Key Points at a Glance
- Wildfire risk is usually regional and no reason to avoid an entire country.
- During extreme heat and drought, fires can spread very quickly.
- Instructions from local authorities always take priority over holiday plans.
- Campers, hikers and travellers using rental cars should be particularly alert.
- Travel insurance does not automatically cover every disruption caused by wildfires.
Mediterranean holidays are changing
Anyone travelling to southern Europe in July or August now has to consider more than high temperatures. Drought, strong winds and dry vegetation can create ideal conditions for wildfires.
Many popular holiday regions are affected. Forested coastal areas and their hinterlands can be particularly vulnerable. A hotel in the centre of a large resort presents a very different risk from an isolated holiday home surrounded by pine forest or a remote campsite.
Increasing periods of extreme heat therefore also raise the question of whether a Mediterranean summer holiday during extreme heat still suits your way of travelling.
Not every wildfire threatens your resort
Headlines such as “Wildfires in Greece” or “Fires in Spain” tell travellers surprisingly little. The affected area may be hundreds of kilometres away from your destination.
What matters is:
- the exact location of the fire,
- wind direction,
- access and evacuation routes,
- instructions from the authorities,
- road closures,
- smoke conditions.
Travellers should therefore not rely solely on social media. Local authorities, civil protection services, police and, where applicable, tour operators or accommodation providers are the relevant sources.
Holiday homes and campsites require extra caution
Independent travellers using a rental car have greater responsibility for their own arrangements than package holidaymakers. When staying in an isolated holiday home, it makes sense to know which roads lead out of the area.
This is even more important when camping. Campsites are often located in attractive but densely vegetated areas where only a small number of access roads may be available.
Do not park your car in a way that makes a quick departure difficult. Passports, medication, mobile phones, chargers and payment cards should be easy to collect at short notice.
If evacuation is ordered, leave
When authorities order an evacuation, follow their instructions immediately. Trying to collect additional luggage or choosing an alternative route on your own can waste valuable time.
Smoke is another frequently underestimated danger. Even when flames are some distance away, air quality and visibility can deteriorate rapidly.
Reisebuch Tip
Save the emergency number 112 on your phone – it works throughout the EU. Activate emergency alerts on your smartphone and check which warning system is used in your destination country.
Can you cancel because of wildfire risk?
A general risk of wildfires does not normally entitle travellers to cancel a booking free of charge. The situation may be different if the actual destination is directly affected, inaccessible or subject to an official warning.
Package holidays are legally different from separately booked flights, hotels and holiday homes. Independent travellers may have to deal with each individual contract separately.
Before booking, it is worth checking exactly what travel cancellation and interruption insurance covers.
Southern Europe remains accessible – but requires more preparation
Wildfire risk does not turn the Mediterranean into a no-go area. It does, however, change the way summer trips should be planned.
Flexible bookings, realistic expectations about extreme temperatures and a willingness to change plans at short notice are becoming increasingly important.
Travellers who struggle with intense heat might also reconsider the traditional peak season. May, June, September and, in many destinations, October can offer considerably more comfortable conditions.
And in the longer term, Europe’s holiday map may begin to change. While parts of the Mediterranean struggle with extreme heat and wildfires, the Baltic Sea and northern Europe are becoming increasingly attractive summer alternatives.