Greece Travel Advisory: Is Greece Safe for Americans?

Yes. Greece is a generally safe destination, and normal precautions cover most visitors. The problems that actually spoil trips are small and avoidable: pickpockets on the Athens metro, summer heat, rough seas, road accidents and strikes that can upend a travel day.

What does the U.S. State Department say about Greece?

Greece sits at Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions, which is the State Department's lowest advisory tier, and the department calls it a generally safe place to travel. Its advice for Greece flags five things: petty crime in popular tourist spots, demonstrations that can start with little notice, frequent strikes, regular earthquakes and summer forest fires. Each one gets practical detail in the sections that follow.

Enroll in the State Department's STEP program before you leave so security updates reach you during the trip.

Is crime a problem in Greece?

Petty theft is the crime visitors are most likely to meet. Pickpocketing and purse-snatching concentrate on the Athens metro, especially the trains to and from the airport. Thieves also work tourist sites, bus and railway stations, ferry ports and busy cafés. Organized groups rely on distraction, so a sudden jostle at a train door or a ticket machine is a signal to check your pockets.

Thieves also seek out rental cars and break into them for passports, valuables and luggage. Try not to leave anything visible in a parked car, keep your passport with you, and choose a well-lit spot or a secure lot when you park.

A few habits go a long way:

• Put your passport, wallet and phone away securely before you board the airport train.
• Carry your passport or another form of photo ID at all times, since police may not accept a copy. Keep a photo of your passport on your phone as a backup.
• Bring just the cash you expect to spend that day, and stash a spare credit card in a different spot.
• Wear your day bag across your body and keep small backpacks in front.

Plaka, Monastiraki, Psiri, Syntagma, Koukaki and Kolonaki are lively neighborhoods where crowds usually linger into the night. Late at night, quiet side streets, the Omonia area and the Larissa and Peloponnese stations feel rougher. The actual walk back to your hotel matters more than the name of the neighborhood, so save your hotel's location in your maps app before you head out.

Foreign visitors have been sexually assaulted, mostly on the islands, and drink spiking has been linked to assaults and robberies. Keep an eye on your drink, take it with you rather than leaving it with someone you just met, and try to stay with your group. For the ride home, use an official taxi, a ride app such as Free Now or Uber, or a prearranged transfer.

Will strikes and protests disrupt your trip?

Strikes and work stoppages are common throughout Greece. Transportation strikes interrupt traffic, public transportation, taxis, seaports and airports, and they are often called at short notice. Ferry crews, metro and rail workers, taxi drivers and air traffic controllers can all walk out. Leave some slack around important travel days, and check local news again the day before.

In Athens, demonstrations gather mostly around Syntagma Square and in front of Parliament, along Panepistimiou and near the Polytechnic on Patision Avenue. In Thessaloniki, they center on the Arch of Galerius and the Aristotle University campus. Demonstrations tend to gather around the anniversary of the Tempi train crash in late February, the anniversary of the 1973 student riots in mid-November, and the anniversary of the 2008 riots in early December. Even a peaceful gathering can close roads and metro stations or turn tense, so it is wise to steer clear of any crowd that is forming. Don't stop to watch. Walk the other way.

What about heat, wildfires and earthquakes in Greece?

July and August can be brutally hot in Athens, on the mainland and at exposed archaeological sites. The Acropolis may close or restrict access in extreme heat, sometimes with little warning. Young children, older travelers and anyone who struggles with heat need a lighter schedule. Island breezes can make the air feel pleasant while your skin burns anyway.

Forest fires are common in the dry summer months and occasionally close roads. The high-risk season runs from about April through October. Fire danger is local, so a blaze in one corner of an island doesn't mean the whole island is affected. Greece sends location-based 112 alerts for fires and evacuations. Keep your phone charged and emergency alerts switched on (on an iPhone, the option sits at the bottom of Settings > Notifications). If an evacuation order arrives, leave at once. Before you hike, drive through dry countryside or spend a day at a remote beach, check the official Daily Fire Risk Map. Keep flames and lit cigarettes away from dry brush, skip barbecues and leave no glass behind. Causing a wildfire is a criminal offense in Greece, even by accident.

Tremors and earthquakes occur regularly, including around Santorini and Crete. If the ground shakes hard, cover your head and neck and move away from windows, shelves and heavy objects that might topple. Don't run for the stairs while the building is moving or take an elevator right afterward, and follow the instructions of local authorities.

Is it safe to swim in Greece?

Calm-looking water can still be risky. Wind, currents, sudden drop-offs, slippery rocks and passing boats can all create trouble, and a strong offshore breeze can carry floats, paddleboards, kayaks and less confident swimmers away from shore, particularly in the Cyclades. Many beaches have no lifeguard, and drownings tend to happen where no lifeguard is on duty or outside lifeguard hours.

Organized beaches often use a flag system, and a red flag means stay out of the water. Don't dive into unfamiliar water, don't swim after drinking or alone at a remote beach, and keep small children within arm's reach. Reef shoes protect against rock cuts and urchin spines, and it pays to ask locally about jellyfish.

Is it safe to drive, ride scooters and take ferries in Greece?

Traffic is a more immediate danger than crime. Greece has one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the European Union. Local drivers often speed and may not stop at crossings, and a green walk signal can still let cars turn right across the crosswalk, so look carefully before you step off the curb. Island roads can be narrow, steep and poorly lit, and they are shared by buses, rental cars, scooters, ATVs, pedestrians and delivery vehicles.

Greek law requires visitors to carry a valid U.S. driver's license, and insurance companies may require an international driver’s permit. All motorcyclists must wear a helmet. Talking or texting while driving is illegal, and so is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Police run random alcohol tests.

Accidents involving tourists on rented scooters, mopeds and quad bikes are common, especially on the islands. Many travel insurance policies exclude quad biking, and the insurance sold by rental companies often covers only third parties. Skip the casual ATV rental unless you're experienced, sober and properly insured, and inspect any vehicle before you sign. After an accident, wait for the police, because an insurance claim may need their report. On Santorini and Mykonos, buses, taxis and private drivers are often the better choice after dark.

Public transportation is generally safe and reliable. Be sure to validate your ticket, since riding without a ticket, with the wrong one or with one that was not validated can bring a fine of up to 60 times the basic fare. Taxis to and from Athens International Airport charge fixed rates, so confirm the rate before you set off.

Ferries meet European safety standards, but wind and rough seas can delay or cancel sailings, and high-speed boats are bumpier for anyone prone to seasickness. A larger conventional ferry rides more smoothly. Check your sailing the day before and again that morning. If you have a long international flight home, don't take the last ferry to Athens that same day. Spend your final night in Athens or near the airport.

What do Americans need to enter Greece?

U.S. citizens can visit Greece without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business. Your passport should have at least three months of validity beyond your planned departure date, and officers may ask for proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket. A passport reported lost or stolen won't get you in, and you may be sent back to your departure point. Travelers on official or diplomatic passports need a Schengen visa before arrival.

Flying into Athens from outside Schengen and then continuing on a separate booking for an island flight or ferry calls for plenty of cushion in your schedule. ETIAS is not yet operating.

Hold on to the form with your entry stamp. If you lose it, you must file a police report before authorities will let you depart. Greek males between 19 and 45 are required to perform military service, including dual U.S.-Greek citizens, and authorities can stop a man from leaving Greece until he completes it.

What laws and health rules should Americans know in Greece?

Mace and pepper-spray canisters are illegal too. Photographing military installations can lead to arrest. Ask for a receipt or an itemized bill whenever you pay for a meal or other service.

Athens and Thessaloniki have the strongest medical care in the country. On a small island, a serious case can mean a transfer to a larger island or Athens, which makes travel medical insurance a smart buy. Choose a policy that covers medical evacuation and any scooter, boat or hiking plans. Private hospitals generally want proof of adequate insurance or cash before admitting a patient, and many care providers expect payment in cash. Bring prescription medication in its original packaging. Codeine and similar medicines fall under special rules, so carry the prescription and a letter from your doctor.

Dial 112 for police, fire or ambulance anywhere in Greece. The tourist police answer around the clock on 1571 and help in English. For U.S. Embassy help in an emergency, call +30-210-721-2951.