Common scams in Athens

Street-level scams reported by travelers in Athens, each with the counter-move that defuses it.

Not a complete list — new scams appear all the time. Stay alert.

Common scams — taxi meters, petitions, metro pickpockets
Insist on the taxi meter; watch bags on the Metro
From the airport and port, some taxi drivers claim the meter is 'broken' and quote a flat inflated fare — insist on the meter or use the fixed airport tariff or an app. Petition and 'free' bracelet-or-flower approaches around Syntagma, Monastiraki and the Acropolis are cover for pickpockets working in pairs. The worst pickpocketing is on the crowded Metro (Lines 1 and 3) and at Omonia, Monastiraki and Syntagma stations, especially at the doors as they close — keep bags in front and zipped.
Checked July 2026

Every Farovia trip carries intel like this — dated, sourced, and ready offline at the border.

Common scams — taxi meters, petitions, metro pickpockets