In July 2026, thousands of holidaymakers were moved out of campsites and villages near Lacanau on France’s Atlantic coast as a wildfire tore through the Gironde. That image raises a question many travellers are now asking: should we still head south in summer? This article looks at how heatwaves and wildfires are shaping where and when Europeans travel, from the fire risk in particular regions to cooler alternatives in the north and at altitude.

It also offers practical ways to choose more carefully, rather than simply cancelling. Read on for advice on alerts, closures, evacuation preparation and heat-related health risks on holiday.

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Heatwaves and wildfires: are they changing where and when we travel?

In July 2026, around 4,000 people were moved out of campsites and holiday villages near Lacanau on France’s Atlantic coast as a wildfire spread through the Gironde, west of Bordeaux. The fire covered an area four times the size of Paris, 220,000 people were evacuated, and 13 died. France’s interior minister called it very likely the largest civilian evacuation in the country’s history outside wartime.

Pictures of holidaymakers packing their cars under an orange sky raise a question many travellers ask themselves: should we still head south in summer?

The ongoing issue of heatwaves and wildfires hurting Europe is significantly impacting travel decisions.

The fires have grown

The Gironde was not a one-off. According to the EU’s wildfire information system, EFFIS, 1,079,538 hectares burned in the EU in 2025 – the most ever recorded, and nearly double the average. Spain accounted for 401,266 hectares and Portugal for 284,012. A heatwave in the first three weeks of August 2025 set off 22 very large fires in the two countries almost at once, and these alone burned 460,585 hectares – 43 per cent of the EU’s total that year.

The link with heat is not hard to see. Long spells of drought and high temperatures turn forest and scrub into fuel, and those are exactly the weeks when most visitors are on holiday.

Where the fire risk is highest

Wildfire risk in southern Europe is not spread evenly. It concentrates where three things meet: dense pine forest or dry scrub, long stretches without rain, and wind. The Atlantic pine forests of south-west France, around the Gironde and the Landes, are a clear example. The trees are resinous, the undergrowth is thick, and a strong wind can carry fire a long way in hours.

Dry interior regions of Spain and Portugal carry a different kind of risk. Summer temperatures there are high, vegetation is sparse but flammable, and fires can run across open ground faster than people expect. Parts of Greece combine steep, scrub-covered hillsides with strong summer winds, which is why coastal villages on the islands and mainland can be exposed.

Coastal location does not make a place safe. Windy coasts can push fire towards the sea and back again, and a campsite with only one road out is more vulnerable than a town with routes in several directions.

To judge the risk for a specific area, look at three things before you book. Check whether the accommodation sits inside or next to pine forest or dry scrub. Find out how many roads lead away from it. And look at the local weather for the days you plan to be there, paying attention to heat, dry spells and wind forecasts rather than the average temperature alone.

Local fire danger levels, which the authorities publish during the season, are the most useful single indicator. Read them as a guide to where a fire could start and spread, not only as a reason to cancel. For background on the wider region, see our Europe pages.

Cooler alternatives in the north and at altitude

Some travellers are looking north and upward for summer weather that is milder and more predictable. The options are real, but each comes with trade-offs, and it helps to know them before you decide.

Norway, Sweden and Finland offer long, bright summer days and temperatures that rarely reach the heights of a southern heatwave. Coastal Norway and the fjord districts have cool, changeable weather, and summer is short. Finland’s lakes and saunas are a pleasure in the warmer months, but the season is brief and some services close in the quieter weeks. Prices and availability can change through the year, so check current options before you plan.

Alpine regions in Austria, Switzerland and Italy’s northern valleys offer cooler summer air at altitude. Hiking, lakes and mountain huts are the draw. The trade-off is that high-altitude weather can change quickly, storms are common in the afternoon, and some trails and cable car services run only in the main summer months.

Denmark and the Baltic coast offer mild sea breezes and cycling. Summers are pleasant rather than hot, but the weather is less settled than in the south, and rain is more likely.

The main trade-off is season and cost. Northern summers are short, and mountain and island services are seasonal, so a trip that works in July may not work in September. Compare with the Mediterranean shoulder months, which can offer warm weather without the peak heat. For ideas on mountain and outdoor travel, see our Adventure Travel pages.

Are travellers reacting?

Yes – but less than the headlines suggest. A survey by the European Travel Commission found that two in three Europeans say they would change their travel plans if climate-related disruption or official safety advice required it. Among those who do change plans, 16 per cent look for milder destinations, and 15 per cent avoid places at risk of extreme heat or watch the forecast closely before booking.

At the same time, southern Europe and the Mediterranean remain the most popular choice. Around 61 per cent of Europeans show interest in southern and Mediterranean Europe for trips between June and November 2026. And when Europeans choose a destination, safety is the leading criterion (22 per cent), followed by pleasant, stable weather (15 per cent).

So people are not giving up on the south. More of them are thinking about when and where in southern Europe – and some are choosing cool destinations instead.

The useful advice: not “don’t go”, but “choose better”

The easiest advice is to stay at home or head north. It is also the least useful. Southern Europe is still wonderful, and most travellers never come near a fire. It is about travelling with your eyes open:

• Move the trip out of high summer. May, June, September and October are warm enough for beaches and city life, without the longest heatwaves. Prices and crowds are lower too.
• Think about where you stay. Campsites and holiday villages deep in pine forest – as at Lacanau and Cap Ferret – are the first to be evacuated. A town, or a coastal spot with roads out in several directions, is more robust.
• Follow local warnings. In France, Spain, Portugal and Greece, the authorities close forests and walking trails on days of high fire risk. Check before you set out.
• Check your travel insurance. Ask what it covers if you are evacuated or cannot reach your accommodation.
• Choose your heat. A city at 40 degrees is not an island with a sea breeze. The same country can be two different trips.

What we do not know yet

Whether heatwaves will shift travel patterns for good is an open question. The Swedish tourism researcher Stefan Gössling points out that every European country has seen more visitors, with no clear link to the heat. The tour operator Intrepid has not seen many enquiries or cancellations because of high temperatures either.

What we can see is a movement at the margins: more people choosing the shoulder season, more thinking about where in a country they stay, and more looking north. It is worth following – and we do, in Travel trends 2026.

Still planning to head south? See our guides to France, Spain and Greece.

Alerts, closures and where to check them

Fire danger in France, Spain, Portugal and Greece is managed by national and regional authorities, and the systems are broadly similar. Each country rates the risk in levels, usually from low to very high or extreme. On the higher levels, forests may be closed to the public, walking trails may be shut, and in some areas smoking, barbecues and the use of open flames are banned. Closures can be regional and can change from one day to the next.

In France, fire risk is set out by department, and the authorities can close forests, restrict access and order evacuations through the prefecture. Spain and Portugal each have regional systems, and the national emergency service issues alerts that apply to specific areas. Greece uses national and regional warnings, often communicated through the civil protection service.

Emergency alerts are sent in several ways. Many countries use mobile phone alerts that reach every phone in an affected area, so keep location services and emergency notifications switched on. Local radio, official websites and social media accounts of civil protection bodies carry updates in the local language, and some also publish English versions.

For real-time information, check the official sites of the national or regional authority for the area you are visiting, and the civil protection or emergency service pages. The European Forest Fire Information System provides a broader view of current fires across the EU. Read official warnings in full, rather than relying on a summary, and check again on the morning of any day you plan to walk or drive into forested land.

If a closure affects your plans, follow it. Forest access is restricted for good reason, and fire crews need the roads clear.

If a fire comes close

Most travellers will never face an evacuation, but preparing takes little time and pays off quickly if one happens. Start when you arrive. Note the nearest exit routes from your accommodation, and find out which direction the local authorities recommend leaving in. Do not assume the main road will be open or that the route you used to arrive is the safest way out.

Keep essential items together and within reach: passport, insurance details, medication, a charged phone and its charger, and some cash. Store scanned copies of documents somewhere you can reach from any device, so you are not dependent on the paper versions.

Consider registering with your country’s consulate or embassy if you are staying for an extended period, and check the government travel advice for the country before you leave home. Registration varies by country, so look up what your own government offers.

When an alert is issued, follow local emergency instructions above anything you read online. Authorities may tell you to shelter in place rather than leave, and that advice can be correct in some situations. Keep your phone’s emergency alerts switched on, and listen to local radio for instructions in the local language.

Leave early if you are told to, and do not wait to see the fire. Take only what you need, and make space for others on the roads. Campsites and holiday villages in forested areas are often the first to be cleared, so it helps to know in advance where you would go.

Heat and health on holiday

Extreme heat is a health risk, not just an inconvenience. Visitors are often more exposed than locals, because they are walking more, drinking less than they should, and may not know the warning signs. Dehydration comes first. Thirst is not always a reliable signal, so drink water regularly through the day, not just when you feel thirsty, and take electrolytes if you sweat heavily.

Heat exhaustion causes headache, dizziness, nausea, heavy sweating and weakness. Heatstroke is more serious. Warning signs include confusion, a very high body temperature, hot dry or damp skin, a rapid pulse and fainting. Heatstroke is a medical emergency, and you should call your local emergency number straight away.

Some common medicines affect how the body handles heat. Diuretics, certain blood pressure drugs, antihistamines, some antidepressants and some medicines for mood or sleep can make dehydration or overheating more likely. If you take regular medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist before you travel whether it could be affected by heat.

Safe routines help. Plan outdoor activity for early morning and evening, rest in shade or indoors through the hottest hours, wear light and loose clothing, and use sun protection. Choose accommodation with air conditioning or good ventilation if you can, and avoid strenuous walks in the afternoon.

If you feel unwell, move to a cool place, drink water, loosen clothing and cool the skin with water. Seek medical help if symptoms do not improve or if you feel confused. Ask your accommodation or local pharmacy for guidance, and keep your insurance details to hand.