The Costa del Sol is a sun-drenched paradise — but when summer temperatures soar past 30°C (86°F), even paradise needs a plan. Whether you're a local or a lucky visitor, here’s how to stay cool, calm, and collected during the sizzling months.

 

🏡 Chill at Home

• Close blinds and shutters during the day to block out heat, especially on south-facing windows.
• Create cross-ventilation by opening windows on opposite sides of your home in the early morning and late evening.
• Use fans strategically—place a bowl of ice in front of a fan for a DIY air conditioner.
• Switch to cotton for bedding and sleepwear. It breathes better and helps wick away sweat.

🧊 Hydration & Diet

• Drink water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty. Add lemon, mint, or cucumber for a refreshing twist.
• Avoid heavy meals—opt for gazpacho, fresh salads, and chilled fruit like watermelon or grapes.
• Limit alcohol and caffeine, which can dehydrate you faster than you think.

🌳 Outdoor Tips

• Avoid the midday sun (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) when UV rays are strongest.
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothes and a wide-brimmed hat.
• Cool down at local spots like the Guadalmina River walk or shaded terraces in the village.
• Take a dip—Most properties have access to a pool and nearby beaches are just a short drive away.

🧘‍♀️ Bonus Hacks

• Mist yourself with a cooling spray or keep a damp cloth in the fridge for a quick refresh.
• Freeze your sheets (yes, really!) or pop your pillowcase in the freezer before bed.
• Sleep low—heat rises, so consider moving your mattress closer to the floor.

 

What Do The Locals Do? 

🍷 Drink tinto de verano

There are lots of refreshing drinks to enjoy in summer in Spain, but one of the most popular is tinto de Verano or summer wine. Spaniards don’t often drink sangría – this is mainly for tourists. Instead, they’ll drink tinto de verano made from red wine mixed with fizzy lemonade.

🔅 Don't dare go outdoors in the middle of the day

In the regions villages you’ll find that the streets will be completely quiet and empty between around 1pm – 5pm. The shops that are still open during summer will likely be closed and everyone will be home hiding from the sun. It may even feel like you’ve stumbled across a ghost town but it's just that Spaniards know that it's way too hot to spend time outdoors.  

💤 Take a siesta

Siestas during most of the year in Spain are actually a bit of myth – people are too busy working, kids are at school and life is as hectic here as it is in any other country. But in summer, siestas are almost a necessity in many parts of the country because it's simply too hot to get anything done, especially with a full stomach after lunch.

💃 Keep an abanico fan with you at all times

Take a leaf out of the book of the Spanish abuelas (grandmas) and carry a handheld fan with you during summer. You never know when you’ll need some extra cooling down, they're not just for flamenco! 

🏖 Take as many home comforts as possible to the beach

Spaniards don’t only take a towels and buckets and spades with them to the beach, no they come laden with as many comforts as possible to sustain them during the whole day. Think deck chairs, small tables, huge parasols, cool boxes, homemade food – the works. You are likely to feel quite jealous of everything they’ve brought, so come prepared.

🎊 Enjoy local festivals

Summer is a time for going away, shutting up shop and having siestas, but it’s also a time for celebration as many towns, villages and neighbourhoods celebrate their annual festivals at this time. Some of the biggest include the Moros y Cristianos festival in Villajoyosa, La Tomatina tomato fight in Buñol and the San Fermín bull runs in Pamplona.

August 15th is the day with most local festivals, as 1,205 municipalities across the country hold their local fiestas patronales.

🍅 Take advantage of all of Spain's cold soups

Forget trying to cook a hot meal in summer, it’s far too hot to turn the oven or the stove on, instead do as the locals do and live on a variety of cold soups. Spain has several traditional cold soups – which are mostly from different areas in Andalusia. The most famous is of course gazpacho made from tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, garlic and olive oil. salmorejo is thicker with the addition of bread, boiled egg and ham, and is most typical from Córdoba. Porra is again even thicker and can be found in the historic city of Antequera. Other cold soups include ajo blanco found around Málaga and Cádiz and made with almonds, bread, garlic and sherry vinegar. There’s also la pipirrana from Jaén and variations of gazpacho made with watermelon or cherries.

🏠 Spend la tarde al fresco

When evening comes and the day finally begins to cool a bit, Spaniards start to head out outside again to catch some breeze. As many people don't have air-con or can't afford to run it all the time, going outside is one of the only ways to get cool again. You'll often find that locals in their barrios (neighbourhoods) grab a chair and sit outside their houses when the sun goes down, making it an extension of their living rooms as they chat to their neighbours. In theory, you could do the same on a balcony. 

The Costa del Sol may bring the heat, but with a few clever tricks, you’ll be basking in the sunshine without breaking a sweat.