a half-drunk bottle of rosé, and a spontaneous round of applause when the sun first shone through the clouds.
Katie spoke to a Danish family who told her they had been dreaming of coming to Wimbledon for years and, after discovering The Queue on Instagram, they built an entire holiday around it and plan to join it every day this week, “happily setting their alarms before dawn for the chance to watch world-class tennis for just £33 a day”.
She added: “By the time we leave, I realise I’ve spent more of the day in queues than I have watching tennis. Ordinarily, that would feel ridiculous – but somehow it doesn’t. I leave with a camera roll full of bottle-cricket and stranger selfies; the offer of a free holiday to Denmark; and the memory of hundreds of adults applauding a patch of sunshine at 7:30am.”
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If you’re anything like me, you probably spend a fair amount of time daydreaming about your next holiday. Right now, Malta is at the top of my travel wish list. I visited several times as a child, but I’m keen to go back and see just how much it's changed over the past 20 years. We’re also planning another family road trip through France, this time hoping to squeeze in Luxembourg, Switzerland and Belgium too.
Whether you’re heading abroad or staying closer to home, having the right luggage can make travelling so much easier. For short European breaks, a practical carry-on bag is essential. This Ryanair-friendly backpack is currently reduced and is perfectly sized to comply with the airline’s strict cabin baggage rules, helping you avoid any unexpected fees at the gate. If you’re flying with EasyJet, you’ll have a little more flexibility, and this £17 wheeled carry-on suitcase fits neatly under the seat in front of you. For those looking to travel in style, Floyd’s futuristic cabin suitcase combines eye-catching design with premium quality, ensuring your belongings stay safe.
I also have one UK adventure booked this summer: a trip to Wells, where I’m planning to hike along Cheddar Gorge. A sturdy pair of walking shoes or hiking boots is an absolute must. One of our experts recently put Vivobarefoot’s barefoot-style trainers to the test, and they quickly became her go-to footwear thanks to their lightweight, natural feel. Better still, they’re currently on sale. If you’re after a more affordable option for summer walks, these £15 walking sandals from Mountain Warehouse are a great budget buy. And for more challenging hikes, our favourite budget-friendly hiking boots have been reduced to just £50.
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Would you travel to Dubai this winter?
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With Middle East travel back on the agenda following months of disruption, this week I want to know if you’re travelling to the Gulf states for next season’s winter sun? Are you booking a holiday to Dubai this December? Or are you avoiding the region? Vote by selecting the buttons above.
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It seems calmer waters won you over. When we asked whether you’d rather take a river cruise through Europe or sail to tropical destinations aboard a tall ship, around 60 per cent of readers chose the river cruise, proving that slow travel and picturesque waterways have plenty of appeal.
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Grab a partner and get up close with some magnificent birds of prey. Discover the fascinating bond between these stunning feathered creatures and their expert handlers, then enjoy the chance to handle them yourself during this hands-on 3-hour falconry taster experience. Find out more.
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Unwind at the Tudor-style Thatchers Hotel, surrounded by picturesque walking trails and just a short drive from the historic town of Guildford.
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