Athens Faces High Wildfire Risk

What to Do if You Receive an Evacuation Alert

If local authorities, hotel staff or emergency services tell you to evacuate, leave immediately and follow the route provided rather than choosing your own shortcut. Take only essential items: passports, phones, chargers, medication, water, bank cards, travel insurance details and any child or mobility equipment you need. Keep your group together and tell your accommodation provider or tour operator where you are going, especially if you are moved to a temporary assembly point. Do not return to collect luggage until authorities confirm it is safe, because roads can reopen and close again depending on wind and fire behaviour.

Health Precautions During Smoke and Heat

Wildfire smoke can affect travellers well outside the immediate fire zone, particularly children, older people, pregnant travellers and anyone with asthma, heart disease or other respiratory conditions. If smoke is present, stay indoors where possible, close windows and doors, and use air conditioning on recirculation rather than drawing smoky air inside. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity, long hikes and exposed sightseeing until air quality improves. Travellers who rely on inhalers, oxygen, prescription medication or refrigerated medicine should keep supplies close and speak to a pharmacist or doctor promptly if symptoms worsen.

Flights, Ferries and Your Travel Rights

Wildfires can create complicated travel-rights situations because airlines may still operate flights even when local roads, hotels or excursions are disrupted. If your flight is cancelled or significantly delayed, check your airline’s app and official airport updates first, then keep screenshots of cancellation notices, boarding passes and receipts for reasonable expenses. Compensation may not apply where disruption is caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or wildfire-related safety restrictions, but airlines may still owe assistance such as rerouting or care depending on the route and circumstances. Package holiday customers should also contact their tour operator, because they may have separate obligations to help with accommodation changes, transfers or repatriation arrangements.

Insurance and Booking Changes

Before cancelling a trip yourself, check the latest official travel advice, your airline or tour operator policy, and your travel insurance wording. Many policies treat wildfire disruption differently depending on whether your accommodation is inaccessible, official advice says not to travel, or you simply prefer not to go. If your hotel is in an affected area, ask for written confirmation of whether it is open, accessible and able to host guests safely. Keep all receipts and written messages, because insurers usually need evidence before reimbursing extra transport, emergency accommodation or unused travel arrangements.

The Smart Plan for the Next 48 Hours

Travellers already in Greece should spend the next 48 hours operating with extra flexibility, particularly around Athens, rural mainland areas and any destination with high fire-risk warnings. Check official alerts in the morning, confirm transport before leaving, and avoid remote excursions unless local operators confirm conditions are safe. If you are due to fly to Greece, do not assume your trip is cancelled, but do prepare for itinerary changes and possible disruption on arrival. The safest approach is to stay informed, keep essentials ready, follow local instructions immediately and avoid taking unnecessary risks for sightseeing or photographs.