Is it safe to travel to Sardinia right now?
Live satellite check · air quality · official advice · Updated 17 Sep 2026
- No active fires detected within 150 km of Sardinia.
This is an automatic satellite check — always confirm with the official advice below.
Live status — Sardinia
Sources: NASA FIRMS · Open-Meteo · GDACS · FCDO
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Sardinia's interior is one of Italy's most fire-prone regions: dense maquis and cork-oak forests that burn intensely in the summer, often fanned by the mistral. The north-east (Costa Smeralda) and the south (Cagliari) are the main tourism zones, and fires there are rarer but do occur — in 2021 a blaze near Cagliari and another near Olbia forced evacuations.
The regional forestry authority (Forestas) publishes a daily fire-risk map, and access to some forest areas is restricted on high-risk days. Sardinia's fire season runs June to September. This page shows live fires across the island and links to the FCDO advice for Italy.
What the UK government says
rnings, visit the European Meteorological Services website. Wildfires Wildfires are a risk during the extended summer months. They are highly dangerous and unpredictable. Check the latest alerts and weather forecast and follow advice of local authorities if you’re considering travelling to affected areas.
Source: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Italy) — reviewed 2026-09-17. Read the full advice.
What to do if your trip could be affected
- Check the official risk map for Italy 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 Italy 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 Italy?
Roughly June to September, peaking in July and August. Protezione Civile publishes daily fire-danger ratings by province, and Sicily and Sardinia issue their own regional bulletins.
Is my hotel or resort safe if a fire is burning nearby?
Most Italian fires burn in the interior (Madonie, Nebrodi, the Sardinian maquis) rather than the coastal resorts. If a fire approaches, Protezione Civile coordinates evacuations and resorts follow official 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 refund. Check the regional fire-danger rating closer to your date.
Where can I see the official fire-risk map?
Protezione Civile publishes daily ratings by province at protezionecivile.gov.it, and Sicily (Sicilia Sicura) and Sardinia (Forestas) add their own regional maps.