How to Spend a Lazy Summer Day Like a Local in Europe

How is live in summer in Europe?

Europeans like to slow down in the summer, and people enjoy living without stress and time schedules.

Every region has its customs and perks, but several activities are practiced throughout the continent.

Europeans also love to travel across Europe in the hot months. The British seek the sun in Spain, the Dutch hangout in the mountains and the Germans head to the beach in France.

Relaxing mornings, delicious lunches, fun afternoons at the lake before it thunders, and the evenings with newly found friends in town.

People slow down, don't look at the time, let the kids play and enjoy quality food and drink in good company.

Does that sound like something you long for? Here is how to enjoy a lazy summer day, and at the end I list some things that you should not do on your upcoming Euro summer trip.

Visit the Local Farmer's Market or Food Fairs

Farmer's markets have been the defacto tradition in many places across Europe. Some places had a farmer's market comeback because there was such high demand.

Just strolling across a farmer's market and taking in the atmosphere can be so relaxing and rewarding to the senses. The chatter of people, the smell of good food, fruits, veggies, flowers, cheese, wooden items, you name it!

Wander along the cobbled streets, stop at a cheese shop and sample regional specialties.

Discover artisans and their art and purchase authentic quality products, which you won't find anywhere else. This will help you immerse into the culture, and you will cherish the best that the region has to offer.

Discover without a Tour

When Europeans travel to a destination in the summer vacation period, they rarely book tours. They favor exploring places on their own terms and in time.

Instead, they will pick a few sights which they would like to see, and then they will just head there. They don't plan, they settle on a landmark or experience in the morning or night before.

Typically, Europeans will avoid very touristy spots, and they prefer spending quality time in nature. The sights chosen are mostly nearby and not all that far away. Therefore, travel time, mostly by car, is less than 30 minutes.

Take Your Time and Enjoy a Simple Lunch

People are lazy in the summer and food should be tasty but simple. A lunch can be cooked or raw, but it's usually super minimalist because quality ingredients are the norm in Europe.

For example, in Italy, this can be a Caprese Tomato Mozzarella Salad with Olive Oil. The French will collect the current garden harvest in the morning and prepare it for lunch. The Austrians will head to a grocery store and get a simple pink meatloaf sandwich.

Nothing elaborate, but practical, tasty food that you can enjoy in your own time without having to hurry.

Europeans like to grab a bite and head to the nearest park for a lunch picnic. You should try that, or how about you buy some ingredients from the local farmer's market and prepare a quick lunch salad?

Go for a Swim

The best part of summer is the time when you can go to the river, lake, or public swimming pool. It's fun, and people from all walks of life do that every summer.

In Swiss cities, such as Bern and Basel, you will see locals hanging out and swimming in the crystal clear rivers.

Every town and village in Austria has a lovely, clean public swimming pool area that you should check out if you are in the area. The lakes there are also known to be fun summer hangouts.

The Greek head to the beaches that are not that full of tourists and spend an afternoon there.

The point is, Europeans don't care for sun beds and beach clubs. They go to the best accessible place with clean water and stay there for the rest of the day.

They meet friends, they listen to music on the headphones, they read a magazine or book, they send the kids to get some fries with mayonnaise, they play games, or they take the baby for the first swim.

Tip: The Swimming Beaches of Lake Como in Italy.

Do the Evening Walk

Folks in Europe have a habit of going for a walk or jog in the evening before it gets dark. As it can get dark pretty late in the summer, it is easy to take your time to try this out for yourself.

Here is how to get into it: Look out for a straight river or a long beach.

Most rivers have a river walk pathway and these are usually straight, flanked by a green field on one side. Long straight beaches are great too because you can walk barefoot.

The sound of water, a river, or the sea, can be so very relaxing. We tend to go for a river walk when in Europe, every other day. It frees up the mind and helps you feel more rooted.

Chill in a Café or start Apéritif hour

If you find yourself in a town in Europe, and you feel like just sitting down and enjoying a cup of coffee or an Aperol Spritz, do it!

Let time pass, enjoy the view, good company or your solo peace, either way this will help you loosen up a bit.

When in Italy, we don't rush. We just sit down for an Aperitive and go through the menu to discover fun local bites.

Venice, for example, is a good place to do this because the city is just stunning and the local Cicchetti bites with an Aperol Spritz are just a priceless experience. I'll rather do that than stress running from one sight to another!

Enjoy Live Music evenings

Many towns and restaurants in Tourist areas organize musical evenings in the summer months, exclusively in Europe.

Large cobbled town squares are transformed into free open air events sponsored by the tourism association and locals and visitors, alike, will join in the fun.

You can do that too! Head to smaller Tourist frequented towns and look out for local outdoor events. The tourist office in town can help you with current events.

Furthermore, mostly in Southern countries, it is custom to have live music themed evenings in restaurants and bars. Everybody is welcome, and you will definitely learn to slow down and have fun again without any expectations.

Play Games

Several Southern/Western countries have a strong game evening routine tradition. That is, for example, Spain and France.

People in France enjoy playing pétanque, a game where you toss a metal ball into the sand. People in Spain will organize card matches.

In other cities across Europe, you might come across an oversized chess game in a city square or several chess tables in a park.

Croatians and Italians have fun playing beach volleyball and yes, sometimes it's topless too and that's fine because it's Europe and nobody cares.

Join a game that you know to play, or be open to learning a new game from the locals. This will help you get closer to the local joie de vivre, and you'll make some friends in the process.

Things Not To Do