Heading: Potential Setbacks to Consider During Summer Travel in Europe
With the summer season in full swing, travellers to Europe should take several precautions for natural disasters and extreme weather, especially heatwaves, wildfires, and earthquakes, which have been prominent in 2025.
Stay Informed
Stay informed of local weather and emergency alerts through government websites, mobile apps, or notifications to receive up-to-date warnings about heatwaves, wildfires, or earthquakes. Informative resources include 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Hydrate and Protect Yourself
Carry extra drinking water and avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours to prevent heat-related illnesses, especially in regions experiencing temperatures over 40°C like Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Türkiye.
Check Your Accommodations
Verify that your accommodations have functioning air conditioning before booking to ensure a safe and comfortable environment during heatwaves.
Prepare an Emergency Kit
Prepare a ‘grab bag’ of essentials including passports, ID cards, mobile phones and chargers, money, bank cards, essential medicines, and travel insurance documents to be ready in case of evacuation due to wildfires or other emergencies.
Familiarize Yourself with Local Emergency Procedures
Familiarize yourself with local emergency procedures and evacuation routes, especially when traveling to wildfire-prone or earthquake-prone areas. For example, travelers to Greece should register for emergency alerts from the Greek government and follow official channels such as @112Greece on social media.
Special Considerations for Older Travelers and Those with Preexisting Conditions
Older travelers and those with preexisting health conditions should take particular care to avoid heat exposure and exertion during extreme weather conditions.
Secure Appropriate Travel Insurance
Secure travel insurance that covers trip cancellations, delays, or losses due to natural disasters or extreme weather to mitigate financial risks from disrupted plans.
Adapt Your Itinerary
If your itinerary includes outdoor adventures, consider flexible plans or the ability to reschedule if heatwaves or wildfire risks arise.
Popular Destinations Affected by Natural Disasters
Popular holiday destinations around the Mediterranean have been affected by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. Travellers should stay informed of local warnings, research the specific area they're visiting, and be aware of heat alerts, seismic risks, fire danger ratings, and local emergency procedures.
Visitor Caps and Fees Implemented in Popular Destinations
Dozens of destinations have brought in tourist taxes, entry fees to attractions, and visitor caps this year. For instance, the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, has a visitor cap of 3,000 at a single time, while Crescent-shaped Tuerredda beach in Sardinia requires visitors to book via an app in advance and has a daily visitor cap of 1,100. Santorini maintains a daily cruise visitor cap of 8,000, and both Santorini and Mykonos in Greece both now charge a €20 cruise passenger levy during peak season. Barcelona, Spain, has increased its municipal tourist tax to €6.75 per night for guests staying in five-star hotels. Ibiza has limited the number of tourist cars and caravans that can visit from 1 June to 30 September.
Aviation-Related Disruptions
Tens of millions of travellers are expected to face delays this summer due to mass cancellations caused by air traffic control (ATC) strikes during peak travel periods. The Turkish Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has imposed a rule requiring passengers to remain seated with seatbelts fastened until the aircraft reaches its designated parking spot and the fasten seatbelt sign is deactivated. Spain-wide strikes have been announced by the General Union of Workers (UGT) at Azul Handling, part of the Ryanair group, from 15 August.
Overall, proactive planning, constant monitoring of local conditions, and following official advice are key for safe summer travel in Europe amid increasing climate-related risks.
- Enhance your travel preparations by packing an emergency kit that includes essential documents, such as passports and travel insurance documents, as well as items like mobile phones and medicines, to stay ready for any emergencies like wildfires or earthquakes.
- Be mindful of your vacation itinerary by staying updated on local weather and emergency alerts, particularly heatwaves, wildfires, or earthquakes, and adjust outdoor plans accordingly in regions prone to extreme weather, such as Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Türkiye.
