Yes, it's safe to travel. I've been to Greece at least three times when strikes were going on. Once it was the ferries, had to make changes to our plans, missed visiting one of the islands we were going to visit but, ended up driving up to Meteora and was very glad it happened! Another time it was the airport, ended up taking an overnight boat to Santorini rather than a flight. Got there early morning the next day, it was an incredibly quiet, serene morning once we got to Oia.

I was also there last year right after the protests. There were still protests going on a few places. They caused no changes to our plans, didn't even realize they were happening.

Go, enjoy and have fun! If you get there and have to change your itinerary a but at some point, go with the flow, enjoy the adventure and have stories to tell.

Oh, I didn't mention that I've been to Greece about seven other times when there were no strikes, no protests, nothing at all. So, most likely, you won't be effected one bit.

Your trip is 7 months from now, why not postpone fretting for awhile? Unless you are the highly organized Type-A traveler who likes to be foresighted about worrying hee hee

Actually the only worry would be as regards disrupting transportation. There is NO safety issue ... people simply march, have speeches etc in a highly limited area of Athens... usually Syntagma Square, in front of Parliament. News footage (from BBC & CNN) of last year's job actions (about 20 seconds of Police confronting youths, rerun endlessly) is very distorted reporting. Friends of mine who live and work in Athens on those days were peacefully shopping & having lunch a mere 500 yards away. I lived in Manhattan many years, and Midwest family used to phone me saying, I saw the awful demonstrations in front of the U.N., aren't you scared?? No, and i worked a few blocks away. Same deal about Greece/Athens. The farther one is from the scene, the easier to become spooked by reports.

These strikes have to do with the great hardships being felt by ordinary workers as Greece Govt tries to get out of the whole they've dug themselves into. MOst strikes occur just before high season ... have not heard of any just after High Season (people too tired?). Typically take place midweek T-W-Th not on day before or day after weekend or on weekend itself. Last year we 'ran between the raindrops" in May. This May I've made sure all my trav. companions flights land either on Fri or on the weekend. Costs a bit more, but less angst.

Anecdote: I stayed at a budget hotel just across from Athens big Cathedral. As I came out on my way to Syntagma Square, a week after the May demonstrations, I heard some chanting to my left. In front of a closed-down building was a row of men, holding up large placards and shouting a slogan in unison. Across from them, on the low wall of the Cathedral lawn, were several men observing, drinking Starbucks coffee & smoking. I stopped and asked what the action was about. One of the men, in fluent English, explained, 'Oh we are Anarchist- Syndicalists* protesting the oppressions of Capitalism." He got up, went to the curb, and shouted a different slogan, which they began chanting. I walked on to meet my friends.

*This is a branch of Anarchism that was last relevant during the Spanish Civil war.

SO .... to each his own. Stay calm. If you see any Anarchists-Syndicalists chanting, say "Kalimera" (Good morning). They'll probably say "Kalimera" right back.

In our many trips to Greece there is usually some sort of "protest", and always distorted by the press. Some have been rather comical. One year we were told by the rental car agency in Athens they could not pick us up at the hotel, and we would need to walk to the agency. The protesters were Greek Orthodox monks who were stiking because they wanted cool fabric frocks to wear during the summer heat instead of the traditional wool habits!
I will admit it was a disturbing season last year for all, especially unaware tourists. Heed the advice from the last posters, and you will have an amazing time. Weekend travel is a great idea.

No-one's occupying the Greek Parliament. No-one's making Greek lawmaking impossible. No-one's threatening to obstruct all government activity.

There's just one developed Western country where all this is going on right now. And where the rate of injury and death through violence is a great deal higher than in Greece.

Your own ungovernable failed state.

Stick to the bloody humungous beam in your eye before working yourself up into an absurd and brainless fret about the mote in Greece's.

Or better yet: if you insist on ridiculous worries stay away. That way, we'll be happier (one less American loon) and you'll be happier.

Thank you wug,travelerjan and gogogreece for the helpful words of wisdom. I guess I should take the advice that I repeatedly give my husband when we are travelling and "go with the flow".

Hi Bucket nothing much to add to Wug and Jan. We too walked into a protest last summer in front of Parliament buildings. it was contained by police yellow tape. we stood on the other side of the tape and watched, life went on as usual and we ended up sitting enjoying the sun and reading in the National garden a couple of hundred meters away.
We also got caught up in a one day ferry strike which ended up our having to spend one night in Paros and took a day away from Naxos. Had a lovely evening in Paros and our hotel in Naxos knew there was a strike on and knew we were not going to be able to get there for our first night, They never even mentioned the missed night. This is just how things go Can you imagine a better place to be affected by a strike than having to spend an unscheduled day on a Greek Island.

Got this notice today, June 14, 2011, from Tzell Travel Group posted to travel agents alerting them to nationwide union demonstrations from June 15, 2011 to June 21, 2011. If traveling to Greece, be sure to check your tickets, confirm and be prepared for disruptions.

Air traffic controllers announce 24-hour strike for June 15 as anti-austerity protests continue across Greece. Expect severe transport disruptions.

This alert affects Greece

Events: Demonstrations and strikes
Time Frame: Through June 21
Location: Nationwide, particularly Athens
Impact: Severe ground, maritime, and flight disruptions; localized violence; public service and commercial disruptions
Updated Information
The Air Traffic Controller (ATC) union has announced a 24-hour strike on June 15 to coincide with a general nationwide strike planned on the same day. Similar ATC strikes in the past have usually forced airports to close across Greece with all domestic and international flights halted. Greek court rulings often block ATC strikes and airlines are not likely to announce cancellations until 24-48 hours before the action is set to commence.

Strikes and Demonstrations

June 15: The Greek Civil Servants Confederation (ADEDY) and the General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE), the country's largest public and private sector unions, respectively, along with OTE, state electric company (DEH/PPC), the Greek Post Bank, journalists, and unionized port and water utility workers have called for a nationwide 24-hour general strike on June 15. Transportation unions are likely to join the strike as well, though transit operators have not announced details on walkouts. Union members and activists plan protests in cities across Greece. In Athens, ADEDY and GSEE will hold a mass demonstration at 1100 at Pedion Tou Areos, then march toward Syntagma Square. The Communist workers group (PAME) will hold a demonstration at 1000 marching from Omonia square to Syntagma.
June 20: The electric company union (GENOP) has announced plans to stage rolling 48-hour strikes starting June 20. While power cuts are possible, extended telecommunications or power outages are unlikely.
June 21: GSEE and ADEDY have announced plans for nationwide protests; details have not yet been released.
The June 15 protests will likely be massive, as ADEDY represents 500,000 public sector workers and GSEE about 2 million private sector workers. Protesters will likely block roads close to rally sites, creating severe traffic delays, while the strike will disrupt commercial activity and likely halt all public services. Although protests have so far remained peaceful, left-wing activists have in the past used these types of demonstrations to incite riots, including attacking police and government facilities. Still, Greek security forces will be alert to ensure that any such unrest will be localized and immediately isolated.

Meanwhile, large protests against austerity measures are ongoing across Greece and will likely continue, especially in Athens and Thessaloniki. In Athens, activists have maintained daily sit-ins at Syntagma Square. These sit-ins have been peaceful, but violence could erupt if police attempt to clear protest sites. Expect severe traffic delays and commercial disruptions near all protests.

Background and Analysis
Tensions are high in Greece as European leaders negotiate a second financial rescue package for the country. On June 23-24, European Union leaders will finalize a package that could total USD 172 billon through 2014. The EU and IMF requirement that Greece enact wide-ranging austerity measures and economic reforms to receive the funds has enraged many Greek union members, as some of the reforms target the often-generous pay, benefits, and other rights that union members enjoy.

Advice
Avoid all protests, especially in Athens. Confirm all travel reservations, seek updated information on road conditions, and allow additional time for travel. Consider shifting freight shipments and air travel to alternative dates.

Tzell Travel Group








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First of all, there is no problem with flights, the ATC strike has been called off (as it is quite often).
For anyone travelling later in the year, just check this site,& KEEP checking, the full decisions of who will take part & over what hours is usually only finalised in the last 24 hrs.
http://livingingreece.gr/
Tourists (& even locals!) outside Athens rarely know there is anything going on anyway, even in Athens you can be totally unaware of it in many areas.
The only real effect for tourists is travel disruption, as TJ says, keep mid week travel to a minimum, it lessens your (small) chance of any inconvenience.

BTW, the Tzell Travel Group are obviously covering their backs with that OTT statement, as I said, the ATC strike is cancelled. "Nationwide" protests? Mainly in a small area of Athens, some minimal demos in other cities, but on the whole you don't see anything around the rest of the country. I don't, & I live in Greece, & yes, I regularly visit Athens (4 times so far this year) & have been there for demos, no big deal.
The only time I did see any demo outside Athens was the truckers strike, they were parked along the side of the highways, but then again it would have been difficult for them to have done the same in the city!

Booking marking as we are leaving on the 23rd, arriving on the 24th of June in Athens. I have read on this thread and others, that strikes are usually mid-week. Nothing we can do about any disturbances and I'm not going to alert the family. Will check back here for any update. Good information-Thanks. Richard

i live in the northern suburbs of Athens, and even there you will notice that strikes are taking place, as only the very center of Athens is affected.
As yiassas very well said, the ATC strike will not take place, public transportation will operate with some limitations, they won't strike for 24 hours though.
more concrete :
Busses will operate from 9am - 10pm
Trolley Busses from 8am - 10pm
Tram from 6 am- midnight
Green Line of Metro from 8 am- midnight
Red & Blue Lines of Metro : no strike
Suburbian Railway : 24 hrs strike, this means it won't be possible to take the Blue Line of metro from the Airport either.

small correction :

I live in the northern suburbs of Athens, and even there you will NOT notice that strikes are taking place, as only the very center of Athens is affected.

Thanks clausar

yiassas - I added the livingingreece twitter feed to my twitter acct before our trip a couple of weeks ago, and checked it regularly on our trip. We were in Santorini during last week's strikes in Athens so were unaffected, and flew back from Athens to the States on Sunday, missing the big strikes scheduled for this week by a few days. While in Athens we were staying right at Syntagma Square, and wandered through the lively demonstrations each night. Except for the camping tents, the square was "normal" during the day, but each evening the demonstrations swelled into tens of thousands. Everyone was very organized and quite peaceful, just passionate. The food vendors were out every night and the whole square had a rather festive atmosphere. I was so saddened to read about the tear gas and the bad turn that the demonstrations took this morning.

Are the buses and ferries part of the latest strike actions--fly into Athens Friday night, take a bus Saturday morning to Pireau and take the Saturday morning ferry to Santorini...should I be worried??

borninthe usa, the strike was for ONE DAY - yesterday, even then not all transport was affected, & the ones that were weren't all for 24hrs.
There is no strike on Friday or Saturday. Nothing to worry about.

WHEW!!! Thanks for relieving my stress level--thought it might linger over onto the next few days.....

It is worth repeating for the many first-time viewers --- strikes/job actions/demonstrations, whatever they are being called (not riots however) are always announced in advance, sometmes far in advance and ALWAYS take place mid-week... usually Wed or Thurs. In my many trips I have Never heard of such actions/closures etc occurring on F-S-S-M.

So, if those are days that you are worried about travel, please do not post inquiries about them ... you are being anxious and creating anxiety unnecessarily.

Two reliable websites/media resources to check, if your travel plans are ahead are:

ATHENS Newspaper - http://www.ekathimerini.com/
(Greek section of Intl Herald Tribune)
EX-PAT Website on Greek life/news - http://livingingreece.gr/ --- u can folo on Twitter also

Please do not try "Google" using phrases like "Greece riots" because you will be directed to newspaper accounts (Mostly UK tabloids) which use inflammatory phraseology like that.

In case anyone is interested in FACTS about current events in Athens, an eye-witness whom I personally know and trust on Trip Advisor -- a "Destination Expert" with the screen name of "mariha" yesterday posted a detailed first-hand report on what actually happened in Athens' Main Square on June 15. A largely peaceful 7-day demonstration (think back to the "sit-ins") was disrupted by a small group of attention-seekers wielding clubs... giving police an excuse to use some tear-gas. Cell-phone photos & videos subsequently revealed the the Police actually SUPPLIED the clubs -- and that the peaceful sitters-in tried to mediate. But of course, this complex situation will not be reported by tabloids or cable panic-makers. Alas.

>>Please do not try "Google" using phrases like "Greece riots" because you will be directed to newspaper accounts (Mostly UK tabloids) which use inflammatory phraseology like that. <<

I did just that (Googled using the phrase "Greek riots") and of the first 20 hits only one was from a UK tabloid, The Mirror. Please check your facts.

I am flying into Athens on Wednesday for a two week trip to visit Athens and inslands. I wanted to ask about the workers reaction to yesterdays news. Are there still riots? Any strikes planned for next week? Just debating if we should skip Athens, which I really don't want to miss. Any thoughts would be helpful. I can cancel my hotel in Athens without a penalty until Sunday, June 26.

There will be a general strike on the 28th and 29th of June.
I don't know who exactly is going to strike, but so far during previous strikes flights were not affected.
If your hotel is not located directly on Syntagma Square, i think you won't notice anything. Just avoid the Syntagma area on these 2 days.

To be clear, there haven't been riots. Footage I have seen on BBC show peaceful demonstrations, some protestors even bringing their children.

We witnessed a very peaceful demonstration in Athens during our June visit. Thousands in the street but no rioting and no breaking of windows. Just a stand in I guess.

Have a Plan B for any trip. I do as it makes a cancelled flight or missed ferry much easier to deal with and you won't waste your time wondering what to do next.

Agree, don't worry unless you have something concrete to worry about.

@Heimdall
Unfortunately there have been riots but only during the last strike, and only on Syntagme square... to blame are the 50 anarchists, who try to manipulate every bigger demostration.. we see this happening in Athens for the last 20 years, and somehow these ppl never get arrested by the police... they are called in Greek as a joke οι γνωστοί άγνωστοι..which means the well known strangers....

Hi Clausar,

Yes I knew about the one incident with the small number of anarchists (which was also shown on BBC). Since then the coverage has been of peaceful demonstrations, including closeups of elderly people and parents with children in their arms. I wanted to make the distinction between demonstrations and riots, because some people seem to use the terms interchangeably.

I, for one, won't worry, and intend to stay in the same hotel just off Syntagma Square that I stayed in last summer.

Are those that go on strike aware that should they succeed and should Greece therefore drop out of the €, there'll be no food on the table for quite a few days. The people have been abused by their government but some also abused the system.

@logos999
There have been many discussions in Greece about the demonstrations, fact is certain things are not easy to understand if you don't live in Greece , and don't experience what people here are going through.
Won't analyze this any further, but just keep in mind there are people without any hope for the future, that have lost overnight 60% of their income and have difficulties to buy essential things, and that unemployement increased from 8 to at the moment 15%......

Will it be the army taking over and an new currency or more bailouts and the €. What do you think?

logos, not the place to discuss what might, or might not, be, we all have to wait & see. Far too many scenario predictions flying around, only time will tell.
Watch this & see who you think is control of Greece's destiny,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-6xZaR2vc8
Whether this, or other experts opinions/predictions/accusations are the correct ones is largely irrelevant to the people of Greece, bottom line is they are the ones that suffer & pay, not the big guys.

Well, all the best. The end of free money for the banksters and politicians and bureaucrats had to come, looks like the crowd accepted it as long es they got some of it too. Was there any progress at all in the last 30 years that wasn't financed by foreign money? They still believe they'd get more money from us Germans to keep it going, but we don't have it either. Our pension funds have been "invested" in the scheme (Detroit and elsewhere!) and are gone now.

Drop out of the € and there'll be no money at all to buy food anymore that's for sure.

As long as the "economic terrorists" share part of the swag with the people, people will remain silent. That's something we could learn out of this. All the best!

Clausar and yiassas,

Logos999 is a well-known doomsayer on Fodor's, so don't take him too seriously.

h, You don't seem to be in Greece.

"Doom" has happend in 2008, what comes now is the inevitable result, you just don't seem to realize it. Don't say that you havn't been warned.

The greek protesters would do a big service to the peoples of the EU if they'd bring down the banks by saying NO!, even if it comes with widespead poverty, it may be worth it.

L, you don't seem to be in Greece either.

Schäuble just made a statement in "Bild", they're prepared for a Greek default. Something like, "2008 did cost us 4.5% of production, how bad can it be". A Greek default will kill US banks and all Greek banks. It'll be fun LOL...
Better than sending goods and free money to pay for them at the same time.

You get your news from Bild?

dear logos999
I think it would make more sense if you would post your thoughts about the economical situation of Greece in the fora of the Bild Zeitung, which you obviously are reading.
Writing here about these things seems to be off topic.
And one more thing :
comments like this one "2008 did cost us 4.5% of production, how bad can it be". A Greek default will kill US banks and all Greek banks. It'll be fun LOL...
are quite offensive for me, a Greek living in Athens, as i don't find anything funny about it.

Yes, the news are from Bild, because Schäuble has given this interview to Bild, so who else should publish it. The FAZ

The economical situation of Greece highly offends Germans, because the Greek public expects Germany to pay for the Greeks mistakes without even a "thank you".

Dear clausar, the comment in "" that you quoted as offensive comes from the german minister of finance "Hr. Schäuble", trying to inform Germans that if Greece choses to commit financial suicide it's not a thing that would hurt Germany too much. If you want to complain about it adress your complaint to the German ministry of finance.

Infact Schäuble gives those interviews to Bild to calm down the German public, who has to a large extent become really p**** about what's happening down there and wants to cut all spending. So be careful not to commit financial suicide and support your government! If your government fails, the support from the German government will end and also from the rest of Europe. It would be time for pro Government rallies.