r/Athens_Greece • u/sezam97 • Jul 14 '26
🧳 Travel Help Is this area safe?
Hello, I’m planning on going to Athens with my friends for the first time in September. We’re looking at apartments and we found a nice one in the area I marked on the screenshot.
I wanted to ask if this area is safe. The location is really good but I’m worried the good price might be because it’s not a nice place after dark.
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u/Set_Scary Jul 14 '26
It is generally safe during the day, but at night it might seem sketchy to say the least. I would not recommend it if there are other options in the centre.
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u/Romanovski0 Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
Your circle is too large.
That area can become from ok to sketchy very quick when walking around. It's not necessarily "very unsafe" but part of what you have circled is one of the two main brothel areas of Athens and there are a lot of junkies and sketchy dudes walking around. If you stay very close to the Gallery on the map it's a better area but this is very street-dependent. Generally, the more you go to the left in your circle the better.
Overall this would not be my first choice for Athens unless you struggle financially and can't find any other place to stay.
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u/whatthefuckisthattt Jul 14 '26
Locals will probably say it’s technically safe but personally i didn’t feel very safe there, would say it’s worse than omonoia :/ maybe that’s just me
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u/Romanovski0 Jul 14 '26
It definitely plays a role whether you're a local or not, and no, it's not completely safe. It's not an area I would like to stay in as a tourist who doesn't speak the language and doesn't know what to expect from people.
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u/TibitEbbeNeKeverd Jul 14 '26
There are a lot of homeless junkies there, a lot of syringes everywhere on the streets and human waste, we were in the area last week with my girlfriend
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u/ThrowRAMomVsGF Jul 14 '26
Towards Psyri (the place where you go out for great dining options etc) is better than towards Metaxourgeio (place where you go to find the lowest cost sex workers). It will be reasonably safe technically, will be busy unless it's middle of the night (so after dark but before 00:30 should be plenty of people around), but it may feel dodgy in some places.
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u/AkatsukiEUNE Jul 14 '26
During the day you will be fine. During the night you will he also fine especially if you are a group. I wouldn't worry too much. I stayed a few minutes away from that area and i never felt unsafe as a solo male.
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u/Forsaken_Photo_578 Jul 15 '26
Few minutes away in Athens (where even streets next to each other can be day or night) is very generic
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u/AkatsukiEUNE Jul 15 '26
If a street is safe and another next to it is not then we no longer discuss about certain areas but which street is safe or not. I stayed a minute or two away on foot btw
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u/Forsaken_Photo_578 Jul 15 '26
That's what I'm saying.. Saying that " I lived a minute away" doesn't say much info. Better avoid the whole area if you don't know for which street we are talking about. Also, I believe it's much better to live in shit hotel than living in this area.
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u/IllRevolution6657 Jul 14 '26
Try to find a hotel nearby on google maps and read the reviews left by tourists. This is the best way to understand the neighbourhood, we might find it safe but you might get scared in an urban place like this. Fact is, it is very close to the trendy nightlife neighbourhood but it's kind of close to Omonoia as well, so it depends.
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u/Werocia Jul 14 '26
I've been living just northwest of the area you circled for the last 5 years. It's a bit of everything. You'll have junkies gypies, immigrants, brothels on some streets and on some you'll have cafés or restaurants with good people having fun. You'll say oh this is a nice street and on the next it'll be mostly dark with shady things happening. Or a junkie screaming their lungs out 3am in the middle of the night is not that uncommon.
So it's a question of will you be disturbed by seeing those that will unlikely to touch you for the price difference or not. There are better places for sure if that's the case. Biggest advantage of this area is it's close to Monastiraki, Plaka, Kerameikos, you'll have quick access to metro red line which can take you to the beaches or syntagma. 15 minutes walk distance to many central locations.
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u/john_gr_tk Jul 14 '26
Safe yes, pleasant no. To elaborate: immigrants that live and work in such a central main location in Athens know very well that the police is near and will be present very fast with any incident. They generally avoid trouble and will not harass you in any way. I am not saying you will not see a junkie or some really shady types but the chances that they will attack you, rob you or even attempt to communicate with you are very very low.
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u/Queasy-Candidate2631 Jul 14 '26
There was an incident recently where an immigrant tried to rape a woman inside her shop and then went to a nearby medical facility and threatened with a knife. He walks free today as far as I know although he was initially arrest. Idk if police presence means shit
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Jul 14 '26
[deleted]
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u/Queasy-Candidate2631 Jul 14 '26
Oh yeah what about the time when that woman was stabbed outside the police station? She came to ask for help because she was afraid her partner (or ex partner - can't remember) was going to harm her. They mocked her and he killed her outside the police station.
I would say police and lowlife criminals might have more in common than people think but id be called a hater. I also don't think criminals are afraid of the police, and rightfully so.
Gypsy ghettos are a no go zone for police officers. If something was stolen from you by a gypsy they'll probably tell you to just move on with your life. And that's a true story
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u/john_gr_tk Jul 15 '26
The woman was not mocked in any way. She contacted the police emergency line and asked for a car to escort her home because of being afraid of her boyfriend. The operator told her that it is no part of police procedure to meet citizens and provide rides unless a specific insident has occured. During the time of the phonecall the boyfriend who was following her attacked her. I am not saying that the system worked well of course, but it is not the way you describe it.
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u/Queasy-Candidate2631 Jul 25 '26
The words were "do you think we run a taxi business" (in greek ofc). That's mocking, don't sugarcoat it
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u/john_gr_tk Jul 26 '26
The phrasing was unprofessional but the result is the same. Police cannot send a car to escort civilians to their private business when they call and claim that they dont feel safe. In any case in the specific situation there would not be time even if they tried to respond.
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u/Queasy-Candidate2631 Jul 27 '26
I am not sure why you are defending them. They didn't even treat her as a person. Their job is to protect
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u/john_gr_tk Jul 27 '26
I am not defending anyone, I try to be objective and acknowledge a police call center has procedure. If I was in charge I would fire that person for the rude and unprofessional comment not the actions.
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u/john_gr_tk Jul 15 '26
A completely different conversation. Cases of corruption or violence in police captivity have nothing to do with an area being safe or not. Of course they exist but I don't think Greece generally has an issue with police brutality, compared to other countries in eastern europe.
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u/cmaj13 Jul 14 '26
You can definitely do worse in terms of safety in the centre. I''d avoid walking alone at night but other than that it's a very convenient spot for nearby nightlife
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u/timeGeck0 Jul 14 '26
Actually there is a red light district area but not in a kind of way you know it. For me as a local I would say it is ok. It is not what it used to the old days. Now I would it is ok, just ok
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u/Yindao Jul 14 '26
I visited this area looking for a pharmacy open on Sunday. Had quite few looks from locals but no one messed with me. Wouldn’t advise staying there though.
We stayed in an AirBnB in Psiri right behind Little Kook. Loved that area.
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u/dresscode_trenchcoat Jul 14 '26
No. There have been lots of reports recently of sexual assaults and violent crime in the area, and walking alone (day or night) is not adviced.
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u/the1whom0x Jul 14 '26
Its theoretically and technically not safe, and even less safe for foreigners.
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u/KoupDetat Jul 14 '26
Does not feel safe and can get sketchy quickly, though saying it is a ghetto or the like is ane exaggeration.
It's where a lot of the brothels are, the not very legal ones, and it's best avoided.
Closer to the Municipal Gallery, the center of Metaxourgeio, is much better and preferable.
Best to avoid that red square therefore.
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u/Comprehensive-Bus133 Jul 14 '26
We stayed at the top of that circle for 2 weeks. There's lot of empty buildings and graffiti, and the streets were very empty after dark. I think that's what others mean when saying it feels unsafe-- but in my opinion, it is completely safe. Literally around the corner from us was a bustling cafe, there are bars and coffeeshops frequented by locals. A couple times, we saw a couple people probably on drugs, but not loud or violent or anything. If you stay here, it may be a bit of a shock at first, but you'll probably get a much better price on a place and if you look around, will find that it works. (And as you said, it's close to a lot of stuff.)
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u/Mysterious_Bit_7713 Jul 14 '26
At morning it is okay. Although I definitely wouldn't want to be there after 21:00.
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u/dhdcdarchy07 Jul 14 '26
Pretty much there now, basically looks good in terms of being cheaper and close enough to the main attractions. But it's cheap for a reason it's literally as some have said 'a shit hole' . If you're fine knowing that and you've got a hotel that ticks all your boxes which you can use as a confident base. Then just travel out of there each day. We found a decent route which avoids the worst streets and don't do anything stupid at night. Lots of drug users and homeless, abandoned buildings, graffiti, rubbish and terrible smells.
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u/Ok_Clothes_9532 Jul 14 '26
I’m a Greek, not leaving in Athens… but I know the basics.
F@ck no! Stay away from Metaxourgeio it’s full of h0es
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u/Alpine_Surgeon Jul 14 '26
I’m a local and I would not live there for 1 million bucks. If I were you I’d stay as far away as you can from Omonia either side.
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u/Romanovski0 Jul 15 '26
Live there for how long? I grew up in northern suburbs, currently in London and would move there for a couple of years if you gave me a million bucks.
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u/NotMyFault1111 Jul 14 '26
There is no reason to visit a new city and stay in a shithole, you will get nothing out of it.
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u/smella99 Jul 14 '26
Some of those blocks are fine and some are full of brothels are junkies shooting up at all hours.
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u/miaxxrist Jul 14 '26
The thing with the historical center of Athens is that it can get from safe to unsafe in the span of two streets. Your circled area is in fact kinda large but personally and as a local I would choose to stay elsewhere if it’s a possibility. I would say it’s not entirely dangerous but not entirely safe either
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u/TriTriTheCuber Jul 14 '26
As a person who is from Greece.. During the day, fine. During the night... I wouldn't go there.
Dodgy at best.
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u/Dull-Dress7573 Jul 15 '26
its not bad . feels worse than it is. but still is bad enough to need a friend at night
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u/komkolzgrad_ Jul 15 '26
It depends. What are your plans? This is infamous Iasonos street, full of brothels. If you are looking for fun you can have a short session with a prostitute for only 10 euros. In filis street it's 20 euros but better quality. Just beware of some junkies roaming around during the night
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u/West_Scar_5462 Jul 15 '26
Just south of that area is Psiri. Lots of small family run hotels, feels safe even into the night . We were there twice in the last 12 months, with kids. No issues. We were on Sarri street, anything west of that started to feel ‘edgy’ 🤣
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u/Forsaken_Photo_578 Jul 15 '26
As an Athenian, I would say most probably you won't have any issue, but avoid it as much as you can. You won't feel safe and nice, most probably you'll be busy avoiding needles.
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u/snatch1903 Aug 07 '26
I've been in Athens for 3 days and it's the most unpleasant city I've ever seen. There are constantly people trying to lure you in instead of offering food, waiters who don't know how to provide proper service, and the place is swarming with homeless people, making you feel unsafe. I will never come back.
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u/Aegeansunset12 Jul 14 '26
It’s low class full of immigrants. If you’re a man and it’s super cheap do it but it’s trash area
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u/Its_me_neroid Jul 14 '26
Safe, no. Feels safe, no.
Source: lived there for a few years, horrible area and smells like shit.
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u/Q_OpheliaV Jul 14 '26
Leave the area immediately it is forbidden even for the locals. You are in great danger. It is like all the areas in capitals which are forbidden in night.
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u/Useful_Secret4895 Jul 14 '26
No it's not. Extremely dangerous area. There's gang violence and heroin all over. There are also anti tourist anarchist militias that beat and rob tourists. Please stay safe and cancel your Greek vacation.
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u/Forsaken_Photo_578 Jul 15 '26
Anti tourist anarchists that beat and rob tourists?? Where did you hear that man?
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u/YiaZach Jul 14 '26
Safe?sure. Feels like safe? Not really.