Is Athens Secure? Areas in order to prevent along with other Warnings

The Editors

The administrative centre of Greece can be the house of ancient globe treasures, such 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 is included with troves of ruins and antiquities, most of them dating back to into the fifth century BCE, which places these present times into appropriate viewpoint. Athens has contemporary marvels too, plus A mediterranean that is inviting climate lends itself to visiting any moment of the year.

But tourists who’re considering reserving a vacation frequently end up wondering, “Is Athens safe to visit?”—especially in the years since Greece has struck difficult financial times, and since European countries has seen terrorism increase.

Be confident that Athens isn’t specially dangerous. Crime data point toward the actual fact so it’s really quite a secure city for travelers—Athens is certainly not included on long lists for the world’s many dangerous metropolitan areas, and a 2019 criminal activity index from Numbeo put the Greek capital at quantity 130 regarding the list, rating it safer than towns and cities such as for example Tampa, Florida and Dublin, Ireland.

Nevertheless, there are particular items that tourists to Athens need to keep at heart to guarantee the best visit that is possible.

Methods for Remaining Safe in Athens

• Prevent the areas which can be considered to be dangerous in Athens, such as the nightclubs of Glyfada Square, plus the semi-frequent protests and demonstrations that happen near governmental facilities.
• Remain vigilant for pickpockets as well as other petty thieves, because these will be the most frequent crimes focusing on people in Athens. Be specially careful at crowded tourist attractions, on general general general public transport, plus in taxis, where motorists often scam their passengers.
• Remember that prostitution is appropriate in Athens—but that many for the populous town’s prostitutes operate outs

Anti-Theft Backpack

Travel Money Belt

Protection Whistle

Safe 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 avoided at if not altogether night. These aspects of Athens may be dangerous in component because they’re frequented by anarchist groups, along with medication dealers and thieves—even kids who will be thieves. In terms of areas of Athens in order to prevent, Monastiraki and nearby the railway channels of Larissa and Peloponissos are crime hot spots, as the nightclubs of Glyfada Square are related to prepared criminal activity.

Protests are semi-common in Athens, particularly at Syntagma Square, which is commonly the political center of things. People should be aware that governmental protests can occasionally occur randomly and 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 primary one involves luring tourists in to a club while guaranteeing unique costs on cocktails. Alternatively, clients are served with a tab that is overly exorbitant their beverages and threatened with violence when they will not spend. A few Athens bars where this sort of extortion happens to be proven to happen add Reina Bar and Hollywood Pub.

As well as once you understand the dangerous areas in Athens, it is additionally good to learn in which the city’s best places are. In north Athens, the area of Kolononaki is safe even 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 destination to explore throughout the daytime, specially for enthusiasts associated with arts. In addition, Plaka and Psirri provide friendly cafes where you are able to get a lively flavor of greek life and tradition.

Ways to get Around Safely in Athens

Probably the most form that is prominent of in Athens is, while you might imagine, pickpocketing. By all reports, pickpocketing, bag snatching, along with other types of petty theft are typical, specially at crowded attractions, nightlife destinations, as well as on buses and trains, where you ought to simply just take extra care to defend your possessions. Be especially vigilant if some body seems like they’re attempting to distract you; meanwhile, another person could be reaching into the bag. Maintain your wallet in your front side ( perhaps maybe maybe not your straight back) pocket, and start thinking about purchasing a slash-resistant backpack with a zipper that is reliable.

When you’re down on the way, remember Greece has comparatively high prices of traffic fatalities, due mostly to motorists that are speeding, sidetracked, or simply just perhaps perhaps not after the rules. Heavy traffic and obscured highway signs are additional issues that affect security on Athens’ streets. Drive defensively—or generally not very, if you are able to avoid it.

Be cautious, too, if you’re intending to simply simply 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, especially people who pick up through the airport, are notorious for gouging tourists, recharging their people much more than they’re actually owed http://mail-order-bride.org/.

Therefore when you go into a taxi in Athens, be sure that it is licenced and formal, that your particular motorist turns from the meter as he begins driving (not prior to, rather than never), you and your driver have decided on at the least a ballpark range for the fare, you are aware the instructions to where you’re going (talk up if for example the motorist begins to have a roundabout route), and therefore you’ll be willing to phone the police if you’re being ripped off—this will often get the taxi motorist regarding the right course once again.

Other Athens Scams and Protection Recommendations

Into the United States as you make your way through Athens, there are other scams that travelers should be aware of to stay safe and away from crime: Refrain from buying the pirated and counterfeit items that are sold in droves on the streets of Central Athens and Thessaloniki—it’s illegal to buy these items in Greece, and it’s illegal to transport them. Don’t use ATMs in Athens unless they’re in an established resort or bank, as a current uptick in bank card skimming was reported throughout Greece.

Though Athens provides an environment that is mostly safe feminine tourists, ladies traveling right right here might find that guys are more ahead in Greece compared to other nations. In the event that you decrease their improvements, guys will most of the time apologize and go along. Nevertheless, ladies 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 appropriate in Greece, starting during the chronilogical age of 18. Legal intercourse workers needs to be registered and carry a medical card that should be updated every fourteen days. Nevertheless, there’s lots of unlawful prostitution right here too; consumers looking for escorts in Athens have actually reported seeing victims of intercourse trafficking and individual slavery in brothels.

In the last few years, Greece is actually a location point for females and kids taken from Eastern and Southern Europe, Southern Asia, Africa, and Asia, who will be put through intercourse trafficking in unlicensed brothels along Solonos Street, Theatrou Square, and Evripidou Street. Remember that a majority of these females (and males) don’t simply take the appropriate precautions—in that is medical, it is maybe perhaps not well worth the chance.