Is it safe to travel to Nice & the French Riviera right now?
Live satellite check · air quality · official advice · Updated 6 Aug 2026
- No active fires detected within 150 km of Nice & the French Riviera.
This is an automatic satellite check — always confirm with the official advice below.
Live status — Nice & the French Riviera
Sources: NASA FIRMS · Open-Meteo · GDACS · FCDO
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Nice and the Côte d'Azur sit between the sea and the Alpes-Maritimes — one of the most wildfire-prone corners of France. The hills above the coast, around Vence, Grasse and the Var, carry pine and scrub (maquis) that burn readily in the summer. The French weather service (Météo-France) publishes the "Météo des forêts" daily with four risk levels for each département.
The nearby Calanques and the Esterel massif have their own access codes, and prefectural orders can close forested areas at short notice. The summer of 2026 saw major fires in the Gironde and the Var; the risk around Nice peaks July-August after heatwaves. This page shows live fires within 50 and 150 km and links to the FCDO advice for France, which flags the Mediterranean coast as the highest-risk area.
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.