In this sense, Lisbon stands out at the European level, reaching 6th position in the ranking of cities with the best access to public drinking fountains.

The Portuguese capital registers an average of six water points per square kilometre, a mark that places it among the destinations best prepared to respond to the thermal stress of summer.

The study, developed by the travel insurance company InsureandGo, analysed more than 50 popular European destinations, using OpenStreetMap data to calculate the density of public drinking fountains per square kilometre.

The conclusions demonstrate a clear dominance of southern European countries in policies of free access to water, with Spain and France together occupying half of the positions in the European "top 10".

Cities like Valencia and Madrid, on the Spanish side, and Paris and Lyon, on the French side, join Lisbon on this list of metropolises focused on mitigating the impacts of extreme temperatures through their public water supply network.

The undisputed leader is Barcelona, which boasts an impressive 18 fountains per square kilometre, strategically distributed throughout parks and busy tourist areas such as Las Ramblas or the Gothic Quarter.

The European podium is completed by Zurich, Switzerland, whose fountains are supplied by thermal waters and natural lakes, and by Paris, which benefits from its iconic, historic Wallace fountain network, recently reinforced with public points offering fresh, sparkling water.

Health and communication experts in the insurance sector emphasise that maintaining hydration levels in the summer is a critical safety factor, particularly for vulnerable travellers or those with pre-existing chronic medical conditions.

The recommendation involves the widespread use of reusable bottles in cities with dense water networks, such as Lisbon and Barcelona, to save costs and reduce the environmental impact of disposable plastics.

For destinations with lower density rankings, experts recommend planning ahead with digital mapping apps before venturing out.

Lisbon's presence at the top of this European barometer reflects the continuous investment in the rehabilitation and expansion of the city's network of traditional and modern public fountains.

In the context of global climate change and progressively longer, drier summers in the Iberian Peninsula, guaranteeing free and accessible drinking water is not only an argument for sustainable tourism but also an essential tool for urban resilience and well-being.