Athens

Greece’s capital and most famous city, Athens is the famous birthplace of the Western Civilization. It is a mix of ancient ruins (the center looks like an open-air museum), Olympic games buildings, lively cafés and restaurants, as well as some shopping areas. Although the city is very safe even for women travelling alone, some areas and transportations attracts a lot of pickpockets and crooks who take advantage of the crowds.

SafeAround will allow you to see on a map the city’s safest and most dangerous neighborhoods and areas, details on scams and other risks, as well as some useful travel advice.

SAFETY INDEX

See others cities in Greece

Warnings & Dangers

Mid Priority-96 OVERALL RISK : MEDIUM

Athens is a very safe city. With a rating of 75% Greece, is ranked 39th out of 162 on the ranking of the safest and most dangerous countries.

Mid Priority-96 PICKPOCKETS RISK : HIGH

As a top touristic destination, there is a high pickpocket risk in Athens, especially in the subway and in the buses (be careful in the bus from the airport). A few simple precautions will minimize your chances of being pickpocketed.

Mid Priority-96 MUGGING RISK : MEDIUM

Athens is an averagely safe city regarding the chances of being mugged or kidnapped. Be aware of dangerous zones by asking local advice.

Mid Priority-96 SCAMS RISK : HIGH

There are a lot of scammers and con-artists trying to take advantage of tourists, particularly in large cities and around major landmarks in Athens, especially around the Acropolis. Be aware of “gold ring” tricks, fake petitions, groups of teenagers acting strangely or trying to distract you; and people offering help with your luggage.

Mid Priority-96 TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK : MEDIUM

There might be some risk while taking public transport in Greece, and fake taxis can  be an issue sometimes.

Mid Priority-96 NATURAL DISASTERS RISK : LOW

There can be some rare natural hazards (earthquakes) in Greece.

Mid Priority-96 TERRORISM RISK : MEDIUM

There is no real terrorist threat in Greece, but riots can happen in Athens and other cities.

Mid Priority-96 WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK : LOW

Athens is generally very safe for women travelers.

Carte

WHAT TO DO?

Acropolis & Surroundings

The acropolis is the oldest part of the city, famous for hosting the Parthenon ruins. It is surrounded by the districts of Plaka, Monastiraki and Thissio which look like an open-air museum. There are some pickpockets near the Parthenon area and in the surrounding districts.

Kolonaki

Kolononaki is an upscale area in the north of the city, which is residential and offers many high-end restaurants, cafés and art galleries.

Metaxourgeio

This former poor neighborhood has become a hip and artistic area, especially around the Avdi square. This area hosts of lot of bars, and some places can be dangerous at night. Never leave your valuables in plain sight in the street or in bars.

Omonoia and Exarcheia

These neighborhoods are best avoided at night, because they host a lot of anarchist and leftist groups since the Greek Crisis. There is also a fair amount of beggars, drug dealers and thieves (even child thieves) in this area.

Useful Information

Visas are not usually required for stays under 90 days, and EU nationals (Schengen) can stay in the country as long as they want. Make sure your passport has at least six months’ validity from your planned date of return to the country you’re visiting. www.doyouneedvisa.com is a useful website that can help you know if you need a visa or not based on your nationality and the country you’re visiting.
The currency in Greeceand most of Europe is the Euro. There are some withdrawal restrictions on the amount of euros you can withdraw per day (around €600). It is a cheap country compared to other European peers, with a per day budget averaging 60-80€.
The weather in Greece is mild during Autumn and Spring, cold in Winter and Sunny in Summer. The best time to visit is around summer (May-September), with July and August being extremely crowded; although major cities can be visited year-long.
The main international airports are in Athens, Korfu, Heraklion and Rhodes If you’re looking fore cheap flight deals, you can find some on JetRadar
As in any country, we advise travelers to get a travel insurance that covers not only medical problems but also theft and loss of personal items. Learn more on our travel insurance page