I’m a female solo traveller who’s visited 25 countries… and here’s why I would NEVER go back to Athens
Greece is one of the most visited places on earth, but not everyone sees its appeal.
Solo female traveler Emma Maskell has visited 25 countries and said there aren’t many places she wouldn’t return to, but Athens tops the list.
While the Greek capital boasts serene views and monuments full of history, Emma said she just didn’t feel “safe” as a female traveler.
Speaking to MailOnline Travel, she said: ‘I would never go back to Athens. I didn’t like it at all. I just didn’t feel safe.
“When I was walking down the street, I was on the phone with my mother and I felt like I was getting unwanted attention from men on the street, a kind of impersonation.”
Solo female traveler Emma Maskell has visited 25 countries and said there aren’t many places she wouldn’t return to, but Athens (above) tops the list
Emma recounted her trip to Athens (above) to her TikTok followers, revealing she changed hostels three times
Athens is rich in history and has several sights not to be missed, but Emma Maskell said she ‘didn’t feel safe’ visiting alone
The 25-year-old traveler continued: ‘I even saw people taking drugs on the streets in the middle of the day.’
Emma from Reading, who had tried to be optimistic about the trip, changed hostels three times during her stay in the city.
She told MailOnline: ‘I thought it might be the area but I tried moving to another area and it was the same.’
Emma explored different parts of Athens during her stay, including the popular tourist attraction the Acropolis (left). She also tried foods that “tasted better than they looked” (right)
Emma documents her ‘honest’ experience of Athens in a video posted to her TikTok account @emtravels_.
She explains at the start of the clip that she “doesn’t like it here very much” but is “trying to turn it around” with visits to the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, the Acropolis and the flea market.
She also tries foods that she says “taste better than they look.”
Emma, who hopes to visit 30 countries before she turns 30, said that despite her experience in Athens, she would like to return to other parts of Greece, especially the Greek island of Paros.
With its white sandy beaches and traditional villages, Emma compared Paros to the Greek island of Skopelos, made famous by Mamma Mia.
Speaking to MailOnline about the hidden gem, she said: ‘(It’s) much less popular than islands like Santorini and Mykonos, but feels much more peaceful, affordable and authentic as a result.’
For women eager to explore the world on their own, the seasoned solo female traveler shared some essential safety tips.
She always has the ‘find my location’ setting enabled on her phone – and she shares this information with her parents and five of her closest friends.
Additionally, she said, “As soon as I knew what my plans were, I always let them know.”
Another safety tip Emma shared was opening a Google Doc with her itinerary on it so her friends and family could check at any time.
She explained, “Sometimes it’s really hard to keep everyone informed at the same time, so that worked really well for me.”
Emma said she would soon return to other parts of Greece, especially the Greek island of Paros (above), which she compared to the Greek island of Skopelos, made famous by Mamma Mia
Emma hasn’t let her experience in Athens put her off traveling and hopes to visit 30 countries before she’s 30
Emma shared some travel safety tips for female solo travelers to keep in mind when traveling to different countries. She said it’s important to ‘keep your wits about you’
Another obvious, but often overlooked piece of advice Emma shared was to never tell strangers that you are visiting the country alone.
She continued, “I never tell anyone that I’m alone somewhere. In a taxi I always say no. When they ask if it’s my first time here, I say no and when they (taxi drivers) ask if I’m here alone, I say, ‘No, my friends are already here.’
And as an extra safety measure, Emma said she booked female-only dorms in hostels, although she said she never encountered any problems in mixed dorms.
During her solo travels, Emma said she always shares her location with her close friends and family, and never tells strangers she is visiting alone
As general advice for solo travellers, Emma urged everyone to take padlocks with them to keep their belongings safe in hostels.
She added: ‘I’m also taking copies of my passport and ID photos with me in case I need a new one.’
Still, the traveler advised, “It’s not really things you can take with you, but taking steps to be safer and keep your wits about you.”
For more from Emma, visit her TikTok at www.tiktok.com/@emtravels_.