Once idyllic getaways are now scenes of heatwaves, floods, and vanishing beaches — leaving locals and tourists searching for cooler ground
Jul 15, 2025
Europe’s iconic summer destinations — from Spain to Italy and Greece — are becoming less idyllic and more unbearable as climate change reshapes the continent’s vacation season. Once picture-perfect beaches are shrinking, oppressive heat waves are breaking records, and wildfires and floods are now annual occurrences. For many, what used to be summer getaways have turned into places to escape from.
Key takeaways
- Shrinking beaches & unbearable heat: Iconic Mediterranean vacation spots are losing sand and facing record-breaking temperatures. In Montgat near Barcelona, beaches have receded drastically due to storms and rising seas.
- Tourist fatigue meets climate fatigue: Locals and activists are united by the misery of extreme heat, which worsens overtourism’s impact rather than solving it. In Barcelona, even anti-tourism groups are suffering under the sun.
- Spain at the forefront of climate adaptation: The Spanish government is investing in green energy, early warning systems, and healthcare preparedness, while cities like Barcelona are launching urban greening and cooling initiatives.
- New approaches to urban design: Seville is experimenting with ancient cooling systems and naming heat waves to raise awareness. Barcelona is rethinking city planning to reduce heat absorption and protect beaches.
- Tourism in jeopardy: With tourism comprising up to 15% of some local economies, the heat poses a dual threat — scaring off tourists while making life harder for residents.
- Northern Europe as new escape: Locals and tourists alike are looking north for relief, suggesting a shift in travel patterns as southern Europe becomes less hospitable.
- No safe haven in the long run: As one local noted, even cooler countries won’t be immune — the heat will eventually reach them too.
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