Safety in Greece

Crime in Greece

Greece is one of the safest countries in the world.
I take trips around the country with my wife and two young daughters (aged 5 and 7) and we have never felt threatened.

While driving in Greece can be hazardous in itself, when I drive with my family into a new and unknown city in Greece, I never-ever worry about taking a wrong turn into a dangerous part of town (there is not such thing in Greece,) something I could never say about other US or European cities.

Large cities like Athens have experienced an increase in crime during recent years, and there might be areas (like the red light district near Omonia) that you would like to avoid. Violent crime is rare, but petty theft, car theft, and burglaries have been on the rise in recent years. Overall however, the crime rate in Greece is among the lowest in the European Union. Locking valuables in safes at the hotel is always a good idea, but one feels generally safe in the streets even in the middle of the night.

Women traveling alone should have no problems, although they might be the object of desire for the Greek "kamakis" (men who spend their days courting foreign tourists with the goal of developing a fleeting relationship) who can be insistent, but are generally polite.

Exclusive Gifts and apparel

Some pick-pockets have been known to work around the train stations, so some extra attention is advised, although easily ignored in the relaxing atmosphere. While placing the wallet in the out-most pocket of a backpack is convenient, it also makes it vulnerable. Always place valuables in places that are hard for others to reach, preferably in front of one's body. It is not a huge problem though, so no need to be paranoid at the train stations, where security is always nearby anyway.

In smaller cities the crime rate is so low that it is not even worth mentioning. One can totally relax and mingle with the local population without safety worries.

Better yet, in small villages crime is almost unheard off.

Walking around town

Walking is generally a healthy activity unless it takes place in a large Greek city like Athens.

There seem to be no laws giving pedestrians the right of way, and if they exist, they are completely ignored by vehicle drivers. Greek pedestrians know that they must never venture in front of a moving vehicle and drivers expect that the pedestrian will find a way to get out of their way so they won't even slow down. This can be dangerous for tourists who are accustomed to vehicles slowing down and stopping when pedestrians cross the street. Extra caution is adv iced when crossing a busy street because pedestrian crossing marks are completely invisible to Greek drivers.

Oddly enough, pedestrians are not safe even on roads where no vehicles are allowed. This is because many Greek drivers of motorcycles (mostly), and vehicles of all sizes, use the pedestrian streets as comfortable shortcuts to get to their destination faster.

Driving around Greece

As discussed in the Driving in Greece, and in Driving in Athens pages, commanding a vehicle on Greek roads can be one of the most hazardous activities a visitor can engage in.

Driving in the new highways is fairly safe, but in order to experience real Greece one must venture into the less traveled roads where the behavior of other Greek drivers, unexpected road conditions, insufficient signs, and stray animals of all kinds combine to transform a visitor's driving experience into a nightmare. Much caution must be exercised when behind the wheel in Greece.

Riding a motorcycle in Greece

The beauty of the Greek landscape, the hot summer climate, and the scenic roads make a motorcycle the perfect vehicle for getting around in Greece. It is also a favorite transportation mode of many Greeks who take advantage of the small dimensions of a motorcycle in order to drive through places where a car could not fit -- including driving between other fast moving cars at high speed rates. The good news is that most car drivers in Greece are always aware of the presence of the ubiquitous motorcycles, and they have learned to expect them in unusual places such as a mirror's blinds spot. In this sense it is fairly safe to drive a motorcycle in Greece, although the road condition in rural landscape can present many challenges for motorcyclists.

Rent-a-motorbike shops are present in every town in Greece, and many tourists find in motorbikes and mopeds the ideal mode of transportation. With reasonable precautions, they can be the perfect vehicle for small towns and islands.

Riding a bicycle in Greece

The mountainous terrain of Greece can be a formidable challenge for bicyclists. Extra precautions should be taken by anyone who plans a bike tour around Greece since the roads are not very accommodating, and the drivers of other vehicles are not accustomed to sharing the road with such light vehicles.

Existing at one's own risk

Greeks are accustomed to existing at their own risk. If someone falls in a large hole in the sidewalk it would be because they were not watching where they were stepping and not because the utility company crew who dug the hole neglected to signpost it sufficiently. From my experience of living in Greece for twenty years, and from visiting now every year, this is the norm although the views have changed in recent years and lawsuits are becoming more common for such occurrences.

Other safety concerns

Swimming in Greece is an activity that one perfoms at one's own risk. Very few beaches have a lifeguard on duty, or first aid facilities. The best beaches are a bit out of the way, so pay extra attention to the wind, the wave height, and the sea currents when you swim. In general, pay attention to what the locals are doing. They probably know the waters well, and they know when to swim, when to stay near the shore, and when not to worry. Common sense is usually the best advisor at a remote, unfamiliar beach.

Extra caution should be exercised when swimming near a rocky shore. A perfectly calm sea can produce a series of sudden swells if a large ferry passes offshore, and a bather can easily be tossed upon the sharp rocks. Swimming with company is always a good idea.

Small leisure boats near the shore are not only an nuisance, but also very dangerous. Greek captains of small power boats, water taxis, small ferries, and vessels of all kinds tend to wander dangerously near even the busiest beaches with seaming disregard for the swimmers. From my experience, small boats expect the bathers to get out of their way. Not every boat driver acts this way of course, but in Greece enough do, so they establish a norm. Some beaches have a little wood dock which could be a sign that small boats dock there. In some beaches (like Valtos in Parga) for some strange reason the dock is built right in the middle of a beach that hosts thousands of bathers. To make matters worst, often buoys seem to be very ambiguous for the bathers and don't provide enough information in regards to safe areas for swimming.

The Heat

Greece can get very hot during the summer. It is not uncommon for the thermometer to hover around 40° C for days, and to even reach 45° (about 112° F) often. Planning outdoor activities like hiking or visiting open air archaeological sites during heat waves can be dangerous. During days when heat waves settle over the land, it is essential to limit outdoor activities and to drink plenty of water. Going to the beach provides a relief when the temperature reaches such heights, but an umbrella is essential in order to escape the direct sun rays. Children, and the elderly are especially volnurable during the summer heat waves that seem to occur in the second part of July and the first half of August. When the thermometer reaches dangerous levels, the government issues warnings and makes available all air conditioned public building to everyone for relief.

Emergencies

In the unlikely event that you become the victim of crime, contact the Police by dialing 100. In case of a health emergency visit the nearest Hospital or Health Center, or dial 166.

Print this page with the Greek Emergency numbers (just in case), visit the Health and Emergencies in Greece page, and take a look a the links a the end of this page for information from other official agencies.