Greece is a popular destination for U.S. tourists, and according to the State Department, it’s generally safe.
However, on October 23, the U.S. government updated its travel advisory for Greece. “There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated,” the statement says.
Although Greece still enjoys a level 1 advisory (the safest, meaning exercise normal precautions), the U.S. government does share some concerns that travelers might want to take not of when traveling to the country.
The U.S. Government Warns Travelers That Petty Crime Can Be ‘Common’ in Greece
According to the travel advisory for Greece:
- “Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations. Stay aware of your surroundings.”
- “Large-scale demonstrations related to the local political situation may occur with little notice. Demonstrations may disrupt transportation and other essential services.”
The caution relating to demonstrations is fairly new. On October 17, the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Greece shared that the government was “monitoring planned protests in the vicinity of downtown Chania, Souda Bay, and Mouzouras on October 17-18, 2025. Large crowds and traffic congestion are expected, along with a precautionary security presence. U.S. government personnel have been advised to avoid the area where protests may take place.”
The U.S. Embassy “recommends U.S. citizens avoid areas around demonstrations, protests, and marches whenever possible. Even peaceful demonstrations have the potential to turn violent without any warning,” that post says.
The Embassy suggested these actions:
- “Avoid the areas of the demonstrations.”
- “Exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests.”
- “Monitor local media for updates.”
- “Keep a low profile.”
- “Carry identification and cooperate with police.”
The State Department noted that tourist visas are not needed for short trips to Greece.
“Not required for stays less than 90 days; visa required for all official and diplomatic passport holders,” the page for Greece says.
On October 9, the U.S. government advised travelers, “The European Union (EU) recently launched the Entry/Exit System (EES) system, which is being rolled out incrementally and will apply to most foreign visitors traveling to Greece. Effective October 12, 2025, most U.S. citizens visiting Greece for short stays should expect to have their biodata, including fingerprints and facial images, digitally collected at the border (upon arrival and departure).”
They added, “EES will be deployed gradually over a period of 6 months.”
The U.S. government also issued a security alert for Greece on October 6. “Due to the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel and out of an abundance of caution, U.S. citizens are advised to remain vigilant, maintain heightened situational awareness, and practice good personal security measures,” it read. “Mission Greece will continue to review the security situation and provide additional information as needed.”
On October 24, the State Department also updated its travel advisory for Mali. U.S. travelers are advised not to visit that country.
The State Department has a page for travel advisories that breaks them down by country, giving the level of security concerns.
