While I lived in Athens my partner was routinely called out as a translator to assist tourists log complaints with the police. Petty crime around Omonia figured pretty highly in these incidents, quite often involving prostitution, excess of alcohol, drugs and low-level scams. Not always all at the same time

The common factor the police unkindly atttributed to those incidents was the tourists' propensity to behave unwisely (they used alternative, less indulgent terms....).


The IC earned its status from its position between the old airport and the city centre. Since the airport shift, it's ended up marooned between the pretty ordinary neighbourhood of Neos Cosmos and Syngrou. There are cafes and restaurants in Neos Cosmos, but none, I think, to excite the tourist. Plaka has to to be the preeminent spot for tourist nights out, and of course it as safe as a city centre neighborhood can be; but those in search of slightly more glamour might be better advised head for dependable Kolonaki.