Greek travel and safety tips

September 5, 4:35 PMSanta Barbara Cultural Travel ExaminerRachel de Carlos

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Riot police supervise all demonstrations. Wikimedia Commons/indymedia

Although the clear blue water and whitewashed buildings give one a sense of tranquility, there are dangers to be avoided in certain locations and certain times of year.  Greece is a very safe country for tourists, but it's best to be aware of the hotspots that exist for both travelers and locals.

Places that might prove to be unsafe for American travelers include football (soccer) games where the rivalry between fans of the two teams is at a peak.  Greeks take their football very seriously.  It's not uncommon for the fans of the losing team to pull up stadium seats, throw them onto the playing field, set fires, and in general, behave worse than a 3 year old who has been denied a toy in the supermarket.  Innocent spectators have been killed and injured in this sort of riotous behavior at games and in the vicinity of the stadium.

Public demonstrations in larger cities, such as Athens and Thessaloniki, often take a turn for the worse.  Greeks are not only passionate about their football, they are also very supportive of their political party and passionate about how the government is doing its job.  Political party loyalties often go back several generations.  With tempers hot, flare ups in large crowds can lead to destructive behavior in the immediate vicinity, which includes breaking windows in businesses, setting cars on fire, and throwing molotov cocktails.  Riot police in full riot gear are always present at public demonstrations.  They will use tear gas and fire hoses on the crowds, if necessary.

A time of year to be vigilant in Athens is November 17th.  This is the anniversary of the uprising of university students against the Greek military government in 1973.  It ended in bloodshed on that day when a tank crashed through the university gates.  It's a day that brings the anarchists out of the woodwork, and not a recommended day for sightseeing in Athens.

If you see that police have formed barriers around a location or that windows in businesses have been boarded up, this is not a safe place for a traveler or local citizen to be.  Unfortunately, many demonstrations take place outside the US Embassy for a multitude of reasons.  If you need to go to the US Embassy, it's best to check the website for current conditions or call ahead to make sure there are no demonstrations planned.  They will know in advance since public gatherings of this nature must be reported to the police before they take place.

Here are phone numbers and websites for the US Embassy:

US Embassy in Athens

91 Vasilissis Sophias

Athens, Greece10160

American Citizens Services:  210-72... or 210-720-2419 or 210-720-2410

If the Embassy is closed, an American citizen with an emergency in Greece can call 210-729-4444, and ask to speak to a consular officer about that emergency.

Current affairs in Greece that travelers should be aware of can be found on a special page published by the US Embassy in Athens.  Click HERE to see what is currently being reported.

Travel information specific to Greece, provided by the US Dept. of State, can be found HERE.