Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleTourists wearing hats take photographs on the rocky Areios Pagos Hill next to the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, (AP)A record 38 million tourists visited Greece last year, with around 4.6 million visiting the Acropolis despite scorching temperatures reaching the mid-30s Celsius. Extreme heat and high demand at outdoor cultural sites have driven a surge in hat sales and sun protection awareness across central Athens. Red Cross volunteers are stationed at the Acropolis to distribute sun protection kits containing water, sunscreen, leaflets and caps to help prevent heatstroke. Local kiosks and traditional artisans report a shift in visitor attitudes, with tourists increasingly prioritising headwear for serious UV protection rather than just fashion. The severe summer conditions and accompanying wildfires have also renewed concerns regarding the safety and resilience of Greece's power grid in dry, rural areas. In fullAthens has a new must-have souvenir as the city gets busier and hotterMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Athens is turning to hats as Europe’s heat intensifies

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Outside the Acropolis, a sea of hats bobs up and down the hill to the ancient site: straw boaters, Panama hats, baseball caps and bucket hats