🇬🇷 Athens vs 🇧🇪 Brussels

Mediterranean — very hot dry summers, mild wet winters

Athens has a classic Mediterranean climate but is notably hotter and drier than coastal Greek islands due to its inland location in the Attica basin surrounded by mountains. Summers are among the hottest in Europe; winters are mild and pleasant.

Brussels sits in a broad valley carved by the Senne river, with the city climbing from the low-lying lower town (~15m elevation) to the upper town and surrounding plateaus (~100m). This topographic split creates distinct microclimates: the lower town is prone to fog, temperature inversions, and trapped humidity, while the higher southeastern districts enjoy better ventilation and slightly cooler summers. The city's extensive parks and forested edges — particularly the Sonian Forest to the southeast — provide significant cooling corridors, but the dense 19th-century urban core generates a pronounced heat island effect.