The Foreign Office has issued updated travel guidance for UK tourists planning summer holidays to Greece, Portugal, and Turkey. The new advice covers risks such as wildfires, prescription medicine regulations, and drink-driving laws.
Turkey: Wildfire Risks
For Turkey, the Foreign Office warns of heightened wildfire risk from April to October. If a wildfire occurs, local authorities may order tourists to leave their accommodation. Lighting fires or discarding cigarettes in risk areas like woodlands can result in fines or imprisonment. Fires typically concentrate in dry pine and scrubland zones along the Mediterranean coast and Aegean hills, particularly in provinces such as Muğla (including Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye), Antalya, İzmir, and Adana. Beach resorts are rarely directly threatened, but smoke and road closures can affect access.
Portugal: Prescription Medicine Rules
Tourists to Portugal are reminded to check regulations before packing prescription medicines. Some UK-prescribed or purchased medicines may be subject to different rules. Portugal has strict dispensing rules for certain medicines, including antibiotics. Visitors needing a repeat prescription must attend a local health centre or hospital A&E department and may have to pay for treatment and medication. Most medicines are available only from pharmacies, though some over-the-counter products can be found in health stores and supermarkets.
Greece: Drink-Driving and Quad Bikes
The Foreign Office highlights that drink-driving is a serious offence in Greece. Motorists with more than two-thirds of England's legal alcohol limit can face fines and imprisonment. Updated advice on quad-bike rentals warns of serious injury or death from accidents. Tourists should get full instructions and training, and proceed with caution on roads shared with larger vehicles. Specific travel insurance is recommended, as quad biking is often classified as an extreme sport and excluded from many policies.
