Greece has been a go-to summer holiday destination for decades, with its gleaming beaches reliably blessed with warm and sunny weather throughout the season. However, the climate emergency means that extreme temperatures across the Med have become the ‘new norm’ and Greece has routinely suffered wildfires and severe heatwaves.
The latest of these swathes of hot air is set to hit Greece this week, with temperatures in the early 40s forecast from today until Friday.
It’s obviously concerning if you have a trip booked in the next few days, so we’ve rounded up all the information on where will be most impacted and what you can do to keep cool during these unseasonably high temperatures. Read on for everything you need to know.
How hot will it be in Greece?
Hot air masses set to sweep across Greece could mean temperatures of up to 43C/109F this week, from today until at least Wednesday, but extreme temperatures will likely linger until Friday.
According to Ekathimerini.com, mainland Greece will be the hardest hit region, with central Macedonia and Thessaly forecast to see highs of 42C and 43C. Athens, Thessaloniki and the eastern Aegean islands will see between 39C and 40C.
Will the Acropolis be open?
The Acropolos, Greece’s most popular tourist attractions, was closed in early July due to hot weather. It’s not yet confirmed whether that will happen again, but with temperatures set to reach similar heights this week it’s worth keeping a close eye on the official ticket website for all the latest information.
The same thing happened last summer when Greece experienced its earliest-ever heatwave, and you can read all about the working conditions at the Acropolis here.
Is it safe to travel?
Temperatures of these extremities can be very dangerous, particularly for elderly people, pregnant people, those with chronic health conditions and young children. A shocking report by Reuters showed scientists estimate that 2,300 deaths were caused by the heatwave in Europe earlier this month.
Greece has already begun implementing measures to prohibit heat-related casualties. Outdoor labour such as construction, shipyard work and deliveries on two-wheeled vehicles has been banned from midday to 5 pm today, and violations will incur a fine of €2,000. This rule applies in areas of Evros, Serres, Larissa, Viotia, Halkidiki, Imathia, Trikala, Fthiotida, Aetolia-Acarnania, the Ionian Islands, eastern Rhodes, and coastal zones of the Peloponnese.
The fire service, Greek police, armed forces, and civil protection units are all on heightened alert, and local authorities are setting up their own emergency responses with water tankers and volunteer teams.
How to stay cool in a heatwave
People in Greece have been encouraged to stay in cool, shady areas and avoid crowds, intense physical activity and drinking too much alcohol. Whack up the air con, dig out the fans, wear light, breathable clothing, sunglasses and SPF and drink plenty of water. If you can, try to stay indoors during peak sunlight hours (11am-5pm).
Extreme heat in Europe
Much of Europe was gripped by a scorching heatwave in late June and early July, with France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Türkiye, and Croatia all experiencing extreme temperatures due to a ‘heat dome’ of hot air from North Africa.
This led to wildfires in Crete, İzmir, Marseille and on the outskirts of Madrid, but unfortunately these extreme heat weather events are the ‘new normal’ according to António Guterres, UN chief. Read all about the heatwave in more depth here.
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