Around a decade ago, we confidently stated that Greece ranked among the world's most secure destinations. Unfortunately, that assessment no longer holds true. Economic turbulence over the past ten years—marked by rapid growth followed by dramatic collapse—has fundamentally altered the safety landscape.

We've compiled this safety guide based on extensive personal travel experience throughout Greece. While comprehensive, this information should complement—not replace—official guidance from your government and other expert agencies. Please consult multiple authoritative sources before your journey.

Crime Overview

Two decades ago, Greece truly deserved its reputation as one of the planet's safest countries. Sadly, that distinction has faded.

The nation's economic rollercoaster—soaring to great heights before plummeting dramatically—has brought noticeable changes to public safety, particularly in urban environments.

To maintain perspective, Greece remains comparable to other southern European nations in terms of safety. However, the transformation in Athens has been particularly striking.

Political unrest typically manifests as occasional demonstrations that you can easily circumvent. Foreign visitors needn't worry about becoming targets based on nationality or ethnicity.

Petty theft, burglaries, and pickpocketing now occur far more frequently than in previous decades. You should exercise the same precautions you'd employ when visiting any European city.

It's worth distinguishing between Athens, Patra, Thessaloniki, and the rest of Greece when discussing safety matters.

Once you venture beyond the major metropolitan centers—especially to smaller islands—you'll discover that Greece retains its peaceful, relaxing character.

Safety in Athens

Major urban centers like Athens have experienced increased crime rates in recent years, and certain neighborhoods warrant caution or complete avoidance.

Some areas feature open drug activity and exchange, occasionally adjacent to popular tourist destinations in Athens' heart.

We recommend avoiding these specific zones: the area between the Law School and the "Spiritual Center of Athens" on Massalias Street, Marni and Stournari Streets, Iasonos Street, the entire Omonia Square vicinity, and Menandrou Street.

These locations are known gathering points where drug exchange and intravenous use occur openly on benches, beneath trees, and in building entrances. While serious violent crime remains relatively rare even in these areas, you'll certainly feel uncomfortable walking these streets.

The situation becomes particularly concerning when drug activity occurs directly beside one of Athens' premier attractions: The National Archaeological Museum.

Tositsa Street, which borders this magnificent museum with what was once an attractive pedestrian area, has unfortunately become an open-air drug marketplace.

When visiting the museum, avoid venturing to the building's right side as you face the entrance. The left side, Vasileos Irakleiou Street, remains safe.

Unfortunately, the museum's Epigraphic rooms entrance faces Tositsa Street, so if you need to visit that section, maintain heightened awareness.

The best approach to the National Archaeological Museum remains through the large open park at the front entrance, where safety concerns are nonexistent. Don't let peripheral issues deter you from experiencing this extraordinary collection of ancient art.

If you're staying in a central Athens hotel, exercise extra caution when coming and going, particularly late at night. When possible, choose hotels near metro stations.

Storing valuables in hotel safes remains wise practice, and you should always lock both your room door and balcony door regardless of your destination.

Car and motorcycle theft is widespread in Athens. If traveling by car, never leave valuables visible inside your vehicle, and park in well-lit areas whenever possible. Don't economize on rental car insurance.

Metro System Safety

The Athens metro provides the optimal way to navigate the city, and violent crime is virtually nonexistent on its lines.

Pickpocketing, however, presents a different challenge. Media reports indicate pickpocketing has reached epidemic proportions in the Athens metro system.

Exercise heightened caution when standing in platform crowds or inside trains, especially during boarding.

Most pickpockets operate in crowded platforms and cars, particularly when crowds compress to enter vehicles. They invariably work in teams.

A common tactic involves one person blocking your train entrance. As you urgently maneuver around them before doors close—likely pushing against others—an accomplice relieves you of your valuables.

Remember that pickpockets are impossible to identify by appearance alone.

They resemble ordinary commuters whom you'd never suspect: a professionally dressed young woman heading to work; an elderly gentleman reminiscent of your grandfather; a middle-aged professional in an overcoat; someone with disabilities requesting assistance across the gap, and so on.

Always position valuables in difficult-to-reach locations, preferably against your body's front.

There's no need for paranoia at train stations or on the metro, where security personnel are typically nearby. However, naivety serves you poorly.

Protecting Yourself from Pickpockets

Several straightforward measures can minimize your pickpocketing risk. First, maintain extra alertness in crowds and keep valuables out of sight.

Choose security over convenience when storing your money.

Remember: if your money is convenient for you, it's equally convenient for pickpockets.

Numerous money and passport pouches or money belts are available as small investments for peace of mind. We prefer concealed options worn beneath clothing.

During our Greece travels, we use this type of money belt with RFID blocking technology.

Beyond concealing valuables, stay aware of your surroundings and who might enter the same door.

We employ a useful technique: casually approach the platform as trains slow and people cluster where they anticipate doors will stop. Once doors open, we quickly move to the next entrance.

The reasoning: potential pickpockets who might have targeted us won't rush to follow, fearing they'll draw attention to themselves.

Pedestrian Safety

Walking provides healthy exercise unless you're in a major Greek city like Athens with heavy traffic.

Greece appears to lack laws granting pedestrians right-of-way, or if such laws exist, vehicles universally ignore them.

Greek pedestrians understand this reality and don't expect drivers to yield. Consequently, drivers don't anticipate someone appearing in crosswalks.

This situation proves dangerous for tourists accustomed to vehicles slowing and stopping when pedestrians cross streets.

Curiously, pedestrians aren't safe even on vehicle-free roads.

This occurs because many Greek motorcyclists—and vehicles of all sizes—use pedestrian streets as convenient shortcuts to reach destinations faster.

Solo female travelers should encounter no special problems, though they might attract attention from "kamakis" (men who pursue relationships with foreign tourists), who can be persistent but are generally polite.

Driving Considerations

Operating a vehicle on Greek roads can rank among a visitor's most hazardous activities.

While driving on new highways proves fairly safe, experiencing authentic Greece requires venturing onto less-traveled roads where other drivers' behavior, unexpected road conditions, insufficient signage, and stray animals combine to transform driving into a challenging experience.

We cannot overemphasize the need for extreme caution when behind the wheel in Greece.

Find additional information on our Driving in Greece and Driving in Athens pages.

Motorcycle Travel

Greek landscapes' beauty, summer's hot climate, and scenic roads make motorcycles ideal for Greek exploration.

They're also a favorite transportation mode for many Greeks who capitalize on motorcycles' compact dimensions to navigate spaces where cars cannot fit—including weaving between other fast-moving vehicles at high speeds.

Positively, most Greek car drivers constantly anticipate motorcycles' presence and expect them in unusual locations like mirror blind spots.

In this sense, motorcycle riding proves relatively safe in Greece, though rural road conditions can present numerous challenges for motorcyclists.

Motorbike rental shops appear in every Greek town, and many tourists find motorcycles and mopeds ideal transportation.

With reasonable precautions, they offer perfect mobility for small towns and islands.

Cycling Safety

Greece's mountainous terrain presents formidable challenges for cyclists.

Exercise extra precautions if planning to bicycle around Greece, as roads prove less accommodating and other vehicle drivers aren't accustomed to sharing roads with such light vehicles.

Additional Safety Concerns

Swimming in Greece is an activity you perform at your own risk.

Few beaches maintain lifeguards on duty or nearby first aid facilities.

The finest beaches sit somewhat remote, so pay careful attention to wind, wave height, and sea currents when swimming.

Generally, observe what locals do. They likely know the waters well and understand when to swim, when to stay near shore, and when not to worry. Common sense typically provides the best guidance at remote, unfamiliar beaches.

Maintain extra alertness when swimming near rocky shores. A perfectly calm sea can change without warning with sudden swells if a large ferry passes offshore, easily tossing you against sharp rocks.

Swimming with companions always proves wise, and always watch for nearby boats.

Small leisure boats near shore aren't merely nuisances for swimmers—they're genuinely dangerous. Greek captains of small powerboats, water taxis, small ferries, and various vessels tend to wander dangerously close to even the busiest beaches with seeming disregard for swimmers.

From our experience, amazingly, small boats expect bathers to move out of their path. Not every boat operator acts this way, but in Greece enough do to establish a pattern.

Some beaches feature small wooden docks, potentially signaling that small boats dock there. In some locations, perplexingly, docks are built directly amid beaches hosting thousands of bathers. Making matters worse, buoys often appear ambiguous to bathers and don't provide sufficient information regarding safe swimming areas.

Managing the Heat

Greece can become extremely hot during summer. Thermometers commonly hover around 40°C for days and frequently reach 45° (approximately 112°F).

You'll certainly experience such heat waves lasting several days if visiting Greece in June, July, and August.

Planning outdoor activities like hiking or visiting open-air archaeological sites during heat waves can prove dangerous.

Children and elderly individuals are especially vulnerable to such extreme temperatures, but even healthy adults can be affected. Heat stroke constitutes a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. Learn more about heat-related illness from the CDC.

During heat wave days, it's essential to limit outdoor activities, drink abundant water, and postpone all outdoor hiking activities.

Visiting the beach provides relief when temperatures reach such heights, but a parasol offers essential protection from direct sun rays between 10am and 5pm.

When thermometers reach dangerous levels, the government issues warnings and makes all air-conditioned public buildings available to everyone for relief.

Emergency Information

In the unlikely event you become a crime victim, contact Police by dialing 100.

For health emergencies, visit the nearest Hospital or Health Center, or dial 166.

Additional information on health and emergencies appears on our Know Before You Go page.

General Safety Guidelines

• Exercise common sense. Go out with companions rather than alone whenever possible
• Avoid wearing expensive jewelry
• Drink bottled water
• Regarding alcohol: don't drink, or if you do, consume less than you would at home. Never allow yourself to become impaired. At bars, cafés, or clubs, always monitor your drink and ensure nobody tampers with it. Avoid hard liquor
• Heat stroke/dehydration: Always carry a water bottle. Avoid prolonged sun exposure between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. At archaeological sites, bring two small water bottles or one large one. They're not always available on-site
• Swimming: Don't swim alone or in areas locals avoid. Hidden dangers like currents or contaminants might exist
• Traffic: Stay alert when on foot. Greek drivers don't respect pedestrians and don't stop for crosswalks. Remain aware even when crossing with green lights. Greek drivers are notoriously aggressive behind the wheel and expect pedestrians to move aside
• Use a money belt to keep money and passports concealed, and stay aware of pickpockets, especially in crowded places (tourist attractions, subways, buses, street performances, or when someone requests something/money/directions, etc)
• Always inform at least two people where you'll be when going out alone. Carry a charged cell phone at all times
• Avoid demonstrations and political discussions with or around locals
• In airplanes, hotels, boats, and other buildings, be aware of the nearest exit and safety procedures