Is Greece Safe To Travel To?

In general, Greece is thought to be relatively safe to visit. The overall crime rate is relatively low and in terms of violent crime, this poses no significant risk to tourists while visiting Greece. Here's a further look at the question: Is it safe to travel to Greece?

As a rule, Greece is always considered as one of the most hospitable countries for tourists. Greece is famous for its historical background, traditions, and sceneries that people make a beeline for to visit annually. As it will be further discussed in the following sections, the overwhelming majority of the trips to Greece are accomplished without safety-related issues.

Petty Theft & Scams

However, like any other center with a high influx of tourists, one should be cautious of petty crimes, which are common in places like Athens. There are occasional cases of purse snatching, pick pocketing and various scams mostly directed towards foreigners. But they are not very frequent events.

As is the case with any other big city in the world, simple common sense should be applied when moving around Belgium, do not carry your valuables around, do not flaunt them and do not be too trusting of people who come to you with what seems like a genuine reason to talk to you or get your attention. Some of the things that may go with the item theft include one or many of the following scams in order to distract the attention. Also, it is advisable to search for usual travel frauds so that you can be aware of the possible things to avoid.

Greece is among the countries with very low rates of violent crime in comparison with other European and North American states. Random acts of violence that are specifically directed towards tourists are a very rare phenomenon in Greece.

Refugee Situation in Greece

Over the past few years, Greece has become a primary focus of the European refugee crisis due to its geographical location and the influx of refugee flows into Europe via Greece. This has led to some concerns being raised over the general safety and stability within the country of Greece.

Nevertheless, the overwhelming percentage of Greek islands and mainland tourist attractions have not been significantly affected by the refugee movement. Any increased safety concerns would be more relevant to the borders of countries hosting refugees and refugee camps in general. Nonetheless, it is still wise to observe standard travel measures or cautions all the same.

Terrorism and Unrest Risk

Terrorism risk in Greece is relatively low compared to other countries of Europe. Despite the fact that no country can be considered fully safe from terrorism, at present there are no reports and no travel alerts to Greece with regard to terrorism or security issues.

As for political instability and protests, they can sometimes happen in Greece and more specifically in Athens. Because of a ten-year financial crisis and drastic cuts made to the Greek population, there has been brooding bitterness and frustration in some sections of Greek society. It is important to note here that most political protests are directed towards the government and the business entities and not the foreign visitors.

However, certain protests have been marked with violence especially from the police forces. Before travelling to Greece, ensure that you consult your government travel warnings and avoid any large political protests for your own safety.

Health & Medical Safety

In general, the healthcare system in Greece is very good and even more so in the bigger cities such as Athens and Thessaloniki. There are no specific immunizations needed over and above normal requirements for travel within Europe. Drinking water and tap water are also safe for consumption in Greece, for the most part.

But it is recommended to buy an international travel insurance with medical evacuation before your travel. This affords an added measure of protection if you were to be involved in an accident or contract a life-threatening disease while in that country.

Swimming Safety

Accidents that happen due to drowning are a common occurrence every now and then with the tourists frolicking in the waters stretching along the coastlines and islands of Greece. Take notice of warning signs and flags at the beach, do not swim alone or when under the influence of alcohol. Even wave and currents can be risky to swimmers and thus, one should consult authorities on the weather and water conditions. Swimming, especially snorkeling, boating or sailing also require additional safety measures depending on circumstances.

Driving Safety

Road accidents are among the biggest dangers that tourists are likely to encounter in Greece, particularly during the summer holidays. Traffic jams are frequent, and the driving behavior of local drivers could be unpredictable, rental cars do not always come equipped with familiar safety measures, and certain roads are older than others. Be very cautious while driving, do not drink and drive and if possible avoid using a car if feeling so. Also avoid walking near the edges of the roads.

Natural Disasters

Greece is an area of frequent earthquakes and possible tsunamis and volcanic activity in some of the islands. When the majority of shocks do not lead to significant harm it is advisable to familiarize yourself with how to act in the event of an earthquake. Landslides may also happen during periods of intense precipitation. Follow the weather changes and pay attention to the local alerts about preparing for an emergency.

In conclusion, it can be said that Greece is still a very safe, stable and friendly country for tourists, despite the fact that no country is completely free from risks. Follow street sense and travel precautions, be aware of the local laws and etiquette, avoid dangerous situations when possible, and find out about the health and safety risks for the areas within Greece that you will be visiting. With some common sense, both the first time visitors and those who visited Greece for the nth time, are bound to go home with great stories and experiences, not horror stories!

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