Last verified: July 2026.
Greece holds a Level 1 “Exercise Normal Precautions” rating from the US State Department, and the lived experience mostly matches the rating: violent crime against tourists is genuinely rare, both in Athens and on the islands. As of an October 2025 update, the advisory specifically flags petty crime in busy tourist areas as the thing actually worth preparing for — which, once you know the specific pattern, is straightforward to avoid.
Athens Metro: the one place to be specifically alert
The Metro line connecting the airport to central Athens is the country’s clearest pickpocketing hotspot, with organized groups reportedly working the route regularly, particularly during crowded periods. The response is the same as any crowded transit system worth extra caution on: bag in front of you, phone and wallet not in an easily-accessible pocket, a bit more attention specifically on this route than you’d otherwise apply.
Neighborhoods worth a bit more caution
Omonia and Exarcheia, both in central Athens, see more petty crime and occasional unrest than the rest of the city, particularly after dark. Neither is off-limits — Exarcheia in particular has a genuine, well-regarded street-art and café scene — but they’re worth slightly more awareness at night than the Plaka or Acropolis-adjacent areas most itineraries center on.
The scams worth knowing by name
- Taxi meter refusal. A driver claims the meter is broken or quotes a flat inflated fare. Use a licensed taxi app (Uber or FreeNow both operate in Athens) rather than negotiating on the street, which removes the issue entirely.
- The “broken camera” request. Someone asks you to take their photo with their own phone or camera, which is pre-damaged or later claimed to be broken, followed by a demand for €100–500 in compensation, often with theatrical distress to pressure a quick payment. Politely declining requests to photograph strangers with their own device at major tourist sites avoids this outright.
- Inflated restaurant bills. Occasionally seen in the most tourist-dense areas — checking a menu’s prices before ordering and reviewing the bill before paying is a reasonable habit anywhere this dense with visitors, not specific paranoia.
What isn’t the real risk
The Greek islands generally see even less petty crime than Athens — the risk profile described above is heavily concentrated in the capital, not spread evenly across the country. A trip that’s mostly island time, bookended by a couple of days in Athens, carries less of this risk than an Athens-heavy itinerary.
Practical habits worth having anyway
- Use Uber or FreeNow for Athens taxis rather than hailing on the street.
- Keep extra awareness specifically on the airport Metro line and in Omonia/Exarcheia after dark.
- Keep a photo of your passport and any entry documentation on your phone.
The bottom line
Greece’s safety picture is straightforward: very low violent crime, a specific and well-documented pickpocketing risk on one Metro line, two Athens neighborhoods worth slightly more caution after dark, and a handful of nameable scams that lose most of their power once you know them. The islands, where most Greece trips spend the majority of their time, carry meaningfully less of even this risk than Athens does.
For the rest of the planning picture, see our visa guide, when to go, and full Greece Travel Guide. Also see Is France Safe to Travel? and Is Italy Safe to Travel?.
Frequently asked questions
Is Athens safe to visit?
Yes — rated Level 1, the same as Tokyo or Rome. The specific things to know are pickpocketing on the airport Metro line and slightly more caution after dark in Omonia and Exarcheia.
Are the Greek islands safer than Athens?
Generally yes — most of the petty-crime risk described in official advisories concentrates in Athens; the islands see meaningfully less of it.
What’s the most common tourist scam in Greece?
Taxi meter refusal and the “broken camera” compensation demand are among the most frequently reported; both are avoidable once you know the pattern.
Comparing destinations? See Is Italy Safe to Travel? and Is France Safe to Travel?.
Also see Is Peru Safe to Travel?.
Also see Is Iceland Safe to Travel?.
Also see Is Morocco Safe to Travel?.
Destinations Editor at Travelcho, covering food culture, city guides, and budget travel across Asia and Europe.
