English
There are people who love the sun in summer while others avoid it like the plague. And one certainly cannot compare a hot, sunny day on the beach somewhere in the Mediterranean with the experience of waiting in line for over an hour in the full sun to get into the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. This is why many people choose to avoid southern European countries during the summer months, and it’s not a bad idea.
Nevertheless, there are ways to avoid getting sunburned or heat stroke while waiting in long lines or walking on the beach of Barceloneta. If you are planning on spending a few days in one of our apartments in Barcelona this summer, we will show you some ideas on how to beat the heat as well as an original idea that comes from the United States.
Schedules
You don’t need to be a genius to realize that the sun is more intense between 12 noon and 5pm. That is why when planning your trip, it’s a good idea to schedule more indoor activities during this time to avoid spending too much time in the sun, arrive either before or after the long lines at monuments or museums, or simply go for a walk along the sea. In Barcelona, the breeze at the beach or on a terrace can make the heat more tolerable.
Light-colored clothing
It´s crazy to see people walking around with black or dark-colored shirts or other clothing in the middle of summer in Barcelona. Okay, so you might not see the sweat as easily, but the truth is that dark colors attract the sun more than light. We recommend cotton clothing that is white or as light-colored as possible, which will keep you from feeling like a walking greenhouse. Ah, but do not make the mistake of taking your shirt and walk around town. Many tourists in Barcelona have had the unpleasant surprise of being fined € 300, which is what happens when the police encounter shirtless boys or bikini-clad girls walking around the city.
Stay clear of asphalt
One of the reasons why cities are so hot is that asphalt, like dark-colored clothing, is dark and retains heat. You’ll notice this even after the sun has set. Standard asphalt reflects only 5% of the sunlight it receives, and the remainder is retained, which is really quite high. The Lawrence Berkeley Lab USA offers a simple solution to this: paint the asphalt a different color. If asphalt is painted white or another light color, it will reflect up to 50% of the sunlight falling on it, greatly reducing the feeling of warmth that is around it.
This idea has been dubbed cool pavements. In addition to lowering the temperature around us, it could also help the environment. If used extensively, it could reduce the use of air conditioning, which of course uses large amounts of energy.
So now you know. If you want to beat the summer heat in Barcelona, go out after the sun has gone down, wear light clothing or get out there and paint the asphalt around you white. And if you don’t like these options, there’s always the beach.
