Is It Safe to be in Greece?

Is it safe in Greece right now?

 

Agios Nikolaos, our village, this summer

The question has been asked in a variety of ways and with increasing frequency on Greek and European travel pages in recent weeks, particularly after the recent military conflict between Israel and Iran.  

Even earlier in the year, safety was front and center on social media travel sites following the earthquakes that struck the island of Santorini.

Then a few days ago, we began getting emails asking us if we were safe from the wildfires and heat wave that have again put Greece in international headlines. 

Pantazi Beach coffee klatch on a normal day in Mani

Safety, hmmm, it is a good question.  But in our slice of the Greek Peloponnese, it really wasn't something we had given much thought to as we are and have been far removed from the incidents and areas making headlines.  

It did make for a topic to ponder over a recent morning coffee with my friend Jean though. How would we answer it? What assurances could be offered to a nervous traveler?  

Tux the taverna cat awaits a head scratch

We were at our regular meeting place, the taverna at Pantazi Beach. We watched sun and sea worshippers settling into sunbeds near the water.   A few dogs rested at their owner's feet as it was too hot to race and chase as they do in the cooler off season.  The regular taverna cats came by for a head scratch.  

It was another calm, relaxed and the rather laidback morning; a regular sort of day for the two of us, both American expats who've lived in Greece for several years. 

Mani, the region of the Peloponnese we call home

We pretty much agreed that while we couldn't offer assurances, we certainly wouldn't be living here if we didn't feel safe doing so. But for a traveler who may never have ventured far from home, or one coming to Greece or any foreign country as close to the Middle East as we are here, safety is a valid consideration.   We concluded it would be a timely subject for a blog post.

Fishing boat returns to Agios Nikolaos

The problem is that no one can honestly assure another's safety. Life happens and changes instantly sometimes.  And something I see as safe, like living in Greece, may be totally out of your comfort zone (and vice versa). To discuss safety is like the proverb, 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' -- what one person thinks is safe isn't to another. It is in the eye of the beholder. 

With that in mind, let's take a look at:

 Wildfires and Heat Waves

Peloponnese July 7, 2025 weather

We have a healthy fear of wildfires in our slice of Greece, the Mani in the southwestern Peloponnese. Summer temperatures are already in the 80's and 90's (26 to 32 Celsius). Our land is parched; spring rains are long forgotten. And we have a continuing water shortage in our area. Just this last week we've had no municipal water running to our homes (the new desalination plant that I wrote about in my last post hasn't solved the water shortage it appears.).  Domestic water began flowing yesterday, seven days after it had stopped.

Uncut dry grass along our road home

So how do we fight a fire that breaks out during one of our dry spells?  Recent laws require landowners to cut back grasses and growth but as with so many laws here, it goes unheeded and unenforced. We have a team of trained firefighters in the area, fire spotters are on duty, but it is a concern. While we've been so far spared from wildfires, two Greek islands haven't been as lucky.

Chios, light blue on the right, Crete, green, at the bottom

Just a stone's throw from Turkey's coastline, the island of Chios lost some 2,500 hectares, or 6,100 acres in a recent blaze. The fire, finally controlled and extinguished in late June, was believed to have been intentionally set.  

As I write this piece, a wind-driven wildfire rages on Crete's southern coast, near the town of Ierapetra, and has consumed some 15 square kilometers of forests, olive groves and structures and forced the evacuation of an estimated 5,000 tourists, residents and hospitality workers. The blaze is directly impacting about 1.8 percent of the 8,336 square kilometer island. 

This time of year, fire danger is a fact of life in Greece. 

Earthquakes

Santorini, a popular port of call for cruise ships

The island of Santorini made headlines earlier this year when a couple hundred earthquakes and tremors were recorded on or near this popular Cycladic Island within a short span of time. While Greece is known for its propensity of quakes when so many occur in such a compacted timeframe, it caused a whirlwind of safety precautions. Schools were closed, emergency response teams were on alert and many residents and tourists fearing 'the big one was coming' left the island. 

The 'big one' didn't hit. Residents and tourists have returned, and life is going on as normal although tourism is reportedly down this season. Overtourism hasn't been the concern there that it was last year at this time.  

Tourists, Santorini June 2024

In the last couple of years, there's been at least three quakes occur in our region of Greece that were strong enough to be felt by many. We've not felt any of them. But the fact remains, we have chosen to live in earthquake country. 

Bottom line: a 'big one' or many small ones could happen anywhere, anytime. We don't sit around worrying about it.

Israeli and Iranian Conflict

Travel sites came to life with safety questions. 'Is it safe to go to Greece in light of the Israeli and Iranian conflict?'  After all, on a map the countries don't seem to be that far apart.

Straight line distance is 746 miles between Athens and Tel Aviv

And they really aren't that far apart. The straight-line distance between Athens and Tel Aviv is 746 miles/1,201 kilometers. It is a mere two-hour flight away.  However, we learned of the military strikes via world headlines just like most of you did.

Summer scenes in the Mani

It seems from media reports here that the only tangential involvement Greece had was with the Israeli equivalent of the US Air Force One.  Both Greek and Israeli media reported that following the launch of the Israeli air strikes on Iran, the Israeli state plane, Wing of Zion, used by Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog for overseas travel, was relocated to Athens in what media called a 'precautionary' move'. 

Kalamata waterfront, about an hour from us

What did make headlines in Greece - back in the fall of 2022 -- was Greece's launch of a new international armed forces pilot training center in partnership with Israel. While it opened in 2022, projections were 2024 before it would be fully operational.  

What made it most interesting is that the training center is at the air force base near the Kalamata airport. Kalamata is our 'go to' city, about an hour's drive away.  

A lone helicopter flies over our house 

The only thing we residents feared when the new facility was announced was the noise that fighter jets might make as they flew over our houses.  The flights have been far fewer than we had expected, and the noise factor is similar to any jet that zooms past at breakneck speed.  On occasion we have one fly over so low that it rattles all things including the brain cells, but that happens very infrequently.

So, is it safe?

Kalamata beach front is filled with visitors this summer

Each person will need to make an informed decision on whether or not to proceed with their travel plans. Some sources we turn to for information are the online Greek English language newspapers Ekathimerini and Greek Reporter.  

American travelers also have information from the US State Department available on Facebook, X or Threads.  You can also get information about your travel destination from the State Department's STEP, Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. The free program allows you to register your travels, and the State Department will provide you updates about weather, safety, conflicts, etc.  

Days end at The Stone House on the Hill

I'll end the look at safety with figures from Greek tourism folks: in the first four months of this year, Greece welcomed 4.1 million tourists, an increase of 5.8 percent over last year.  I've seen nothing on social media from any of them saying they regretted having come to Greece.

A big thank you to all who have inquired about our safety!  It means a lot to know someone is thinking of you!!  We close with a wish for continued safe travels wherever you might be headed. Thanks for the time you've spent with us, and we hope to see you back again soon!