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Let’s start with the basics – Greece is a wonderful destination for solo female travel!
There’s a reason I chose it as the first country on my 12-month round-the-world trip. I wanted to start in a country where I could ease into solo female travel without any huge culture shock or having to be on my guard, and Greece delivered.
So many people dream of Santorini sunsets, Greek salad and blue-domed churches, and I can confirm that Greece is all of this and more. It really is a dream destination.
I recently spent two weeks solo backpacking through Greece, splitting my time between Santorini, Naxos, Paros, and Athens, and feel confident recommending Greece to solo female travellers.
This guide is here to help you navigate this wonderful country safely, efficiently, enjoyably, and, most importantly, solo!
Is Greece Safe for Solo Female Travellers?
The overarching answer to this question is yes – Greece is safe for solo female travellers. And by this I mean it is safe to the extent that you can easily travel here solo without being afraid.
Of course, bad things can happen anywhere, but in general you’re very unlikely to run into safety problems in Greece.
To be more accurate about safety in Greece, though, it’s better to split this topic into two categories – solo female travel in Athens, and solo female travel pretty much everywhere else in Greece.
Solo Female Travel (Almost) Everywhere Else in Greece
Let’s start with safety everywhere but Athens and the huge cities. If you’re solo travelling on the Greek Islands you’ll likely feel very safe. I often walked home alone at night and didn’t have the slightest concern for my safety.
The Greek Islanders are tight-knit communities, and you’re more likely to encounter problems caused by other tourists than you are Greeks.
Pickpocketing does exist, so keep an eye on your belongings, and always keep an eye on your drinks (again, though, any spiking in clubs and bars is far more likely to be done by a tourist than a Greek).
Aside from that, though, there’s not much difference between solo female travel in Greece to anywhere else that’s safe – just keep your wits about you, use common sense, and look after your things.
Solo Female Travel in Athens
Many people have a rose-tinted idea of how Athens will be. After all, we’ve all seen those stunning photos of the Acropolis and blue and white flags fluttering beneath blue skies.
However…
As a solo female traveller, Athens really isn’t where you want to spend a lot of time on your trip to Greece. The key to your stay in Athens is to be super thorough in your research to find well-located accommodation.
I don’t know how to say this without making huge generalisations but… There are quite a few neighbourhoods (where plenty of hotels and hostels are located) that feel pretty sketchy.
Now, does that mean that Athens is awful, has nothing to offer, and should be avoided? No. It just means you might not feel comfortable walking to your accommodation, especially alone, in the dark.
Athens is worth visiting, despite its downsides.
I stayed at this hostel, and although it’s well-rated, the location was absolutely NOT. IT.
On my way to check-in multiple men approached me asking me for money, men hanging around on the street catcalled me, and I even saw somebody lying on the street injecting themselves with something.
Obviously, as a solo female traveller, this was not reassuring. No other female travellers I spoke to felt comfortable leaving the hostel after dark without at least pairing up with a guy.
Now, again, does that mean that if I had gone out alone at night something bad would have happened? Probably not. But I wasn’t going to be the one to test that.
Once you’re in the touristy Plaka neighbourhood, and exploring Athens’ ancient ruins, you’ll probably feel totally fine – I certainly did.
Just be careful of your belongings in crowded places like the metro and tourist attractions as pickpocketing is pretty common in Athens.
I wore my rucksack on my front in Athens. Maybe not necessary, but I saw others doing it and it made me feel more comfortable doing so.
So, yes, you definitely need to keep your wits about you in Athens and focus on safety.
I’ve heard that the northern city of Thessaloniki can feel somewhat similar for solo female travellers, but as I didn’t venture there on this trip I can’t personally confirm this.
The Great Things About Solo Travel in Greece
- It’s a very popular place for English-speaking travellers, so you’ll rarely encounter language barriers. The level of English spoken by those who work with tourists in Greece is generally very high.
- It has a comprehensive public transportation system, including ferries to the islands and public transportation around the islands, meaning you don’t need to hire a vehicle (which is expensive if you’re not splitting the cost with anybody).
- Greece has a bit of everything. Whether you want to nerd out at museums, check out some of the prettiest hikes in Europe, lounge on the beach or party all night long, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in Greece.
- It’s got loads of other solo travellers, especially solo female travellers. I’d say around 75% of the solo travellers I met in Greece were other women. This is brilliant as it means it’ll be super easy for you to find other solo travellers to hang out with and hostels to stay in (if that’s what you’re into).
The Not-So-Great Things About Solo Travel in Greece
- Some areas are famous for being honeymoon destinations. This could be off-putting for some solo travellers, especially if you’re freshly out of a relationship or just don’t like being surrounded by couples in love. However, with that said, I visited Santorini (one of the most romantic destinations in Greece) solo and barely even noticed all of the couples.
- If you’d prefer a private room rather than staying in dorms Greece can be expensive. Greece is a fairly expensive place to travel to regardless, but if you’re getting private rooms (especially in summer) without splitting the cost with a travel buddy your spending will rack up pretty quickly.
Read More: Is Santorini Worth Visiting? My Honest Opinion!
Is Greece Good For First-Time Solo Female Travellers?
Greece is an excellent choice for first-time solo female travellers! It has great infrastructure,, lots of people speak English, and, for the most part, it feels very safe. In fact, I’d count it as one of the easiest places I have ever travelled to solo.
Of course, though, if this is your first solo trip, do yourself a favour and go easy on yourself. Don’t plan a jam-packed itinerary that has you catching ferries and hauling your luggage hundreds of miles every couple of days. Although Greece is well-connected, travel times can be long, especially on some ferry routes between island chains.
I also wouldn’t personally recommend hiring a car in Greece if it’s your first time solo travelling. Not only would it work out quite pricey but I also found the Greek roads to be a little hectic, with a lot of toll roads to add further complications.
Overall, though, the majority of trips to Greece are very easy, and it’s a great place to dip your toes into solo travel for the first time.
Is Greece Good For Experienced Solo Female Travellers?
I’d call myself an experienced solo female traveller nowadays, and my biggest concern was that solo travel to Greece would feel “too easy”. I know, even typing that sounds ridiculous.
What I mean by that, though, is that often the feeling of adventure is what makes solo travel so exciting. I thought that, since Greece was so well-connected, accommodating of tourists and easy to research, it might feel a bit tame.
Boy, was I wrong.
The natural beauty in Greece is out of this world. There are so, so many unique experiences to be had here. Pair that with the epic ancient ruins and drool-worthy Greek food, and you’ll find that Greece is perfect even for more experienced solo female travellers.
Plus – sometimes easy is good!
How to Get Around Greece Solo
Okay, so now that I’ve heaped praise on Greece’s infrastructure and boasted of how easy it is to get around, I should probably go into detail about how to get around Greece instead of keeping you guessing. The best ways for solo female travellers to get around Greece are:
Ferries – I was very impressed with the Greek ferry network. All of the journeys I took were comfortable and convenient. Getting on to the ferry is a bit chaotic, but as long as you get yourself on the ferry you can work out where to sit and put your luggage later. I always used this website to book my ferry tickets and highly recommend it.
You need to “check-in” for your ferry between 48 hours and 2 hours before your journey, so don’t forget to do this!
Buses – To get around islands without a car the bus network is your best bet. This is also the cheapest way to get around mainland Greece. Again, I was impressed with the buses in Greece and found that they were very cheap, often costing just a couple of Euros for a journey across an island.
Athens Metro – Athens’ closest port is Piraeus, which is connected to Athens by the Metro. You can purchase a 90-minute ticket for €1.20. Athens’ main attractions are all in a similar area, so you probably won’t have to use the metro too much once you’re in the city centre. During my stay in Athens all public transport was cancelled for a day due to a strike, which wasn’t ideal. I recommend checking regularly for upcoming strikes and ensuring you don’t need to get to the ferry port etc. on those days!
Trains – You’ll only come across trains on the Greek mainland, as there is no rail service on the islands. There is a range of domestic and international rail routes, making Greece a popular stop on Interrail and Eurail itineraries. From Athens, you can get all over the place by train, but the most popular journey for tourists is probably to Meteora for a day trip or overnight trip.
Accommodation for Solo Female Travellers in Greece
From basic hostels to boutique hostels, villas to luxury hotels, B&Bs to camping, Greece really does have every type of accommodation on offer. If you’re travelling solo and are looking to meet people, though, I highly recommend choosing a hostel.
There are plenty of hostels in Greece until it comes to the islands. Here, you won’t have many options! I actually planned my itinerary around where there would be hostels, as I find them essential for keeping my trip spending low and finding other solo travellers to hang out with.
If you do prefer privacy and have some money to spend, it’s worth considering getting a private room in a hostel – you get the best of both worlds then!
I was happy to see that most hostels I visited in Greece had female-only dorms on offer. If you’re a first-time solo traveller, or just prefer things cleaner and quieter (a generalisation, sure, but one that I’ve found to be true) a female-only dorm is the perfect accommodation for you.
The standard of accommodation I came across in Greece varied across the board, as did the prices. On the more popular islands like Santorini and Mykonos you’re looking at €40 per night for a bed in a dorm, whereas on Naxos, a less touristy island, I paid around €30 for a private room.
There’s only one place I stayed in Greece that I think you absolutely HAVE TO check out, and that’s this stunning hostel on Santorini. It’s expensive, as far as hostels go, but my god is it worth it. This is one of the best hostels I have ever been to!
How to Meet People When Solo Travelling in Greece
My top recommendation when it comes to meeting people when solo travelling is to stay in hostels, and Greece is no exception. I do understand that not everybody wants to stay in a hostel, though.
The good news is, even when I stayed in a hotel I met other people to hang out with in Greece. Overall, I found it to be incredibly easy. If you’re not staying in a hostel I recommend booking an excursion or day out through GetYourGuide. This website has tons of awesome experiences on offer, and it’s very easy to meet other people on them.
I took this day tour in Naxos and met another solo female traveller who I then went to dinner with and kept bumping into again and again during my Greece travels!
How to Dress for Solo Travel in Greece
There’s no strict dress code for travel in Greece and, particularly on the islands, you can wear pretty much whatever you like – even if it’s skimpy. I saw plenty of thong bikinis in Greece and nobody batted an eyelid. If you’re in less touristy areas, though, it’s better if you dress slightly more conservatively to avoid stares and unwanted attention.
The sun is no joke in Greece in summer, so I can’t stress enough how important it is to pack a few T-shirts or other items of clothing that cover your shoulders.
So, so many tourists in Greece wear linen, probably because it’s loose, keeps you cool, and looks cute AF in photos.
I found that a lot of people, especially on Santorini, put a lot of effort into their clothing and appearance so that they look great in their photos, and it can feel a bit intimidating if that’s not what you’re into. I’m quite a practical traveller so I certainly didn’t have cute Instagram outfit choices, but I promise that nobody really cares – you can dress however you like in Greece.
Best Time of Year to Visit Greece
If you’re looking to experience the very best that Greece has to offer, then there’s no question about it: summer (July-August) is the best time to visit Greece.
Like most things in life, though, it’s rarely that straightforward. If you visit Greece (especially the islands) in the peak summer months you’ll have to battle with sweltering heat, having all of your accommodation, restaurants and activities booked well in advance, thousands of other travellers clogging up the streets and tourist attractions, and paying through the nose for the pleasure.
Instead, I recommend visiting Greece in the shoulder months of May, June and September. The weather will still be wonderful, but the temperatures are actually manageable. You’ll be able to be slightly more flexible with your travel plans. It’ll be cheaper. And you won’t have to battle with the extreme overcrowding that the Greek islands are known for.
Safety Tips for Solo Female Travel in Greece
- Plan to arrive during the day, or take a taxi if you’re arriving in the dark. This generally isn’t a safety tip (except for in Athens), but rather a tip for your peace of mind. No matter how safe a place is, arriving in the dark with unfamiliar surroundings and trying to work out public transport can make even the most experienced solo traveller uneasy.
- Check whether tap water is drinkable before drinking it! It is in the main cities on the mainland, but not throughout the country.
- Read reviews and do your research on the neighbourhood of your accommodation in Athens before booking it.
- Make sure you always have some Euros in cash. Most places accept cards, but some restaurants, hostels and most taxis won’t.
- Like I said earlier, the sun in Greece is no joke. Keep covered, try to take shelter during the hottest parts of the day, use lots of sunscreen and stay hydrated.
- Get a SIM card as soon as you arrive so that you’re able to search for directions, translate things, and stay contactable.
Food and Water Safety in Greece
Tap water is safe to drink in most places in Greece, but not everywhere. If you have a sensitive stomach, like me (hooray…) you might prefer not to chance it.
That leaves you with two options – purchase water from the supermarket, which creates a tonne of plastic waste, OR purchase a reusable filtering water bottle.
I used this water bottle on my trip to Greece and, although I was scared to drink out of it at first, I can happily confirm that I didn’t get sick once! You can refill it from any tap or freshwater stream and as you suck it through the bottle’s filter it will be transformed into perfectly safe, drinkable water.
Honestly, this bottle is nothing short of a miracle and is now something I would never travel without! I have saved so much single-use plastic by using this bottle, which is very important – every little helps!
In terms of food safety in Greece, I ate a variety of things, from expensive Greek salad to €2.40 gyros, and everything in between, and I didn’t get sick once. Anybody who knows me will be in shock at this because my stomach is so sensitive. Like, so sensitive that I usually miss at least one day per fortnight of travel to sickness. It’s a nightmare!
Anyway! As I said, I didn’t get sick once. Food hygiene standards seem to be fairly high across the board in Greece, but the best way to be sure that you’re eating safe food is to check the rating and reviews of wherever you’re eating beforehand.
I know, I know, it takes some of the spontaneity out of things. But for me, it’s worth it for the peace of mind.
Get Ready For Greece!
You are going to absolutely love your time solo travelling in Greece. Everybody I met who was solo travelling had nothing but great things to say about it, and I definitely agree. Greece is magical, and you need to see its beauty with your own eyes.
So, go and have an incredible time in Greece – and don’t forget to come back and tell me all about it!
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