Be Safe in Crete

Crete is, by and large, a safe place to take a holiday and visitors observing sensible behaviour will avoid placing themselves in the path of unnecessary risk. The locals are very friendly and accepting of foreigners and violence is rare. Drunken EU tourists are probably more of a risk than Cretans, but they can also easily be avoided, as back in your own home town.

Safety

All the usual caveats apply with regards to avoiding the attentions of pickpockets and bag-snatchers in busy areas. Act sensibly with regards to where you store your wallet or purse (front trouser pockets are best) and how you carry your bags (keep a strap over your head and shoulder) and you’ll minimise the risk of being targeted by these light-fingered miscreants.

The other significant concern in Crete is the roads and Cretan drivers, which when combined, make for some pretty dangerous conditions. Many of the island’s roads are slim and winding, and drivers who aren’t used to them may find them a little difficult to negotiate. The locals, however, pay no heed to the dangers of the roads and invariably drive like maniacs with their fingers on the horn more often than their feet on the brakes. If someone’s pipping their horn, they’re basically telling you to get out of the way and it’s wise to slow down, pull in slightly and let them pass.

Police:  112

Health

Crete offers no significant risks with regards to contracting transmittable diseases through regular non-sexual contact and aside from the presence of rabies, which is common in Europe, EU visitors are not presented with higher chances of falling ill than they might back at home.

The tap water is deemed safe enough for the locals to drink however its high mineral content may well disagree with the digestive systems of those not accustomed to it, so drinking bottled water is more advisable for visitors. Be wary of the fact that in most of Greece, the plumbing systems are incapable of accommodating toilet paper, so you are obliged to deposit used paper in a waste bin next to the toilet. This puts extra emphasis on the issue of hygiene and visitors might be wise to keep an antibacterial handwash in the bathroom.

Should you fall ill during your trip, hospitals in each of the island’s prefectures employ English-speaking staff and EU visitors in possession of an EU Health Insurance Card will qualify for free, but basic, medical treatment.