Greek islands: is a summer vacation still safe?
After the major evacuations on Rhodes and Crete, many travelers are having second thoughts. What do the figures really show, when is the risk highest, and how do you choose a safe location?
The images from 2023 are still fresh in many people's minds: 19,000 tourists evacuated from Rhodes, the largest tourist evacuation ever in Greece. In 2025, Crete and Chios followed, with rescues from beaches by boat. It's understandable that the question comes up again: is it still safe to travel to the Greek islands?
The honest answer: yes, provided you know when and where the risk lies — and you adjust your stay accordingly.
What the figures show
The Greek islands are listed in our atlas with a total risk of approximately 61%. That sounds high, but pay attention to what it means: it is the indicative chance that a two-week stay during peak season will be noticeably disrupted — from smoke pollution and a heat wave to, in the extreme case, an evacuation. It is emphatically not a chance of a disaster.
The two dominant risks are forest fire and extreme heat. Islands are more vulnerable in this regard than the mainland: there are limited escape routes and less firefighting capacity, so a fire that would be manageable elsewhere leads more quickly to a precautionary evacuation of hotels here.
When the risk peaks
The peak months are July and August. That is precisely when most people travel, but also when vegetation is driest and the chance of a heat wave is greatest.
If you travel in May, June, September, or October, the fire and heat risk drops to a fraction — and the islands are also quieter and cheaper.
This is the most important lever you can control yourself. The same island is a very different destination in terms of risk outside peak season.
How to choose a safe location
- Choose accommodation near the coast or town, not in forested hills inland. By the sea, temperatures are milder and escape routes are shorter.
- Check the escape route upon arrival. Where is the nearest main road, and how do you get to the beach or harbor?
- Download the official 112 Greece app. It sends evacuation messages by region, also in English. This is the fastest official channel.
- Avoid remote villas next to pine forest or maquis in July and August. The combination of dry scrub plus wind makes fires here explosive.
And if something does happen?
Greece is now well-organized when it comes to evacuations: hotels are evacuated preventively and in a coordinated manner, usually well before there is direct danger. Inconvenient for your vacation, but rarely life-threatening if you follow instructions.
Do check your cancellation and travel insurance beforehand. Natural disaster is not standard coverage, and the Dutch Calamities Fund only covers package tours through affiliated organizations. If you book independently, weigh up travel insurance with coverage for natural disasters.
In short
The Greek islands are not a no-go, but they do require a conscious choice. Travel outside July/August if you can, choose a place on the coast, and keep an eye on the live fire map and the 112 app. Then you reduce the risk from 'noticeably disrupted' to 'almost certainly a great vacation'.
Curious about the current fire danger and weather forecast for your specific island? Check your destination in the atlas.
Travel guides are level-headed background based on historical data and trends (2017–2025). They are not an official forecast. Just before departure, always check the current warnings and the live map in the atlas.