Most of us love the sun, but when it starts to get too hot, it’s often not pleasant. This is a rarity in the UK, with this extreme heat more likely to happen whilst holidaying in certain European destination.
Locations around Spain, France and the rest of the Mediterranean tend to get the brunt of the heat, with sweltering heatwaves occuring more and more frequently in recent years. But there’s one capital city that’s said to be warmer than the rest, with experts warning it may be ‘too hot’ to visit. The consumer experts at Which? have researched the hottest holiday desinations for 2025, with Nicosia in Cyprus coming out on top.
The experts analysed last year’s summer temperatures at more than 50 popular holiday locations, looking at how often the temperatures reached more than 36C.
They said:”If it stays above 30C overnight, our bodies can’t rest and recover from the day’s heat.”
Nicosia, which is a city in the heart of Cyprus, was found to be the most sweltering. Last year, temperatures were above 35C for a staggering 28 days in the month of July.
If you’re heading to Cyprus for a holiday, chances are you are not staying in Nicosia. The capital city is usually only visited on day trips from the more coastal cities.
The popular hotspot Ayia Napa was little cooler, with just a fortnight of 35C or hotter the same month.
Further down on the south-west coast however, lies Paphos – which the experts described as ‘much cooler’ and ‘better for a summer break’. So if you’re keen for a Greek getaway this year, this is a more comfortable option.
What are the hottest places to visit in Europe?
As well as Nicosia, the experts highlighted Alentejo in Portugal as another sweltering spot. This region between Lisbon and the Algarve had more days above 35C than the Costa del Sol in July and August 2024.
Other very hot cities to be wary of included:
- Corfu, Greece
- Bodrum, Turkey
- Izmir, Turkey
- Extremadura, Spain
- Rome, Italy