Travel Tips

I learned what to pack for Athens the hard way — specifically, by wearing brand-new leather sandals to the Acropolis on a 37°C day. By noon I had blisters on both feet and was sliding around on marble like a newborn deer. Don’t be me. Athens isn’t your typical European city for packing. Between the slippery ancient marble, scorching summer heat, and the fact that Greeks somehow always look effortlessly put-together, your suitcase choices actually matter here. Let me save you the mistakes I made.

I get asked this more than almost any other Athens question: “Is it safe?” Usually by people whose only reference point is news coverage from the 2012 debt crisis. So let me just say it clearly: yes, Athens is very safe for tourists — safer, in my experience, than Barcelona, comparable to Rome, and miles ahead of its reputation. But I’d be doing you a disservice if I left it at that. Here’s the honest, no-sugarcoating breakdown.