Top 10 Tips for Surviving a Spanish Summer

Spain in summer is glorious… until you realise the pavement is melting, your steering wheel has become a branding iron, and you’re questioning every life choice that led you outside at 3pm.

Here’s how the locals do it — and why some Spanish homes suddenly start making much more sense.

Small windows, shutters and thick walls might seem unusual when you’re used to homes designed to let in as much daylight as possible. But many traditional Spanish houses were built to help keep the heat out in summer and retain warmth in winter. Those shutters aren’t just there to look pretty.

A few changes to your daily routine can make summer much more comfortable.

1. Let the cool air in — then keep the heat out

This is probably one of the simplest ways to help keep your home cool.

When the air outside becomes cooler than the air indoors, open windows on opposite sides of the property to create a through-draught. Open the shutters too, where it’s safe to do so, and let the cooler air circulate overnight.

As soon as the morning starts warming up, close the windows, blinds and shutters, particularly on the sunny side of the house. That might mean before 9am, but let the temperature guide you rather than the clock.

The idea is to bring cooler air in when it’s available, then stop warmer air coming straight back inside.

2. Work around the sun

The Spanish aren’t keeping out of the midday sun for no reason.

Shop early or late, walk the dog around sunrise or after sunset, and leave gardening until the cooler part of the day. Many independent shops take a longer afternoon break during summer, so check their opening hours before making a special trip.

Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest hours, which can stretch well into the late afternoon. A job that feels manageable at 8am can be a very different experience at 3pm.

And don’t forget sunscreen, a hat and some shade. Sunscreen helps protect your skin, but it doesn’t stop you overheating.

3. Give your air conditioning a little attention

Not everyone has air conditioning, although plenty of people use it — and when the nights stay hot, you can understand why.

If you’re going to rely on it, keep it maintained. Clean the filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions and arrange servicing when needed, rather than waiting until the hottest week of August to discover something isn’t working.

If you’ve just bought a property, check the condition of the existing units. They may only need cleaning or servicing, but older or poorly maintained systems could need replacing.

Without air conditioning, ceiling or pedestal fans, light bedding and ventilation during cooler hours can help. A cooling towel or a cool shower can also make bedtime more comfortable.

Fans have their limits in extreme heat, though. If the room is becoming unbearably hot, seek somewhere cooler rather than relying on moving hot air around.

4. Become best friends with your shutters

Those traditional Spanish persianas aren’t just decorative.

Closing shutters during the hottest part of the day can reduce the amount of heat entering your home dramatically.

If the sun can’t get in, the heat has a much harder job.

5. Drink water before thirst becomes your reminder

Don’t wait until you feel desperately thirsty before reaching for a drink. Keep water handy and drink regularly throughout the day, especially when you’re out and about.

Carry a refillable bottle, take fresh water on car journeys and try freezing a partly filled suitable bottle overnight to keep your drinks bag cooler for longer.

Sweating also means losing salts. After several hours of heavy sweating, an electrolyte drink can help replace some of those losses. Drinks such as Aquarius are a familiar option in Spain, although formulations vary and they aren’t the same as a pharmacy oral rehydration solution. For everyday summer hydration, water and regular meals are usually enough.

And yes… that afternoon beer still counts as beer, rather than your hydration plan.

There’s also a practical advantage to the small glasses of beer you’ll see in Spanish bars, often called cañas: there’s less time for the beer to warm up. If you do fancy one, a small glass enjoyed slowly makes more sense than a pint going warm on the table. Keep water alongside it and go easy on the alcohol in the heat.

6. Remember that your car is an oven

A windscreen reflector and a shady parking space can make a noticeable difference when you return to the car. Give the hot air a chance to escape before setting off, and check the steering wheel, seat belts and child seats before anyone touches them.

Keep on top of vehicle maintenance too. Make sure the coolant is at the correct level and the cooling system is in good condition. Check it when the engine is cold — never remove the coolant cap from a hot engine.

We’re used to keeping an umbrella in the boot for winter, but a parasol or sun umbrella can be just as useful in summer, particularly for beach trips or stops without much shade.

And keep a small towel handy for those particularly enthusiastic steering wheels. We’ve all done the “one-finger steering” at least once.

7. Keep lunch light and the kitchen cooler

Heavy roast dinners tend to lose their appeal when it’s 38°C. Light lunches are the way forward, especially when the alternative involves standing beside an oven for two hours.

Take inspiration from the Spanish summer table: gazpacho, salads, fresh fruit, grilled fish and a few cold tapas. A tomato salad, some bread and something simple from the fridge can suddenly seem like a very sensible lunch.

Preparing food during the cooler part of the day also means less time cooking when the kitchen is already warm. Keep chilled dishes refrigerated until you’re ready to serve them, particularly if you’re eating outside.

8. Don’t forget the pets

Hot pavements can burn paws. If the ground feels hot to your hand, choose another route or wait until it has cooled down.

Walk dogs early or late, take water with you and make sure they have somewhere shaded and comfortable to rest at home. Even after sunset, paving and tarmac can hold heat, so check before heading out.

Never leave pets in a parked car, even for a few minutes or with the windows slightly open.

9. Make room for a few small comforts

Sometimes it’s the little things that make a hot evening more bearable.

Try putting your pillowcase in a clean bag in the fridge shortly before bed, or using a suitable cold-water bottle wrapped in a towel. Frozen grapes make an easy summer snack, and a cool, damp cloth on your neck can feel wonderful after a warm day.

If your skincare product’s storage instructions allow it, a moisturiser kept in the fridge can be another small luxury.

None of these tricks will turn your bedroom into a mountain retreat, but small comforts quickly become favourite summer habits.

10. Give yourself permission to slow down

One thing you’ll notice about Spain is that daily routines often shift around the summer heat.

There’s no prize for doing DIY at 2pm in full sun. Take a longer lunch, find a shady terrace and leave that energetic walk until the evening.

Enjoy a paseo, watch the sunset with an ice cream, and accept that some jobs can wait until tomorrow morning.

The heat is much easier to live with when you work around it.

One final sign you’re settling in…

If someone tells you, “It’s not that hot today…” and the thermometer says 34°C, congratulations — you’ve officially started adapting to life in Spain.