As August comes to an end, Budapest proves once again that it knows how to deliver a scorching summer. With yet another heatwave rolling in, we’ve dug up some vintage photos to show how folks in the past managed to stay cool – before air conditioning was even a thing.
Summer and a scorching sun have always gone hand in hand in Budapest, with extreme temperatures hitting the city every now and then. If you've ever wondered how people survived the heat without aircon, just take a look at these photos!
Intense heat called for thin pats, white shirts, straw hats and beachwear. Locals flocked to parks, pools, and the Danube's public beaches –set up until 1973 – for some much-needed shade and relief.

Photo: Fortepan

Photo: MHSZ - Fortepan


Photo: Gyulai Gaál Krisztián - Fortepan

Photo: Ludovika - Fortepan

Photo: Sándor Bauer - Fortepan

Photo: Ágoston Kollányi - Fortepan

Photo: Károly Ember - Fortepan

Photo: Fábián Sámuel - Fortepan

Photo: Mihály Szent-tamási - Fortepan
(Cover photo: MHSZ - Fortepan)