The Editors
The main city of Greece can be the house of ancient globe treasures, such indian bride as the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and Hadrian’s Arch. Positioned near Greece’s tip that is southern Athens is filled with most of the beauty that accompany troves of ruins and antiquities, quite a few dating back to towards the fifth century BCE, which sets these present times into proper viewpoint. Athens has contemporary marvels too, plus an inviting mediterranean weather that lends itself to visiting any moment of the year.
But people who will be considering reserving a visit usually end up wondering, “Is Athens safe to visit?”—especially in many years since Greece has hit difficult financial times, and because European countries has seen terrorism increase.
Be confident that Athens is not specially dangerous. Crime statistics point toward the simple fact so it’s really quite a safe town for travelers—Athens is certainly not included on long listings of this world’s many dangerous metropolitan areas, and a 2019 criminal activity index from Numbeo put the Greek capital at quantity 130 in the list, rating it safer than urban centers such as for example Tampa, Florida and Dublin, Ireland.
Nevertheless, there are particular items that tourists to Athens need to keep in your mind to guarantee the safest feasible see.
Strategies for Remaining Safe in Athens
- Prevent the areas being regarded as dangerous in Athens, such as the nightclubs of Glyfada Square, plus the protests that are semi-frequent demonstrations that happen near governmental facilities.
- Stay vigilant for pickpockets along with other thieves that are petty because these will be the most frequent crimes targeting tourists in Athens. Be particularly careful at crowded tourist attractions, on general general public transport, plus in taxis, where motorists often scam their people.
- Remember that prostitution is appropriate in Athens—but that a lot of associated with the populous town’s prostitutes operate outs
Anti-Theft Backpack
Travel Money Belt
Protection Whistle
Secure Places—and Places to Avoid—in Athens
Whenever bearing in mind areas to prevent in Athens, understand that Omonia, Exarcheia, Vathi, and Kolokotroni Squares have actually high criminal activity prices and may be prevented at if not altogether night. These aspects of Athens may be dangerous to some extent because they’re frequented by anarchist teams, along with medication dealers and thieves—even kiddies who will be thieves. In terms of the areas of Athens to prevent, Monastiraki and nearby the railway channels of Larissa and Peloponissos are crime hot spots, even though the nightclubs of Glyfada Square are connected with prepared criminal activity.
Protests are semi-common in Athens, specially at Syntagma Square, which is commonly the governmental center of things. Tourists should be aware that governmental protests can happen arbitrarily and occasionally turn dangerous—so guide well clear. Near a large gathering, be extremely cautious, do not cross police lines, keep a low profile, and monitor local media for updates and instructions if you somehow find yourself.
People also needs to know about neighborhood frauds in Monastiraki, Syntagma, and Glyfada; the one that is main luring tourists right into a club while guaranteeing unique rates on cocktails. Rather, clients are given a tab that is overly exorbitant their beverages and threatened with violence when they will not spend. A few Athens pubs where this sort of extortion happens to be recognized to happen include Reina Bar and Hollywood Pub.
Along with understanding the dangerous areas in Athens, it is additionally good to learn where in fact the city’s best places are. In north Athens, a nearby of Kolononaki is safe also through the night, and boasts high-end restaurants and free galleries. Metaxourgio, formerly a neighborhood that is impoverished has been gentrified and it is now a well known and safe spot to explore through the daytime, specially for enthusiasts of this arts. In addition, Plaka and Psirri provide friendly cafes where you are able to get a taste that is lively of life and tradition.
Getting Around Safely in Athens
The absolute most prominent type of criminal activity in Athens is, while you might imagine, pickpocketing. By all reports, pickpocketing, bag snatching, as well as other kinds of petty theft are typical, particularly at crowded places of interest, nightlife locations, and on buses and trains, in which you ought to simply just take additional care to defend your possessions. Be specially vigilant if some one seems like they’re attempting to distract you; meanwhile, some other person might be reaching into your bag. Maintain your wallet in your front side ( maybe perhaps not the back) pocket, and start thinking about buying a slash-resistant backpack with a dependable zipper.
Whenever you’re down on the way, take into account that Greece has comparatively high prices of traffic fatalities, due mostly to motorists that are speeding, sidetracked, or just maybe perhaps perhaps not following guidelines. Heavy traffic and obscured highway indications are additional issues that affect security on Athens’ streets. Drive defensively—or never, if you can easily avoid it.
Be cautious, too, if you’re about to simply just just take taxis in Athens, as taxi frauds are extensive here. The same cannot be said for the safety of your cash though Athens taxis are generally safe when it comes to your physical well-being. Athens’ taxi drivers, particularly people who grab through the airport, are notorious for gouging tourists, billing their people more than they’re actually owed.
Therefore when you go into a taxi in Athens, be sure that you and your driver have agreed on at least a ballpark range for the fare, that you know the directions to where you’re going (speak up if your driver starts to take a roundabout route), and that you’ll be willing to call the police if you’re being ripped off—this will usually get your taxi driver on the right path again that it’s licenced and official, that your driver turns on the meter when he starts driving (not before, and not never.
Other Athens Scams and Protection Tips
While you create your method through Athens, there are more frauds that people should become aware of to keep safe and far from criminal activity: try to avoid purchasing the pirated and fake things that can be purchased in droves in the roads of Central Athens and Thessaloniki—it’s unlawful to purchase these products in Greece, also it’s unlawful to move them in to the united states of america. Don’t use ATMs in Athens unless they’re in a hotel that is reputable bank, as a current uptick in bank card skimming is reported throughout Greece.
Though Athens provides a mostly protected climate for feminine tourists, ladies traveling right right right here might find that guys are more ahead in Greece compared to other countries. In the event that you decrease their improvements, guys will most of the time apologize and go along. Nevertheless, females should work out some care in Athens at night—especially in Monastiraki, Omonia, Psirri, Mextaxourgio, and any poorly lit place—and keep belongings close.
Prostitution in Athens
Prostitution is theoretically legal in Greece, beginning during the chronilogical age of 18. Legal intercourse employees must certanly be registered and carry a card that is medical has to be updated every fourteen days. Nevertheless, there’s loads of illegal prostitution right right here too; consumers seeking escorts in Athens have reported seeing victims of intercourse trafficking and slavery that is human brothels.
In modern times, Greece is now a location point for females and kids taken from Eastern and Southern Europe, Southern Asia, Africa, and Asia, who’re afflicted by intercourse trafficking in unlicensed brothels along Solonos Street, Theatrou Square, and Evripidou Street. Take into account that a number of these ladies (and males) don’t use the appropriate medical precautions—in brief, it is perhaps maybe not worth the chance.