Heat Waves and Wildfires Disrupt Travel Across the Mediterranean With Safety Alerts, Evacuations, and Landmark Closures

Summer is always a hot time to visit Europe, but recently it’s been too hot. 

Heatwaves have been sweeping through Europe this summer, with the most recent strongly affecting Greece and the southern Mediterranean. Greece is one of the most visited destinations in Europe, and the increasing heat waves from climate change are likely to continue to affect tourism there.

Over the weekend, Greece’s Ministry of Culture and Sports temporarily shut down the Acropolis, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Athens, «due to high temperatures for the safety of employees and visitors.» And this week, the Associated Press reported wildfires broke out in Corinth in the Peloponnese region of the country, just west of Athens, forcing evacuations. Blazing hot temperatures have made it more difficult to fight the flames. 

Travelers with plans to be in Greece should be aware of the extremely high temperatures and take precautions to stay safe during the hottest hours of the day. This includes staying inside in the middle of the day, remaining hydrated, staying out of direct sun, and taking time to cool off in shade or air conditioned buildings. 

Greece’s Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection said in a statement temperatures across the country over the weekend reached as high as 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) and warned «individuals belonging to vulnerable groups to be particularly careful, in order to avoid health problems, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which may be caused by the high temperatures that will prevail.»

The ministry added: «Special care is recommended for babies and young children, as well as the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases to protect them from high temperatures.»

According to the Mayo Clinic, signs of heat exhaustion can include a fast or weak pulse, faintness, heavy sweating, and clammy skin, while heatstroke is a life-threatening condition that occurs when a person’s core body temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Anyone experiencing signs of heatstroke (including a high body temperature, changes in mental state, nausea and vomiting, a headache, racing heart rate, a change in their sweating pattern, and rapid breathing) should seek immediate medical help.

Travelers to Greece can check extreme weather reports through the country’s Hellenic National Meteorological Service, which posts updated forecasts to its website.

The heat waves across Europe aren’t new. In June, a heat wave similarly struck France, Spain, and other countries in Europe, temporarily shutting down the Eiffel Tower in Paris.