Is it safe to travel to Crete right now?
Live satellite check · air quality · official advice · Updated 6 Aug 2026
- No active fires detected within 150 km of Crete.
This is an automatic satellite check — always confirm with the official advice below.
Live status — Crete
Sources: NASA FIRMS · Open-Meteo · GDACS · FCDO
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Crete is the most popular Greek island for British holidaymakers, with resorts along the north coast from Chania to Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos. The island has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers, and the mountainous interior — the White Mountains and the Lasithi plateau — carries the highest wildfire risk.
Wildfire season in Crete runs from roughly May to October, peaking in July and August. Most fires are human-caused and start near roads, olive groves and scrubland rather than deep in the mountains. The authorities close forest roads and hiking trails on high-risk days, and the Greek civil protection service publishes a daily risk map.
This page checks live satellite data and official alerts for the island and always links to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice, which is the authoritative source.
What the UK government says
Wildfires in Greece There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. For advice, visit the wildfires section on the Safety and security page .
Source: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Greece) — reviewed 2026-07-14. Read the full advice.
What to do if your trip could be affected
- Check the official risk map for Greece the day before you travel — they update daily and are the authoritative source (see the FCDO link above).
- Know your insurance: standard travel policies often exclude wildfire disruption. Only about half of policies include "catastrophe" cover, and insurers rarely pay for "disinclination to travel" — check your wording before cancelling.
- Don't cancel early: if you're not due to travel for a week or two, wait. Airlines and operators prioritise rebooking for departures in the next few days, and cancelling early usually forfeits your right to a refund.
- Pack for smoke: an N95 respirator and a small HEPA purifier make a big difference if the air quality dips — N95 masks on Amazon · HEPA purifiers on Amazon.
- Follow local instructions: if authorities order an evacuation or close forest trails, treat it as mandatory — the smoke, not the flames, is the biggest danger.
Wildfire season in Greece runs roughly May–October and peaks in July–August. The live check above uses NASA FIRMS satellite data (fires within 50/150 km), air quality from Open-Meteo, and official GDACS alerts.
Frequently asked questions
When is wildfire season in Greece?
Roughly May to October, peaking in July and August after prolonged heat and drought. The Greek civil protection service (Civil Protection Greece) publishes a daily fire-risk map.
Is my hotel or resort safe if a fire is burning nearby?
Resorts on the coast are rarely directly threatened — most Greek fires burn in forest and scrubland inland. If a fire does approach, local authorities issue evacuation orders and resorts have protocols for guests. Follow their instructions.
Does travel insurance cover wildfires?
Not always. Many standard policies exclude "catastrophe" events, and insurers rarely pay for "disinclination to travel". Check your policy wording before cancelling — only around half of policies include wildfire cover.
Should I cancel my trip because of the fires?
Usually not. Airlines and tour operators prioritise rebooking for departures in the next few days, and cancelling early usually forfeits your right to a refund. Check the official risk map closer to your travel date.
Where can I see the official fire-risk map?
The Greek Civil Protection service publishes a daily map at civilprotection.gov.gr with four risk levels per region. The live check on this page uses NASA FIRMS satellite data as an additional signal.