Is it safe to travel to Marseille right now?
Live satellite check · air quality · official advice · Updated 6 Aug 2026
- No active fires detected within 150 km of Marseille.
This is an automatic satellite check — always confirm with the official advice below.
Live status — Marseille
Sources: NASA FIRMS · Open-Meteo · GDACS · FCDO
We'll email you when satellites detect new fire within 50 km of Marseille. Free, no account, one-click unsubscribe.
No account. One-click unsubscribe. · Privacy
Marseille is the gateway to the Calanques National Park — dramatic limestone inlets that burn fast when dry. The park runs its own four-colour access code (green to red), published daily at 6pm for the next day: orange closes the trails, red closes everything including boat landings. In July 2026 the Esterel-Tanneron massif moved to very severe risk in a single day.
The city itself — Vieux-Port, Le Panier, the museums — is unaffected by fires, so a red warning in the Calanques doesn't cancel a Marseille trip, only the hiking day. The French "Météo des forêts" gives the official risk level. This page tracks live fires near the city and links to the FCDO advice for France.
What the UK government says
Wildfires in France 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 (France) — reviewed 2026-08-03. Read the full advice.
What to do if your trip could be affected
- Check the official risk map for France 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 France 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 France?
Roughly June to September, peaking in July and August. Météo-France publishes the daily "Météo des forêts" with four risk levels for each département.
Is my hotel or resort safe if a fire is burning nearby?
The French Riviera resorts sit between the sea and the hills — fires almost always burn in the inland maquis and pine forest, not in the coastal towns. If access restrictions close forest areas, follow the prefectural orders.
Does travel insurance cover wildfires?
Not always. Many standard policies exclude "catastrophe" events. Check your policy wording before cancelling.
Should I cancel my trip because of the fires?
Usually not. Cancelling early usually forfeits your right to a refund. Check the "Météo des forêts" closer to your travel date.
What is the Calanques access code?
The Calanques National Park near Marseille runs a four-colour access code (green to red) published daily at 6pm for the next day: orange closes the trails, red closes everything including boat landings.