Finally, some relief: how late summer in Spain gives you back your sleep

It’s a strange kind of luxury problem: complaining about nights that linger around 22 degrees. But believe me, after a summer when the mercury stubbornly stayed above 30 at night, it feels as if you’re suddenly sleeping in a cool mountain stream. The relief of late summer in Spain isn’t cold — it’s breathing space.

I remember an August night when I lay on my bed like a pizza in a wood-fired oven — only without the crisp finish. The fan did its best, but mostly just pushed warm air around, and even the olive tree outside seemed to beg for a breath of wind with its drooping branches. And now, early September: windows open, shutters half closed against the mosquitoes, and a gentle breeze drifting into the room as if it had accidentally taken a wrong turn to Norway.

Sleeping without air conditioning — yes, it’s possible

My pet theory: air conditioning isn’t sacred. Yes, it saves lives on the hottest days, but late summer proves it can be done differently. With the right timing of windows and shutters, you can hold on to the night’s coolness. Let the heat out early in the evening, then close everything until morning. A ceiling fan does the rest. The result: a bedroom where you finally dare to sleep under a sheet again, instead of lying sweaty on top of it like a sardine in the sun.

Small habits, big difference

It’s often the little details that save your sleep. Don’t cook indoors just before bed — the kitchen heat lingers for hours. Don’t leave heavy lights on — they give off more warmth than you think. And the ultimate trick: a bottle of water in the fridge that you press against your skin as a personal air conditioner. Not stylish, but highly effective.

Late summer as a reward

The first coolness of late summer in Spain is more than just a few degrees less. It’s a mental reset. The sense that the worst of the heat is behind you, that your body no longer has to live in constant survival mode. You notice it in everything: you sleep more deeply, you feel less sluggish in the morning, and even the coffee tastes better. As if late summer were a reward for having made it through the summer.