How to Beat the Heat When Traveling in Europe This Summer
How then to not let the heat wilt your summer travel? It all comes down to planning. Firstly, it's important to order activities throughout the day based on when peak temperatures will occur. Make sure to plan all outdoor activities earlier in the morning when it's coolest. As soon as the temperature starts to ramp up—typically between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.—there are still a whole lot of activities that will help you keep your cool without missing out on the sights. Here is our list of things to do while staying cool in the hottest European cities travelers are heading to this summer.
A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK.
Cooler than outside and usually free to access, libraries are, of course, quiet.
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Get lost in a library
Europe's cities are home to some of the most beautiful libraries in the world, where you'll find vast, maze-like spaces with marble walls and high ceilings to gaze up at. Cooler than outside and usually free to access, libraries are, of course, quiet. Browsing books in solitude can be a great moment away from both the heat and crowds bustling around outside. In Venice, large arches and pillars guard the grand Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana where you can peruse ancient Italian, Greek, and Asian manuscripts. The largest monastery library in the world is in Austria; the Stiftsbibliothek Admont is a gilded, high-Baroque style building making for a palatial tour as peak temperatures persist outside.
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