Have A Safe Trip In Greece: 11 Tips Can Help You

Is it safe to travel to Greece? A lot of people wonder. What should you keep in mind when traveling there? From a safety standpoint, Greece adds up to a pretty idyllic vacation destination. Over the years, the country has had occasional periods of unrest that have left some travelers surprised by just how safe it generally is.

Concerns About Greece’s Safety

Greece has been the site of some domestic terrorist incidents over the years. The U.S. Department of State also warns more broadly about the potential for transnational terrorist attacks across European countries. That warning notes that all European countries carry some risk of attacks targeting public spaces where tourists and locals gather, and it offers useful general security guidance to help travelers avoid becoming an opportunistic target.

Safety Tips For Travelers To Greece

Keeping Your Belongings Safe

The key to keeping your things safe is being a little overprotective about your bags. It’s common, and worth doing, to wear a backpack on your front in crowded areas so you can keep an eye on it.

A few other tips:

• Choose a crossbody bag over one that just hangs off one shoulder; it’s harder to snatch.
• Watch for pickpockets and bag thieves when crossing the street, and try to keep some distance between yourself and others.
• If you set a bag with a strap down at a café, don’t hang it on the back of your chair. Put it between your feet and loop the strap around your leg or under your foot instead.

Avoiding Pickpockets And Scams

Pickpockets in Greece are rarely aggressive about it. There’s also a real sense of looking out for one another in Greece; if something does go wrong, don’t be surprised if a complete stranger steps in to help.

A few ways to make yourself a harder target for pickpockets:

• Split your cash, cards, and travel documents, including your passport, across a couple of different bags, including the one you carry for everyday sightseeing.
• Use a money belt or hidden pouch if you’re genuinely worried about losing cash or documents.

To avoid common travel scams more generally:

• Double-check the authenticity of anything you buy.
• Double-count any change you receive.
• Agree on a price up front before you commit to anything.

Avoiding Dangerous Areas At Night

Like most countries, Greece shows a slightly different side of itself at night. Most of the time you’ll be perfectly fine walking around after dark, but if you’re unsure, ask a trustworthy local source, like your hotel’s front desk, about specific areas to avoid.

In general, Athens and Greece’s other major cities are about as safe as any other European city.

Exarcheia has a reputation as a rougher neighborhood; it’s also home to a more bohemian, countercultural scene, and it’s genuinely fine to skip if you’d rather, though in my opinion you’d be missing out on a real part of what makes Athens itself.

If you do spend time in areas like this:

• Don’t go alone.
• Consider a safety app like Noonlight or bSafe for an extra layer of security.
• Avoid using ATMs there at night; withdraw cash during the day instead.

Be Smart About Drinking

Malia and Laganas have built reputations as budget party destinations for younger travelers, and both have seen their share of alcohol-related incidents.

While the rest of the country hasn’t had the same issues, drinking heavily at very cheap prices is genuinely risky no matter where you are, and that’s worth keeping in mind wherever your trip takes you.

Blend In

The best way to avoid being targeted as an obvious tourist is to not look like one. A few ways to do that:

• Research local customs and dress codes ahead of time, especially for religious or sacred sites.
• Dress a bit conservatively, and do your best to look and act like a local.
• Keep your voice down, even outdoors.

Watch For Traffic

Greek drivers aren’t always the most careful about road signs, traffic lights, or pedestrians, so it’s worth double-checking before crossing, even when you technically have the right of way.

Use A Tour Guide

Greece is a fairly small country, but it includes more than 100 inhabited islands, and each one has its own character. A local guide or tour operator can be genuinely useful here, not just for safety but for actually making sense of which islands and routes fit your trip.

Ferry tickets, accommodation, island-hopping itineraries, car rentals, and guided tours are all things a good local operator can help put together, and having a point of contact if something goes wrong during your trip is worth the cost for a lot of travelers.

Buy A Good Map Before You Go

Keep a paper map with you. If your planned route is ever blocked or unclear, having a map on hand means you’re not stuck, and it makes it much easier to give or understand directions if you need to call someone for help.

The Athens map available from the GNTO (Greek National Tourism Organisation) office at the airport is a solid, free option. A paper map still beats endlessly zooming in and out on a small phone screen, and it saves your battery for when you actually need it. Use your phone alongside the paper map for extra detail when you need it.

Take Enough Medication

Bring enough medication for roughly twice the length of your trip. Pack one supply in your checked bag and a second in your carry-on, and keep a day or two’s worth on you at all times in a small pill container.

Learn A Few Words Of Greek

Learning a few basic phrases, and enough of the Greek alphabet to make sense of street signs, goes a long way. It tends to warm up how locals respond to you, and it also helps you stay oriented, which matters if you need to make a last-minute change of plans.

Talk To The Greeks

Locals generally know what’s actually going on and are usually happy to share their opinions, politics, and advice if you ask. Keep up with what’s happening by reading English-language local news, checking a local news station, or just asking questions at your hotel.