While plenty of us will be headed to Greece for our summer holiday this year, an ongoing heatwave is throwing plans into disarray. Extreme high temperatures have continued throughout the summer after Greece experienced its earliest-ever heatwave in June – and the heat, combined with gale-force winds, caused a major wildfire to break out near Athens earlier this week. Around 40,000 acres of land were scorched, and widespread evacuation orders were issued.
Understandably, those with a trip booked to Athens might be worried about the impact of the wildfires on their trip. Here is everything you need to know about whether it’s safe to travel if you have a trip booked to Greece.
RECOMMENDED:
Where are the wildfires in Greece? What wildfires mean for your trip
The 7 best places to ‘coolcation’ in Europe this summer
Where are the wildfires near Athens?
These fires began on Sunday (August 11) afternoon around 35km northeast of Athens near Lake Marathon, and crawled across Mount Pendeli and reached Athens’s northern suburbs. There were said to be fires in 40 different locations across the Attica region.
By Monday night, Greece had been put on high alert and had sought help from the international community to tackle the blazes. Flames rose as high as 25 metres into the air, and even central Athens was shrouded in smoke. Though the fires have largely been tamed, the city centre is still experiencing hazy conditions, and residents have reported ash covering their balconies.
Is it safe to travel?
The fires have been largely contained and travelling to Greece has not been officially advised against, but if you have a trip booked to Athens and you’re concerned, it’s best to contact your travel provider directly.
Widespread evacuation orders were issued across the city’s northern suburbs and surrounding areas over the last few days. Homes and buildings have been destroyed and one woman has died. According to the BBC, more than 700 firefighters, 199 fire engines and 35 waterbombing aircraft have been involved in the efforts to tackle the blaze. Two firefighters have received treatment for burns.
Have people been evacuated?
The fire reached suburbs in northern Athens, and thousands of residents across the region were evacuated on Monday as firefighters warned that schools, homes and businesses were all under threat. More evacuation orders were issued on Tuesday for the seaside town of Nea Makri, and Greece remains on high alert.
What’s causing the fires in Athens?
June and July were the two hottest months ever recorded in Greece, with the country experiencing its earliest-ever heatwave. The dry ground conditions, which have been described as ‘tinderbox-like’, paired with gale force winds of up to 43 miles per hour created prime conditions for the spread of wildfires. Mayor of the historic town of Marathon, Stergious Tsirkas, described the scenes as a ‘biblical catastrophe’.
Thankfully, as of the early hours of Wednesday August 14, the wildfires are under control and Greek authorities have said there are no longer any ‘active’ fires in the area. However, Greece remains on high alert as temperatures are set to teeter around 40C, and authorities want to ensure scattered fires don’t spread.
What are my rights if I cancel my holiday?
Travelling to Greece has not been advised against by the UK Foreign Office nor by the US Department of State, so it’s unlikely you’ll be entitled to a full refund should you choose to cancel your holiday.
If you are already in Greece and want to return home early, it’s possible (depending on your trip provider) that you’ll be able to do so at no extra charge. Whether you’ll be refunded for the rest of your holiday all depends on your trip provider and insurance policy. If you’ve been evacuated, under the Package Travel Regulations holidaymakers can seek ‘reasonable compensation’ for their trip if the holiday company they booked with fails to proactively offer a refund or vouchers.
Does travel insurance cover wildfires?
You’ll need to check directly with your provider. If you are injured or made ill due to the heat, it’s likely your insurance covers those medical needs, however cancellation policies vary.
Are there fires anywhere else in Greece?
This season has seen several wildfires across Greece, including in Cyprus, Kos, Chios, Crete and Thessaloniki. The extreme temperatures experienced in Athens back in June led to suspension of schools and tourist attractions, including the Acropolis.
Where in Greece had the worst wildfires last year?
Regions across Greece were severely impacted by 2023’s extreme heat and extensive wildfires, but areas such as Rhodes and Corfu were hit particularly badly. Evia, Boeotia and Alexandroupolis were impacted as well.
To compensate visitors who were evacuated or had their holidays impacted by the Rhodes wildfires, the government offered 25,000 free trips back to the island, the first scheme of its kind in the world.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news.