The national holiday on August 15, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, coincides this year with one of the longest heatwaves of the summer. With temperatures exceeding 40°C in many regions, both residents and tourists are looking for ways to combine leisure and cultural activities with much-needed relief from the heat. The key to a comfortable long weekend is strategic planning: choosing the right time for activities and finding places that offer respite from the blazing sun.
When the asphalt is melting outside, the underground world offers a stable, cool environment. These natural shelters provide a unique chance to explore tourism while escaping the heat. For example, the famous Cuevas de Nerja in Málaga province maintain a constant temperature between 17 and 21°C, perfect for admiring the impressive vaults and millennia-old stalactites. Further north in Cantabria, Cueva de El Soplao surprises visitors with its rare eccentric formations. And in Castellón province, Cuevas de San José invite guests to take a boat ride along the longest navigable underground river in Europe—a refreshing and exhilarating adventure.
For those who can’t imagine summer without the sea, water activities become the perfect remedy for the heat. An evening cruise through the Bay of Cádiz offers a chance to admire the city bathed in the golden light of sunset, while the sea breeze makes you forget the midday swelter. In Galicia, a boat trip along the Ría de Arosa estuary is a great way to see mussel farms (bateas) and small islands, with stops for swimming in crystal-clear water. For a more active experience, a paddle surf tour along the Valencian coast will provide refreshing city views from the Mediterranean. You can also enjoy the cool air of Bilbao during a one-hour catamaran ride along the river, which offers unique views of the Guggenheim Museum.
As the daytime heat gives way to the evening cool, Spanish cities are transformed. Sevilla, with its illuminated landmarks and lively streets, reveals its charm during night tours that blend history with local legends. Granada invites you to lose yourself on a route where, under the stars, the walls whisper tales of Moors and Christians. In Salamanca, a free night tour starting at 9:30 p.m. is the perfect way to enjoy its famous Plaza Mayor and historic center at a relaxed pace, away from the heat. In Madrid, a tour of mysterious places leads through alleys and squares that hold traces of enigmas and paranormal phenomena.
If you need complete shelter from the heat, covered attractions with climate control are the best choice. In Madrid, the Prado Museum offers a journey through masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and Bosch in cool, air-conditioned halls. Málaga pays tribute to one of its most famous natives at the Picasso Museum, where modern art meets the refreshing ambiance of its galleries. And in Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia cathedral not only impresses with its architecture but also lets visitors explore its magnificent interior in comfortable, cool surroundings, even in the peak of August.
