By Jessica Colley— When it comes to “not to miss” activities in Dublin, swimming might not be at the top of your list. While many locals make it their business to take the plunge into the icy Irish Sea at any time of year, visitors generally limit taking a dip to random sunny days in » Read more

By Bryan Pirolli in Paris— When summertime hits in Paris, the locals feel the pressure to go on vacation. The city traditionally empties out in August, but that tradition is no longer steadfast. Plenty of Parisians stay behind in August while tourists flock from all over the world to experience the City of Light. In » Read more

By Regina W Bryan in Barcelona— One of the top five reasons I live in Barcelona is the weather. I’m from the Pacific NW in the United States, which is lovely when the clouds lift. Sick of the rain, I wanted to be in the sunshine which motivated me to move to Costa Rica, Guatemala » Read more

By Joann Plockova in Prague— Summer is in full swing in Prague. On those days when the city sizzles, it’s great to plunge into one of the city’s public pools. Along with being a pleasant way to keep cool, spending time at Prague’s pools offers the opportunity to see areas of the city that you » Read more

By Bryan Pirolli in Paris— Summertime and the livin’ is easy… and cheapo if you know where to head in Paris. While every other tourist is heading to the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, the city offers an abundance of summertime options that will keep you dancing, bopping or enjoying a free flick. Here are » Read more

By C H Kwak— Summer in Berlin is glorious, but the heat can really get to you. Air conditioning is virtually unheard of, and the subways and buses start feeling more like saunas. When the thermometer starts rising, try these popular ways to cool down, local style. 1. Bathing: Au naturel When summer rolls around, » Read more

It is that time of the year when Europeans just love to chill out on the beach. But not all of us head south for summer sun. Canny travelers in search of the best deals and the longest sunshine hours make for those parts of the Baltic which boast some of Europe’s best beaches. July » Read more

By Marc Justin in Florence— One thing you won’t see during the summer in Florence is people chugging down hot bowls of soup. With an average high of 88 degrees in July and August, this town really tends to sizzle. But besides the usual beach trips and dipping in and out of public pools (see » Read more

By Nicole Arriaga in Rome— When the “going gets hot” in the Ancient City, the (untough) locals and tourists get going—to escape the sweltering heat in seaside towns like Ostia and Fregene. That’s because Rome doesn’t offer many options to escape the steaming sun. Yes, the city is, um, overflowing with tempting waterworks, but the Trevi Fountain, the fountains at Piazza » Read more