Want a beach holiday but can’t stand the heat? These are Europe’s coolest summer escapes

16.07.2024 - 01:56 / euronews.com / Angela Symons

Want a summer beach holiday but worried about the heatwaves in Europe?

With extreme heat sweeping popular seaside destinations in the Mediterranean and beyond, their appeal is starting to dwindle.

But don’t unpack your swimsuit just yet. Many beaches in northern and western Europe still have sub-30°C temperatures that will keep your dreams of bearable sun, sea and sand alive.

Here are some of the best beach destinations in Europe that aren’t currently hit by heatwaves. 

The sun is shining on Portugal’s Algarve - but most places are only seeing highs of between 24 and 30°C.

With its walled old town, striking cliffs and beautiful beaches, Lagos is the perfect place for a relaxing seaside holiday.

It’s also got plenty for more active vacationers - from surfing and mountain biking to hiking the Ponta da Piedade Trail. Its wooden walkways will lead you to snorkelling off Dona Ana Beach, magical limestone grottos and secluded bays that are perfect for bird-watching.

As you avoid the high temperatures hitting the Med, be sure you’re not contributing to them: Lagos is reachable from Lisbon in under four hours by train with one change in Albufeira.

For even cooler temperatures - reaching highs of 24°C - the northern Portuguese city of Porto offers a perfect blend of urban culture and sandy beaches.

While southern Spain is hit by excessive heat warnings, the north of the country has escaped more lightly. The resort town of San Sebastián currently has highs of between 23 and 27°C, making it a great coastal escape from the heat.

From lounging on the fine white sands of La Concha to taking a tummy-rumbling pintxos tour, this Basque city has everything you could ask of an urban beach holiday.

It’s also the jumping off point for some of the best surf spots in Spain, from Zarautz to Zurriola Beach.

San Sebastián is reachable by train in around five-and-a-half hours from Madrid and Paris.

Just an hour north of San Sebastián, Biarritz sits on the French side of Basque Country.

With current highs of between 23 and 29°C, this seaside town in southwest France offers a cooler alternative to the country’s Mediterranean beaches.

Similarly to its neighbour to the south, it draws surfers with its long sandy beaches and varied waves. Prefer to stay on dry land? Join a horse riding tour along the coast.

Once you’ve built up an appetite, head to Marché aux Halles de Biarritz to indulge in fresh seafood, cheese and charcuterie in a lively market setting.

Direct trains run from Gare Montparnasse in Paris to Biarritz and take just over four hours.

The UK isn’t the first place that comes to mind when thinking of beach holidays in Europe - but Cornwall on the country’s southwest peninsula hits differently.

From famed surf spots like Newquay and