Διαβάστε τις Ταξιδιωτικές οδηγίες……

Ο Υπουργός Προστασίας του Πολίτη Χ.Παπουτσής και ο Υπουργός Πολιτισμού Π.Γερουλάνος είναι υπεύθυνοι για την χρεοκοπία τόσο τον ξενοδοχείων όσο και το εμπορικών καταστημάτων για το ιστορικό κέντρο της Αθήνας. Διαβάστε τις Ταξιδιωτικές οδηγίες……

Don’t do / don’t go

Athenians hold negative perceptions for the areas around Omonoia Square and locals advise you to avoid these areas late at night.

There are many beggars and homeless people who walk around the streets asking for money or food. Often they use children as sympathy tools. Places to avoid areVathis Square (can be populated by druggies using even at 5 o’clock in the afternoon), the roads on the right of the National Archaelogical Museum (almost a gathering place for the beggars of the city – the density is enormous) and the south end of 3 September Street.

There is also absolutely no reason that a tourist will travel to Acharnon and Liossion Street and the triangle between Peiraios, Athinas and Sofokleous street.

The back streets of Piraeus are probably also places where its unwise to wander around late at night. More recently, Sofokleous Street (a major street south of Omonia), especially the western part near Pireos Street, has gotten a reputation for crime and drugs; some Athenians will advise you to avoid it even during the daytime. Some may also argue that wandering around the Zappeio gardens and the Pedion Areos parks at night time may not be wise.

Stay safe

While Athens is generally a very safe city, there have been a huge number reports of pickpockets on the Metro (also the line from Airport), buses and in other crowded areas, including Plaka. You will notice that natives travel with their hands on their bags and pockets, which unfortunately is not without reason. You will probably be warned about pickpockets by hotel staff and friendly waiters, but this may be too late. Be extremely cautious and split all your documents, cards and money into different places. Street crime is rare; when it happens, it’s most commonly purse-snatching from women walking away from banks and ATM machines.

The friendly stranger bar scam has been reported from areas of central Athens frequented by travelers, including Omonia, Syntagma, and Plaka. Recently, there have been some reports of fraud. Usually, someone will stop you and ask for directions. A couple of other guys then show up claiming to be police, showing a badge (obviously a fake one). They ask if you were getting drugs from the other guy and then ask for your passport and wallet for verification. While you are busy trying to convince them that your passport is valid, one of them sneaks out some money from your wallet.

Another danger recently reported, especially by travelers boarding the Airport Express Bus in Piraeus, is pickpocket gangs operating buses used by tourists. As the bus is boarding, a large group traveling together (who are reported often to be of various nationalities other than Greek) will divide itself in two, with half of them going on board and then stopping in the aisle to cause a jam-up among passengers trying to board through the door behind them, the other half then offering to help the jammed passengers lift their luggage on board. Just before the bus leaves, the half of this group on the bus gets off. Then, joining the other half outside the door, they all quickly disperse.

What has happened, of course, is that the passengers who were being “helped” with their luggage by some of this group were being pick-pocketed by others. The theft is particularly effective because it’s directed at travelers who are leaving the country and are thus not likely to report it–many victims don’t realize they’ve been robbed until they get to the airport or even until after they get on the plane. Some travelers have claimed that certain bus drivers are party to these crimes by neglecting to open the rear door of the bus for boarding passengers, thus ensuring a tighter and more confused crowd of jammed passengers trying to board through the center door, making the criminals’ job easier. 

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