

That depends on the reason for the cancellation. Can I get a refund if I choose not to go? The causes of the fires are still under investigation but arson has been suggested as a possibility in several cases. Several weeks of blistering heat and strong winds turned Greece into a tinderbox, which meant that the fires spread easily. Sheep trapped in a pen as a wildfire approaches the village of Avantas, near Alexandroupoli (Getty Images) What started the fires in Greece? Resorts in the north are, however, operating as normal. Sources on the ground say that while the majority of properties have suffered at most superficial damage, they cannot reopen until utilities are restored. Some hotels are affected in resorts in the southeast, including Gennadi, Kiotari, Lardos, Lindos, Pefki and Plimiri. Rhodes was badly affected by fires in July but the state of emergency has been lifted. Hotels in Lindos, on the east coast of Rhodes, have suffered superficial damage (Getty Images) Is it safe to travel to Rhodes now? These include: the Cycladic Islands (Amorgos, Anafi, Andros, Antiparos, Delos, Ios, Kea, Kimolos, Kythnos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Folegandros, Santorini, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Syros and Tinos), the Sporades (Alonissos, Skiathos, Skopelos and Skyros), and the northern resorts of Thessaloniki. Most of these were not affected by the wildfires at all this year and holidays are taking place as normal. There are over 200 inhabited islands in Greece. Greece floods 2023: is it safe to travel to Skiathos and is my flight cancelled?įirefighters battle wildfire in the village of Dialekto, near Kavala in northern Greece (Getty Images) Which islands aren’t affected by the wildfires?.If you’re due to travel to an area that might be affected, you should contact your travel operator or accommodation provider before you travel to check that it is not currently impacted and make sure that you have appropriate insurance.

On Skiathos, flights have been cancelled and holidaymakers have been told to stay indoors. In some cases, cars have been washed away. A forest fire 60 miles northeast of Athens (Getty Images) Is it safe to travel to Greece?Īlthough wildfires are not a concern for the foreseeable future, there are heavy rains in Greece that are triggering deadly floods. In July, several areas in Greece, including forests near the capital Athens and the holiday island of Rhodes were heavily affected by blazes. Most of these are not tourist areas, but local residents have been forced to evacuate in some cases. The most recent blazes were in Alexandroupoli, the forest of Dadia, Rodopi, Boeotia and Parnitha, which started in August. There are currently no fire warnings in place. The fires in Greece have finally died down with the arrival of Storm Daniel, which has been affecting the central and western part of the country, including the island of Skiathos. Main photo: a wildfire near the village of Avantas near Alexandroupoli, Greece (Getty Images) If you’re planning a trip to Greece, here’s what you need to know - including Foreign Office travel advice.

After the first wave of fires - exacerbated by blistering temperatures, drought and high winds - was brought under control, a second wave took hold near the end of August. The Hellenic nation has been heavily affected by wildfires since July this year, with capital Athens and holiday islands such as Rhodes experiencing blazes. The fires that have been sweeping through Greece have finally died down with the arrival of cooler weather and storms.
