Go, but pay attention.
Greece’s safety score rose to 82 today, and all major government advisories remain at the lowest level of 1. Watch for the global measles notice before you book your flight.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Greece
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go, but pay attention.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
The clip joint routine
A friendly local approaches a single male traveler at night near bars and invites him to a specific bar for a drink. Decline the invitation to avoid being taken to a clip joint.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Recommended:
From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Crime and theft: Violent crime and theft rates are low; public disorder is rare, and public drunkenness is generally frowned upon.
- •The places where the visitor is most likely to encounter crime and theft are overcrowded and popular with tourists.
- •Scams: The most commonly reported major scam against travellers is the Greek version of the old clip joint routine.
Staying healthy
- •Health care: The government's austerity program in the 2010s led to a "meltdown" of Greece's previously admired health care system, as the budgets of state-run hospitals have been cut by up to 50%.
- •A network of helicopter ambulances serves the islands, transporting patients who need immediate attention to the nearest island or city with a major hospital.
- •The country's pharmacies and medications are of top quality, and pharmacists are highly trained experts in their field.
- •Healthcare provision is different to Anglosphere nations in that many specialists are in the community.
- •Sexually transmitted infections: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) exist in Greece as elsewhere, and travellers who may engage in sexual activity while visiting Greece should remember that even if one is on vacation an…
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers in Greece face few threats from violent crime, but must navigate significant hazards related to infrastructure and environment. Road safety is a primary concern, as traffic rules are frequently ignored and rural roads are dangerous. Pedestrians should not expect vehicles to yield at crosswalks. The sun and heat present real risks, including dehydration and heatstroke, necessitating constant hydration and caution during peak afternoon hours. Tourist traps, particularly in popular destinations like Mykonos and Santorini, involve predatory pricing at restaurants without listed menus. While the country is generally safe, travelers should exercise common sense, respect local heritage, and remain vigilant when driving or swimming, especially when currents are pulling away from the shore.
“While driving, traffic rules are more like traffic suggestions. So keep your eyes open and trust only yourself. Greeks have a tendency to be good bad drivers.
— r/travel
“Before buying stuff at a restaurant, be very careful of the prices on the list. If there are no prices, chances are you're in a tourist trap and about to be bled dry.
— r/travel
“If there is wind blowing on the opposite side of the beach, blowing towards the open waters, don't go too far away from the beach. The waves will drift you away from the safety of the shallows.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / F · 230V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 100 or 112 / ambulance: 166 or 112 / fire: 199 or 112
Zoom in
2 Greece cities on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (11 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-07-12
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-07-12
- ca-gac — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-07-12
- cdc-health — observed 2026-07-12
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-07-12
- reddit — observed 2026-07-12
- unodc — observed 2026-07-12
- acled-hdx — observed 2026-07-12
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-07-12