More than 50 wildfires have erupted in the country in the last 24 hours, leading to a request to the EU for six firefighting planes.
Residents of Kryoneri, 12.5 miles northeast of Athens, received three SMS messages to evacuate to safe areas yesterday (July 26).
This comes as Greek authorities battle separate fires on Euboea and Crete, its two largest islands, as well as on the island of Kythera and in the south-west of the mainland.
Firefighters battled wildfires across Greece and the Western Balkans as the south of Europe sweltered under the third heatwave of the summer https://t.co/RCjSHnxXrh pic.twitter.com/vK67PTeBvq
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 26, 2025
Both areas are popular holiday destinations for Brits who are looking to fly out this summer.
However, if you’ve got a trip booked over the coming weeks, the extreme weather could impact your plans.
Is it safe to travel to Greece?
As of July 27, the UK Foreign Office has not issued any “do not travel” notices for Greece.
Although it does highlight safety advice due to a “high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October”.
The website recommends travellers register for the Greek government’s national emergency alerts, stating: “Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly.”
Tourists are also urged to “be cautious if you are in or near an area affected by wildfires,” and to call the emergency services on 112 if you’re in danger.
Greece experiences wildfires every year, but they are becoming more intense and frequent.
🔴⚠️🔥♨️🇬🇷🇹🇷For the 1st time in recordes history,#Turkey has reached 50°C on July 25,during one of the worst #heatwave ever in the #Mediterranean.Records also for #Albania & #Greece,all with multiple #wildfires.⬇️12hrs in sunlight by meteosat12 via @zoom_earth #ClimateEmergency pic.twitter.com/gQO79j6Yhb
— SatWorld (@or_bit_eye) July 25, 2025
Last year, Greece experienced its hottest June and July on record.
What to do if your holiday is affected
If you find yourself at the site of a wildfire while on holiday, follow instructions from local authorities and keep essentials with you at all times.
If you’re set to head out to Greece on holiday, then it’s best to check with your tour operator or airline.
For those preparing to travel, it may be possible to cancel your trip for a refund, but only under specific circumstances.
“For tourists concerned about travel disruptions due to wildfires, it’s essential to understand the options available in terms of insurance and refunds,” Travel and Tour World states.
Recommended reading:
“In cases where the wildfire threat directly impacts the region you are visiting, travellers may be eligible for a refund or rebooking.
“However, if the situation is not deemed dangerous enough by authorities, or if no official travel advisory is issued, airlines and tour operators are generally not obligated to offer full refunds.”
As it stands, there is no Foreign Office warning against travel, so it’s best to continue to check for regular updates in case the situation changes in the coming hours and days.
