Women and solo travelers

Thousands of women travel independently in Greece without being harassed or feeling intimidated. With the westernization of relationships between unmarried Greek men and women, almost all of the traditional Mediterranean macho impetus for trying one’s luck with foreign girls has faded. Foreign women are more at risk of sexual assault at certain notorious resorts (including Kávos in Corfu; Laganás in Zákynthos; Faliráki in Rhodes) by northern European men than by ill-intentioned locals. It is sensible not to bar-crawl alone or to accept late-night rides from strangers (hitching at any time is not advisable for lone female travellers). In more remote areas intensely traditional villagers may wonder why women travelling alone are unaccompanied, and may not welcome their presence in exclusively male kafenía. Travelling with a man, you’re more likely to be treated as a xéni.

Lone men need to be wary of being invited into bars in the largest mainland towns and island ports, in particular near Sýndagma in Athens; these bars are invariably staffed with hostesses (who may also be prostitutes) persuading you to treat them to drinks. At the end of the night you’ll be landed with an outrageous bill, some of which goes towards the hostess’s commission; physical threats are brought to bear on reluctant payers.