Island in South Aegean, Greece
Is Ios safe?
Safe in daytime, but Chora's heavy drinking brings falls, fights and lost phones.
Is Ios safe?
Safe in daytime, but Chora's heavy drinking brings falls, fights and lost phones. Take care on stairs, scooters and when swimming drunk.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-10-22.
- Homicide rate in Greece: 0.8 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Greece: 8.3 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 100 · Ambulance 166 · Fire 199 · Tourist police 1571 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Ios at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing and phone theft in crowded Chora bars, drink spiking, and fights after closing in July–August. |
| At night | Chora is busy until dawn. The steep roads between Chora and Mylopotas are risky when drunk; use taxis or the bus. |
| Solo women | Solo women do travel here, but alcohol-fuelled attention is common in Chora. Watch drinks and stay with new friends at night. |
| Other risks | Falls on steep stone steps; Scooter and ATV crashes; Meltemi winds and summer heat |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Bar promoters pushing shot bundles with inflated prices
- Scooter shops billing for old damage
Take care
- Chora bar streets after 2 am: drink spiking and fights
- Quad bikes and scooters on steep roads after drinking
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Taking stones, fragments or artefacts from archaeological sites is a criminal offence.
- Flying drones over archaeological sites needs a permit.
- Drug laws are strict; even small amounts of cannabis can lead to arrest.
How Ios compares in Greece
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Naxos | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Paros | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Chania | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Milos | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kefalonia | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Meteora | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Halkidiki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lefkada | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nafplio | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Skiathos | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hydra | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Thassos | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Athens | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Santorini | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mykonos | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crete | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Rhodes | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Corfu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Thessaloniki | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Zakynthos | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kos | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ios | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Peloponnese | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Ios safe for solo female travelers?
Solo women do travel here, but alcohol-fuelled attention is common in Chora. Watch drinks and stay with new friends at night.
Is Ios safe at night?
Chora is busy until dawn. The steep roads between Chora and Mylopotas are risky when drunk; use taxis or the bus.
What is the crime rate in Ios?
Pickpocketing and phone theft in crowded Chora bars, drink spiking, and fights after closing in July–August. Nationally, Greece records 0.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Ios?
Police 100 · Ambulance 166 · Fire 199 · Tourist police 1571 · All emergencies 112.
More about Ios
Going to Ios solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Ferryhopper
- Visit Greece
- Municipality of Ios
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.