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Though some may welcome the warmer weather and bask in the golden rays of the sun, sometimes it can become a little bit too much. Across Europe, the recurring heatwaves provide a welcome bout of warmth to some, but to others it can be taxing and energy sapping.
The intense heat that comes with heatwaves can impact health, meaning that Europeans need a solution to stay cool. Boat trips offer the perfect compromise, combining both the enjoyment of the sun and the ability to stay cool.
Click&Boat have analysed over 70 popular coastal cities in Europe to create a cooling index that reveals the most refreshing destinations for holidaymakers to cool off in the summer and during hot spells.
Here at Click&Boat, we are strong believers in everyone experiencing their perfect holiday – even throughout the heatwaves. So, to find out the best places to keep cool, read the blog below.
Europe’s Greatest Coastal Cool-Offs
We’ve listed the top five destinations in our cooling index and their final scores. Take a look to view the perfect destinations that offer a sunny yet breathable summer, with plenty of things to do in each location:
- Durrës – 93.58
- Hvar – 89.65
- Split – 86.35
- Corfu – 86.03
- La Rochelle – 85.93
#1 Durrës – 93.58
Taking a look at the data, we can see that Durrës takes the top spot as Europe’s greatest destination to cool off.
The Albanian coastal city peaked at 37 °C during the last heatwave, but the waters near Durrës provided a nice temperature offset (-11.7 °C), sitting at 25.3 °C. Durrës’ peak relative humidity of 88% was 33% higher than the comfortable threshold, but it performs much better than other locations which recorded a much higher level.
With Durrës’ wind speed offering a nice steady breeze of 15 km/h, it’s perfect for offering refreshment without being too intense. Combining this with a boat rental price of €146 for up to six people, it’s certainly one of the best-value locations to enjoy trips out on the sea.
As it’s based on the coast, Durrës also has a lively beach and scenic promenade that’s great for evening strolls, swimming, and sunbathing – if the heat isn’t too much!
#2 Hvar – 89.65
Runner-up and the second-best European destination to stay cool in the summer is the Croatian coastal city of Hvar. Like Durrës, Hvar also reached a high of 37 °C during the last heatwave but benefitted from a lower peak relative humidity (74%) – the closest city to the ideal humidity threshold (+19%).
Hvar’s water temperature (26.5 °C) was 10.5 °C cooler than the overall temperature and had an ideal average wind speed (21 km/h) that fit perfectly into the sweet spot between 5 to 25 km/h.
Its boat rental starting price of €311 may be more than double Durrës’, but with it encompassing up to six passengers, it still offers lots of value.
Located just off the Dalmatian Coast, Hvar has some fantastic qualities and lots of history for its visitors to see. Tourists can choose between the Renaissance cathedrals and monasteries or go and visit the Spanjola Fortress before experiencing a refreshing boating trip out on the crystal-clear waters.
#3 Split – 86.35
The third-best location to cool off in the heat is another Croatian coastal city, Split. Also recording a high of 37 °C, it has a similar temperature difference in the water to Hvar (-10.6 °C) and recorded equally similar humidity – only 20% above the ideal level. As Split also had the same wind speed (21 km/h), it really highlights Croatia as an ideal boating location to stay cool during intense heatwaves.
Split does, however, have a slightly higher boat rental cost of €360. Again, though, dividing this between six people makes it a much more affordable and reasonable price.
Plus, with sights to see such as the historic Diocletian’s Palace, Klis Fortress, and the beautiful coastline itself, it has so much to do whilst you’re there.
#4 Corfu – 86.03
Next up is the Greek island of Corfu which takes fourth position in the rankings. Its high 37 °C heat has been offset by waters that are 10.2 °C cooler (26.8 °C), making for a welcome chilled change. Though its humidity was 32% above the comfortable level (87%), it’s again one of the most pleasant locations for this, recording perfect calm wind speeds of just 15 km/h.
Renting boats in Greece is also reasonable, costing €273 for up to six people – the second-most affordable in the top five.
If you make the trip, you can choose between visiting the Old Fortress, Corfu Old Town, or even the beautiful Paleokastritsa Beach, with golden sand and a limestone coastline.
#5 La Rochelle – 85.93
Finishing fifth on the cooling index is the French coastal city of La Rochelle, which had the highest peak temperature in the top five (39 °C). With the water temperature also being the coolest in the top five (24.5 °C), it gives the biggest temperature difference between the two, offering the perfect cool contrast. The perfect wind speeds of 15 km/h, offer a sea breeze that helps to counteract the slightly higher peak relative humidity of 100% (45% over the ideal level).
With boat rentals only costing a starting price of €146, it’s the joint-cheapest along with Durrës, making for ideal boating trips with friends or family.
Located near Fort Boyard, you can make the short boat trip out to experience the historical monument up close or choose to visit the iconic old port and see its three medieval towers.
The UK’s Most Refreshing Boating Destinations
Moving on to the UK, here are the best-ranked UK cities that offer some relief in the heat. Each location offers a top boating experience to stay refreshed, with cooling waters just a short trip away:
- Bristol
- Cardiff
- Norwich
- Hull
- Manchester
During a heatwave, Bristolians can go to Chew Valley Lake to enjoy the sun whilst staying cool, offering a cooling difference of over 20.5 °C. With the water temperature sitting at just 14.5 °C compared to the heatwave’s 35 °C, trips out on a boat in Bristol are ideal and easy to do via the five slipways the lake offers.
Moving down to Wales, Cardiff has Llanegfedd Lake that provides locals and visitors with a cooling effect of -17.8 °C, with the water temperature being an ideal 16.2 °C. This makes it the next-best UK location to counteract the hot temperatures, with its reservoir environment providing a scenic backdrop to complement any boating excursions.
Norwich then has Whitlingham Country Park, which has a beautiful lake. Here, water temperatures are recorded at around 20.7 °C – providing a cooling effect of -17.3 °C from the high heatwave air temperatures (38 °C).
In Hull, visitors and locals can make a short trip to experience the freshwater lake Hornsea Mere. Its water temperatures (17.9 °C) give a cooling effect of -17.1 °C and offer those seeking lake adventures the ideal chance to take out a boat and lessen the heat’s intensity – especially during the summer and heatwaves.
The final ideal location to rent a boat and cool off in the UK is Manchester, with Hollingworth Lake providing a cooling effect of -16.1 °C. The water temperature stands at the same as Hornsea Mere (17.9 °C) and again can give residents and tourists the ability to relieve the effects of the summer heat.
Our Top Tips to Escape the Heat
From coastal cities in Albania and Croatia to cooler cities in Europe with local inland lakes or sea access, there are plenty of destinations to enjoy the summer weather without being overwhelmed by intense temperatures. Whether it’s for a weekend away or an extended holiday, spending time on the water can help you cool off and find a balance between the sunshine and comfort.
Whenever the temperatures rise and things get a little warm, it’s always best to remember to stay hydrated throughout the day, wear sun protection to reduce the risk of sunburn, and to find somewhere cool to prevent heat-related illness. If you can do these three things, managing summer and heatwaves will be much easier.
Following the research, Bastien Rambert, Country Marketing Manager at Click&Boat, commented: “As temperatures continue to rise across Europe, more travellers are looking for ways to enjoy the outdoors without being overwhelmed by the heat. Spending time on the water offers a simple solution, combining cooler surroundings, fresh sea breezes and the chance to discover destinations from a completely different perspective.”
Keeping cool during heatwaves or summer can be tough, but hopefully you now know about some of the best places to visit to escape the heat. You may also now see how renting a boat can create the perfect compromise to survive a heatwave, offering both cooler temperatures and the ability to still enjoy the sun.
Methodology
This study ranks 70 popular European destinations based on their suitability for escaping a heatwave by boat. To determine the rankings, four factors were analysed:
- Temperature difference – The difference between land and water temperatures for each destination. A larger difference indicates greater cooling potential and therefore scores more highly.
- Relative humidity – The percentage by which the humidity on the hottest day of the heatwave exceeds the comfortable threshold of 55%. Lower excess humidity receives a higher score.
- Average wind speed – The average wind speed in July, scored based on an ideal range for boating comfort. Wind speeds between 10 and 15 km/h receive a perfect score, while speeds below 5 km/h (too calm) or above 35 km/h (too windy) receive a score of 0, with intermediate values scaling smoothly in between.
- Boat rental starting price – The lowest advertised boat rental price on Click&Boat. Lower starting prices receive a higher score.
Once the data had been collected, each factor was normalised to produce a score between 0 and 1. The normalised scores were then combined to calculate an overall index score out of 100, with higher scores indicating destinations that offer a cooler, more accessible, and more affordable boating experience during a heatwave. All data is accurate as of 6 July 2026.
